On This Day In Mormon History

November 1st

2008-10-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Nov 1, 1808 - John Taylor is born in Milnthorpe, England.

Nov 1, 1823 - Alvin Smith, Joseph Smith's older brother, comes into the house in great pain. He is taken sick and dies 18 days later after an "emetic" administered by a local doctor substituting for the family doctor lodges in his digestive tract. This complicates things for Joseph as he claimed he had been instructed by an angel to bring Alvin to the Hill Cumorah to receive the plates.

Nov 1, 1825 - Joseph Smith Jr. and his father Joseph Smith Sr. sign "Articles of Agreement" concerning the seeking of a lost Spanish silver mine near Josiah Stowall's property in Harmony Pennsylvania. Stowall had heard of Joseph Smith's ability to see hidden treasures and brought him 150 miles from Palmyra, New York to help locate the fabled treasure. No money was ever found and Joseph was later tried and convicted as a "disorderly person" for his "glass looking" activities with Stowall. However it was in Harmony that Joseph met Emma Hale, his future wife.

Nov 1, 1840 - Notice in "Times and Seasons:" ". . . It is requested that all those who have been endowed with a poetical genius, whose muse has not been altogether idle, will feel enough interest in a work of this kind, to immediately forward all choice, newly composed or revised hymns. In designating those who arc endowed with Poetical genius, we do not intend to exclude others; we mean all who have good hymns that will cheer the heart of the righteous man, to send them as soon as practicable directed to Mrs. Emma Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois. POST PAID."

Nov 1, 1841 - Notice in "Times and Seasons:" "The brethren are hereby notified that our well-beloved brother, Hyrum Smith, patriarch of the church, has erected a comfortable office opposite his dwelling-house, where himself, together with his scribe and recorder, James Sloan, will attend regularly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, during the entire day, or upon any other day if urgent circumstances require it, to perform the duties of his high and holy calling. A copy of the blessings can be received immediately after being pronounced, so that the brethren who live at a distance can have it to take with them."

Nov 1, 1843 - This is the last known occasion in which Emma Smith performs the washing and anointing for women receiving the endowment ceremony in the Anointed Quorum.

Nov 1, 1845 - Brigham Young pays William Clayton "one hundred and fifty dollars to purchase instruments for the brass band."

Nov 1, 1850 - John Taylor advertises in the MILLENIAL STAR death-mask busts of Joseph and Hyrum Smith: "I procured casts taken from their faces immediately after their death. I had also the various drawings with me, which had been made while they were living."

Nov 1, 1853 - First issue of British Mission's JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, most famous collection of Mormon sermons which had been published previously in DESERET NEWS. The introduction is preceded by a letter from the First Presidency endorsing the publication.

Nov 1, 1861 - Brigham Young's Office Journal records: "An Indian belonging to Wash-i-kiks band came to the President and begged for powder and Tobacco the President directed Some should be given him ..."

Nov 1, 1877 - First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall records that John Taylor's birthday celebration was attended by "Prest. John Taylor, 6 wives, 17 sons, 8 daughters, 5 daughters-in-law, 3 sons-in-law, 7 grand sons and 6 grand daughters. Total 53."

Nov 1, 1885 - Apostle John Henry Smith notes in his journal, "This makes thirty-eight meetings I have attended in two weeks."

Nov 1, 1890 - Date for which U.S. President William Henry Harrison's amnesty declaration for LDS polygamists does not cover "unlawful cohabitation." According to Harrison's proclamation no Mormon polygamists will be prosecuted for illegal cohabitation committed before this date if they refrain from such cohabitation after this date.

Nov 1, 1891 - Apostle Marriner W. Merrill preaches at the Logan Tabernacle "that not only plural marriages had ceased in the Church but that Brethren should not live with their plural families hereafter, but observe strictly the law of the land in this matter." On the stand with him is Apostle Joseph F. Smith who later has children by his plural wives. This illustrates a difference between public statements and private beliefs by leaders of the Church concerning the extent of the President Woodruff's Manifesto.

Nov 1, 1901 - Financial report of the Church lists assets at $1,992,399.40, and liabilities at $1,110,607.58 for a surplus of $881,791.82.

Nov 1, 1918 - Joseph F. Smith dictates "thus saith the Lord" revelation concerning disbursement of tithing funds. This revelation is not presented to meeting of First Presidency and Quorum or Twelve until April 8, 1943. Text available but never published or canonized.

Nov 1, 1922 - Day after Heber J. Grant joins in public appeal for election of man as county sheriff, First Presidency issues statement that church feels "free to use its influence in the promotion of good legislation, honest administration of government and matters calculated to benefit the state and it's people."

Nov 1, 1975 - CHURCH NEWS article about Kathy Devine, LDS shotputter and Olympic aspirant who criticizes those who "think all girls should be out baking cookies somewhere."

Nov 1, 1977 - Spencer W Kimball dedicates Osmond Family Studio in Orem, Utah.

Nov 1, 1989 - Announcement that full-time female missionaries will be only guides for traditional tours of Temple Square, Salt Lake City.

Nov 1, 1993 - Richard A Searfoss, Mormon lieutenant-colonel, pilots COLUMBIA back to earth after fourteen days in orbit, longest space-shuttle flight to this date.

October 31st

2008-10-31T23:05:00.002-07:00

Oct 31, 1838 - Joseph Smith and other LDS and Danite leaders surrender after the Missouri militia surround the Mormon capital of Far West. They barely escape execution.

Oct 31, 1845 - Brigham Young records in his journal: "I received a letter from Charles A. Lovell, Mass., October 20th recommending us as a community to remove to California. Another from Thomas J. Farnhaus, New York, October 20th, on the same subject. Also one from Edward Warren, Boston, October 22nd portraying the Bay of San Francisco and country round as one well adapted for our location in the west."
That evening the Twelve and others meet at John Taylor's: "The subject of the United States endeavoring to prevent our removal West by taking out U.S. writs for the Council of Fifty was talked over and plans devised to defeat them in case they undertake to do it."

Oct 31, 1870 - At death of Utah's fovernor J. Wilson Schaffer, Apostle Joseph F. Smith writes: "Thank God! He was a low, debauched, vulgar, senseless, ignorant cur, and the Lord be praised that his vile, despicable existence has terminated."

Oct 31, 1877 - John Taylor tells apostles it is wrong for some local partiarchs "to be underbidding the others" in giving patriarchal blessings.

Oct 31, 1893 - First counselor George Q. Cannon "holds that [apostolic] seniority rests with Apostles who have not been of the Twelve as well as the Twelve." Second counselor Joseph F. Smith disagrees. By Cannon's definition, John W. Young outranks both Cannon and Smith. This would make Young the church's presiding apostle after President Snow's death in 1901, even though Young has never been a member of the Twelve. Lorenzo Snow rules in 1900 that apostolic ranking is by entry into Twelve and not by ordination date as apostle. This ends Young's hopes.

Oct 31, 1936 - First Presidency publishes unsigned editorial in DESERET NEWS, which argues against re-election of Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Editorial, written by J. Reuben Clark, accuses F.D.R. of unconstitutional and Communist activities. In response one thousand Mormons angrily cancel their subscriptions to the News. Three days later, 69.3 percent of Utah's voters help re-elect Roosevelt. Utah's electorate re-elects F.D.R. again (1940,1944), despite First Presidency's opposition.

Oct 31, 1978 - Spencer W. Kimball dedicates temple at Sao Paulo, Brazil. For previous three years Brazilian Mormons have donated their jewelry, including wedding rings, to help pay for constructing this temple. By Apostle Boyd K. Packer's specific instructions, LDS translation department renders his address into phonetic SPANISH which he delivers to Brazilians at the dedication.

Oct 31, 1981 - Apostle Bruce R McConkie preaches to combined stakes of BYU that second coming of Jesus Christ will not be in his lifetime or in lifetime of his children or his grandchildren. This runs contrary to the common folk belief that Christ will come in year 2000 or shortly thereafter.

October 30th

2008-10-31T23:05:00.001-07:00

Oct 30, 1838 - Militia attack the Haun's Mill settlement and murder seventeen men and boys. Thomas McBride, the oldest victim, is "cut to pieces with a corn cutter . . . literally mangled from head to foot." Sardius Smith, one of the youngest victims, begs for his life from a militiaman who put "his rifle near the boy's head, and literally blowed off the upper part of it." Although her son Sardius and husband are dead, Amanda Barnes Smith is preoccupied with one of her surviving sons, because "the entire hip joint of my wounded boy [Alma] had been shot away." She reports obtaining "a vision" from God about the way to care for the injury and tells her son that "the Lord will make you another hip." She would later write: "It is now nearly forty years ago, but Alma has never been the least crippled during his life."

Oct 30, 1843 - Brigham Young's diary states: "Monday evening Baptized Sisters Cuoub [Augusta Adams Cobb] & Hari[e]tt Cook." Two days later Joseph Smith marries these two women to Young. Augusta Adams Cobb married Henry Cobb of Boston, Mass., in 1822. She left him five of her seven children to join with the Mormons. Her husband divorced her in 1847-- four years after she married Brigham Young.

Oct 30, 1940 - First Counselor J. Reuben Clark persuades President Grant not to publish statement signed by all general authorities urging defeat of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt's candidacy for third term.

Oct 30, 1978 - First Presidency announces emeritus status for general authorities due to age, physical infirmity, or other reasons. Members of First Quorum of Seventy are first general authorities to receive this retirement.

October 29th

2008-10-31T23:04:00.002-07:00

Oct 29, 1840 - Apostle Brigham Young writes in his journal: "Elder Kimball and I went to Southport, . . . The Patriarch blessed us, and prophecied that there were those present who should not sleep in the grave until they should see the Son of Man come in his glory--namely, brother Kimball and myself."

Oct 29, 1882 - Second counselor Joseph F. Smith's sermon denies there have ever been Danites in Utah but acknowledges that "a few horse thieves and murderers have perchance been sumarily dealt with by officers of the law."

Oct 29, 1951 - John K Cannon is first Mormon appointed to four-star rank in U.S. military. With this promotion General Cannon is commander of U.S. Tactical Air Command. In World War II he was Commander-in-chief of Allied air forces in Europe and later for entire U.S. air force in Europe (1948-51).

October 28th

2008-10-31T23:04:00.001-07:00

Oct 28, 1845 - Major Warren of the Illinois Militia states in Nauvoo "that when he came in with his troops on Saturday he had writs against the Twelve for 'treason' but he considered it unjust to serve them, he considered that if the Twelve were to be harassed with writs, this people could not get away in the spring…"

Oct 28, 1905 - After week of Quorum of Twelve meetings so secret that no official minutes are kept, apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley write formal resignations due to their participation in post-Manifesto polygamy. Resignations are held in reserve unless considered necessary to save church from U.S. constitutional amendment or to save Apostle Reed Smoot from expulsion from U.S. Senate.

Oct 28, 1965 - Twelve students (at invitation of BYU's president) bring their own rock music and demonstrate contemporary "fad dances" for general authorities in church administration building. Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith says, "I don't know anything about them, and want to see them." Aftwards Apostle Gordon B. Hinckley exclaims, "Nothing like this has ever happened in this building before!" Not long afterwards BYU more strictly enforces its ban against contemporary "rock" dancing.

Oct 28, 1974 - Missionary companions Gary S. Darley and Mark F. Fischer are murdered in Texas by LDS convert who had returned to Pentecostal church. In its most sensational coverage ever, CHURCH NEWS reports that "body parts" of the missionaries are discovered on Nov. 13 and that murderer is sentenced to death in 1975 for killing the missionaries and "cutting up their bodies with a saw." In 1977, murderer successfully appeals his conviction due to illegal search, but remains in prison on other charges until his parole in 1988.

Oct 28, 1993 - Financed by LDS headquarters and coordinated by resident member of Tabernacle Choir, Hanoi Opera House performs Handel's "Messiah," sung in English by Vietnamese and accompanied by National Vietnam Symphony Orchestra.

October 27th

2008-10-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

Oct 27, 1838 - Upon learning of the Crooked River hostilities, Gov. Liburn W. Boggs gives orders to the Missouri militia: "The Mormons must be treated as enemies and MUST BE EXTERMINATED or driven from the state."

Oct 27, 1841 - Joseph Smith marries a woman polygamously who lives with her legal husband. Brigham Young University would later name one of its residence halls after her. Zina D. Huntington would also marry Brigham Young after Joseph's death, her legal husband, Henry Jacobs, standing a witness. This is the first of a dozen known cases of polyandry in Mormon history. Throughout his life Jacobs bemoans the fact that his wife and children have been taken from him. In death, however, he is buried 30 feet from Zina in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Oct 27, 1869 - Brigham Young preaches at Lehi, Utah that "by marriage Lot's two daughters were sealed to him, and will be his to all eternity." Young adds that it might one day become necessary to seals a man's daughter to him as a wife, "but it is not likely ever again to occur." There are verified instances of LDS leaders performing polygamous marriages between men and their foster-daughters or step-daughters, but not actual daughters.

Oct 27, 1892 - First Counselor George Q. Cannon tells apostles that Utah's newly appointed U.S. marshal has instructions from the Republican administration in Washington, D.C., to "do as he was directed by the heads of the Mormon Church. . . .He had expressed his willingness to do so, and had sent such word to the Presidency.

Oct 27, 1942 - Helmuth Huebner, age seventeen, is first Mormon the Gestapo executes (by beheading). He leads anti-Nazi resistance group involving two other German LDS teenagers who are sent to concentration camps. To protect other Mormons from Nazi reprisals, Hamburg branch president excommunicates Heubner shortly after his arrest. On Jan. 24, 1948 First Presidency orders following notation to appear on Huebner's membership records: "Excommunication done by mistake."

Oct 27, 1961 - First Presidency counselor Hugh B. Brown tells a church member Frederick S. Buchanan that a Mormon "can be a Democrat or a Socialist and still be a good church member." Brown adds that "he had just had a talk with Bro Benson" who was "on the carpet in regard to his political sallies of late." Benson had stated in the October general conference that "No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction” and "the internal threat to the American way of life is in the secret alliance which exists between the more advanced Social Democrats and the hard-core Communist conspiracy." Buchanan notes in his diary that Benson was leaving Brown’s office as he, Buchanan, was going in. A month later BYU president Ernest Wilkinson writes that Benson was privately criticizing "the socialistic tendencies" of Counselor Brown. And that that the two general authorities were already in "a vigorous dispute" about anti-Communism.

Oct 27, 1962 - in midst of Cuban Missile Crisis, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson publicly endorses John Birch Society as "the most effective non-church organization in our fight against creeping socialism and godless Communism," and his son Reed A. Benson announces that he is Utah coordinator of the society.

Oct 27, 1980 - Spencer W. Kimball dedicates temple at Tokyo, Japan.

Oct 27, 1983 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple near Papete, Tahiti.

October 26th

2008-10-31T23:02:00.000-07:00

Oct 26, 1843 - Joseph Smith seals Dr. John M. Bernhisel to his deceased sister Maria Bernhisel.

Oct 26, 1869 - Brigham Young writes to Thomas L. Kane in that the constitution of the State of Deseret had been amended so that "all male citizens of the United States over 21 years of age having residence of 6 months in this state (State of Deseret) shall be entitled to vote; the words 'free, white male,' having been struck out. The number of votes polled on this amendment was 14,000 for, and 30 against."

Oct 26, 1854 - Bishop publishes notice in DESERET NEWS that Enoch M. King is disfellowshipped "for repeatedly refusing to conform to the rules of said Church, in the law of Tithing."

Oct 26, 1904 - Apostle George Albert Smith instructs Salt Lake stake prayer circle: "Among some women the practice of removing the garments from the neck and arms and tying them behind the back was common. These were serious faults, and might result in the offenders being disfellowshipped."

Oct 26, 1933 - At temple council meeting his counselors and Twelve persuade Heber J. Grant not to distribute his Apr. and Oct. conference talks against repeal of national Prohibition. On Nov. 7 Utah's voters elect anti-Prohibition candidates who time their convention on Dec. 5 to make Utah the final state necessary to end Prohibition.

Oct 26, 2003 - Spencer LeVan Kimball, retired University of Chicago law professor and former executive director of the American Bar Association, dies in Salt Lake City at age 85. According to Illinois Bar Association Obituary: "A veteran of service as a Navy lieutenant during World War II and a Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Kimball graduated from the University of Utah Law School and became its dean at age 35. He later was a law professor and legal research director at the University of Michigan and dean of the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Kimball was director of the Wisconsin Statutes Revision Project, a model for insurance codes, and a founder of an international insurance law association." Spencer LeVan Kimball's disbelief in Mormonism is discussed in the official biography of his father Spencer W. Kimball.

Oct 26, 1995 - BYU's spokesman announces that university officials have accepted explanation of mathematics professor John Milo Peterson that only "a clerical error" was involved in his claiming for twenty years that University of Georgia had awarded him Ph.D. degree (which qualifies him as specialist in mathematics) rather than his actual degree of Ed.D. (which qualifies him as specialist in educational techniques) from Utah State University. Peterson is currently stake president and his college dean is patriarch of that stake. As stake president, Peterson asks every applicant for priesthood ordination and temple recommends following question: "Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?" In 1993 national CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION noted that Peterson's annual salary was $103,000 (among BYU's top five) as full professor and director of graduate program in mathematics.

October 25th

2008-10-25T18:45:00.001-07:00

Oct 25, 1831 - Conference is held in the home of nineteen-year-old Stephen Burnett where Burnett is ordained a High Priest by Oliver Cowdery. A few months later Burnett is appointed by revelation (D&C 75:35 and D&C 80:1) to two missions but later leaves the Church and denounces Joseph Smith. In 1838 an official church publication calls Burnett “an ignorant little blockhead.” Burnett stated that the "last pedestal" of support for belief in the church gave way when he "came to hear Martin Harris state in public that he never saw the plates with his natural eyes only in vision or imagination, neither Oliver [Cowdery] nor David [Whitmer] & that the eight witnesses never saw them & hesitated to sign that instrument for that reason, but were persuaded to do it."
The office of deacon is first introduced. Although deacon is referred to in a published revelation of April 6, 1830, the earliest manuscript does not seem to date before 1831.

Oct 25, 1838 - Apostle David W. Patten is killed while leading Danites against the Missouri militia in the "Battle of Crooked River." Apostle Parley P. Pratt kills a militiaman, and wounds another who (while unconscious on the ground) is mutilated by enraged Danites.

Oct 25, 1880 - DESERET NEWS editorial. "A Utah Genius," suggests that some of Utah's "public-spirited men who have means to spare for occasional luxuries" order sculpture work by 17-year-old Cyrus Dallin and pay him in advance so he can continue art studies in Boston.

Oct 25, 1890 - First Presidency publicly establishes Religion Classes. America's first experiment in separate weekday religious training for public school students. This elementary level program merges with LDS Primary program in May 1929. Seminaries for LDS high school students are spin-off which lasts longer than the innovative Religion Classes.

Oct 25, 1893 - U.S. President Grover Cleveland signs congressional resolution for return of church's confiscated monies and personal property. Utah Supreme Court returns these properties to church authorities on Jan. 10, 1894.

Oct 25, 1905 - Public criticism of Joseph F. Smith's remarks that Father Damien of Hawaiian leper colony was immoral before his death. LDS church president is convinced that leprosy is contracted through sexual contact.

Oct 25, 1992 - General authority Malcolm S. Jeppsen prepares talk which he gives to LDS leaders in Utah during next several weeks, listing twenty warning signs of apostasy. In addition to usual cautions about current polygamy, he includes: "those who advocate a mother in heaven and women holding the priesthood," those who hold special prayer meetings in private, "John Birch membership or leanings," and those who store more than LDS headquarter's recommendation of one-year's supply of food.

October 24th

2008-10-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Oct 24, 1837 - An appeals court confirms the conviction and $1,000 fine each of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon for operating an illegal bank.

Oct 24, 1838 - Apostles Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde prepare an affidavit against Joseph Smith for destroying non-Mormon property through Danite operatives.

Oct 24, 1841 - On the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem Apostle Orson Hyde dedicates Palestine for the return of Jewish people.

Oct 24, 1894 - Wilford Woodruff and his two counselors each give approval for Apostle Abraham H Cannon to marry another plural wife. In all, ten general authorities marry post-Manifesto plural wives by permission of church president or his counselors during next ten years.

Oct 24, 1901 - Joseph F. Smith ordains his oldest son Hyrum M. Smith as new member or Twelve. Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "I called attention to the charge that was likely to be made of Nepotism." Before learning of his appointment, Apostle Smith recommends as new apostle "the names of the sons of dead apostles."

Oct 24, 1927 - B. H. Roberts writes to Apostle Richard R. Lyman about his decision to not present further Book of Mormon problems he has uncovered to the Quorum of the Twelve. He does, however, present Lyman with an eighteen-page document titled "A Parallel" which shows numerous parallels between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's "View of the Hebrews" published in Vermont before the Book of Mormon. Copies of "A Parallel" circulates in the Mormon underground during the late 1920s and through the early 1940s. It is finally published in the "Rocky Mountain Mason" in 1956 and later is circulated widely being available on the internet.

Oct 24, 1964 - Australian judge comments that "it seems a particularly extraordinary way of bringing religion to the notice of the housewife," as he imposes criminal fines on two LDS missionaries for impersonating government inspectors in order to enter the home of potential investigators. From mid-1950's to 1980's there are published complaints in various parts of Australia that LDS missionaries force their way through partly opened doors and refuse to leave until householder listens to message about LDS church.

Oct 24, 1968 - Apostle Ezra Taft Benson replies to a letter asking child rearing advice: "I wish my good wife, who has had major responsibility for the training of our children, could talk to you personally. You see, I have been away from home approximately half of our married life, occasioned by my Church service and employment."

Oct 24, 1979 - Spencer W. Kimball dedicates Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens in Jerusalem.

Oct 24, 1986 - Ezra Taft Benson dedicates temple near Denver, Colorado.

Oct 24, 1989 - Tonga's princess 'Elisiva Fusipala Vaha'i is baptized.

October 23rd

2008-10-25T18:43:00.002-07:00

Oct 23, 4004 B.C. - The earth is created, according to Anglican Bishop James Ussher (1581-1656) based upon his chronology of the Old Testament. This "recent creation" view is accepted into Mormonism when Joseph Smith states that Jesus was born four thousand years after the fall.

Oct 23, 1838 - Albert P. Rockwood writes, "the Mob disperse by hundreds on the approach of the Danites (Brethren)."

Oct 23, 1853 - Brigham Young preaches, "Many received heavenly visions, revelations, the ministering of holy angels, and the manifestations of the power of God . . . before the ordinances of the house of God were preached to the people."
He also preaches: "Look for instance at Adam. LISTEN, YE LATTER-DAY SAINTS! Supposing that Adam was formed actually out of clay, out of the same kind of material from which bricks are formed; that with this matter God made the pattern of a man, and breathed into it the breath of life, and left it there, in that state of supposed perfection, he would have been an adobie to this day. He would not have known anything. Some of you may doubt the truth of what I now say, and argue that the Lord could teach him. This is a mistake. The Lord could not have taught him in any other way than in the way in which He did teach him. You believe Adam was made of the dust of this earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding."

Oct 23, 1888 - Wilford Woodruff and apostles approve sending $20,000 to bribe Democratic members of Congress to help Utah Mormon cause.

Oct 23, 1927 - Heber J. Grant dedicates temple in Mesa, Arizona.

Oct 23, 1946 - BYU campus newspaper reports that professor of religion Richard Thomson, announced in a class that "during a vision last night, it was made known to me that 'you bet' is the anglicization of "hubet," the pure Adamic word for "you're welcome." Either the word has survived relatively intact for many millennia, or else it was revealed to the true Saints in the nineteenth century as part of the restoration of all things. Personally, I support the latter view." This announcement leads to the creation of the "Hubet Society of BYU" (HSBYU), which in turn leads to an attempt to create an Adamic 101 course. The entire movement is crushed when Jesse Wright, Provo Central Stake president, speaks at a BYU fireside and calls Professor Thomson, who lived in the stake, "insane," "an apostate and a heretic." Professor Thomson soon disappears from BYU.

Oct 23, 1949 - President of the Brazilian Mission, Rulon S. Howells, meets with the elders. He announced that the only way the Church would grow in a certain city would be to separate the two blacks and whites, with a white branch using the chapel and the blacks meeting in a home of one of the members. They could be brought back together when the white branch was stronger and the idea of integrated meetings was more acceptable.

Oct 23, 1952 - Apostle Henry D. Moyle expresses opposition in meeting of First Presidency and apostles concerning proposal to add lace to temple garments for women. Temple council meeting approves this on Dec. 4.

Oct 23, 1963 - Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith, president of Twelve, writes: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother [Ezra Taft] Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain."

Oct 23, 1975 - Article "The Man With Ten Wives" in ROLLING STONE tells of former mainstream Mormon and now fundamentalist Mormon Alex Joseph and his ten wives. The author, feminist journalist Sara Davidson, admits that her original intent was to "seek out the Josephs and find the flaw in their story." However she ends up realizing that "the marriage works for these people . . . each wife adds a new dimension to the family." Her admiration for certain of the wives battles with her assumption that no emotionally healthy woman could elect to become a polygamous wife.

Oct 23, 1985 - A week after two people are killed by bombs in Salt Lake City, three top Church officials hold an unprecedented open news conference to respond "to questions, speculations, and innuendos" surrounding the bombing tragedy: Gordon B. Hinckley, second counselor in the First Presidency; Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve Apostles; and Hugh W. Pinnock of the First Quorum of Seventy. President Hinckley begins by reading a prepared statement, which states that through Mark Hofmann the Church had acquired "by purchase, donation, or trade forty-some documents." A curious contradiction arises when a KBYU reporter asks why the Church is so intent on acquiring historical memorabilia. Elder Oaks reiterated "that the Church was very intent on not getting" the M'Lellin collection, while President Hinckley followed up with the observation, "We are under mandate" from Church revelations "to keep the history of the Church, and we regard that very seriously." SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reporter Dawn Tracy hints the acquisition of the 1825 Joseph Smith letter had its questionable aspects. Why didn't President Hinckley, who purchased the document with personal funds for the Church consult archivist Don Schmidt? she asks. Why wasn't Dean Jessee, the LDS authority on Joseph Smith's handwriting, allowed to examine or authenticate the letter? President Hinckley responds, "I don't know.".

Oct 23, 1991 - Paul H. Dunn sends an "open letter to the members of the Church." It states: "I confess that I have not always been accurate in my public talks and writings. Furthermore, I have indulged in other activities inconsistent with the high and sacred office which I have held. For all of these I feel a deep sense of remorse, and ask forgiveness of any whom I may have offended. My brethren of the General Authorities, over a long period of time, have conducted in-depth investigations of the charges made against me. They have weighed the evidence. They have censured me and placed a heavy penalty upon me. I accept their censure and the imposed penalty, and pledge to conduct my life in such a way as to merit their confidence and full fellowship. In making these acknowledgements, I plead for the understanding of my brethren and sisters throughout the Church and give assurance of my determination so to live as to bring added respect to the cause I deeply love, and honor to the Lord who is my Redeemer. Sincerely, Paul H. Dunn." The letter is the lead news story on all three Salt Lake City TV News programs and was reported in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE and the DESERET NEWS. Elder Dunn's statement that for a "long period of time" Church leaders "conducted in-depth investigations" of his actions appears to contradict a previous First Presidency statement responding to the Arizona Republic story that it had "no way of fully or finally verifying the accuracy or inaccuracy" of the allegations. Church spokesperson Don LeFevre tells the DESERET NEWS that the nature of Elder Dunn's penalty is "an internal matter, and we don't discuss such matters" publicly.

Oct 23, 1995 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that during formal meeting with University of Utah's president, nine Utah legislators from Utah County (home of BYU) criticize coursework at state campus. Utah County legislators (including several members of appropriations committee for University of Utah) complain about "topics being taught that are inconsistent with the beliefs of the predominant religion, particularly in the Graduate School of Social Work and the department of philosophy." These legislators (eight republicans out of nine) also have "concerns about the Women's Resource Center."

October 22nd

2008-10-25T18:43:00.001-07:00

Oct 22, 1823 - The WAYNE SENTINAL in Palmyra, New York publishes an account of a vision "seen and received by Asa Wild, of Amsterdam, (N. Y.)" In the vision "the Great Jehovah" appeared and "He also told me, that every denomination of professing christians had become extremely corrupt; . . .He told me further, that he had raised up, and was now raising up, that class of persons signified by the angel mentioned by the Revelator XIV. 6, 7, which flew in the midst of heaven; having the everlasting gospel to preach, that these persons are of an inferior [social] class, and small learning; that they were rejected by every denomination as a body; but soon, God will open their way, by miracles, judgments, &c. that they will have higher authority, greater power, superior inspiration, and a greater degree of holiness than was ever experienced before . . ."

Oct 22, 1837 - Twenty-two Mormons are disfellowshipped at church headquarters in Kirtland for "uniting with the world [non-Mormons] in a dance…"

Oct 22, 1840 - Wilford Woodruff, on a mission in England learns that his first-born child has died over three months earlier.

Oct 22, 1862 - The DESERET NEWS editorial concerning U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's recently-issued Emancipation Proclamation: "We demand to be informed whence the President derives his power to issue any such proclamation as he has now published. Not from the Constitution surely, for it is in plain violation of some of its leading provisions…He is fully adrift on the current of radical fanaticism. We regret for his sake, we lament for the sake of the country, that he has been coerced by the insanity of radicals, by the denunciation of their presses, by the threats of their governors and senators."

Oct 22, 1866 - Dr. J. King Robinson is murdered in Salt Lake City. Witnesses see seven men leaving scene of crime but claim inability to identify them. Brigham Young publicly condemns the act, offers $500 reward on Oct 23 for arrest of murderes. After three Salt Lake City police officers (all Mormons) are charged with the murder, Young withdraws reward on Feb. 1, 1872 because he has "no desire to endanger the lives of innocent men."

Oct 22, 1882 - David H. Peery resigns as stake president due to his refusal to accept Oct. 1882 revelation's requirement for polygamous marriage.

Oct 22, 1894 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon records in his journal: "In the forenoon Prince Galatzin of the Russian Imperial Council of State, and Lieutenant General of the Russian army came into the News Office to purchase some books. I was asked in German, which language he speaks fluently, as well as French, where he could see Pres. Woodruff. He desired me to show him the office, which I did, and introduced him to the President and Father, with whom he had some conversation. He was accompanied by a local Catholic priest. To my astonishment he was given permission by Pres. Woodruff to visit the [dedicated Salt Lake] temple under my guidance, and both these gentlemen passed through the holy place, Bishop Winder going with us. They were much struck with the elegance of the place..."

Oct 22, 1903 - First Presidency and Twelve authorize purchase of twenty five acres of the original temple lot at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. Purchase is complete on 14 Apr 1904. These purchases continue throughout twentieth century.

Oct 22, 1903 - LDS President Joseph F. Smith receives a letter from a non-Mormon stating: "I find that Christ in quoting to the people on this side of the water, the third and fourth chapters of Malachi, quotes, according to the Book of Mormon, in the identical text of King James' version, not missing a word. I find chapters of Isaiah quoted practically in the same way. I find that in many instances, in his talks with the people, and to his disciples here, he used the identical language of King James' version, not omitting the words supplied by the translators. Now, I know that no two parties will take the same manuscript and make translations of a matter contained therein, and the language of the two translators be alike; indeed, the language employed by the two parties will widely differ. These translations are from different manuscripts, and from different languages, and still it appears in the Book of Mormon as King James' translation. I can conceive of no other way in which such a coincidence could have occurred, within the range of human experience, except where one writing is copied from another, and then it takes the utmost care to get them exactly alike, word for word, and letter for letter as this is." The letter is referred to B. H. Roberts. Roberts begins his multi-page reply: "The difficulty which you point out of course has been recognized by believers in the Book of Mormon, but I do not know that I can say that the Church as yet has settled upon any explanation which could be regarded as an authoritative view on the subject. Each one has been left to settle the matter upon the lines which seem most reasonable to him."

Oct 22, 1904 - First Presidency send a letter to Apostle John W. Taylor in Canada and to Apostle George Teasdale in Mexico informing them of the decision of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve on 26 September to withdraw the authority that "President Woodruff and President Snow, each in his time, authorized some of the Apostles, and perhaps others to perform sealings for time and eternity" in places other than the temples.

Oct 22, 1976 - First Presidency statement against ratification of proposed Equal Rights Amendment to U.S. Constitution, "which could indeed bring them far more restraints and repressions. We fear it will even stifle many God-given feminine instincts." In supplemental letter of Dec. 29 Presidency urges all mission presidents and stake presidents "to join others in efforts to defeat the ERA." This leads to coordinated efforts by Mormons in twenty-one states to lobby state legislators against ratification of ERA or to persuade voters to rescind previous ratification.

Oct 22, 1980 - Norma Matheson, wife of Utah's Democratic Governor Scott Matheson, leaves BYU's "Speak Off" political forum lecture in tears after student outbursts interrupt her closing statement. BYU Student Body President Jeffrey Duke and Vice President Thomas Peterson later issued a formal apology to Mrs. Matheson: "We were appalled that any Brigham Young University student should be so inconsiderate, and we express our deepest regret at the lack of respect shown by some to you personally and as the first lady of Utah."

October 21st

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Oct 21, 1844 - Apostle Orson Hyde, then husband of three wives, writes: "I will now venture a prediction, that since Nauvoo has thrown off so much bile from its stomach [i.e., Sidney Rigdon] it will be more healthy, and less complaints about spiritual wives, adultery, bogus making, &c. &c." The letter is published two months later in a Mormon newspaper.

Oct 21, 1874 - Polygamist George Reynolds is approached by First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon and told he has been selected to be a test case on the legality of polygamy. Reynolds is arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. On appeal his conviction is set aside on a technicality, Reynolds's case is re-tried. He is convicted in the re-trial and is sentenced to two years in prison.. His case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court where his conviction, and the legality of the anti-polygamy laws are upheld but the hard labor part of his sentence is overturned as being excessive. With time off for good conduct he serves one year and seven months in prison. In 1890, he is sustained as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies.

Oct 21, 1891 - The First Presidency's Office Journal records that President Wilford Woodruff stated "that the manifesto was just as authoritative and binding as though it had been given in the form of 'Thus saith the Lord,' and that its affecting unlawful cohabitation cases was but the logical sequence of its scope and intent regarding polygamous marriages, as the laws of the land forbid both, and that therefore, although he at the time did not perceive the far-reaching effect it would have, no other ground could be taken than that which he had taken and be consistent with the position the manifesto had placed us in."

Oct 21, 1900 - Alexander F. Macdonald performs plural marriage in Mexico, his first since 1890. Second counselor Joseph F. Smith authorizes this without knowledge of church president Lorenzo Snow, who later threatens to excommunicate this patriarch.

Oct 21, 1917 - Joseph F. Smith's two counselors write to President Smith: "It surely appears that important events are rapidly moving on towards 'the great consummation,'" World War II has made this millenial sentiment common.

Oct 21, 1922 - Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith counseled local patriarch Joseph A. Quibell about "cranks" and others who go about trying to get a blessing from every patriarch they meet: "I think every member of the Church should have at least one blessing . . . and for that purpose the Stake Patriarchs are placed in the church--for it is an utter impossibility for the Patriarch of the Church to bless all the people. I think all members of the Church may receive blessings in the stakes, and then those who are fortunate enough may receive one from the Presiding Patriarch--then they should be well blessed for this life."

Oct 21, 1971 - First Presidency secretary Joseph Anderson writes that conscientious objectors can teach, partake of sacrament, hold church offices, and receive temple recommends.

Oct 21, 1973 - First Presidency letter urges 78,800 Mormons in Washington state to vote against referendum to allow nineteen-year-olds to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.

October 20th

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Oct 20, 1916 - Solomon Spaulding dies in Amity, Pennsylvania at age 55.

Oct 20, 1824 - The First Baptist Church in Palmyra welcomes 8 new converts. This is the first of many for the Baptist Church during the revival of 1824-25. For the one year period from October 1824 to the end of September 1825 there were a total of 94 persons baptized, by the Baptists and an increase of 87 members. Membership increased from 132 to 219 (65 percent). By comparison in the whole year of 1820 there were only eight new members baptized into the church.

Oct 20, 1839 - The Nauvoo High Council makes Joseph Smith treasurer of the Church, empowered to set prices and to sell real-estate lots in Nauvoo as well as to discharge other business functions.

Oct 20, 1840 - Patriarch Hyrum Smith gives a patriarchal blessing: "You are of the Tribe of Caleb according to the manifestation of the Spirit; or a descendant of Caleb; and according to the blessings of thy lineage, are entitled to the blessings made to that Tribe; and shall possess them in thy day; for you have integrity and zeal for the cause of God. . . . And in your day, shall the plates containing the Record of Mormon, and the Brass Plates, be brought into the bosom of the church; and also many other sacred records for the benefit of the Saints."

Oct 20, 1842 - Apostle Orson Hyde writes to Apostle Orson Pratt that during a voyage from Beirut to Jaffa Hyde saw clearly in the sky "a very bright glittering sword. . .with a beautiful hilt, as plain and complete as any cut you ever saw. And, what is still more remarkable, an arm, with a perfect hand, stretched itself out and took hold of the hilt of the sword. The appearance really made my hair rise, and the flesh, as it were, to crawl on my bones. The Arabs made a wonderful outcry at the sight: 'O, Allah, Allah, Allah!' was their exclamation all over the vessel." In the letter Hyde explains, ""I mention this, because you know there is a commandment to me which says: 'Unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the sign of the coming of the Son of Man.'"

Oct 20, 1843. - William Clayton writes: "Joseph gave us much instruction, showing the advantages of the E[verlasting] C[ovenant]. He said there was two seals in the Priesthood. The first was that which was placed upon a man and woman when they made the covenant and the other was the seal which alloted to them their particular mansion. After his discourse B. F. Johnson and his wife were united in an everlasting covenant."

Oct 20, 1857 - As Mormon troops leave to confront U.S. regiment, first counselor Heber C. Kimball "promise[s] them that if they would live the religion of Christ not one of them should fall by the hand of an enemy." There are no military deaths in Utah War.

Oct 20, 1893 - Apostle Franklin D. Richards writes in his diary, "At 1130 L[orenzo] S[now], F[ranklin] D R[ichards], F[rancis] M L[yman], J[ohn] H[enry] S[mith], A[braham] H Cannon met the 3 Presidency at their office. A telegram states that 5 persons therein named are reported up to the Attorney General with necessary proof offered of violation of Edmunds Tucker act & warning us to keep clear of any violation thereof." First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve agree to bribe Utah's non-LDS attorney general to prevent indictment of general authorities for unlawful cohabitation.

Oct 20, 1898 - First plural marriage performed in Salt Lake City by Apostle Matthias F. Cowley by authorization of Conselor George Q. Cannon who allows him to perform plural marriages in U.S. for high-ranking church officers not required to travel to Mexico.

Oct 20, 1903 - Death of Green Flake, African-American slave who drove Brigham Young into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Green was owned by Mormon James M. Flake who lent him along with a wagon and two mules to the Church for the 1847 trek west. Upon the death of James M. Flake in 1850 his widow moved to California, a free state, but before leaving gave her "Negro slave Green Flake" to the Church as tithing. Green worked two years for Brigham Young and for Heber C. Kimball, and was then granted his freedom. After his wife's death he moved to Idaho. He returned to Salt Lake in 1897 to attend the 50th anniversary "jubilee" celebration of the arrival of the pioneers, where he received a certificate honoring him as a surviving member of the Brigham Young pioneer company. He is one of three slaves listed on the plaque on the Brigham Young monument in downtown Salt Lake City under the category of "Colored Servants."

Oct 20, 1905 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "All of the First Presidency and Twelve in the City met in the Temple and discussed the situation at Washington and the position in which the absent brethren had placed themselves by their acts." The "absent brethren" were apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley, who continued to refuse to testify in the Smoot hearings to avoid questioning concerning their post-manifesto polygamy activities.

Oct 20, 1962 - CHURCH NEWS announces purchase of church's first shortwave radio station, WRUL, in Boston and New Youk City. Purchase price is $1,771,850. Church sells its shortwave station in 1974 in response to satellite, cable, and videotape technologies.

Oct 20, 1969 - While BYU's basketball team is playing University of Wyoming in Laramie, fourteen African-Americans are disqualified from Wyoming's team for wearing black armbands in protest of LDS church's priesthood restriction. Game continues despite objects thrown by spectators at playing floor and audience shouting accusations of racism against BYU's athletes. Wyoming defeats BYU by 33 points.

Oct 20, 1982 - The LDS Church purchases a letter written by David Whitmer for $10,000. The letter is purchased from Mark Hofmann and is one of his forgeries. Gordon B. Hinckley had authorized $15,000 for the purchase, but Hofmann reduced the price in a show of good will.

Oct 20, 1986 - LDS Lt-Gen. Robert C. Oaks is commander of Allied Forces in southern Europe. He is uncle of recently-sustained apostle Dallin H. Oaks.

Oct 20, 1990 - LaRae Orullian is elected national president of Girl Scouts of America. She is Mormon president of Women's Bank in Denver, Colorado.

Oct 20, 1992 - Provo DAILY HERALD letter to the editor: "'BYU Students for Clinton' the sign blared at the Salt Lake airport at Clinton's departure. Excuse me! Is this the same pro-abortion, pro-gay rights, pro-excessive government, pro-immorality Clinton who has endeared himself to so many people with like values? Why would a BYU student support such a man for president? Bill Clinton stomps on every value that the LDS church and BYU stand for. . . . If abortion, homosexuality, and immorality are on Clinton's agenda, why would a morally upright person want to support him? What also must a teacher or teachers supporting Clinton be teaching students at BYU? BYU should clean house. There are thousands of 'liberal' arts colleges around to take the malcontents at BYU. Before Satan gets both feet in the door at BYU let those on the Lord's side stand up and be counted so that truth can prevail."

October 19th

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Oct 19, 1843 - Joseph Smith tells his secretary William Clayton not to worry about an upcoming birth from a secret polygamous union: "if they raise trouble about it and bring you before me I will give you an awful scourging and probably cut you off from the church and then I will baptise you and set you ahead as good as ever."

Oct 19, 1844 - William Clayton writes in his journal: "Last night I dreamed I was in a rich building in a very pleasant place. I thought I was married to Brother Cutlers Youngest daughter and she seemed as happy as an angel and I felt full of joy and peace. I thought I had received Miss Cutler in addition to those I had already got. When I awoke I felt disappointed and felt to pray in my heart O God if it be thy will to give me that woman for a companion and my soul shall praise thee but thy will be done and not mine." Emily Cutler was sixteen years old at this time; Clayton was 30 years old and had three wives. He went on to have ten wives and 47 children.

Oct 19, 1845 - William Smith, brother of Joseph Smith, Apostle and Presiding Patriarch, is excommunicated for his pamphlet denouncing apostolic succession. The October conference had already dropped him as an Apostle and Presiding Patriarch.

Oct 19, 1856 - Brigham Young reports to his personal prayer circle that he has received a letter from Apostle Orson Hyde in Carson Valley and accuses the Hyde of writing things "day after day against God, our religion, and the people, for a few dimes." Young asserts that Hyde "ought to be cut off from the Quorum of the Twelve and the Church. He is no more fit to stand at the head of the Quorum of the Twelve than a dog. His soul is entirely occupied with a few dimes and it is much more in his eyes than God, heaven and eternal life. He is a stink in my nostrils."

Also on this day U.S. postmaster general James Campbell awards a Utah mail contract to Hiram Kimball, representing Brigham Young's newly formed BYX Company, for $23,000. The company name had been reduced to initials to conceal Young's involvement. Kimball and Young does not learn of their good fortune for some time because of a delay in the mail. This delay postpones the first BYX mail departure from the valley until 8 February 1857. Young chose Bill Hickman and O. Porter Rockwell to be his main mailmen ("pony express" riders). Hickman did not want to go but Young told him it was his duty. When Hickman returned to the Valley 4 months later he lamented that he was $1000 poorer than when he started. Brigham Young did not pay him for his part in the project.

Oct 19, 1884 - President John Taylor, speaking in Ogden two days after testifying in an anti-polygamy case, says he doesn't want to know anything that he might be asked to divulge on the stand someday: "Therefore I tell them to keep their own secrets, and remember what is called the Mormon creed: 'Mind your own business.' . . . I have studiously avoided knowing any more than I could possibly help about such matters."

Oct 19, 1891 - Church President Wilford Woodruff testifies under oath that the manifesto also forbids men from living with their plural wives whom they married before the manifesto.

Oct 19, 1896 - President Wilford Woodruff preaches: "Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles. . . . Brigham Young also visited me after his death. On one occasion he and Brother Heber C. Kimball came in a splendid chariot, with fine white horses, and accompanied me to a conference that I was going to attend."

Oct 19, 1899 - At a meeting of the First Presidency and apostles it is agreed to no longer charge fee for giving blessings to departing full-time missionaries.. Formerly 50 cents was charged. At the same meeting "Pres. J. F. Smith stated that brethren going on missions who were over sixty years of age were instructed that, as the church did not require elders beyond that age to take missions, if they were released on account of sickness or physical disability, they would be obliged to bear their expenses home." It is also suggested and approved that "that the brethren in visiting the conferences should call the bishopric[s] of the wards together and give them some special instructions—especially in regard to visiting members of their wards who were slack in the payment of tithes or were non-tithepayers, and seek in [a] private way to convert them to the principle."

Oct 19, 1894 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon records that his father, First Counselor in the First Presidency George Q. Cannon: "spoke to me about taking some good girl and raising up seed by her for my brother David." Within days, he has the hearty approval of the two other members of the First Presidency. This polygamous marriage occurs two years later after a long courtship.

Oct 19, 1901 - Apostle Rudger Clawson records: "I had a long talk with President A. H. Lund [First Counselor to Joseph F. Smith] regarding the financial condition of the church. Among other things, I told him that the present church indebtedness in round numbers amounted to $1,237,000.00."

Oct 19, 1926 - The First Presidency writes to First Quorum of Seventies President Joseph W. McMurrin: "We find upon inquiry that it has been some years since ordinances bestowing second blessings have been performed in cases where both parties are dead. Where people are sealed in the temple for and on behalf of the dead, or in cases where people who are dead were themselves sealed while living, the feeling has always been that every privilege, power and blessing of every description will be given to them, if they have lived worthy of same, and that they could not have more even if they had additional blessings sealed upon them. We, therefore, feel that there is no necessity of performing the ordinances that Sister Smith requests."

Oct 19, 1965 - BYU DAILY UNIVERSE article "Men Prefer War, Women Marriage" reports that 84 percent of male BYU students express a willingness to fight in Vietnam.

Oct 19, 1971 - Genesis Group is organized for Salt Lake Valley's 200 LDS African-Americans to meet for auxiliary organizations, while attending sacrament meetings in their respective wards. Apostle Gordon B. Hinckley sets apart Ruffin Bridgeforth, Jr. as president, with Darius Gray and Eugene Orr as counselors.

Oct 19, 1984 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple at Dallas, Texas.

Oct 19-20, 1891 - First Presidency and Lorenzo Snow, Twelve's president, and Apostle Anthon H. Lund testify in court that Manifesto prohibits new plural marriages anywhere in world and prohibits cohabitation with wives married before the Manifesto and that the church will excommunicate violators. Although testimony is pulished in various editions of DESERET NEWS, all polygamous general authorities violate this by continuing to cohabit with their plural wives after 1891. In 1904 President Joseph F. Smith testifies under oath that he is in violation of both the "law of the land" as well as the "law of the church" in continuing to cohabit with plural wives.

October 18th

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Oct 18, 1838 - Apostle David W. Patten, known by his Danite title "Captain Fearnought," descends on Gallatin, Missouri with a large contingent of Mormons and, after plundering the small village, burns most of it to the ground. Then the marauders pillage the Daviess County countryside, depositing their spoils, which they term "consecrated property," in the bishop's storehouse at Diahman.

Oct 18, 1840 - Wilford Woodruff records: "while forming a determination to warn the people in London & overcome the powers of Darkness by the assistance of God; A person appeared unto me which I considerd was the Prince of Darkness or the Devel. He made war with me & attempted to take my life. He caught me by the throat & choaked me nearly to death. He wounded me in my forehead. I also wounded him in a number of places in the head. As he was about to overcome me I prayed to the father in the name of Jesus for help. I then had power over him & he left me though much wounded. 3 personage dressed in white Came to me & prayed with me & I was immediately healed & delivered me from all my troubles."

Oct 18, 1851 - Trial of confessed murderer (and newly returned-missionary) Howard Egan. His lawyer Apostle George A. Smith popularizes phrase "mountain common law" and argues: "The man who seduces his neighbor's wife must die, and her nearest relative must kill him!" Fifteen minutes later jury finds Egan not guilty of murder. Church authorities print Smith's closing argument in DESERET NEWS, in two church pamphlets, and later in Journal of Discourses 1:97. Egan is one of Brigham Young's enforcers. Six years later when Parley P. Pratt is killed by a husband whose wife he seduced, however, Mormons are outraged.

Oct 18, 1857 - William A. Hickman kills non-Mormon Richard Yates for trying to transport munitions to U.S. army. Hickman later implicates Britham Young, second counselor Daniel H. Wells, and Joseph A. Young in decision, and judge Hosea Stout in actual murder. In 1858 Mormon woman says that Yates "disappeared--'used up [killed] in the pocket of the Lord,' we call it--and Bill Hickman--one of the 'Destroyers'--passed through this very town, waved the overcoat of Yates, and riding his bay pony." Hickman later writes that he gave to President Young money he took from Yates's body. Despite arrest and pre-trial detention, all those indicted in 1871 for Yates murder are freed by U.S. Supreme Court in 1872 due to improper impaneling of juries.
On the same day Heber C. Kimball preaches: "Brethren, our enemies never will inhabit these valleys if we do just as we are told from this time forth; and we will inhabit these valleys and will have power and victory over our enemies from this time henceforth and for ever. . . . I felt pretty well in Nauvoo, at the time brother Brigham was speaking of; though I did regret —perhaps I did wrong—but I did regret that peace was proclaimed so quick; for I tell you there were about one or two score of men I wanted to see under the sod; then I was willing to make peace: but I had to, as it was. We have made peace a great many times, and the United States have taken a course to make us do as they wished us; but let me tell you that day is past and gone, and we will now proclaim the course they will have to take; and they will have to make peace with us, and we never shall make peace with them again. Brother Brigham will designate the course they have got to take; and if they come here, they have got to give up their arms: they cannot come in here with a gun on their shoulders, or a pistol in their belts."
Also on the same day Brigham Young preaches: "I would just as soon tell them as to tell you my mode of warfare. As the Lord God lives, we will waste our enemies by millions, if they send them here to destroy us, and not a man of us be hurt. That is the method I intend to pursue. Do you want to know what is going to be done with the enemies now on our borders? If they come here, I will tell you what will be done. As soon as they start to come hate our settlements, let sleep depart from their eyes and slumber from their eyelids until they sleep in death, for they have been warned and forewarned that we will not tamely submit to being destroyed. Men shall be secreted here and there and shall waste away our enemies, in the name of Israel's God. . . . I am going to observe the old maxim—'He that fights and runs away, Lives to fight another day.'"

Oct 18, 1860 - Brigham Young's Office Journal records : "B[righam] Y[oung] observed Pres[ident] Buchanan will be despised of God, man and the devil; he might be kind to his women and children but he is an ignorant man and would misuse his old friends for his present ones. Franklin Pierce, is a far more talented man than Buchanan ever was, but he ought to have been born a woman. Fillmore has more sound sense than all of the others put together."

Oct 18, 1861 - Brigham Young sends first message on newly completed Overland Telegraph line to president of Pacific Telegraph Company in Ohio: "Utah has not seceded, but is firm for the Constitution and laws of our once happy country."

Oct 18, 1890 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon writes concerning bribery of federal officials: "Thus with a little money a channel of communications is dept open between the government offices and the suffering and persecuted Church members."
The DESERET WEEKLY NEWS states, concerning the recently issued Manifesto, "There is nothing in President Woodruff's declaration in regard to faith, or doctrine, or tenets, but it contains a volume in a few words as to practice."

Oct 18, 1894 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman records: "October 18, 1894:] I talked with Pres[ident] Snow upon the Word of Wisdom. He does not seem to look upon it so seriously as some of us do. "

Oct 18, 1914 - Joseph F. Smith and Apostle Francis M. Lyman publicly state that undergarments worn by endowed persons outside temple must "come high up on the neck and down to the wrists and ankles, for that was the pattern revealed from heaven."

Oct 18, 1963 _ Robert McKay, David O. McKay's son as well as his secretary, writes to a U.S. Congressman concerning Apostle Ezra Taft Benson's assignment to Europe: "We shall all be relieved when Elder Benson ceases to resist counsel and returns to a concentration on those affairs befitting his office. It is my feeling that there will be an immediate and noticeable curtailment of his Birch Society activities." A week later, U.S. under-secretary of state W. Averill Harriman asks First Presidency First Counselor Hugh B. Brown how long Benson would be on this European mission. Brown replies: "If I had my way, he'd never come back."

Oct 18, 1970 - NEW YORK TIMES article, "A Challenge to Some Hallowed Tenets of Mormonism," discusses recently-discovered Book of Abraham Papyri.

Oct 18, 1980 - CHURCH NEWS article about LDS institute of religion at university: "Kim R. Rogers was warmly received despite [his] long hair, liberal attitudes."

Oct 18, 1988 - At request of Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley, President Ezra Taft Benson appoints committee of three apostle-lawyers (Howard W. Hunter, James E. Faust, and Dallin H. Oaks) to formally investigate the publicly announced claims that as an apostle Hinckley allegedly had long-term homosexual affair with younger man. Circulated internationally by Protestant evangelicals through anti-Mormon video and book GODMAKERS II, these allegations are repudiated by apostolic committee as "pure fabrication" after "an extensive probe." Hinckley puts formal end to this investigation on May 6, 1993 when he reads statement to Presidency and Twelve. While he is counselor, temple council decides against making any kind of public denial. As church president Hinckley's authorized biography devotes three pages to this mater in 1996 but does not state whether he asked temple council to rescind its previous vote on matter.

October 17th

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Oct 17, 1835 - Joseph Smith's journal entry states: "Called my family together arranged my domestick concerns and dismissed my boarders." This may refer to his first plural wife, sixteen-year-old Fanny Alger, with whom his relationship has been causing rumors and dissention among Joseph's inner circle, leaving his home to live apart from him.

Oct 17, 1940 - Commenting on the Mormon block vote and Joseph Smith's ability to manipulate it the QUINCY WHIG opines: "These remarkable sectaries . . . hold in their hands a fearful balance of political power.... Should they ever become disposed to exert their influence for evil, which may Heaven prevent, they would surround our institutions with an element of danger, more to be dreaded than an armed and hundred- eyed police"

Oct 17, 1848 - FRONTIER GUARDIAN editorial "Dancing" observes: "Among the Saints, it is regarded not only as a civil recreation, but a religious exercise when conducted by the sanction and under the government of the Church."

Oct 17, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Geo[rge] A. Smith called in the President, and other of the brethren discussed the nature and habits of the Beaver."

Oct 17, 1861 - The Transcontinental Telegraph is completed to Salt Lake City.

Oct 17, 1882 - Annie Gallifant Connelly, despite her pregnancy, is first Mormon woman sentenced to penitentiary for refusing to answer questions from grand jury seeking to indict her polygamous husband. For similar refusal, better-known Belle Harris is in penitentiary with her infnat child from May 18 - Aug. 31, 1883.

Oct 17, 1886 - David Whitmer in an interview, which appeared in the CHICAGO INTER-OCEAN states: "The first 116 pages when completed were by permission of the prophet intrusted to the hands of Martin Harris, who carried them home to his incredulous relatives in triumph, hoping by the exhibition to convert his family and kinfolk from their uncompromising hostility to the religious premises he had adopted. Upon retiring at night he locked up the precious pages in a bureau drawer, along with his money and other valuables. In the morning he was shocked to find that they had been stolen, while his money had been left untouched. They were never found and were never replaced, so that the Book of Mormon is today minus just 116 pages of the original matter, which would increase the volume fully one-fourth of its present size. This unpardonable carelessness evoked the stormiest kind of chastisement from the Lord, who took from the prophet the Urim and Thummim and otherwise expressed his condemnation. By fervent prayer and by otherwise humbling himself, the prophet, however, again found favor, and was presented with a strange, oval-shaped, chocolate-colored stone, about the size of an egg, only more flat, which, it was promised, should serve the same purpose as the missing Urim and Thummim (the latter was a pair of transparent stones set in a bow-shaped frame and very much resembled a pair of spectacles). With this stone all of the present Book of Mormon was translated."

Oct 17, 1890 - Thirty-one-year-old Christian F. Olsen takes a plural wife with a recomend signed by Wilford Woodruff. This is the first officially allowed plural marriage after the manifesto which was sustained at general conference eleven days earlier.

Oct 17, 1893 - Democratic SALT LAKE HERALD (of which Apostle Heber J. Grant is vice-president) reports meeting of "Afro-American Club, recently organized here for the purpose of promoting the social and political interests of the colored people of this city." The club's leader comments that "the [anti-Mormon] Liberal party has always treated Afro-Americans WITH DISTAIN."
President Wilford Woodruff meets with the Council of the Twelve and the Church's four temple presidents, spending "three hours in harmanizing the Different M[odes?] of Ceremonies in giving Endowments"

Oct 17, 1901 - Quorum of Twelve Apostles sustains Joseph F. Smith as church president with his counselors, and Presiding Patriarch "sets apart" (NOT ordains) church president, only time patriarch (John Smith, Joseph F. Smith's brother) does this. Joseph F. Smith is the first president to be born in the Church. He is the only president except for Joseph Smith who was never sustained as president of the Quorum of Twelve and the only president to have a son who was also president.

Oct 17, 1968 - Belle Smith Spafford, general president of Relief Society, is elected president of Natinal Council of Women in its eightieth anniversary year. She serves to 1970.

Oct 17, 1972 - L. Patrick Gray, FBI director, offers to help LDS church security to protect members of First Presidency against assassination attempts by Ervil LeBaron's followers.

Oct 17, 1991 - At a B. H. Roberts Society meeting, David Knowlton discusses his situation, identifies the issues he feels are involved, and concludes, "It is simply a bad habit for authorities to engage in generalized intimidation. . . . We intellectuals should . . . stop looking over our shoulders to see if the Brethren are going to disagree with us, call us to repentance, hassle us, limit our access to information, or challenge us. In many ways that is their job--although it is indeed ours to critique all those actions, . . . to protect ourselves and argue for what we think important. We should act with security of purpose as thoughtful people who have a necessary role to play within the Church as community." At the same meeting D. Michael Quinn explains that general authorities have "typically attacked the messenger" who brings "unauthorized exposure of Mormonism's checkered past. . . . These attacks have usually been harsher when the messenger was a participant in the uncomfortable truths she or he revealed about Mormonism."

Oct 17, 1993 - First Presidency issues statement concerning procedures for disfellowshipment and excommunication. 1995-1996 CHURCH ALMANAC states that this was in response to "extensive publicity given to six recent Church disciplinary councils in Utah." Coordinated by instructions from the Strengthening the Members Committee and apostle Boyd K. Packer to their stake presidents, six scholars and feminists had been excommunicated or disfellowshipped in September.

October 16th

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Oct 16, 1847 - Nineteen-year-old plural wife Emmeline B. Woodward writes her fifty-two-year-old husband Newel K. Whitney after two years of marriage: "That portion of your affection which I enjoy is sweeter to me, than the WHOLE love of another could be now . . . Like as a vine entwineth itself around an AGED tree, so do my affections entwine about thy heart."

Oct 16, 1875 - Establishment of Brigham Young Academy in Provo, renamed "University" in 1903. This is first of church's thirty-seven academies which until 1900 offer primarily elementary level education with some secondary coursework. however, academies also develop college-level "normal" curriculum for teacher-training. By 1934 only four remain LDS institutions. Other major LDS academies are BrighamYoung college at Logan, Utah, in 1877 (closed in 1926), Salt Lake Stake Academy in 1886 (now LDS Business College), Bannock Stake Academy in 1888 (later changed to Ricks College and even later to BYU Idaho), St. George Stake Academy in 1888 (now Utah state-operated Dixie College), Sanpete Stake Academy in 1888 (now Utah state-operated Snow College), Weber Stake Academy in 1891 (now state-operated Weber State University), St. Joseph Stake Academy in 1891 (now state-operated Eastern Arizona College), and Juarez Stake Academy in 1897 (later Academia Juarez).

Oct 16, 1882 - Ordination of first Utah-born apostle, Heber J. Grant. Grant is also first general authority who has previously experienced nervous breakdown. As apostle his debts result in chronic insomnia and nervousness that he frequently fears are pushing him toward another breakdown. Grant's concern for his emotional health is underscored by mental problems he later observes in four fellow general authorities.

Oct 16, 1940 - Salt Lake City police department begins furnishing to First Presidency police surveillance information on suspected polygamists.

Oct 16, 1951 - Temple council of First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles and Patriarch to church decides to allow beer commercials on church-owned KSL television station.

Oct 16, 1976 - "10,000 concerned citizens" attend "Rally for Decency" supported by LDS church in its anti-pornography drive. By assignment from headquarters to local congregations, Mormons are picketing Salt Lake City's X-rated movie houses which soon close

October 15th

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Oct 15, 1843 - Joseph Smith preaches, "The only fault I find with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole ground. Although it provides that all men shall enjoy religious freedom, yet it does not provide the manner by which that freedom can be preserved, nor for the punishment of Government officers who refuse to protect the people in their religious rights, or punish those mobs, states, or communities who interfere with the rights of the people on acount of their religion."

Oct 15, 1966 - CHURCH NEWS article that current non-U.S., LDS chapels "range in architectural style from modern tile and stucco structures in Managua, Nicaragua, to the native-built 'Choza' made from palm trunks, limbs and coconut fronds." However, as part of Correlation Program's drive for church-wide uniformity, headquarters soon requires that chapels throughout world be modeled on those in Utah. In Latin America this makes LDS chapels visual symbols of often-hated "gringo" power and wealth.

Oct 15, 1970 - DESERET NEWS ceases advertising films rated "X" or "R."

Oct 15, 1977 - CHURCH NEWS feature story that "three LDS men serve their community as members of the five-man committee that controls and regulates the state's [Nevada's] billion-dollar-a-year casino industry."

Oct 15, 1982 - First Presidency instruction to all stake and mission leaders that many letters from church members "indicate clearly that some local leaders have been delving into private, sensitive matters beyond the scope of what is appropriate.... Also, you should never inquire into personal, intimate matters involving marital relations between a man and his wife." Letter continues that even if a church member volunteers such intimate information, "you should not pursue the mater but should merely suggest that if the member has enough anxiety about the propriety of the conduct to ask about it, the best course would be to discontinue it." In response to widespread complaints from married couples being asked if they have oral sex, this returns First Presidency stance to what it was prior to presidency of Spencer W. Kimball, now incapacitated.

Oct 15, 1996 - Boyd K. Packer, Twelve's acting-president, tells BYU devotional assembly that Bishops should exercise strict control over LDS funerals because families are conducting funerals where "several family members speak in a funeral, we hear about the deceased instead of about the Atonement." DESERET NEWS notes that he speaks about "unwritten laws" of church conduct, but does not quote or paraphrase Apostle Packer's statements against content of LDS funerals by grieving families.

October 14th

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Oct 14, 1834 - Joseph Smith is defeated in his first attempt for elective office, coroner of Kirtland.

Oct 14, 1845 - "Mary Gout was sealed to Lewis Dana a Lamanite by B. Young--being the first Lamanite having a Wife sealed to him under the New & Everlasting Covenant for Time & all eternity--she being a White Woman, he being the first [native American] elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--having been an Elder about four years."

Oct 14, 1876 - "It having been given out at Conference that the Endowment House would be closed after this week, for the past few days hundreds of persons have been going through the House, in fact, great numbers have to be refused, the authorities not having time or room for them." Closing Endowment House in Salt Lake City is Brigham Young's way of guaranteeing use of the distant St. George temple.

Oct 14, 1882 - Wilford Woodruff records in his journal that during meeting of First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostle Erasus Snow "said that Joseph Smith said that the parable that Jesus spoke, of that man who had one talent & hid it in the earth, was the man who had but one wife & would not take another, would have her taken from him & given to one who had more, . . ." Benjamin F. Johnson also recorded that on a Sunday morning of April, 1843 Joseph Smith revealed the principle of polygamy to him. Joseph further said, "I will today preach a sermon that no one but you will understand." Johnson said that "the text for his sermon was our use of the 'one, five, and ten talents,' and from him who was found but with the one talent it would be taken and given to him that had ten."

Oct 14, 1882 - Seymour B. Young is "ordained" president in First Council of Seventy. He is first general authority with post-graduate degree (from University Medical College of New Youk) and first M.D> to serve in Hierarchy. No other general authority had M.D> degree until appointements of Russell M. Nelson in 1984, Malcolm S. Jeppson in 1989, J. Ballard Washburn in 1990, James O. Mason in 1994, and Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr. in 1994.

Oct 14, 1899 - Salt Lake County attorney declines to issue warrant for President Lorenzo Snow due to insufficient evidence of unlawful cohabitation.

Oct 14, 1935 - John Horne Blackmore is elected to Canada's Parliament, serving in House of Commons until 1958. Other non-U.S. Mormons who serve in their nation's parliament are Harry Percival Vette (Tonga, 1940s), Solon E. Low (Canada, 1945), James Gladstone (Canada, 1958), Iofipo R. Kuresa (Samoa, 1970), Manuera Benjamin Riwai-Couch (New Zealand, 1975), Terry Rooney (England, 1990), Moroni Bing Torgan (Brazil, 1991).

October 13th

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Oct 13, 1831 - The first attack by a Mormon apostate is published when Ezra Booth's letters in the OHIO STAR are printed through Dec. 8. They are republished in the first anti-Mormon book, MORMONISM UNVAILED. Booth makes reference to the revelation on polybamy, and to the twelve unordained apostles of the church.

Oct 13, 1845 - A non-Mormon in Augusta, Illinois writes his brother: "there are hundreds of good farms, that the Mormons would sell cheap, go in the SPRING THEY MUST. They talk of going over the rocky mountains, but I don't believe it. But wherever the wretches can go, I don't know. They have no right to go or stay any where, on earth. They are not fit to be among men!"

Oct 13, 1860 - Apostle Orson Hyde intervenes to spare William A. Hickman from excommunication and tells bishopric: "a man may steal and be influenced by the spirit of the Lord to do it, that Hickman had done it in years past." The bishop reluctantly acquits him.

Oct 13, 1873 - Salt Lake City School of Prophets discusses practice of Patriarch John Smith and others who ordain infant boys to priesthood. Second counselor Daniel H. Wells "said some had ordained children when thought they would die--this had been a comfort to some parents, though there was no law or revelation given for or against it, consequently he could not see any harm or wrong in having it done, neither could he think there was any particular virtue in it."

Oct 13, 1882 - John Taylor announces revelation appointing two men he had wanted as apostles since the previous April: George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant. Of this appointment, Apostle John Henry Smith complains that newly appointed apostle George Teasdale "is distasteful to me in his sycophantic manner" and Heber J. Grant does not have "a testimony of the truth."

Oct5 13, 1892 - At prayer circle of First Presidency and apostles, "Pres. Woodruff was mouth in prayer and he made a very strong appeal to the Lord in behalf of Mrs. [Benjamin] Harrison, who is afflicted with some lung disease. The President of the United States had asked that we pray for his wife."

Oct 13, 1917 - DESERET NEWS reports that "Bishop Robert McQuarrie has resigned from the bishopric of the Ogden Second ward after rendering efficient service as bishop for a period of 40 years." During Mormonism's first century, presiding officers have option to honorably resign for personal reasons such as family stres, business problems, ill health , or simply weariness of the position. It is customary to tell their congretation about leaders request to be released.

Oct 13, 1996 - Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates Mount Timpanogos temple at American Fork, Utah.

October 12th

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Oct 12, 1833 - A revelation appoints Sidney Rigdon as "a spokesman to my servant Joseph."

Oct 12, 1845 - Sidney Rigdon's supporters in Pittsburgh publicly sustain him as "first president of the church" which is formally organized as a new "Church of Christ" on April 6, 1845.

Oct 12, 1857 - Officer in U.S. army expedition at Fort Laramie, Wyoming writes: "Two men by the name of Hickman, brothers to Bill Hickman who is celebrated in this country as one of the 'Destroying Angels,' came into our camps yesterday . . . .One of them had a sword belt in his possession which had belonged to the man (Vilkins) who went out gunning on the 7th inst and had not been heard from since."

Oct 12, 1882 - Abram hatch tells convention of church's People's Party: "If we join either [national] party let us be careful that we go with the party that is on top and that will be sure to stay there."

Oct 12, 1883 - John Taylor washes feet of other members of School of Prophets, first time church president performs this ordinance in forty-seven years.

Oct 12, 1888 - Wilford Woodruff and apostles vote to allow Idaho Mormons to be excommunicated in order to vote. They regret this decision within three weeks.

Oct 12, 1897 - At meeting of Quorum of Twelve, "Pres. [Lorenzo] Snow led out on Adam being our father and God. How beautiful the thought [-] it bro[ugh]t God nearer to us."

Oct 12, 1905 - Angus M. Cannon, in a letter to Joseph Smith, III, and his son Frederick, answers a question about Joseph Smith's polygamy. In response to the elder Smith's inquiry, "Where is the issue in evidence of my father's having married plural wives," Cannon replies: "I will now refer you to one case where it was said by the girl's grandmother that your father has a daughter born of a plural wife. The girl's grandmother was Mother Sessions, who lived in Nauvoo and died here in the valley. She was the grand-daughter of Mother Sessions . . . Aunt Patty Sessions, asserts that the girl was born within the time after your father was said to have taken the mother." Cannon was president of the Salt Lake Stake and a brother of Apostle and First Presidency counselor George Q. Cannon.

Oct 12, 1954 - George W. Romney is named president of Ameican Motors in Detroit, Michigan. A Few of the other large national corporations (outside intermountain area) and international corporations which have Mormons as president, vice-president, CEO, chair of board, or general manager at various times are Aetna Life and casualty (D. Lee Tobler), American Airlines (Melvin E. Olsen), American Broadcasting Co. (Robert H. Hinckley), Anaconda Copper ((Howeard L. Edwards, Charles Jay Parkinson), Atari Games (Nolan Busnell), Bank of America (Blair R. Egli, Richard V. Harris), Black & Decker (Nolan D Archibald), Citibank (Dan C. Jorgensen), Clorox (Robert A. Bolingbroke), Columbia Broadcasting System (Ralph W. Hardy), Columbia Records (James B. Conkling), Conoco (Max G. Pitcher), Consolidated Freightways (Ronald E. Poelman), Digital Equipment (Ralph N. Christensen), Dow Chemical (Wayne Hancock), Eastman Kodak (Kay R. Whitmore), General Mills (Delbert F. Wright, Mark H. Willes, Richard C. Edgley), B. F. Goodrich (D. Lee Tobler), Gucci Stores (Harmon J. Tobler), Hewlett-Packard (Richard W. Anderson), Kaiser Steel (Albert P. Heiner), M. W. Kellogg (Alex G. Oblad), Kentucky Fried Chicken (Leon W. Harman), Litton Industries (Rudolph E. Lang, Jr.), Los Angeles Times-Mirror (Mark H. Willes), Lufthansa Airlines (Dieter F. Uchtdorf), Madison Square Garden (David W. Checketts), Marriott Hotels (J. Willard Marriott, Sr. and Jr., Ridhard E. Marriott, Milton A Barlow, W.Donn Ladd, Francis W. Cash, Thomas Hart), McGraw-Hill Publications (David P. Forsyth), Mars Candy (Merrill J. Bateman), Metropolitan Life Insurance (Stanley Benfell), Nabisco (Lee > Bickmore), Newsweek (Llewellyn L. Calaway), Olumpic Stain (C. Roger Victor), J. C. Penney (Oakley S. Evans), Phillips Petroleum (Robern N. Sears), Prudential Insurance (James B. Jacobson), Ryder Rental Trucks (M. Anthony Burns), Safeway Stores (O. Leslie Stone), Sperry Univac (Gerald G. Probst), Trans-Canada Pipeline (N. Eldon Tanner), Union Carbide (Isaac Stewart), Warner Bros. Records (James B Conkling), Western Airlines (Larry Lee), Winchell's/Denny's Restaurants (John D. Hatch), Woolworth Stores (Robert Kirkwood).
Intermountain-based companies of national stature (not owned or controlled by LDS church) which have Mormon executives from their inception or at various times are Albertson's Supermarkets, Associated Foods, Evans and Sutherland Computer Corp., First Security Bank/Wells Fargo, Franklin Quest, Geneva Steel, Huntsman Chemicals, Jusky Oil, J.B.'s Big Boy Restaurants, Little America Hotels, Micron Technology, Morton-Thiokol, Nevell, J. R. Simplot Corp., Sinclair Oil, Smith's Food King Stores, Swire Coca-Cola USA, O. C. Tanner Jewelry, Wildon Food Products, WordPerfect.

Oct 12, 1963 - Dedication of Polynesian Cultural Center near temple at Laie, Hawaii, which becomes mecca for tourists to Hawaiian Islands.

Oct 12, 1975 - Presidency counselor N. Eldon Tanner dedicates LDS dormitory and classroom building at Michigan State University, "the first of its kind at a non-Church school outside of Utah."

Oct 12, 1980 - While organizing a stake in Brasilia, Brazil, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson gives blessing to new stake president's daughter who "had a large growth on her neck," that "growth would disappear" without surgery recommended by physicians. Five days later the growth is gone.

Oct 12, 1989 - DESERET NEWS reports that representative of Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company confirms that Utah has highest per-capita use in nation of anti-depressant Prozac.

October 11th

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Oct 11, 1825 - The WAYNE SENTINEL, published in Palmyra New York, prints an article stating: "Those who are conversant with the public and private economy of the Indians, are strongly of [the] opinion that they are the lineal descendants of the Israelites, and my own researches go far to confirm me in the same belief." The article lists a number of reasons for this belief: "The Indians worship one Supreme Being as the fountain of life, and the author of all creation. Like the Israelites of old, they are divided into tribes. . . . their language and dialect are evidently of Hebrew origin. They compute time after the manner of the Israelites. . . . They have their prophets, High Priests, and their sanctum sanctorum. . . . They have their towns and cities of refuge. . . . If the tribes could be brought together, could be made sensible of their origin, could be civilized, and restored to their long lost brethren, what joy to our people, what glory to our God, how clearly have the prophecies been fulfilled, how certain our dispersion, how miraculous our preservation, how providential our deliverance."

Oct 11, 1832 - Mormon Missionary Orson Hyde, after visiting a group he calls "Cochranites" describes them in his journal as having a "Wonderful lustful spirit, because they believe in a 'plurality of wives' which they call spiritual wives, knowing them not after the flesh but after the spirit, but by the appearance they know one another after the flesh."

Oct 11, 1849 - Henry Bigler writes in his diary, "It fills me with sorrow to think of leaving, for I am attached to this place and this people, for they are my brothers and sisters and my friends, and it was with considerable struggle with my feelings that I consented to go." Bigler has been called by Brigham Young to fulfill a mission to California and mine for gold.

Oct 11, 1862 - Brigham Young writes his son Brigham Jr.: "It is now going on two years and a half since I have used a particle of tobacco. . ."

Oct 11, 1866 - During Dr. J. King Robinson's lawsuit against Salt Lake City, mob of twenty to thirty men destroy his "bowling-saloon" in city. Police chief Andrew Burt and two policemen are identified as members of mob, and Robinson tells Mayor Daniel H. Wells on Oct 20 that he will sue city for damages. He is ejected from mayor's office.
Emma Smith Bidemon, widow of Joseph Smith, writes to her son Joseph Smith III, "I know very well that if your Father had been a little acquainted with the laws of our country he might have avoided a great deal of trouble."

Oct 11, 1882 - First Presidency and apostles vote privately that John T. Caine be candidate for Utah's delegate to Congress. Three hours later Council of Fifty convenes, discusses who should be delegate, and also nominates Caine. This is clearest example of hierarchy directing meetings of the Fifty to arrive at pre-determined decisions.

Oct 11, 1886 - John W. Woolley marries his first plural wife just before President Taylor leaves his home. She is mother of future Seventy's president B. H. Roberts.

Oct 11, 1893 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman writes in his diary: "I taught Sister Mary Ann Price Hyde that is was not a sin but a virtue for a man to live with and have children by his plural wife. There was nothing wrong about it only in being caught by the law. A man should be brave enough to run some chances."

Oct 11, 1972 - First Presidency letter authorizes young men to be ordained to office of elder at age eighteen, no longer limiting elder's office to age for missionaries.

Oct 11, 1974 - CHRISTIANITY TODAY article: "Why Your Neighbor Joined the Mormon Church." Although the article denounces Mormonism as a "concept Christians must reject," it does concede that the Church's tremendous growth resulted from "people seeing in it the very points of appeal that the Word of God says a church should have!"

Oct 11, 1993 - Steve Benson goes public concerning a conversation he had earlier with Apostle Dallin Oaks concerning Apostle Boyd K. Packer contacting Paul Toscano's stake president, Kerry Heinz, concerning Toscano's disciplinary council. Oaks had publicly stated that "if Elder Packer is having any conversation with" President Heinz, "it is contrary to what I know about Elder Packer and how he operates." Benson states that Oaks had previously told him that Packer had contacted Heinz and that, "You can't stage manage a grizzly bear," adding that "it was a mistake for Packer to meet with Heinz and a mistake for Heinz to ask for the meeting."

October 10th

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Oct 10, 1842 - Missionary (and later president) Lorenzo Snow delivers two ornamentally bound copies of the BOOK OF MORMON to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert through Sir Henry Wheatly. Queen Victoria probably never read, and may never have handled this presentation copy, but it has since resided in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

Oct 10, 1876 - John D. Lee sentenced to death for Mountain Meadows Massacre. Judge Jacob Boreman gives Lee the choice between hanging, firing squad or being beheaded. By choosing firing squad over beheading Lee seems to indicate he feels no need of blood atonement. At the sentencing Judge Boreman says LDS authorities had "inaugurated and decided upon the wholesale slaughter of the emigrants" and had been "a persistent and determined opposition to an investigation of the massacre." OGDEN JUNCTION newspaper calls Boreman's remarks "disgraceful" and an attack on prosecutor Sumner Howard. Howard had made a secret deal with the LDS leaders to prosecute only Lee in exchange for LDS cooperation. John D. Lee is the only person ever tried in connection with Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Oct 10, 1880 - Conference sustains John Taylor as church president with George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as counselors. None of members of this First Presidency are set apart. Taylor is only church president born outside United States or its territories.

Oct 10, 1898 - Lorenzo Snow is "set apart" (NOT ordained) as church president, and his counselors are also set apart. This is first time that members of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are set apart for service in First Presidency. Rudger Clawson is ordained apostle, first convicted felon to becom member of Quorum of Twelve.

Oct 10, 1901 - Lorenzo Snow's dath. First time church president dies before being able to set apart or function with new counselors publicly sustained at general conference, Joseph F. Smith as first and Rudger Clawson as second counselor.

Oct 10, 1906 - Mission president tells Apostle Francis M Lyman, "President Taylor died in exile for this principle and he gave men authority to perform the ceremony of marriate which authority I have been told was never revoked-etc."

Oct 10, 1917 - 145th Field Artillery regiment departs Utah for duty in "Great War" (World War I). Nearly all of its 1,300 to 1,500 officers and enlisted men are LDS, so unit is nicknamed "the Mormon regiment." Seventy's president B.H.Roberts serves regiment as chaplain. He is first active general authority since 1846 to participate in U.S. war and is among first three Mormons to serve as U.S. military chaplains. There are 665 deaths (including missing-in-action) among 21,000 Utahns (primarily Mormons) who serve in World War I.

Oct 10, 1934 - First Presidency and newly apointed apostle Alonzo A. Hinckley agree that Heber J. Grant should ask Los Angeles stake president Leo J. Muir to "stop working for [Upton] Sinclair," Socialist Party candidate for California governor. Grant publicly opposes Sinclair's election.

Oct 10, 1946 - Benjamin E. Roberts, son of B. H. Roberts, addresses the Timpanogos Club at the Hotel Utah, discussing his father's studies on the Book of Mormon. He presents a manuscript by B. H. Roberts titled "A Parallel" which lists 18 parallels between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's "VIEW OF THE HEBREWS" which was published in New York in 1823 and again in an enlarged edition in 1825. One of B. H. Roberts striking "parallels" is a passage from Ethan Smith's book that gives a capsule outline of the Book of Mormon: "It is highly probable that the more civilized part of the tribes of Israel, after they settled in America, became wholly separated from the hunting and savage tribes of their brethren: that the latter lost the knowledge of their having descended from the same family with themselves; that the more civilized part continued for many centuries; that tremendous wars were frequent between them and their savage brethren, till the former became extinct." B. H. Roberts adds: "Let it be remembered that the work from which this is quoted existed from five to seven years before the publication of the Book of Mormon. And the two editions of the work flooded the New England states and New York."

Oct 10, 1951 - Meeting of Twelve discuss previous "controversy" between President Joseph F. Smith and his second counselor Charles W. Penrose over whether it is necessary to confer priesthood before ordaining to office. This does not become churchwide policy again for almost six years.

Oct 10, 1972 - First Presidency letter: "We are concerned that adequate attention be given to members of the Church who do not speak the language of the majority where they live." It authorizes wards and branches to have priesthood and auxiliary classes taught in foreign languages, or organization of branches/wards for sufficient numbers of Mormons who speak foreign languages. This fulfills Apostle Spencer W. Kimball's ernest proposal to temple meeting on July 1, 1970.

Oct 10, 2000 - Unitus, an Orem-based foundation dedicated to stamping out poverty, names LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley "Humanitarian of the Millenium." Unitas chairman presents the award to President Hinckley in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. In winning this award President Hinckley beats out Albert Schweitzer, Ghandi, and Mother Theresa.

October 9th

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Oct 9, 1848 - Arsonist burns Nauvoo temple. Its ruins are leveled by tornado on May 27, 1850.

Oct 9, 1856 - In the midst of Utah Reformation's frenzy, Apostle Wilford Woodruff notes, "The spirit of God is like a flame among the Leaders of this people & they are throwing the arrows of the Almighty among the people."

Oct 9, 1868 - Brigham Young adjourns Council of Fifty. He never reconvenes it again.

Oct 9, 1872 - Brigham Young and his counselors are each sustained as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator." This is first conference since 1859 which sustains anyone with that title. Quorum of Twelve Apostles are not presented in this manner at this conference, and from April 8, 1873 until his death Young is only church officer sustained by conferences as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator."

Oct 9, 1882 - Apostle Erastus Snow preaches that early Mormons "supposed that our Prophet was going to continue with us until the coming of the Savior."

Oct 9, 1883 - In several hours of meeting with stake presidents, First Presidency and apostles give instructions about "Masturbation...self-pollution of both sexes and excessive sexual indulgence in the married relation." This is the first-known Mormon reference to female masturbation.

Oct 9, 1884 - Last time Council of Fifty formally convenes; its last surviving member dies in 1945.

Oct 9, 1889 - Salt Lake stake high council excommunicates elder for having local bishop perform unauthorized plural marriage for him four years earlier. Stake authorities had not authorized marriage because the young woman has " blood in her veins." First counselor says her father is "about 1/6 Nigger from his appearance."

Oct 9, 1947 - First Presidency and apostles decide to allow faithful African-American Mormons to receive patriarchal blessings, and Patriarch Eldred G. Smith blesses black couple.

Oct 9, 1971 - DESERET NEWS publishes on front page of local section a First Presidency statement which condemns upcoming Salt Lake City performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR as "a profane and sacrilegious attack upon true Christianity." Although statement advises everyone to oppose this production, audience fills Salt Palace to "near capacity" for musical's only scheduled performance on Oct. 12.

Oct 9, 1992 - LDS church-sponsored picnic hosts ambassadors and other diplomats from thirty-three countries at Marriott Family's farm in Hume, Virginia. With at least one LDS apostle in cowboy clothing provided to all attenders, this "Ambassadorial Western Family Picnic" is annual event attended by diplomats from ever-larger number of nations.

Oct 9, 1994 - Howard W. Hunter dedicates temple near Orlando, Florida.

October 8th

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Oct 8, 1843 - The general conference refuses to sustain Joseph Smith's motion to drop Sidney Rigdon from the First Presidency.

Oct 8, 1844 - Brigham Young uses two administrative techniques to circumvent the Nauvoo high council's "equal in authority" rights. First, 400 men are ordained today as seventies, which immediately transfers them from the jurisdiction of the high council to the Twelve's domain. Second, he appoints eighty-five of Nauvoo's high priests to be branch presidents outside Nauvoo, but does not require them to move. For the first time in Mormon history this puts a stake's high priests under the jurisdiction of the Twelve.

Oct 8, 1845 - Lucy Mack Smith is the first woman to speak at general conference. Church authorities do not invite another woman to address conference for 143 years.

Oct 8, 1854 - In what Apostle Wilford Woodruff describes as "the greatest sermon that ever was delivered to the Latter Day Saints since they have been a people," Brigham Young announces from the pulpit: "I believe [sic] in Sisters marrying brothers, and brothers having their sisters for Wives. Why? because we cannot do otherwise. There are none others for me to marry but my sisters . . . .Our spirits are all brothers and sisters, and so are our bodies; and the opposite idea has resulted from the ignorant and foolish traditions of the nations of the earth." Young's secretary George D. Watt has already married his own half sister as a plural wife. Her letter to Young shows that he was initially "unfavorable" toward allowing them to marry, but this sermon reveals theological basis for Young's authorizing Watt's brother-sister marriage and the three children born of their union.

Oct 8, 1855 - Brigham Young's counselors, Hebver C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant are each sustained as "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator." Not since 1841 have Presidency counselors been publicly announced in this manner. He has had this public title since April 1851.

Oct 8, 1856 - Second counselor Jedediah M. Grant declares that Polysophical Society is "a stink in his nostrils," Heber C. Kimball agrees. They regard its equality of female participation as "an adulterous spirit." The society does not survive this general conference.

Oct 8, 1859 - Brigham Young from the pulpit tells bishops to give Melchizedek priesthood to eighteen-year-old boys, even if they "have been sowing their wild oats for years."

Oct 8, 1860 - Brigham Young preaches "he was contending against a principle in many of the Bishops to use up all the Tithing they could for their own families."

Oct 8, 1861 - Brigham Young preaches that no woman "will never become an angel to the devil, and sin so far as to place herself beyond the reach of mercy."

Oct 8, 1875 - Brigham Young is sustained again as Trustee-in-Trust, following death of his replacement, George A. Smith. He has no assistants, and office remains with presiding apostle or church president from now on.

Oct 8, 1881 - First Counselor George Q. Cannon tells general conference: "We hear now of men having got married to cover up certain things; of children born wonderfully soon after marriage in some of our settlements, and perhaps in this city no less than in our [rural] settlements."

Oct 8, 1882 - Theodore B. Lewis is first Civil War soldier and former prisoner to be sustained as general authority, and he is also only Confederate Army veteran appointed. Despite being publicly sustained as new member of First Council of Seventy, Lewis's appointment is cancelled next day when First Presidency learns he is also a high priest.

Oct 8, 1888 - Nevada Supreme Court declares unconstitutional Nevada's law which denies vote to anyone "who is a member of or belings to the 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,' commonly called the 'Mormon Church'. . ."

Oct 8, 1904 - Mormon tells Senator Reed Smoot's secretary that "Apostle [Abraham O.] Woodruff told him that a certain number or worthy people had been commissioned to keep alive the principle of plural marriage." This view is basis of Mormon Fundamentalist movement which does not fully emarge until 1920's. Woodruff, who died in June after visiting his post-Manifesto plural wife and her first baby, is honored as polygamy martyr by these Mormons.

Oct 8, 1910 - First Presidency instructs local priesthood leaders to investigate and excommunicate persons who enter recent plural marriages.

Oct 8, 1916 - Apostle James E. Talmadge announces in Conference that "The [ten lost] tribes shall come: they are not lost unto the Lord; they shall be brought forth as hath been predicted; and I say unto you there are those now living - aye, some here present - who shall live to read the records of the Lost Tribes of Israel..."

Oct 8, 1942 - General conference sustains Joseph F. Smith (b. 1899) as Patriarch to Church, ending ten-year vacancy.

Oct 8, 1960 - N. Eldon Tanner and Theodore M. Burton are sustained as Assistants to Twelve. Tanner is first general authority who had prominent office in non-U.S. government, three terms as Minister of Lands and Mines in cabinet of Canada's premier. Burton is first PhD. appointed as Assistant.

October 7th

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Oct 7, 1835 - Joseph Smith uses his white seer stone to give blessings to Newel K. and Elizabeth A. Whitney. The Whitneys have a seer stone of their own shortly afterwards.

Oct 7, 1944 - A conference drops William Marks as stake president. For the first time the apostles ordain a stake partiarch, Asa(h)el Smith.

Oct 7, 1848 - Brigham Young instructs his special counselor, Presiding Patriarch John Smith, to select men to go to California on "Gold Mission" for church. Among "Forty-Niners" who travel to California are about fifty gold-digging Mormon missionaries.

Oct 7, 1861 - Brigham Young changes seniority of apostles Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor and ranks Woodruff after Taylor, first time in 22 years. Says their ranking should be according to ordination date rather than previous ranking according to age.

Oct 7, 1863 - Brigham Young tells conference that Joseph Smith III will never become LDS president but that martyred prophet prophesied this role for David H. Smith.

Oct 7, 1866 - Brigham Young tells general conference it is right of Joseph Smith's last son, David H. Smith, to be president of LDS church.

Oct 7, 1866 - Brigham Young tells general conference: "Not six months before the death of Joseph, he called his wife Emma into a secret council, and there he told her the truth, and called upon her to deny it if she could. He told her that the judgments of God would come upon her forthwith if she did not repent. He told her of the time she undertook to poison him, and he told her that she was a child of hell, and literally the most wicked woman on this earth, that there was not one more wicked then she. He told her where she got the poison, and how she put it in a cup of coffee; said he, 'You got that poison so and so, and I drank it, but you could not kill me.' When it entered his stomach he went to the door and threw it off. He spoke to her in that council in a very severe manner, and she never said one word in reply. I have witnesses of this scene all around, who can testify that I am now telling the truth. Twice she undertook to kill him."

Oct 7, 1870 - AT priesthood meeting in Salt Lake Tabernacle, Brigham Young announces revelation about Mormons investing in bonds of Utah Central Railroad Co. Text is available but never canonized or officially published.

Oct 7, 1872 - Apostle John Taylor tells general conference: "and if we have Presidents or Apostles or anybody that we do not like, let us vote them out, and be free men."

Oct 7, 1977 - John Taylor tells general conference that Trustee-in-Trust's office will begin giving "reasonable recompense for their services" to Twele and to their two counselors.

Oct 7, 1879 - U.S. government grants first patent to Mormon, John M. Browning for rifle. Two years after that invention is marketed as Winchester Single shot rifle of 1885, Browning becomes full-time missionary. Among later inventions of this "father of modern firearms," are Winchester Repeating Rifle of 1886, Winchester Leer Action Shotgun Model of 1887, Winchester Pump-action Shotgun of 1890, Winchester .22-caliber Single Shot Rifle of 1900, Cold .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol (standard U.S. military sidearm since 1911), .30-caliber machine gun used in World War I. his Browning automatic rifle (BAR) is later used in World War II.

Oct 7, 1889 - At priesthood leadership meeting, President Wilford Woodruff prophesies, "In the name of Israel's God there shall be no peace in the nation. There is no need to look for prosperity and peace because it will not come."

Oct 7, 1890 - Wilford Woodruff's office journal records: "President Woodruff drew the attention of the brethren to the fact that the Manifesto did not affect our present family relations, but it simply stated that all plural marriages had ceased." However later, under oath in a court of law, Woodruff states that the Manifesto did mean that all polygamous relations must cease.

Oct 7, 1894 - Wilford Woodruff instructs conference priesthood meeting that all presiding officers should live Word of Wisdom, and he threatens to drop Presiding Patriarch John Smith for office if he continues using tobacco and alcohol.

Oct 7, 1896 - At priesthood leadership conference, Wilford Woodruff asks "all those that had money to spare to loan it to the Trustee in Trust to assist the Church."

Oct 7, 1898 - At general conference Apostle John W. Taylor reports that in one rural area, 80 percent of LDS marriages involve premarital sex.

Oct 7, 1925 - Spencer Adams plays in baseball's World Series for Washington Senators (again in 1926, New York Yankees). First Mormon on major league team of any sport (1923, Pittsburgh Pirates), Adams is only LDS player to participate in consecutive World Series.

Oct 7, 1972 - CHURCH NEWS announcement of twelve "fellowship lessons" for new converts.

Oct 7, 1984 - Ronald E Poelman gives general conference talk stressing need of central headquarters to adapt its programs to cultural diversity of international church, rather than require diverse peoples to conform to Utah Mormon culture. He is required to return to empty Salt Lake Tabernacle to re-deliver censored version of his general conference talk for videotaping which includes pre-recorded track of audience coughs but deletes his endorsement of chltural diversity and decentralization. He is not allowed to speak in general conference again for more than four years.

October 5th

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Oct 5, 1840 - On motion of John C. Bennett, the general conference votes that no one be judged guilty of a crime unless proven "by two or three witnesses." This was Bennett's way of shielding his own extra-marital sexual activities with both females and males.

Oct 5, 1843 - Concerning "the doctrine of plurality of wives," JosephSmith's manuscript diary reads: "Joseph forbids it and the practice thereof. No man shall have but one wife." HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, 6:46 makes an addition which reverses this absolute denial.

Oct 5, 1884 - John Morgan is first Civil War veteran to actually become LDS general authority. He served with Union forces.

Oct 5, 1887 - Beginning of series of meetings in which nearly half of Twelve qaccuse George Q. Cannon of abusing his authority a counselor.

Oct 5, 1897 - After President Woodruff's son and Counselor Cannon's grandnephew are announced as new apostles, Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. writes: "I felt almost rebellious for a few minutes." Seventy's president J. Golden Kimball observes that "the brethren feel if they are not represented while living, they may not be after they are dead." Both Young and Kimball are sons of general authorities.

Oct 5, 1913 - Heber J. Grant preaches: "I seldom hear a hymn written by Sister Eliza R. Snow sung in any of our meetings, or sing one myself, that I do not thank God for the gift of tongues to that noble woman. She gave to me a blessing when I was a child, predicting incidents in my life, promising me that I should grow to manhood and become one of the leaders in the Church of Christ, Sister Zina D. Young giving the interpretation."

Oct 5, 1944 - George E. Wahlen receives Congressional Medal of Honor from U. S. president Harry S Truman for service as Navy corpsman on Iwo Jima. Severely wounded on three days during the same week while treating wounded Marines, 19-year-old Wahlen refuses to obey direct orders to leave the injured and seek medical treatment himself.

Oct 5, 1946 - First Counselor J. Reuben Clark's conference talk condemns United States for helping Britain kill 250,000 German civilians in two-day bombing of Dresden. "As the crowning savagery of the war we Americans wiped out hundreds of thousands" of Japanese civilians with two atomic bombs. "This fiendish butchery" by U.S. nulear weapons was "wholesale destruction of men, women, and children, and cripples." Still director of national pacifist organization, Clark continues to be focus of federal government's anti-subversive agencies bbecause of his public statements against U.S. participation in World War II, against providing military aid to anti-Communist forces in civil wars of various countries, and against U.S. participation in anti-Soviet North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Oct 5, 1963 - CHURCH NEWS reports that Bruce Behroog Farhangi, Iranian Muslim, has been baptized in Salt Lake City during past week.

Oct 5, 1979 - Apostle Gordon B. Hinckley, chair of Special Affairs Committee, instructs "all of Missouri and Illinois stake presidents and state[wide] ERA coordinators" about how to conduct LDS inti-ERA campaign, including: "Church building[s] may be used for ERA education."

Oct 5, 1991 - Newspaper reports that general authorities have ordered BYU administrators and local church leaders to discipline BYU professor for giving lecture at recent Sunstone Symposium. Persons are dropped from LDS positions and threatened with excommunication for questioning wisdom or necessity of official declaration against symposia.

October 4th

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Oct 4, 1851 - Brigham Young signs a law legalizing all laws passed previously by State of Deseret. He adjourns poorly attended meeting of the Council of Fifty and does not reconvene it for 15 years. He also signs a legislative act designating that Millard County be formed and that Fillmore City be the "seat of Government of the Territory." This is an attempt to curry favor with U.S. President Millard Fillmore as part of the quest to secure statehood for Utah.

Oct 4, 1857 – Apostle Erastus Snow preaches, “Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? ‘What! —my husband to be my lord?’ I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Have any of you been there? You will remember that you never got into the celestial kingdom without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant.”

Oct 4, 1857 - Daniel Wells, adjutant general of the militia and a counselor to Brigham Young, issues the following statement to Joseph Taylor: "On ascertaining the locality or route of the troops, proceed at once to annoy them in every possible way. Use every exertion to stampede their animals and set fire to their trains. Burn the whole country before them and on their flanks. Keep them from sleeping by night surprises . . . God bless you and give you success." A few days later, army soldier Eugene Banal reports, "On the east side of Green River we found ironworks of 25 burned wagons--chains, axles, and other wagon parts--covering the trail, on the west side of the Green River, the remains of fifty more wagons."

Oct 4, 1860 - Brigham Young's financial report informs general conference that from 1857 to this date, church spent total of $70,204 in excess of what has been received in money and Tithing." This is first financial report to acknowledge church's deficit spending.

Oct 4, 1879 - 3rd District Court decrees that $999,632.90.of Brigham Young's estate actually belongs to the LDS Church.

Oct 4, 1883 - President John Taylor tells some apostles about arrangements with George Q. Cannon and John Beck in Bullion, Beck and Champion Mining Co. Also presents to them his revelation of April 28, 1883 which refers to this financial arrangement.

Oct 4, 1890 - Less than two weeks after the issuing of the Manifesto Byron H. Allred accompanied by a young woman, visits Wilford Woodruff's office to ask permission to marry polygamously. President Woodruff patiently explains the reasons he had issued the Manifesto and then tells Allred to move as soon as possible with his intended plural wife to Mexico where Alexander F. Macdonald would perform the ceremony.

Oct 4, 1894 - Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his journal: "[Apostle] John Henry Smith . . . Referring to the schemes which the First Presidency put on foot from time to time, he had felt that they should get the approval of at least seven of the Apostles before making any more of importance . . ."

Oct 4, 1896 - President Wilford Woodruff preaches in general conference: "The God of heaven knows what it will cost them for shedding the blood of the Prophet of God and his brother, and the Apostles and brethren who laid down their lives for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. It costs something to shed righteous blood. And the Gentiles have not got eighteen hundred years before them in which to pay the debt. The words of the Lord have got to be fulfilled upon them in the day and generation in which these holy men have been slain."

Oct 4, 1898 - Heber J. Grant writes of a Quorum meeting of the Twelve: "There are men among us who would go in direct opposition to what the wishes of the Presidency were politically if they should learn their wishes, and yet these men claim to be in fellowship in the Church. I feel that such men are sure to lose the faith unless they repent and change their course of action. [Apostle] Marriner W. Merrill Expressed himself freely on political matters and said that while it might not be a wise thing to publicly say it yet, in his opinion it was the right of the Presidency of the Church to express their opinions on all matters, political as well as religious and what he wanted to know is what the Presidency desire and then he wanted to do it, and was only too willing to lay aside his own feelings if they were not in harmony with the feelings of the apostles."

Oct 4, 1900 - At temple meeting of First Presidency and apostles: "The subject of round-dancing [waltzing] was discussed and it was decided not to put it down when young people wanted it. The desire is to furning amusements to the young and not force them to go elsewhere to find them"

Oct 4, 1961 - First meeting of All-Church Coordinating Council, the Correlation Program's administrative organization for restructuring "almost every program and organization in the Church," according to Harold B. Lee's biographer. This council continues at LDS headquarters as of 1996.

Oct 4, 1963 - Thomas S. Monson is sustained to Quorum of the Twelve at age thirty-six, youngest man ordained apostle since Joseph Fielding Smith at age thirty-three in 1910. Monson is first World War II veteran to servea s apostle and also first general authority with a Master of Business Administration. As of 1996 Other general authorities with MBA or other graduate degree in business are Robert D. Hales (appointed in 1975), Gene R. Cook (1975), John H. Groberg (1976), Ronald E. Poelman (1978), Henry B. Eyring (1985), Glen L. Pace (1985), Helio R. Camargo (1985), Monte J. Brough (1988), Albert Choules, Jr. (1988), Joseph C. Muren (1991), Stephen D. Nadauld (1991), Dallas N. Archibald (1992), John E. Fowler (1992), V. Dallas Merrel (1992), H. David Burton (1992), Richard C. Edgley (1992), Neil L. Andersen (1993), Dieter F. Uchtdorf (1994).

Oct 4, 1980 - CHURCH NEWS article: "Ex-Felon Leads Full Life."

Oct 4, 1986 - At priesthood session of General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson announces that "the seventies quorums in the stakes of the Church are to be discontinued." Soon church's only Seventies (at one time the largest body of priesthood in the church) are general authorities who have been ordained High Priests.

October 3rd

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Oct 3, 1806 - Oliver Cowdery is born in Wells, Vermont. In 1832 he marries Elizabeth Ann Whitmer, daughter of Peter Whitmer, Sr. Cowdery was brother-in-law to Brigham Young's brother Phineas and to Book of Mormon Witnesses David Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, and Peter Whitmer, Jr. He was a third cousin to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Oct 3, 1843 - Joseph Smith opened the Mansion House to the public with a memorable dinner party for "more than one hundred couple [sic]." Notices of the occasion prepared for publication in the Nauvoo Neighbor reports that "General Joseph Smith, the proprietor of said house, provided a luxurious feast for a pleasure party; and all having partaken of the luxuries of a well spread board, the cloth was removed, and a committee appointed to draft resolutions suitable to the occasion."

Oct 3, 1849 - FRONTIER GUARDIAN observes that "Mr. Jonathan Browning is manufacturing some of the most splendid revolving rifles that we ever saw." He invents one of "the earliest known American repeating rifles" when he moves to Nauvoo in 1842. Establishes gunsmith shop in Ogden, Utah where he continues making his unpatented "six-shot repeater." His son John M. Browning is "the father of modern firearms."

Oct 3, 1868 - Salt Lake City School of Prophets votes again to sustain Brigham Young's proposal to boycott all "Gentile" merchants, including Jews. General conference publicly sustains this boycott, which continues until 1882 and leads to esttablishment of ZCMI.

Oct 3, 1875 - Ulysses S. Grant is first U.S. president to visit Utah and meet LDS president there.

Oct 3, 1877 - In meeting of Twelve with Brigham Young's former counselors, Daniel H. Wells proposes that junior apostle Joseph F. Smith should become church president. Wells denies that Young ever intended for John Taylor to succeed him as church president. First time general authority proposes ending automatic succession of senior apostle. In 1880 Wells and Apostle Orson Pratt again urge this. In 1887 Apostle Heber J. Grant wants lower-ranked apostle Joseph F. Smith to become church president instead of Wilford Woodruff or four other senior apostles.

Oct 3, 1881 - Orson Pratt, the last of the original Twelve Apostles of the LDS church dies.

Oct 3, 1888 - DESERET NEWS editorializes that Idaho Mormons who are being voluntarily excommunicated in order to vote are acting without "advice from constituted authorities as some people foolishly suppose."

Oct 3, 1891 - Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his journal: "Lorenzo Snow Testified of the great work that the brethren would do and that they would live to see the Saviour come to the earth. Said the Son of God would visit the brethren and converse with them before in he came to the earth in Glory."

Oct 3, 1909 - At general conference, Apostle George Albert Smith stops speaking after three minutes as he begins to "tremble and perspire." Apostle Reed Smoot referred two weeks earlier to Smith's "mental trouble." Since January Smith's diary has described symptoms of his eventual collapse. At age thirty-nine he is first general authority whose debilitating mental problems cannot be attributed to senility. Hospitalized for ten weeks at Gray's Sanitarium in Salt Lake City, Smith does not recover from this emotional breakdown until 1913. Problem re-emerges in 1930's and in 1949-51.

Oct 3, 1915 - Joseph F. Smith preaches: "Not long ago I happened to be at the home of one of my children when the [ward] teachers came in. We called the family together and submitted ourselves to the duties of the teachers. The head teacher began by saying that he had been sent there by the bishop of the ward to inquire into the condition of the members of the family. He was instructed to inquire of them if they held family prayer, morning and evening, if they asked the blessing upon their food, at each meal. He was required by the bishop to inquire as to whether they kept the word of wisdom, as to whether they attended to their Sabbath meetings and honored the Sabbath day, as to whether those who were of age to attend the various other organizations of the Church, such as the Relief Society, the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, the Sunday Schools, the Primary Associations, and the Religion Class, did so, and if they sustained in their hearts their bishop and his counselors and were united in feeling and sentiment with them, and if they were in harmony in their feelings and sentiment with the presidency of their stake. And as to whether they sustained, by their faith and prayers, the presiding authorities of the Church, the Presidency of the Church and the Twelve Apostles, the Patriarch, the Presidents of Seventies, and the Presiding Bishopric. If they could pray for them in faith and in good feeling, and were in harmony with them. If they believed and observed the law of tithing, and were at peace with their neighbors, etc. Then he asked that the head of the family should arise and open his heart to the teachers and tell them just what he had to say in relation to all these inquiries and requirements that were made of the teacher by the bishop. I admired it. I thought it was just the right thing to do, and I approved of it, and so pronounced my approval of the thoroughness. the simplicity. and the honesty of the teacher to inquire into all these things."

Oct 3, 1918 - While ill at home, President Joseph F. Smith began pondering the mission of Christ to those who were dead, particularly as considered in I Peter 3: 18-20 and 4:6. "As I pondered over these things," he wrote, "the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great." These spirits of faithful men and women met with Christ, and Christ organized them to carry the missionary work to the spirits in prison. In addition, Christ ministered unto these people and "gave them power to come forth, after his resurrection from the dead, to enter into his Father's kingdom." On October 31, 1918, Joseph Fielding Smith brings the revelation to the Twelve. He reads it to the council, and the apostles "accepted it as true and from God." During the presidency of Spencer W. Kimball, this revelation is added to the church's Doctrine and Covenants as Section 138.

Oct 3, 1924 - First general conference broadcast by radio. An estimated one million people hear the voice of President Heber J. Grant over KPFT (now KSL) radio. "To have the voice carried for thousands of miles," said President Grant in the opening session, "seems almost beyond comprehension."

Oct 3, 1930 - J. Reuben Clark is first Mormon to serve as U.S. Ambassador (Mexico). U.S. government appoints other Mormons as ambassadors: Davendish W. Cannon (Yugoslavia in 1947, Syria in 1950, Portugal in 1952, Greece in 1953, Morocco in 1956), David S. King (Malagasy in 1967, Mauritius in 1968), David M. Kennedy (ambassador-at-large and ambassador to NATO in 1971), Mark Evans Austad (Finland in 1975, Norway in 1980), Keith Foote Nyborg (Finland in 1981), Gregory J. Newell (Sweden in 1985), Jon Huntsman, Jr. (Singapore in 1992).

Oct 3, 1942 - LDS President Heber J. Grant states in General Conference: "On October 3, 1942, LDS President Heber J. Grant, said in general conference: "I had always understood and known that my mother was sealed to the Prophet, and that Brigham Young had told my father that he would not marry my mother to him for eternity, because he had instructions from the Prophet that if anything happened to him before he was married to Rachel Ivins she must be sealed to him for eternity, that she belonged to him."

Oct 3, 1946 - President George Albert Smith writes in his journal that it had been decided "Joseph F. Smith Patriarch unable to carry on," and the Patriarch to the Church was released, "a sad happening." Joseph F. Smith II, Patriarch to the Church was discovered to have been engaging in homosexual behaviors. That same day David O. McKay reads a letter from Joseph F. Smith II in which he claims to be in poor health and that he is willing to be released. He is released and moves to Hawaii where he is not allowed to hold any church position. No disciplinary hearing is ever held.

Oct 3, 1970 - Fawn Brodie gives the first annual "American West" lecture at the Hotel Utah. Her lecture is titled "Can We Manipulate the Past?"

Oct 3, 1975 - Organization of First Quorum of the Seventy for first time in 131 years and for first time ever as general authority quorum. Conference also sustains as general authority the first Native American, George P. Lee, a Navajo.

Oct 3, 1981 - Establishment of hundreds of satellite dishes in stake centers outside Utah for closed-circuit broadcasts of special LDS meetings and programs.

Oct 3, 1982 - Adoption of subtitle for BOOK OF MORMON: "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

Oct 3, 1992 - Announcement of temple to be constructed for Hartford, Connecticut; this is cancelled on Sept. 30, 1995.

October 2nd

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Oct 2, 1841 - "Elder Warren Foote writes in his journal: "The semi-annual conference commenced today. After meeting was dismissed a deposit was made in the southeast corner of the Nauvoo house. A square hole had been chisseled in the large corner stone like a box. An invitation was given for any who wished to put in any little memento they desired to. I was standing very near the corner stone, when Joseph Smith came up with the manuscript of the Book of Mormon, and said he wanted to put that in there, as he had had trouble enough with it. It appeared to be written on fools' cap paper, and was about three inches in thickness. There was also deposited a Book of D&C, five cents, ten cents, twenty-five cents, fifty cents, and one dollar pieces of American coin, besides other articles. A close-fitting stone cover was laid in cement, and the wall built over it. I was standing within three feet of the Prophet when he handed in the manuscript, and saw it very plainly. He intimated in his remarks, that in after generations the walls might be thrown down, and these things discovered, from which the people could learn the doctrines and principles and faith of the Latter-day Saints."

Oct 2, 1842 - Missouri's governor Thomas Reynolds offers a $300 bounty for returning Joseph Smith to Missouri, Illinois's governor adds a $200 bounty.

Oct 2, 1872 - Brigham Young is arrested on an unlawful cohabitation charge. This was the first major arrest in a campaign to bring plural marriage to an end by arresting Mormon leaders. The case against Young is subsequently dropped.

Oct 2, 1883 - Bishop Orson R. Whitney begins participating in regular spiritualistic seances about this date. In 1889 Twele learns of this activity, reverses its decision to call Witney as new apostle, yet allows Whitney to remain bishop. Among those who attend these seances are Arthur and Charles Stayner and Maud May Babcock. Bishop Whitney continues to participate until 1900.

Oct 2, 1911 - First anti-Mormon film, VICTIM OF THE MORMONS ("Mormonens Offer"), opens in Copenhagen, Denmark. Film goes into international distribution, is publicly condemned by Apostle David O. McKay at next general conference. It is target of first censorship effort led by Utah governor (William Spry, LDS).

Oct 2, 1922 - George Sutherland is first U.S. Supreme Court justice of Mormon origins. Raised in LDS church and graduate of Brigham Young Academy in 1881, Sutherland defines himself as non-Mormon long before his election as U.S. Senator in 1905.

Oct 2, 1942 - While attending general conference Eldred G. Smith is handed a note from President Heber J. Grant asking him to go immediately to the president's office. President Grant advised Eldred that he was calling Joseph F. Smith II to the office of Patriarch the next day instead of Eldred who, as eldest son of the previous Church Patriarch, Hyrum G. Smith, was the traditional candidate for this hereditary office. Joseph F. Smith II is ordained patriarch but is removed after only four years in office when it is found that he has been involved in homosexual relationships. Eldred G. Smith is ordained Patriarch of the church on April 10, 1947.

Oct 2, 1944 - Head of church's anti-polygamy surveillance testifies in court.

Oct 2, 1945 - First Presidency decides to pay expenses of LDS conscientious objectors detained in camps by U.S. government during World War II.

Oct 2, 1950 - First Presidency letter: "Where military regulations require the wearing of two-piece underwear, such underwear should be properly marked as if the articles were of the normal [temple garment] pattern." Drafted originally for Korean War, this instruction is reissued during Vietnam War on Aug. 31, 1964 and Mar. 17, 1969.

Oct 2, 1952 - Second Counselor J. Reuben Clark warns women of Relief Society general conference against "self-pollution," prostitution, and "homosexuality, which it is tragic to say, is found among both sexes." He cautions LDS women against allowing homosexually oriented males to use them as male-substitutes in dating or marriage: "I wonder if you girls have ever reflected on the thought that was in the mind of the man who first began to praise you for your boyish figures." Clark also tells the ladies, "I forebear to more than mention that abomination and filth and loathsomeness of the ancients - carnal knowledge with beasts." Church Relief Society magazine publishes this talk in full.

Oct 2, 1975 - Conclusion of last Relief Society conference. Primary and Young Women's organizations held their last conferences the previous Apr. and June. Beginning Sept. 1978, there are annual meetings for women, but these lack the several days of training workshops previously directed by women.

Oct 2, 1976 - At general conference President Spencer W. Kimball says: "We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine." Brigham Young never called his Adam-God teaching "theory" but referred to it as "doctrine which God revealed to me…" The discrepancy between past prophets and current prophets is used by Mormon fundamentalists to gain converts from among LDS membership. This is alluded to by Apostle Bruce R. McConkie who three years later says of Brigham Young's Adam-God doctrine: "The devil keeps this heresy alive as a means of obtaining converts to cultism."

Oct 2, 1985 - Letter from LDS Church Education System's Zone Administrators of Curriculum and Instruction Division to area directors, associate area directors, teaching support consultants, CES coordinators, institute directors, seminary principals: "Even if the letters [circulated by Mark Hoffman] were to be unauthentic [as they are], such issues as Joseph Smith's involvement in treasure-seeking and folk magic remain. Ample evidence exists for both of these, even without the letters. The publicity surrounding the letters served only to heighten the general public's awareness of these two issues."

Oct 2, 1988 - Michaelene P Grassli, general Primary President, is first woman to speak in general conference in 133 years.

Oct 2-3, 1871 - Brigham Young and his counselor Daniel H. Wells are arrested for polygamous cohabitation and subsequently for murder, but charges are dismissed.

October 1st

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Oct 1, 1835 - Joseph Smith records in his journal: "This after noon labored on the Egyptian alphabet in company with Br[other]s O[liver] Cowdery and W[illiam] W. Phelps. The system of astronomy was unfolded [to us]."

Oct 1, 1842 - Editorial in TIMES AND SEASONS, edited by Joseph Smith: "Central America, or Guatamala, is situated north of the Isthmus of Darien and once embraced several hundred miles of territory from north to south. The city of Zarahemla, burnt at the crucifixion of the Savior, and rebuilt afterwards, stood upon this land as will be seen from the following words in the book of Alma: -- 'And now it was only the distance of a day and half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful, and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi, and the land of Zarahemla was nearly surrounded by water: there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward.' . . . It is certainly a good thing for the excellency and veracity, of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, that the ruins of Zarahemla have been found where the Nephites left them: and that a large stone with engravings upon it as Mosiah ss has published, is also among the left remembrances of the, (to him,) (lost and unknown). We are not going to declare positively that the ruins of Quirigua are those of Zarahemla, but when the land and the stones, and the books tell the story so plain, we are of opinion, that it would require more proof than the Jews could bring to prove the disciples stole the body of Jesus from the tomb, to prove that the ruins of the city in question, are not one of those referred to in the Book of Mormon."

Oct 1, 1842 - Amid accusations of diversion of temple materials to private use Joseph Smith, Trustee-in-trust, tells the Temple Committee: "Some reports had been circulated that the committee was not making a righteous disposition of property consecrated for the building of the Temple, and there appeared to be some dissatisfaction amongst the laborers. After carefully examining the accounts and inquiring into the manner of the proceedings of the committee, I expressed myself perfectly satisfied with them and their works. The books were balanced between the trustee and the committee, and the wages all agreed upon. I said…I was amenable to the state as trustee-in-trust, and that the Temple committee were accountable to me, and to no other authority; and they must not take notice of any complaints from any source, but let the complaints be made to me, if any were needed, and I would make things right."

Oct 1, 1843 - At a meeting of the Anointed Quorum, Joseph Smith "anoints" and ordains William Law as first counselor and Amasa J. Lyman as second counselor in anticipation of dropping Sidney Rigdon from his position of counselor at the upcoming conference.

Oct 1, 1845 - A congress representing nine Illinois counties assembled at Carthage and resolved that the Mormons must either leave voluntarily or be expelled. On the same day the Quorum of Twelve announces their intent to lead Mormons out of Nauvoo in the spring for re-settlement in Oregon or Vancouver Island.

Oct 1, 1848 - LDS publication MILLENIAL STAR quotes John Greenleaf Whittier: "Once in the world's history we were to have a Yankee prophet, and we have had him in Joe Smith. For good or evil, he has left his track on the great pathway of life; or, to use the words of Horne, 'knocked out for himself a window in the wall of the nineteenth century, whence his rude, bold, good-humored face will peer out upon the generations to come.' "

Oct 1, 1855 - Typical DESERET NEWS report of Reformation meetings. Jedediah M. Grant presides over three days of meetings at Farmington, Utah, where he speaks seven times, prays four times, and during which 450 are rebaptized.

Oct 1, 1858 - While being visited at his office by Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young "became suddenly ill and fell on the floor, remaining for a short time unconscious. When recovering from that state he enquired where he was. He got a little better in a short time to be able to walk home, and was accompanied by several of the brethren"

Oct 1, 1861 - Brigham Young and counselor Daniel H. Wells have "a discussion on the use of artillery and contrasted the cannons with Guns, and gave the preference to Small arms. The President told an anecdote of a Ball fired from a Gun that struck a Knot in a rail & then rebounded back, and shot a horse in the heart, the ball was intended for a crow."

Oct 1, 1890 - An apostle asks "how the Son of God was begotten," and Lorenzo Snow tells apostles, "that he was begotten just the same as you and I were or as our sons are."

Oct 1, 1891 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles consider this question: "Shall the Priesthood nominate and the people accept, or shall the people nominate?" The decision of the meeting: "It is quite proper for the brethren before making appointments to consult with local authorities and be sure to select men for position whom the people will gladly sustain" to offices of bishop, stake president, and patriarch.

Oct 1, 1896 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal, "I spent most of the day in the Temple with the Apostles & we partook of the sacrament together. We talked over the Debts of the Church & our individual Debts all of which are pressing us very Heavily now."

Oct 1, 1902 - Article in LDS publication JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR by George Reynolds, member of the First Council of Seventy and the author of three works concerned with the Book of Mormon, is the first mention of Ethan Smith's VIEW OF THE HEBREWS in an LDS context. In the short article Reynolds says that it advances "strong evidences in favor of the genuineness of the Book of Mormon."

Oct 1, 1903 - President Joseph Fielding Smith writes in the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR on the "Pernicious nature of card playing:" "Card playing is a game of chance, and because it is a game of chance it has its tricks. It encourages tricks; its devotees measure their success at the table by their ability through devious and dark ways to win. It creates a spirit of cunning and devises hidden and secret means, and cheating at cards is almost synonymous with playing at cards. . . . Such games as checkers and chess are games more of fixed rules whose application are open and freer from cunning devices. Such games do not intoxicate like cards and other games of chance."

Oct 1, 1976 - Dissolution of First Council of the Seventy and Assistants to the Twelve, who merge in to First Quorum of the Seventy. After this date there is no permanent ranking or membership for Presidency of the Seventy. Conference also sustains first ethnic Japanese and first former Buddhist as general authority. First Quorum of Seventy's Adney Y. Komatsu, who was born in Hawaii.

Oct 1, 1977 - Conference sustains first Japanese-born general authority as member of Firstr Quorum of Seventy, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, exactly one year after sustaining first ethnic Japanese general authority, Adney Komatsu. Also newly appointed F. Enzio Busche is first general authority who has been imprisoned by Americans in POW camp.

Oct 1, 1981 - New York Times reports official announcement that new edition of Book of Mormon changes prophecy that Lamanites (Native Americans) will "become white and delightsome." Instead of continuing original reference to skin color, new edition emphasizes inward spirituality: "become pure and delightsome."

Oct 1, 1988 - DESERET NEWS reports federal judge's decision that FBI has been guilty of systematic discrimination because "Mormon supervisors made personnel decisions which favored members of their church at the expense of Hispanic" FBI agents. Principal offender named is Richard Bretzing, former FBI chief of Los Angeles and current director of LDS Security Department. In December federal judge also rules that FBI used illegal methods to discredit Hispanic FBI agent who had accused Bretzing of protecting Richard N. Miller from arrest as Communist spy because Bretzing was Miller's LDS bishop.

Oct 1, 1989 - Eight men are honorably released from recently established Second Quorum of the Seventy, cease to be general authorities, but do not have "emeritus" status of those released form First Quorum of the Seventy. This administrative difference continues to present.

Oct 1, 1994 - Utah's Earl Miller is inducted into U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame.

September 30th

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Sept 30, 1844 - Brigham Young records: "The Twelve used their influence to prevent the brethren and sisters from attending the ball given by William Marks. The same was to come off on Wednesday evening in the dining room of the Mansion, which was still stained with the blood which flowed from Joseph and Hyrum as their bodies lay in said room preparatory to burial."

Sept 30, 1845 - A commission orderd by Illinois Governor Ford arrives in Nauvoo for the purpose of arranging some compromise which would avoid further bloodshed and open civil war. Headed by Stephen A. Douglas, the commission confers with Brigham Young and other prominent men. The following day an agreement is reached to the effect that the Mormons would voluntarily commence to move from Nauvoo and Hancock County in late April or early May of the following year, if left unmolested, so they might construct wagons, secure animals to pull them, and be allowed to dispose of their property.

Sept 30, 1890 - In a meeting of Apostles who discuss the recently released Manifesto of Wilford Woodruff Heber J. Grant says, "I approve of the Manifesto and feel that it is merely a public announcement of the course which we had already in our private councils decided to adopt and this being the case I do not know why we should not receive any possible benefits which may arise from a public declaration. Yet I believe greater trouble will follow the prominent Elders in the Church through the adoption of this policy. If this plan had been accepted in the beginning of this crusade the nation would not have been tried as it has been and would not be worthy of condemnation such as it now merits, hence I feel this has come at a proper time." Apostle Franklin D. Richards notes, "how the Lord had suspended the operations of His laws in various occasions & held the enemies of his Church responsible for the same."

Sept 30, 1899 - Reports that Apostle Franklin D. Richards "is losing his mind, [which] has been known for some time to his own family." First reported instance of mental instability in current general authority. He dies two months after this report.

Sept 30, 1906 - Church President Joseph F. Smith is arrested, following his return from a trip to Europe, on a charge of illegal cohabitation, and released on his own recognizance. Under considerable pressure, the case is brought to trial, and on November 23, he pleads guilty and is fined $300.

Sept 30, 1972 - During first visit of current LDS president to Jerusalem, Harold B. Lee conducts sacrament meeting in Garden Tomb, and by "inspiration of the moment" organizes branch with David B. Galbraith as president. He "shocked" new branch presidency by denying their request to have branch's worship services on Jewish Sabbath. Months later, Lee relents and authorizes LDS branch in Jerusalem to worship on Saturday.

Sept 30, 1978 - what is now Official Declaration - 2 allowing all worthy males in the Mormon Church to hold the priesthood, is accepted by unanimous vote of the members.
First Presidency announces emeritus status for general authorities due to age, physical infirmity, or other reasons. Members of First Quorum of Seventy are first general authorities to receive this retirement.

Sept 30, 1989 - Elder Paul H. Dunn, age 65, of the Presidency of the First Quorum of Seventy is given emeritus status "in consideration of factors of age and health." He continues, however, to participate in money-making ventures including tours of major-league baseball parks throughout the United States.

Sept 30, 1995 - Announcement of two temples, one to be constructed for Boston and one for White Plains, New York; no groundbreaking ceremonies occur by November 1996. This days withdrawal of previous announcement of temple for Hartford, Connecticut is first such cancellation. Even unused (yet dedicated in 1839) temple site of Far West, Missouri, has not been formally cancelled.

September 29th

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Sept 29, 1844 - Brigham Young vacates the First Quorum of the Seventy by ordaining it's 63 members as presidents of local quorums. This removes a quorum specified in the 1835 revelation as "equal in authority" with the Twelve."

Sept 29, 1857 - John D. Lee reports Mountain Meadows Massacre to Brigham Young and claims that Indians "cut the throats of their women & children." That is not Indian practice but is consistent with Mormon beliefs about blood atonement. Concerning women and children Brigham Young says it is "heart rending." Lee says that he "did not think there was a drop of innocent Blood in their Camp for he had [two] of the Children in his house & he could not get but one to kneel down in prayer time & the other would laugh at her for doing it & they swore like pirates." Decades later one participant acknowledges that Mormon men slit throats of women and children.

Sep 29, 1914 - Quorum of Twelve learns that mission president has "discovered that 15% of the [missionary] Elders in the Netherlands during the past two years, have been guilty of immoral practices, and that a much greater percentage of Elders have been exposed to these evils."

Sept 29, 1967 - Establishment of new position of Regional Representative to the Twelve. At their first training seminar, Apostle Harold B. Lee (rather than member of First Presidency) gives confidential "State of the Church" address, which he continues to do annually.

Sept 29, 1978 - First Presidency allows women to pray in sacrament meetings again.

Sept 29, 1979 - Publication of first LDS edition of King James Bible.

Sept 29, 1983 - LOGAN HERALD JOURNAL reports Cache County administrative assistant Keith Nelson had been printing LDS ward material in the men's room of the county Hall of Justice. As a result the practice is stopped. However, the Logan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union accuses the Cache county commission of violating First Amendment rights by failure to separate church and state.

September 28th

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Sept 28, 1843 - Joseph and Emma Smith are the first couple to receive the second anointing in which each is "anointed & ordained to the highest & holiest order of the priesthood." At the meeting Joseph Smith "led in prayer that his days might be prolonged until his mission on the earth is accomplished, have dominion over his enemies, all their households be blessed, and all the Church and the world." Ten months later Joseph is killed at Carthage.

Sept 28, 1856 - Brigham Young begins a sermon: "I think it is now proven to a certainty that men, women, and children can cross the Plains, from the settlements on the Missouri river to this place on foot, and draw hand-carts, loaded with a good portion of the articles needed to sustain them on the way. . . . As for health, it is far healthier to walk than to ride, and better every way for the people" Less than two months later over 200 handcart pioneers died in Wyoming when caught in an early snow storm.

Sept 28, 1869 - DESERET NEWS advertises sale of BOOK OF MORMON "In Phonetics." Apostle Orson Pratt reports he translated it into the Deseret Alphabet in "four months of continuous labor."

Sept 28, 1870 - Baptism at Salt Lake City of Martin Harris, second of three BOOK OF MORMON witnesses to return to church as led by Brigham Young.

Sept 28, 1881 - Wilford Woodruff preaches, "(God) has had his endowments a great many years ago. He has ascended to his thrones, principalities and powers in the eternities."

Sept 28, 1883 - John Taylor re-establishes School of the Prophets in obedience to revelation exactly five months earlier. "A number" of First Presidency and apostles "confessed to breaking the Word of Wisdom" and vote to obey it. However, this vote does not apply to wine which members of School of Prophets drink by glassful a their meeting on Oct. 12.

Sept 28, 1891 - Apostle John Henry Smith, in Mesa, Arizona, writes in his diary: "There is some drunken tramp here who claims he has papers for my arest."

Sept 28, 1895 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. writes in his diary: "Had a pleasant visit with Pres[iden]t W. Woodruff at his home B[isho]p Hardy took me there in his buggy, Pres[iden]t related many of his dreams & visits from or with the prophet Joseph & father"

Sept 28, 1976 - First Presidency letter advises Mormons throughout U.S. to obtain immunization against swine flu. Government-sponsored mass inoculations are a "cure without a disease."

Sept 28, 1977 - LDS Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and LDS Congressman Gunn McKay (D-UT) introduce a proposed constitutional amendment which mirrors the official LDS position banning abortion except in case of rape or when the mother's health is threatened. The proposed amendment was drafted by two BYU Law School professors. The amendment did not pass congress.

Sept 28, 1978 - Article in NAVAJO TIMES, Window Rock, Arizona, "The Mormon Church is Largest Profit-Making Religious Organization."

September 27th

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Sept 27, 1824 - In Palmyra revival breaks out among the Methodists when four are converted and the next day seven make profession at a prayer meeting at the home of Dr. Durfee Chase, son of the active Methodist family whose farm adjoined the Joseph Smith homestead. Among the seven converted is 19-year-old Lucy Stoddard, relative of the Stoddard who had been the principal workman in building the Smith home. This 1824-25 revival is described in Joseph Smith's History in the Pearl of Great Price but is misdated to 1820.

Sept 27, 1845 - Brigham Young criticizes Nauvoo police for shooting "a good man," apparently seventeen-year-old Issac C. Phippen, out of "envy, hatred & malice." The official report is that this young Mormon was shot, "accidentally."

Sept 27, 1860 - Brigham Yong's office journal records: "President spoke of early times in the church. He said a devil stood at his head [sic] when he had chills and fevers, the Devil touched him several times sometimes on his hand and sometimes on his forehead then the chills would commence again, by exercising faith and rebuking the Devil he kept him off and the chills & fever also."

Sept 27, 1882 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal "I met in Council with the Presidency when the subject was discussed of filling the Quorum of the Twelve & seventies And it was decided that it was proper for the Preside[n]t of the Church to Nominate the person to fill the Quorum as was the Custom from the Beginning except in the first & second organization which was be revelation."

Sept 27, 1886 - John Taylor, in hiding at home of monogamist John W. Woolley, gives revelation about plural marriage: "I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting." Never formally presented to Twelve, but Apostle John W. Taylor discusses 1886 revelation in meetings of Oct. 2, 1889, Sept. 30, 1890, Apr. 1, 1892, and Feb. 22, 1911. On July 15, 1933 First Presidency accepts custody of 1886 revelation's original text which is in John Taylor's handwriting. The 1886 revelation has never been officially published (and its existence has been officially denied). Photocopies of 1886 revelation have been unofficially published, and Apostle Melvin J. Ballard writes that it is definitely the handwriting of LDS president John Taylor.

Sept 27, 1888 - First Presidency secretary L. John Nuttall writes: "I spoke to Prest. Woodruff respecting Peter W. Cownover of Provo obtaining his Second anointings. He told me to write to him informing him that he can have those blessings upon submitting his recommend properly signed."

Sept 27, 1890 - Utah Governor Arthur L. Thomas, in an interview in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, points out that Wilford Woodruff's manifesto "in no way asserts that polygamy is wrong or the law right." The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE opines that the "manifesto was not intended to be accepted as a command by the President of the Church, but as a little bit of harmless dodging to deceive the people of the East."

Sept 27, 1894 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman records: "A proclamation of Amnesty was sent in to us from Pres[ident] Grover Cleveland. It relieves all of disabilities who have kept the law in accordance with the proclamation of Benjamin Harrison. It will do some good but is not all that we wish. We did not conclude we could vote under it as we have kept the law of God instead of the law of the land and will not desert our families."

Sept 27, 1904 - A committee of Apostles recommends to the First Presidency that the Church pay Apostle James E. Talmage $3000 for the copyright to his book THE APOSTASY.

Sept 27, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy speaks in the Salt Lake Tabernacle to eight thousand people. He is joined on the stand by LDS President David O. McKay and second counselor Hugh B. Brown who gives the opening prayer. Kennedy followed McKay into the tabernacle and sits beside him on the stand.

Sept 27, 1983 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple near Papeet, Tahiti.

Sept 27, 1991. Apostle Neal A. Maxwell, speaking at the FARMS annual banquet, tells his listeners, "Joseph [Smith] will go on being vindicated in the essential things associated with his prophetic mission. Many of you here, both now and in the future, will be part of that on-rolling vindication through your own articulation. There is no place in the Kingdom for unanchored brilliance. Fortunately, those of you I know are both committed and contributive. In any case, ready or not, you serve as mentors and models for the rising generation of Latter-day Saint scholars and students. Let them learn, among other things, submissiveness from the eloquence of your example. God bless you!"

September 26th

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Sept 26, 1830 - The second conference of the Church of Jesus Christ (later named "Church of Latter-Day Saints" and still later named "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints") holds its second conference. The church has 62 members. The main order of business concerns revelations Book-of-Mormon witness Hiram Page had received through a seer stone. Joseph presents the conference with a new revelation which authorizes him alone to receive revelations for the Church. At the conference "Brother Joseph Smith, Jr., was appointed by the voice of the conference to receive and write Revelations and Commandments for this Church."

Sept 26, 1856 - First handcart company arrives in Salt Lake Valley. During the next five years ten handcart companies bring 3000 Mormons across the plains to Utah. 200 Mormons from the fifth and sixth companies, which left too late, die when trapped in earlyWyoming snow storms.
47-year old John Taylor takes 19-year old Margaret Young as his 7th wife. She bears him 9 children.
Members of the First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles are rebaptized.

Sept 26, 1858 - President Brigham Young relates a dream he had two days previously to Apostle Wilford Woodruff and Woodruff records it in his journal: "He dreamed that 4 men came into his room and tried to get in. He tried to shoot them with his pistol but Could not get it off. He then drew a Bowie knife but found it to be a Carving knife with a saw on one side. At the same time Mr Clarkson reached over his shoulders & attmped to kill Presidet Young who said to him you may think that you are going to do sumthing but I will show you. He then threw his saw knife at Clarkson & just as it was about to enter his body Brigham Young reached out his hand Caught it so that it did not hurt him saying at the time you now see what I Can do. Clarkson said I see that my life is in your power. At the same time he plunged his knife into his own breast & split it open then handed the handle of the knife all Bloody to B. Young & walked a short distance & fell dead."

Sep 26, 1877 - Grand Jury describes Salt Lake County probate court as a "divorce mill" which granted 300 divorces in previous twelve-month period, primarily on "grounds of incompatibility of temperment, different aims and objectives in life." Eighty percent of divorced couples come to Utah for divorces from such places as San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Terre Haute, and St. Louis. Report finds that 13 percent of divorces are granted same day of complaint, total of 25 percent within week of application, and total of 85 percent are granted within a month of application. Report continues, "And your committee have good reason to believe that other country probate courts of the territory are likewise engaged in this class of divorce business, to an equal if not greater extent." Two months later U.S. senator Dawes introduces bill to remove divorce from jurisdiction of Mormon probate courts and limit divorce cases to federally-appointed non-Mormon judges.

Sept 26, 1881 - Heber J. Grant expresses his disappointment about his racehorse being disqualified from upcoming race in Salt Lake City."I had counted considerable, however, on Hyrum's winning the race and the horse becoming enough of a public favorite that I could sell him for a nice round sum." Heber becomes apostle in 1882, and horse racing remains legal in Utah until 1913.

Sept 26, 1901 - Apostle Rudger Clawson records that in the weekly meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles "President [Lorenao] Snow explained why he had allowed his daughter, Mabel, to act as queen of the Elks Carnival. The general idea was that we might, as a people, get influence with a large organization of influential men in the nation—and yet, he said, he did not feel to give them aid, or encouragement, or endorsement further than this. Spoke of Joseph, the prophet, and others of the brethren joining the Freemasons in order to obtain influence in furtherance of the purposes of the Lord."

Sept 26, 1904 - The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve decide to withdraw the authority that "President Woodruff and President Snow, each in his time, authorized some of the Apostles, and perhaps others to perform sealings for time and eternity" in places other than the temples. This leads to President Joseph F. Smith's so-called "Second Manifesto."

Sept 26, 1941 - First Presidency letter in favor of right to work without joining labor union.

Sept 26, 1955 - Church College of Hawaii opens for regular course work. First and largest of LDS schools established in Pacific islands for Polynesian Mormons, this becomes Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus on Sept. 1, 1974.

Sept 26, 1966 - US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT article "The Spectacular Rise of the Mormon Church." A condensed version of the article is later published in the READER'S DIGEST.

Sept 26, 1976 - NEW YORK TIMES article describes Temple Square visitor's center where there is an explanation of "Mormonism's complex theology with an audio-visual display. A sequence of murals, in the style of socialist realism, is linked to flashing lights and somber voices, and the whole is meant to exude pure spiritualism. The result, however, seems more like Jesus in Disneyland."

Sept 26, 1992 - Aileen Clyde, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, while conducting the general women's meeting welcomes them: "It is good to have President Hinckley, President Monson, President Hunter, and other priesthood leaders with us tonight to symbolize the priesthood partnership we so value in the Church and in our homes." When the talk is published in the ENSIGN the phrase "to symbolize the priesthood partnership we so value in the Church and in our homes" is deleted.

Sept 26, 1993 - Historian D. Michael Quinn's disciplinary hearing is held in his absence. He was summoned but refused to attend on principle. He is excommunicated for "apostasy and conduct unbecoming a member."

September 25th

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Sept 25, 1824 - The body of Alvin Smith is exhumed from its grave to quell rumors that the body had been removed. Joseph Smith had said that the Angel Moroni instructed him to bring his brother Alvin to obtain the plates but Alvin had died before the Sept 22, 1824 date set by the angel. Four days later the Wayne Sentinal publishes a notice by Joseph Smith Sr. that, contrary to the rumors, the body had not been removed from the grave or disturbed.

Sept 25, 1861 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "In the evening Pres. Young discussed with his brother Joseph, the character of a few partly colored brethren The Pres[ident] remarked there are men who have had the dark Skin of Cain partly So, who may have the blood of Abraham in them enough to control themselves in righteousness, and fulfil the requirements of the Gospel as well as many other whites, Some of these partly dark brethren may be shifless, but there are many whites who are also shiftless. The Pres[ident] also spoke favorably of Isaac, a colored man who had worked for him for many years he also remarked he would confer any blessing to him he could, believing him to deserve it."

Sept 25, 1874 - DESERET NEWS editorial about "immortal seven" Mormons who are excused form grand jury in Beaver because they cannot conscientiously indict anyone for polygamy.

Sept 25, 1890 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his diary: "arived at a point in the History of my life as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints whare I am under the necessity of acting for the Temporal Salvation of the Church. The United State Governmet has taken a Stand & passed Laws to destroy the Latter day Saints upon the Subjet of poligamy or Patriarchal order of Marriage. And after Praying to the Lord & feeling inspired by his spirit I have issued . . . [a] Proclamation which is sustained by my Councillors and the 12 Apostles." The Church had been disincorporated and all its property in excess of $50,000 confiscated by the federal government; more than a thousand men had been sentenced to prison for unlawful cohabitation. In February the Supreme Court had upheld the Idaho law which disfranchised anyone unwilling to take an oath denouncing plural marriage.

Sept 25, 1932 - NEW YORK TIMES reports that David Abbott ("Ab") Jenkins has set land-speed record during twenty-four hour period, one of many world records in his "Mormon Meteor" cars. He single-handedly turns Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats into national speedway.

Sept 25, 1984 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple near Manila, the Philippines.

Sept 25, 1984 - Richard Miller, a twenty-year FBI counter-intelligence veteran, is called into his Los Angeles field office subjected to polygraph tests, fired, then arrested and charged with espionage. Miller is described by his stepfather-in-law as an "active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" who "served well" in a variety of positions, including Sunday School instructor and home teacher. However, LDS church headquarters confirms Miller was excommunicated previous summer for reasons unnamed. The national press reports Miller was engaged in a "sexual affair" with Soviet spy and KGB "major" Svetlana Ogordnikov. Miller had asked for $65,000 in cash and gold in exchange for classified information. twenty-one months later Miller, a BYU graduate and returned missionary, is convicted of expionage and bribery and is sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He is the only (former) FBI agent ever convicted of espionage. In 1989 his conviction is overturned when the admission of polygraph results is deemed an error. A third trial is held and Miller is convicted again and sentenced to 20 years. He is released in 1994 following a reduction of his sentence by a federal judge.

Sept 25, 1993 - CHURCH NEWS article "Jewish Congregations Note High Holy Days in LDS Meetinghouses," with explanation that this practice has continued for twenty years in Southern California because "many synagogues are unable to hold the large numbers wishing to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services."

September 24th

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Sept 24, 1835 - The Kirtland high council "by revelation" appoints Joseph Smith as "head" of the "war department" of the "Lord's Host," in imitation of the national Secretary of War. The latter phrase would appear three years later in the "Danite" constitution's description of the unnamed Joseph Smith's military role.

Sept 24, 1842 - The QUINCY WHIG editorializes: "If [Joseph Smith] will listen to word from us, we would advise him to locate his new Jerusalem, away to the far West, in the Oregon country and there…govern the Saints in his own way…he would procure peace and quietness [without] molestation in the enjoyment of their peculiar notions in that distant country;—to the Government, the location of [the Mormons] would be an advantage, because it greatly needs settlers in that region; and doubtless, Government would do something right handsome for Joseph, in the grant of a gift of lands, etc., if he would guarantee the emigration of any number of settlers…"

Sept 24, 1856 - Due to report that Stephen A. Douglas has called Utah's Mormons "an ulcer on the body politic," DESERET NEWS publishes Joseph Smith's 1843 prophecy: "Judge [Douglas], you will aspire to the Presidency of the United States," with his warning of failure if he turns against Mormons. Douglas is defeated for presidency in 1860; dies next year.

Sept 24, 1858 - Brigham Young dreams "that 4 men came into his room and tried to get in. He tried to shoot them with his pistol but Could not get it off. He then drew a Bowie knife but found it to be a Carving knife with a saw on one side. At the same time Mr Clarkson reached over his shoulder & drew a large Bowie knife from between his shoulders & att[e]mp[t]ed to kill Presidet Young who said to him you may think that you are going to do sumthing but I will show you. He then threw his saw knife at Clarkson & Just as it was about to enter his body Brigham Young reached out his hand Caught it so that it did not hurt him saying at the same time you now see what I Can do. Clarkson said I see that my life is in your power. At the same time he plunged his knife into his own breast & split it open then handed the handle of the knife all Bloody to B. Young & walked a short distance & fell dead."

Sept 24, 1860 - Last company of handcart pioneers enters Salt Lake City.

Sept 24, 1865 - Wilford Woodruff records: "President Young spoke 40 [minutes]. He spoke his Feelings in great plainness Concerning O[rson]. Pratt & his publications. He said Orson Pratt would go to Hell. Joseph Smith said he would when Orson said [in Nauvoo, Illinois] that he would believe his wife Sarah before he would Joseph Smith. He will go to Hell as Joseph Said. He would Sell this people for gold. What would I give for Such an Apostle? Not much and yet we hold him in Fellowship in the Church."

Sept 24, 1890 - Wilford Woodruff's "Manifesto" advises all church members to obey anti-polygamy laws. It is not added to DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS until 1914. Apostle Marriner Wood Merrill writes in his diary: "President Woodruff had an article read he had prepared for the press of the country declaring to the world that we did not celebrate plural marriages now in the Church and that he counseled the members of the Church not to break the law in relation to plural marriage. The article was approved by all the brethren present, including myself, which seems the only way to retain the possession of our Temples and continue the ordinance work for the living and dead, which was considered more important than continuing the practice of plural marriages for the present."

Sept 24, 1903 - The First Presidency and half the Quorum of Apostles decide that the Church will to buy the Carthage Jail, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed, for $4000.

Sept 24, 1929 - Heber J Grant writes: "I am free to confess that I am disappointed with the Yosemite valley. It seems only about one-half as grand as the American Fork canyon" of Utah.

Sept 24, 1938 - CHURCH NEWS article "Are Men of Earth Gods In Embryo?"

Sept 24, 1845 - Brigham Young signs a pledge to lead the Mormons out of Nauvoo in the spring for an anticipated re-settlement in Oregon or on Vancouver Island. On Oct. 1 the anti-Mormon leaders agree to these terms of peace.

Sept 24, 1954 - CBS television's Edward R. Murrow program features Apostle Ezra Taft Benson's family having "LDS Home Night." At this time Benson is also Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower.

Sept 24, 1977 - DES MOINES TRIBUNE article, "Mormon Sub-Culture Practices Polygamy."

September 23rd

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Sept 23, 1845 - A non-Mormon at Warsaw, Illinois, writes that "a young man by the name of McBracking" died after Mormons found him trying to burn their homes at Morley's settlement: "after shoting him in two or three places they cut his throat from ear to ear, stabbed him through the heart, cut off one ear & horribly mutilated [castrated] other parts of his body." Friends discover his corpse.

Sept 23, 1855 - Apostle George A. Smith preaches that Mohammed "was no doubt raised up by God on purpose to scourge the world for their idolatry." He states that Mohammed had, "cautioned his people not to drink wine, or in other words, he had given them a 'word of wisdom.'" He gives a history of Islam and states "I relate this to show you what religious zeal will accomplish."
Parley P. Pratt follows Smith and preaches: "Now, if we take Mohammedanism [Islam] during those dark ages, and the corruptions that are so universally prevalent over the earth, and the idolatrous systems of religion, falsely called Christianity, and weigh them in a balance; with all my education in favor of Christian nations and Christian powers, and Christian institutions, so called, with all my prejudices of early youth, and habits of thought and reading, my rational faculties would compel me to admit that the Mahometan history and Mahometan doctrine was a standard raised against the most corrupt and abominable idolatry that over perverted our earth, found in the creeds and worship of Christians, falsely so named."

Sept 23, 1860 - Brigham Young tells the Apostles that he loves them more than he loves any woman.

Sept 23, 1889 - First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall records in his journal: "Prest. Joseph F. Smith had some very plain talk with Bro. Angus M. Cannon in regard to his persistent claim to the land known as the Barn Lot, west of the Lion House, which Bro. Cannon claims he purchased, bonafide. While Pres. Smith claims (it) was only in trust for its safety to the church. Pres. M. Thatcher and Bp. Wm. B. Preston held the same views as Bro. Smith and repudiated Bro. Cannon's claim. No decision was arrived at."

Sept 23, 1894 - Apostle Francis M Lyman writes in his diary of a visit to Beaver, Utah: "I then spoke of Statehood, politics and plural marriages. I announced to the Saints that plural marriage is true and though by law we are prevented from practicing it we may believe in the doctrine. If a man cast off his family here he will have none hereafter."

Sept 23, 1945 - George Albert Smith dedicates temple at Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Sept 23, 1966 - First Presidency letter, "effective immediately," ending "missionary farewells" in LDS meetings. Letter asks local officers "that you counsel families against holding receptions for departing missionaries." Without single reference to war, this letter responds to disparity of holding joyous farewells for young missionaries, while also conducting funerals for young men who are drafted to serve in Vietnam without opportunity to serve mission. LDS missionaries at this time are granted draft deferments for full-time religious ministers.

Sept 23, 1978 - Mary Sturlaugson is first African-American lady missionary.

Sept 23, 1995 - At general meeting of LDS Relief Society the First Presidency and Twelve issue "Proclamation on the Family" including the statement: "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be imployed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." It concludes: "We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." Aside from this statement's usefulness in LDS campaign against legalization of same-sex marriages, hierarchy's repeated emphasis on importance of its being "proclamation" suggests that this announcement will one day be presented for sustaining vote of general conference and added as numbered document in Doctrine and Covenants.

September 22nd

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Sept 22, 1827 - Joseph Smith tells his mother that he has not brought the plates home but has hidden the, plates in an old birch log three miles from his home. He tells her he hid them by cutting out a segment of bark, carving out the interior, depositing the plates, and replacing the bark. After breakfast he tells visiting Joseph Knight "It is ten times Better then I expected. Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates and, said he, they appear to be gold. But he seamed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thummim than he Did of the plates for says he, I can see anything. They are Marvelous."

Sept 22, 1827 - Heber C. Kimball is awakened by a neighbor, John P. Greene, to see a manifestation in the sky: "It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear that we could see to pick up a pin. We looked to the eastern horizon, and beheld a white smoke arise toward the heavens; as it ascended it formed itself into a belt, and made a noise like the sound of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon. After the bow had formed, it began to widen out and grow clear and transparent, of a bluish cast; it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast. In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west; they continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons, and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers. We could distinctly see the muskets, bayonets and knapsacks of the men, who wore caps and feathers like those used by the American soldiers in the last war with Britain; and also saw their officers with their swords and equipage, and the clashing and jingling of their implements of war, and could discover the forms and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army; when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time; I could hear the steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of arms and the rush. No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear."

Sept 22, 1831 - Missionary Jared Carter records that he received the non-ordained "authority of an apostle." A revelation a year later contained the last known reference to Mormon missionaries as "apostles."

Sept 22, 1845 - The Council of the Twelve Apostles announce publicly that the Saints intended to leave Illinois.

Sept 22, 1846 - At the re-organization in Iowa of the Nauvoo Legion, Hosea Stout instructs men in "the old Missouri Danite drill."

Sept 22, 1914 - Apostle James E. Talmage reads an article from Church magazine "The Improvement Era" to the First Presidency. The article, by non-mormon writer J. C. Homans (two years earlier Homans, writing under the name of "Dr. R. C. Webb, PhD," had published articles and a book attempting to defend the Book of Abraham against dismissals by leading Egyptologists) attempts to refute evolution. First Counselor Anthon H. Lund comments that it does not strike him as particularly logical in its assertions.

Sept 22, 1922 - Apostle Melvin J. Ballard preaches in the Ogden Temple: "Now, my brothers and sisters, I would like you to understand that long before we were born into this earth we were tested and tried in our pre-existence and the fact that of the thousands of children born today, a certain proportion of them went to the Hottentots of the south seas, thousands went to the Chinese mothers, thousand to Negro mothers, thousands to beautiful white Latter-day Saint mothers. Why this difference? You cannot tell me that the entire group was just designated, marked, to go where they did. That they were men and women of equal worthiness. There are no infant spirits born. They had a being ages before they come into this life. They appear in infant bodies, but they were tested, proven souls. Therefore, I say to you that long before we came into this life all groups and races of men existed as they exist today. Like attracts to like. Why is it in this Church we do not grant the priesthood to the Negroes? It is alleged that the Prophet Joseph said--and I have no reason to dispute it--that it is because of some act committed by them before they came into this life. It is alleged that they were neutral, standing neither for Christ nor the devil. But, I am convinced it is because of some things they did before they came into this life that they have been denied the privilege. The races of today are very largely reaping the consequences of a previous life." Ballard's discourse is later reprinted by the Church as a pamphlet entitled "The Three Degrees of Glory".

Sept 22, 1929 - Senior Seventy's president and assistant church historian Brigham H. Roberts tells congregation in Salt Lake Tabernacle that "the Latter-day Saints are conscious of receding from that zenith [of early Mormonism] in that they are no longer flooded with revelation." On Oct. 3 combined meeting of First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve, and Seventy's presidents condemns his statement. He apologizes to them.

Sept 22, 1962 - CHURCH NEWS describes Major Russel L. Rogers as "first Mormon astronaut" who is scheduled to orbit the earth as "one of six Dyna-Soar (X-20) astronauts." At this time Clifford I. Cummings is also LDS director of Lunar Program at CalTech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Rogers dies in 1967 crash.

September 21st

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Sept 21, 1827 - Around midnight Joseph Smith asks his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, if she has a box with a lock on it. She says she doesn't and Joseph says, "Never mind, I can do very well for the present without it—be calm—all is right." Minutes later Joseph's new wife, Emma, passes through the room in her bonnet and riding dress, and Lucy hears the two of them drive off in Joseph Knight's wagon--borrowed without permission--to get the gold plates from the Hill Cumorah.

Sept 21, 1840 - William Clayton, on a ship carrying two hundred Mormons from England to America writes: "Good sail. At night Elder Turley spoke considerable on cleanliness and afterwards went round the births to see if all the company undressed. Some was found with their cloths on and some had never pulled their cloths off since they came on deck but had done their dirt in their cloths. Others had dirt in the corner of their birth. This made the most awful smell when discovered almost to much to bear. Elder Turley undressed and washed them and ordered the place cleaned out. [Some of the company] are filthy indeed."

Sept 21, 1843 - William Clayton writes in his journal: "This A.M. he [Joseph Smith] came to talk with Lydia but she won't yet consent. She wants to tarry with her sisters." Lydia Moon, sister of two of Clayton's wives, had agreed to become a plural wife to Clayton but a week ago Joseph Smith informed Clayton that "the Lord had revealed to him that a man could only take 2 of a family except by express revelation . . . He finally asked if I would not give L[ydia] to him. I said I would so far as I had anything to do in it. He requested me to talk to her."

Sept 21, 1856 - First counselor Heber C. Kimball preaches: "You cannot see God, you cannot behold Him and hold converse with Him."

Sept 21, 1856 - Second counselor Jedediah M. Grant preaches: "I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye. . . . I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood. . . . Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins. And you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, let your blood be shed, and let the smoke ascend, that the incense thereof may come up before God as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be afraid."

Sept 21, 1856 - President Brigham Young preaches: "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood split upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them. . . . I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. . . . There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man."

Sept 21, 1857 - At weekly prayer circle of Samuel L. Sprague: "Br. P[hineas] Richards [a member of Council of Fifty] spoke of coming in contact with our enemies. We have covenanted to avenge the blood of the Prophets and Saints. Why, then, should we hesitate to go forth and slay them--shed their blood--when called upon. President Sprague spoke a few words in answer to the inquiry made by br. Richards; that the Lord had said 'vengeance is mine.' Nevertheless, we shall have blood to shed."

Sept 21, 1861 - Brigham Young's "destroying angel" William A. "Wild Bill" Hickman falls down and accidentally shoots himself in the liver when his gun discharges. He lives for twenty-two more years and omits this incident from his memoirs that are written before his execution.

Sept 21, 1872 - Miss Phoebe W. Cousins and Miss Georgeanna Snow become first women admitted to practice of law in Utah.

Sept 21, 1879 - First Presidency secretary L. John Nuttall writes: "Read a very interesting letter from Bro Wilford Woodruff of his journey among the "Zunies", "Lagoonies", and "Islatus" Indians, who he believes are the Nephites Jacobites. Josephites and the Zoramites as recorded in the Book of Doctrine & Covenants Sect. 3. par 17th."

Sept 21, 1885 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal: "I have felt for several years that there was a Change coming over Zion & over our Nation & the world at large. I have spoken of it in public in several instances and it has Commenced. The United States Government has sent Judges & Marshals to Utah to prosicute all the Mormons they Can for Poligamy & Cohabitation with their own wives and they have turned it more into persecution than prosecution untill our prisions are Crouded with the Leading Men of the Church. All the Leading Men are Either in prision or Exhile. All of the 3 first presidency are hid up & myself & the Twelve Apostles are in Exhile and many other leading men of the Church. And the United States Government with the Editors & Priest[s] are laboring to destroy the Saints of God. We shall see." Five years later, as LDS President, Woodruff issues the "manifesto" (later Official Declaration 1) beginning the end of the practice of polygamy by the LDS church.

Sept 21, 1895 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman writes in his journal: "Bro[ther]s Dudl[e]y Leavitt and Nephi Johnson were in the meeting. I talked with those two about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The first gave me but little information. Bro[ther] Johnson was the man who gave the word to the Indians to fire at the last general killing. He denies that Higby and White did the killing that Adair tells of. He says white men did most of the killing. He says Kirby deserves mercy." Massacre participant Dudley Leavitt's great-great grandson later becomes governor of Utah.

Sept 21, 1896 - First Presidency is informed that Apostle Moses Thatcher "has now spent 27 out of 60 days in treatment by an expert in the Keely cure necessary to overcome the morphine habit & [are] asked that brother M[oses] T[hatcher] may be permitted to continue undisturbed in his treatment until the 60 days expire; which was most cordially granted."

Sept 21, 1949 - First Counselor J. Reuben Clark writes that "the General Authorities of the Church get precious little from the tithing of the Church. They are not paid as much as a first-class, stenographic secretary of some of the men who run industry."

Sept 21, 1955 - Joel F. LeBaron incorporates Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times, only Mormon Fundamentalist group to aggressively proselytize.

Sept 21, 1956 - Second counselor J. Reuben Clark reluctantly agrees not to oppose First Preidency's decision to set aside two-thirds of tithing income to invest in government bonds, even though in previous months church had already lost $1 million on its investments in government securities.

Sept 21, 1959 - Mormon Tabernacle Choir's recording of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" enters Top 40. It remains in Top 40 (and on popular radio stations throughout nation) for eleven weeks, during which it reaches its highest ranking of thirteen. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awards Tabernacle Choir a "Grammy" for best Choral Performance that year. Other Mormon singers to win individual awards are Donny and Marie Osmond who receive American Music Association award as vocal duo (1976), Marie Osmond who shares vocal duo award from Country Music Association (1986), and Hans Choi who receives Russia's Tchaikovsky Prize (1990).

Sept 21, 1977 - Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina, and Keith Joseph May, 25, of Los Angeles, California are formally charged in London, England, with "kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offense." They abducted LDS missionary Kirk Anderson, shackled him to a bed, and Miss McKinney, a former beauty pageant contestant, forced him to have sex with her.

Sept 21, 1983 - U.S. postage stamp honors Philo T. Farnsworth for "First Television Camera." His electronic television transmission occurred in San Francisco in 1927.

Sept 21, 2004 - Associated Press reports: "Gov. Janet Napolitano [D - Arizona] plans to visit Salt Lake City this week to meet with leaders of the Mormon Church to learn more about the faith shared by hundreds of thousands of Arizonans." A spokesman for Governor Napolitano said, " the trip evolved from Napolitano's realization over the summer that she didn't know much about the church and its structure and activities in Arizona." Subsequent discussions within the Governor's Office "having to do with the fact that we have so many people in Arizona who are members of the faith" led to phone calls between church officials and the governor's office. "No meetings are planned with Utah state officials, this is all church-related."

September 20th

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Sept 20, 1844 - Heber C. Kimball tells William Clayton that he "shall yet have Sarah Crooks." Clayton had fallen in love with Crooks while on a mission in England. Clayton was married so did not pursue the relationship. Joseph Smith encouraged Clayton to send for Crooks after revealing plural marriage to him. Crooks arrived in Nauvoo but did not agree with polygamy or Joseph Smith and had already married another man by this date.

Sept 20, 1848 - Brigham Young returns to Salt Lake City and never again leaves Great Basin.

Sept 20, 1850 - Brigham Young is appointed governor of the Territory of Utah by federal government.

Sept 20, 1853 - "Uncle John" Smith, Presiding Patriarch, confers upon his son, apostle George A. Smith, "all the keys of the Patriarchal Priesthood that ever was sealed upon any man on the earth." He also says in the blessing, "all the inhabitants of the earth shall know that the Lord did choose the Smith family to build up Zion & did by them lay the foundation of this Church which shall never be overthrown neither shall the name of the Smith family be blotted out under Heaven." Despite Presiding Patriarch's dying request in 1854 that his son be his successor, Brigham Young instead chooses oldest son of Martyred Hyrum Smith.

Sept 20, 1857 - Ten days after the Mountain Meadows massacre Heber C. Kimball preaches in Salt Lake City: "Do I want to shed the blood of my brethren and sisters, or to see it shed? No: and neither do you, unless the Holy Ghost dictates for us to shed the blood of our enemies; then it is just as right as it is for us to partake of the sacrament. But I wish they would take the hint, and go the other way, and not attempt to come here. We do not want to hurt them; but if they come upon us, and we have to repel them by the force of arms, God Almighty will give us the power to do it: now, mark it." The next speaker, President Brigham Young, begins his sermon with "Brother Heber wants to know whether he has said anything wrong. So far as I am concerned, and so far as the truth is concerned, he has not."

Sept 20, 1865 - SALT LAKE TELEGRAM reports that Salt Lake City's Jews celebrate Yom Kippur in LDS 14th Ward chapel, as arranged by Brigham Young.

Sept 20, 1876 - In John D. Lee's second trial he is convicted of murder for his part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The jury deliberates for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Unlike at his first trial where no faithful LDS testified for the prosecution, many now testified against Lee including Daniel H. Wells (second counselor to Brigham Young), and massacre participants Nephi Johnson (Lieutenant in Nauvoo Legion who lead killing of women and children), Jacob Hamblin (president of Southern Indian Mission). Johnson and Hamblin perjure themselves and put all blame on Lee. Judge Jacob S. Boremon allowed the all-Mormon jury to be informed that Wells's presence indicated that the LDS church supported the prosecution. Juror Andrew Correy quoted the Book of Mormon to justify his guilty vote: "Some one had to be sacrificed, so at last I gave in….Better for one man to die than for a whole nation to dwindle in unbelief." But he says of his guilty vote that finally made it unanimous, "I felt miserable, just as though the devil had some power over me."

Sept 20, 1883 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. prophesies that in thirty years the membership of the Church will reach 143,000,000--one million times the number of the first pioneer party to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley.

Sept 20, 1896 - Seventy's president J. Golden Kimball preaches: "There are 500 girls who are public prostitutes in Salt Lake City. Some of these are daughters of Latter-Day Saints."

Sept 20, 1905 - As Joseph F. Smith and his wife sleep, a burglar robs their bedroom.

Sept 20, 1917 - James H. Moyle appointed Assistant Secretary of U.S. Treasury, serving to 1921, and again (1939-40). He is first Mormon to achieve sub-Cabinet appointment in U.S. government. Appointments of similar rand for other Mormons are Assistant Attorney General Frank K. Nebeker (1919-21), Under-Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark (1928-30), Assistant Secretary of Treasury Marriner S. Eccles (1934-36), Assistant Secretary of Commerce Robert H. Hinckley (1940-42), Assistant Secretary of Treasure David M. Kennedy (1953-54), Assistant Secretary of Labor Esther W. Eggertsen Peterson (1961-69), Assistant Secretary of Interior Jack W. Carlson (1974-76), Assistant Attorney General Rex E. Lee (1975-76), Assistant Secretary of State Gregory J. Newell (1982-85), Under-Secretary of Commerce Sidney L. Jones (1984-86), Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services James O. Mason (1989-1993), Assistant Secretary of Treasury Sidney L. Jones (1989-93).

Sept 20, 1921 - Apostle Reed Smoot receives letter from president of Fox Films, agreeing to stop exhibiting movie RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE, after First Presidency condemned film on Aug 24. Studio estimates its loss at $300,000 for withdrawing this and THE RAINBOW TRAIL, which LDS leaders also regard as anti-Mormon. Studio re-edits RIDERS, which Apostle Smoot reviews and approves on Feb 15, 1925.

Sept 20, 1984 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple near Sydney, Australia.

September 19th

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Sept 19, 1830 - On his 19th birthday Orson Pratt is baptized into the Mormon Church by his brother Parley. He becomes one of the first apostles, almost commits suicide after finding that Joseph Smith had propositioned his wife, is excommunicated, rebaptized, fulfills 11 missions for the church. He teaches himself mathematics, physics and astronomy and publishes textbooks on advanced algebra. He differs in doctrinal matters with president Brigham Young and is threatened with disciplinary action over it but Pratt's views are later adopted by the Church while Young's are labeled as "heresy." Before he dies in 1881 Orson Pratt had been a Mormon longer than any other person.

Sept 19, 1844 - Brigham Young begins marrying some of Joseph Smith's polygamous widows as his own wives.

Sept 19, 1845 - Brigham Young and some of the Twelve Apostles "kneeled down and he offered up prayers that the Lord would preserve his servants and deliver those who had been active in the mob that killed Joseph and Hyrum into our hands that they might receive their deserts."

Sept 19, 1893 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman writes in his diary: "On the train we found the following brethren on their way to the penitentiary to serve sentences for living with their wives ... [Dalley, Jones, Barton] each for adultery with their own wives ... Judge Fudd was also on the train. I plead with him to use his influence with Marshall Brigham not to have the brethren shaved, He promised me he would do his best."

Sept 19, 1895 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman, visiting in St. Joseph, Nevada, writes "After meeting bro[ther] George Adair told me all about the Mountain Meadow affair. There were but few White men who shed blood. John M. Higby and Joseph White were the worst, having killed a dozen each. Haight did no killing. Stewart was not there. Lee also did much killing. White fired on the camp." Two days later he writes "Bro[ther]s Dudly Leavitt and Nephi Johnson were in the meeting. I talked with those two about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The first gave me but little information. Bro[ther] Johnson was the man who gave the word to the Indians to fire at the last general killing. He denies that Higby and White did the killing that Adair tells of. He says white men did most of the killing."

Sept 19, 1896 - A "Terrific wind" blows away the entire tin roof of the Salt Lake Temple

Sept 19, 1962 - First Presidency rules that prominent Egyptian polygamist can be baptized because polygamy is legal in Egypt. This is in reference to "an earlier ruling in the matter of Indians who had married more than one wife and it was decided that they may be baptized, if they were legally married according to their tribal customs." First Presidency agrees that such legal polygamists cannot be sealed in temples, to avoid confusing LDS policy toward Mormon Fundamentalists.
With regard to black Africa, President David O. McKay says it "is a cruel thing" to require Nigerian polygamists to cease their legally polygamous marriages, yet Presidency decides to forbid baptism of black African polygamists (who are also denied priesthood ordination by LDS policy for all persons of black African descent). By contrast, the Egyptian polygamist, a Coptic Christian, is baptized in London in February 1963 and ordained elder.

Sept 19, 1963 - First Presidency and apostles decide to prevent performance of BYU professor Clinton F. Larson's play THE REDEEMER because of its portrayal of Mary Magdalene as wife of Jesus. "President McKay [is] very much concerned about it, he having said there was no authoritative basis for such a conclusion--that we just didn't know." Performance occurs because it is sponsored by Provo Recreation Department rather than BYU.

Sept 19, 1975 - First Presidency letter instructs that those Mormons who refuse to pay federal income taxes are violating the law and the church's 12th Article of Faith.

Sept 19, 1977 - British police arrested Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina, and Keith Joseph May, 25, of Los Angeles, California. The two Americans had arrived in England in August, sometimes identifying themselves as husband and wife and used a variety of assumed names. They are charged on September 21 with "kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offense" in the abduction and of 21-year-old LDS missionary Kirk Anderson of Orem Utah.. McKinney, a former Miss USA contestant and BYU graduate student in drama, was in love with Anderson, traveled to England, abducted him, shackled him to a bed, and forced him to have sex with her. Formal charges are made two days later.

Sept 19, 1980 - One of the foremost experts in the field of computer and statistical analysis of literary style, Richard W. Bailey, of the University of Michigan writes, in answer to a question concerning validity of Book of Mormon "wordprint" analysis: "The term 'wordprint' is an unfortunate one since it reminds people of fingerprints. We know that fingerprints are valid; voiceprints are somewhat dubious; and we're not sure if 'wordprints' even exist."

Sept 19, 1992. - VICTIMS: THE LDS CHURCH AND THE MARK HOFMANN CASE, authored by Richard Turley, managing director of the LDS Historical Department, is published by the University of Illinois Press. Turley claims "unprecedented access" to church officials and "previously unavailable documents." He acknowledges that "a substantial amount of writing was done on church time."

Sept 19, 1993 - Paul Toscano's disciplinary council meets.. At 6:00 A.M. over 100 individuals gathered in the parking lot of the Cottonwood Stake Center keep vigil by singing hymns and sharing comments. At the trial's start, Toscano makes four requests: the proceedings be public; his witnesses be present throughout the hearing; his wife be present throughout; and an independent party take notes. All requests are denied. At 12:30 P.M. Toscano emerges from his six-and-a-half hour trial and speaks to the crowd. He says the discussion centered on his recent Sunstone symposium speech, "All is Not Well in Zion: False Teachings of the True Church," of which the council had made a transcription from a purchased cassette. They focused and disagreed on the interpretation of supposedly derogatory comments he had made about general authorities. He said the interchange was genuine and that the high councilors asked hard but fair-minded questions. He felt that they loved him and he expressed his love for them. After hours of deliberation, at 3:00 P.M. Stake President Kerry Heinz tells Toscano that his decision to excommunicate him for apostasy was sustained unanimously by the high council.

Sept 19, 1995 - Wallace B. Smith, president of RLDS church, announces that his successor will be W. Grant McMurray, age forty-eight. Effective as of April 1996, this ends patrilineal succession of Joseph Smith's descendants as presidents of RLDS church since 1860.

September 18th

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Sept 18, 1885 - John Sharp, local bishop, agrees in court to obey anti-polygamy laws. He is first Utah polygamist to be convicted and only fined. Regarded as traitor, he is released as bishop on Oct. 1. However, Sharp remains chair of LDS People's Party central committees for Salt Lake County and Utah territory until 1887. Therefore, it is unlikely he would have been released form Council of Fifty had it convened after Oct. 1884.

Sept. 18, 1892 - First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall writes in his diary: "I went on the 8 a.m. train for Provo. Found all well. This afternoon Mr. M. M. Warner called on me and requested permission to keep company with my daughter Eleanor. I explained to him my reason for my objections to her doing so, and to his keeping company with her with a view to marriage. . . . I told him I wished him to not keep her company at least until I had more proof of his intentions to settled down as a Citizen, and show by his acts of his honorable intentions, &c., also that I did not want him to come to my house to visit my daughter, but to treat her as any other lady but not anything further. Which he promised to do. He then asked my permission to come to the house this evening, which I granted.

"This is a matter which has caused me much grief and sorrow. For I cannot consent for any one of my daughters to marry an outsider, and my daughter Eleanor seems almost determined to keep Mr. Warner's company, which is very strange to myself as also her mother. I walked out with my wife Elizabeth this evening for an hour and we talked over this matter. She is also much opposed as her feelings to Eleanor's wishes. I went to bed early, before which I went to the Lord in prayer and asked for the guidance of His spirit, and asked forgiveness for allowing Mr. Warner to even spend this evening at my house, for it is so repugnant to my feelings."

Sept 18, 1907 - Front-page headline of THE LOGAN REPUBLICAN: "Bear Lake Monster Appears: Leviathan Comes from Lake and Devours Horse While Men Shoot At It."

Sept 18, 1932 - Church's Adult Aaronic Priesthood program begins as local innovation in Salt Lake 28th Ward. It becomes churchwide program next year.

Sept 18, 1937 - CHUCH SECTION full-page article "The Eleusinian Mysteries," which continues as another full-page article on Sept 25. This is 100 years since LDS periodical at church headquarters first described Eleusinian Mysteries. Through Oct 23 there are weekly full-page discussions of "The Mysteries of Bacchus" in two parts, "Orphic Reincarnation," and finally "The Mysteries Of The Great Mother."

Sept 18, 1949 - CHURCH NEWS reports that Ute Indian Albert Harris has been "recently chosen to represent his race and Church on the Roosevelt Stake High Council."

September 17th

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Sept 17, 1843 - Joseph Smith instructs the Sunday congregation that it is wrong to have "men among women, and women among men," and segregates the congregation by gender.

Sept 17, 1846 - Mobs drive remaining Mormons from Illinois after a week of artillery bombardment in the so-called Battle of Nauvoo.

Sept 17, 1854 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff records in his journal the details of a confrontation between Brigham Young and Orson Pratt regarding Brigham Young's Adam-God doctrine: "Brother Pratt also thought that Adam was made of the dust of the Earth Could not believe that Adam was our God or the Father of Jesus Christ President Young said that He was that He came from another world & made this brought Eve with him partook of the fruits of the Earth begat children & they ware Earthly & had mortal bodies & if we were faithful we should become Gods as He was. He told Brother Pratt to lay aside his Philosophical reasoning & get revelation from God to govern him & enlighten his mind more..."

Sept 17, 1902 - Emmeline B. Wells, editor of WOMAN'S EXPONENT and later president of Relief Society, writes, "Sister Walden told Em's [Emmeline B.'s granddaughter] fortune in her hand also Anna Henderson's."

Sept 17, 1925 - Heber J. Grant writes: "Had I had any knowledge of what is known as the Pari betting system I never would have consented to go to the races the opening day. . . . The racing that is now being conducted is licensed gambling under a state law. The law was passed during my absence from the city and I regret exceedingly that it ever got on the statute books, and I am humiliated to think that I attended the races the first day." Four days later First Presidency letter states: "The Church has been and now is unalterably opposed to gambling in any form whatever."

Sept 17, 1988 - LDS church joins VISN television network (Vision Interfaith Satellite Network) sponsored jointly by different religious organizations; renamed "Faith and Values Channel."

September 16th

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Sept 16, 1845 - Orrin Porter Rockwell shoots Robert F. Smith and Frank Worrell of the Carthage Greys militia who participated in the murder of Joseph Smith. Worrell dies. Later that day Rockwell kills four anti-Mormons at Highland Branch, near Warsaw, Illinois.
A committee of five is appointed to carry a letter from Brigham Young to vigilante leader Col. Levi Williams "stating to him that if the mob would cease their destructive operations, it is our calculations to leave the country in the spring . . ."

Sept 16, 1877 - Wilford Woodruff preaches: "But when we came to this country, what did we find here? A barren desert as barren as the Desert of Sahara; and the only signs of life were a few black crickets, some cayote wolves, and a few poor wandering Indians." However his journal for July 24, 1847 reads: "We gazed with wonder and admiration upon the vast rich fertile valley which lay for about 25 miles in length & 16 miles in width Clothed with the Heaviest garb of green vegetation . . ."

Sept 16, 1905 - Last polygamous marriages performed by Canadian patriarch commissioned by President Joseph F. Smith.

Sept 16, 1911 - Public report concerning man who attempts to extort $100,000 from church president to prevent publication of covertly obtained interior photographs of Sale Lake temple. Two days later First Presidency commissions James E. Talmage to write THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. Published a year later its photographs omit tobacco spittoons from Council Room of First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, but include Holy of Holies (photograph deleted from later editions). Ordinance of second anointing is performed for couples in Holy of Holies.

Sept 16, 1933 - CHURCH SECTION full-page article, "The Problem of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon" by Sidney B. Sperry and H. Grant Vest. This is example of LDS leadership's delayed acceptance of B. H. Robert's recommendation decade earlier to openly confront textual problems in Mormon scriptures. Roberts dies eleven days after this article. On Sept 30, CHURCH SECTION prints "The Synoptic Problem in Its Relation To Modern Revelation" and "The Johannine Problem In Its Relation To Modern Revelation" on Oct 7.

Sept 16, 1939 - At Salt Lake City's first exhibition of television, Heber J. Grant writes that since "they were not going to mention any names of the men connected with the invention, I decided not to refer to Mr. [Philo] Farnsworth. I did, however, refer to Harvey Fletcher in my brief talk, as one of the greatest scientists, so acknowledged, working in the laboratory of the great Bell Telephone System." Farnsworth and Fletcher are first Mormon inventors to receive national recognition since Jonathan Browning. Member of YMMIA general board at LDS headquarters, Fletcher develops stereophonic sound and television.

Sept 16, 1971 - President Smith faints during First Presidency meeting, and goes to temple council meeting "over he protests of the Brethren." During Thursday meeting on Oct. 21 he becomes ill and has "to be helped from the council room."

Sept 16, 1978 - First conference for LDS females over age eleven, broadcast over closed-circuit radio to meeting houses. Although not part of general conference, as is male equivalent, this is first step in giving LDS females a meeting similar to that which Mormon males experienced since 1830. In Sept. 1993 this is divided into Relief Society's and Young Women's "general meeting."

September 15th

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Sept 15, 1818 - Timothy C. Strong, owner and editor of the PALMYRA REGISTER, and owner of a Palmyra bookstore advertises about 250 volumes.

Sept 15, 1824 - WAYNE SENTINAL (Palmyra, N.Y.) reports "A reformation is going on in this town to a great extent. The love of God has been shed abroad in the hearts of many, and the outpouring of the Spirit seems to have taken a strong hold. About twenty-five have recently obtained a hope in the Lord, and joined the Methodist Church, and many more are desirous of becoming members."

Sept 15, 1843 - William Clayton writes in his journal: "President Joseph told me he had lately had a new item of law revealed to him in relation to myself. He said the Lord had revealed to him that a man could only take 2 of a family except by express revelation and as I had said I intended to take Lydia he made this known for my benefit. To have more than two in a family was apt to cause wrangles and trouble. He finally asked if I would not give L[ydia] to him. I said I would so far as I had anything to do in it. He requested me to talk to her."
Lydia Moon, who had just turned 17, was the younger sister of two of Clayton's wives: legal wife Ruth Moon and his first plural wife Margaret Moon. Clayton had been courting Lydia to become his plural wife until Joseph Smith told him of the recently-revealed "new item of law." Clayton talked to Lydia Moon about becoming Joseph's plural wife but she never would agree to it. She later apostatized from the Church.

Sept 15, 1884 - Eliza R. Snow writes in EXPONENT, and LDS women's journal, of women blessing one another through laying on of hands and washing and anointing: "Any and all sisters who honor their holy endowments, not only have the right, but should feel it a duty, whenever called upon to administer to our sisters in these ordinances, which God had graciously committed to His daughters as well as to His sons; and we testify that when administered and received in faith and humility they are accompanied with all mighty power. . . . thousands can testify that God has sanctioned the administration of these ordinances [of healing the sick] by our sisters with the manifestation of His healing influence."

Sept 15, 1885 - LDS political newspaper SALT LAKE HERALD describes "FILTHY OUTRAGE" committed against local leaders of anti-polygamy crusade. Late Sunday night unidentified persons threw "a dozen fruit jars filled with a horrible mess of filth taken from privey vaults" through glass windows of residences of Prosecuting Attorney William H. Dickson, his assistant Charles S. Varian, and United States Commissioner William McKay. DESERET NEWS describes weapons as "glass jars filled with human excrement and possibly some other nastiness" and blames incident on anti-Mormons.

Sept 15, 1966 - BYU Political Science professor Ray Hillam is charged, by BYU president Ernest L. Wilkinson, with being pro-communist and disloyal to BYU at a formal hearing. These charges come from information gathered by the student spies and by others. Prior to a second hearing, Hillam and his colleague, Louis Midgley, contact one of the student spies, Ronald Hankin, who is willing to expose the "administration-organized spy ring." Hankin's public exposure leads to a major scandal at the University.

Sept 15, 1977 - LDS missionary Kirk M. Anderson, 21, of Orem, Utah, disappears on from the village of Epsom, twenty miles south of London. The disappearance sets off a two-day nationwide search by Scotland Yard. Two days later Anderson is released. He had been held, handcuffed and shackled, in a rented vacation cottage on an isolated farm. Two days after Anderson's release police arrested Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina. It is later revealed that McKinney, former Miss Universe contestant, manacled Anderson to a bed and forced him to have sex with her.

Sept 15, 1983 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple at Santiago, Chile. Before this dedication, Chilean Mormons have prepared 115,000 names for vicarious temple ceremonies.

Sept 15, 1990 - Memorial service at Mountain Meadows, Utah, for descendants of victims and descendants of perpetrators.

Sept 15, 1992 - Avraham Gileadi, LDS scholar who had published commentaries on Isaiah, is excommunicated for apostasy. He is reportedly told he was excommunicated for teaching false doctrine, being predatory in teaching his theology, and for believing dead prophets over living ones.

September 14th

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Sept 14, 1825 - Heber C. Kimball joins the Milnor Masonic Lodge No. 303 in the village of Victor, New York.

Sept 14, 1835 - "In a meeting of a High Council and the Presidency at Kirtland, it was decided that, as the laborer is worthy of his hire, whenever President Joseph Smith, Sen., is called upon to pronounce Patriarchal blessings upon the Church, he be paid for his services at the rate of ten dollars per week and his expenses." By 1841, this would include a fee of $1 per blessing; fifty years later it would be $2 per blessing.

Sept 14, 1840 - On his deathbed, Joseph Smith, Sr., ordains his son Hyrum as Presiding Patriarch. This would be the last instance of patrilineal ordination which the hierarchy accepted for the office of patriarch. More than a decade later Brigham Young would reject a similar ordination by Presiding Patriarch John Smith for his son George A. Smith.

Sept 14, 1842 - The SANGAMO JOURNAL carries the following notice: "We, the undersigned, feeling ourselves aggrieved by the conduct of Joseph Smith, and others of the leaders of the Church of Latter Day Saints--and feeling that we have been most scandalously imposed upon in matters and things of a Divine character, wish publicly to withdraw from said Church, and no longer claim allegiance thereto." It is signed by ten people.

Sept 14, 1845 - Nauvoo police "had to flog" three uninvited men in an open-air "business meeting" of the church. Later the police post "a guard below the City to prevent any person from going in or out to correspond with the mob."

Sept 14, 1850 - Incorporation of Perpetual Emigrating Company by General Assembly of State of Deseret. Before federal government forces its disincorporation in 1887, PEF assists more than third of all European Immigrants to Utah.

Sept 14, 1852 - The DESERET EVENING NEWS prints an extra edition with the revelation on polygamy (Now section 132 of D&C). This is the first time the text is published.

Sept 14, 1857 - Colonel William Dame, commander of the Iron County Military District orders his officers to calm the Indians and to "assist in passing through the trains now upon the roads." Dame also said the Paiutes, "manifested many signs of hostility towards the whites and passers-by."
Brigham Young declares the territory under martial law.

Sept 14, 1862 - Colonel Patrick Edward Connor, commander of the military district of Utah, reports to Army Headquarters: "It will be impossible for me to describe what I saw and heard in Salt Lake, so as to make you realize the enormity of Mormonism; suffice it, that I found them a community of traitors, murderers, fanatics and whores…"

Sept 14, 1886 - By appointment of First Presidency, Charles O. Card begins mission to North-West Territories (now Alberta Province), Canada, to find refuge for polygamous Mormons to escape arrest. This is origin of Mormon settlements in Cardston Alberta, Canada, where settlers arrive on June 1, 1887.

Sept 14, 1897 - Apostle Franklin D. Richards writes: "There are said to be 3 or 5 detectives from the East in Utah seeking out our condition as to Polygamy & illegal cohabitation."

Sept 14, 1926 - First Presidency reaffirms "that temple ordinances could not be performed for people who had any Negro blood in their veins."

Sept 14, 1960 - BYU president Ernest Wilkinson records an incident in his journal. Wilkinson had called on President David O. McKay at his office. McKay's secretary, Clare Middlemiss, told Wilkinson that his wife had telephoned and that he was to return her call immediately. Middlemiss suggested that he use the telephone in the hall. "By the time I got this telephone [call] through," Wilkinson wrote, Middlemiss "had locked the door on me. There was no question that it was purposeful."

Sept 14, 1971 - Apollo 15 astronauts present to President Joseph Fielding Smith a Utah state flag that has traveled with them to the moon.

Sept 14, 1979 - The WASHINGTON POST devotes the entire top of a page to a photograph of the banner flown by the tow plane over the neighborhood where and LDS area conference is being held: "Mother in Heaven Loves Mormons for ERA." This is the only mention of the conference in the newspaper.
Mark Hofmann and Doralee Olds are sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

September 13th

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Sept 13, 1830 - Constable Nathan Harrington collects $12.81 from Hyrum Smith on an unpaid $21.07 court judgment. Two weeks later Harrington is again sent by court order to collect the rest but found "No property to be found Nor Boddy."

Sept 13, 1846 - Orson Pratt preaches: "the sectarian world say that about six thousand years ago God made all things out of nothing. When it can be demonstrated that light is thirty thousand years in coming from the fixed stars to earth, consequently that light was in existence at least twenty-four thousand years before this earth."

Sept 13, 1857 - James Holt Haslam arrives in Cedar City from Salt Lake City two days after the Mountain Meadows Massacre with orders from Brigham Young to let the emigrants pass unharmed. When Isaac Haight reads Young's letter he says, "Too late, too late," and "cried like a child." At Sunday services in Cedar City Patriarch Elisha H. Groves speaks"upon the principles of the gospel, and of the Lamanites [being] the battle axe of the Lord."
"John D. Lee, with a large band of Indians loaded with loot from the massacre, arrive back at Fort Harmony. Entering the gates, they ride around the center of the fort, their tinware jangling and the bundles of clothing tied awkwardly; they ride around once and stop while the Indians give their whoop of victory, and Lee declares loudly, 'Thanks be to the Lord God of Israel, who has this day delivered our enemies into our hands'"
Meanwhile in Salt Lake City Apostle George A. Smith preaches that there is "a spirit in the breasts of some [at Parowan, southern Utah] to wish that their enemies might come and give them a chance to fight and take vengeance for the cruelties that had been inflicted upon us in the States."
In Salt Lake City, with a representative from Johnson's Army, Captain Van Vliet, on the stand with him Brigham Young preaches: "There cannot be a more damnable, dastardly order issued than was issued by the Administration to this people while they were in an Indian country, in 1846. . . while we were doing our best to leave their borders, the poor, low, degraded curses sent a requisition for five hundred of our men to go and fight their battles! That was President Polk; and he is now weltering in hell with old Zachary Taylor, where the present administrators will seen be, if they do not repent." Actually the calling of the Mormon Battalion was a favor done by the government at the Mormon's request.
Brigham Young tells Captain Van Vliet, "Again if they Commence the war I shall not hold the Indians still by the fist any longer . . . you may tell them they must stop all emigration across this Continent for they Cannot tread in safety. The Indians will kill all that attempt it." Young had been told three days previously of the stand-off at Mountain Meadows. His instructions were for the Mormons to leave the wagon train alone but added "The Indians we expect will do as they please."

Sept 13, 1886 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "I was taken with a vary strange turn. I turned almost Blind & speechless & lost my Memory. It Came on & went off gradually. It lasted about 30 Minutes. I dont know whether it was paralises or not."

Sept 13, 1898 - Quorum of Twelve Apostles sustains Lorenzo Snow as church president with two counselors. Snow then tells them "that he had heard rumors of people thinking that plural marriages could be contracted. He wanted it understood that this can not be done." Concerning post-manifesto plural marriages authorized by his predecessor Snow adds, "As to things which have happened in the past, I do not want to talk about them."

Sept 13, 1901 - First Presidency agrees with policy of "drawing as much business as possible to the north end of Main Street as against the efforts made by the Gentiles to pull to the South." This results in geographic polarization of Salt Lake City's business district on basis of religion, which geographic pattern lasts until late twentieth century.

Sept 13, 1978 - In a BYU oral-history interview Russel B. Swensen recalls a seminar given in 1927 by apostle John A. Widsoe: "Brother John A. Widtsoe had courses, trying to provide these seminary men with a rational perspective on the relation of science and religion. . . . [Widtsoe] converted me to the biological theory of evolution. . . . I thought . . . that the theory of evolution was cut and dried. But Brother Widtsoe in his very tentative and very cautious way didn't openly advocate it, but presented the theory so basically and so logically that, in part, it led to my accepting [it]."

Sept 13, 1990 - Soviet Union grants legal registration for LDS branch in Leningrad, renamed St. Petersburg next year.

September 12th

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Sept 12, 1826 - William Morgan is abducted by Masons in Batavia, New York and is never seen again. Morgan had written a book exposing the rituals of Freemasonry, ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY which is published two months later. Morgan's abduction and murder spark the Anti-Masonic movement and party. Reviewers of the first edition of the Book of Mormon notice parallels between the Masons and the Book's Gadianton robbers. Exact phrases and "grips" in Morgan's book later become part of the LDS endowment ceremony and Morgan's widow, Lucinda, later becomes a plural wife of Joseph Smith.

Sept 12, 1843 - Wilford Woodruff writes that on a train "after dark, and while going at full speed, we struck one of the rails which some persons had raised by rolling a log under it, and landed in a pile; three cars were filled with passengers, and their lives were saved by having a long train of freight between the passenger cars and the engine; all of them were mashed to pieces; the engineer was killed, some of the passengers had bones broken; I escaped unhurt."

Sept 12, 1845 - Brigham Young writes to Solomon Hancock in Yelrome, where mobbers are burning Mormon houses, "The object of our enemies is to get opposition enough to raise popular excitement but we think it best to let them burn up our houses while we take care of our families and grain. . . . Be calm and patient till all things are ready. What is a little property or a few lives, compared with the properties and lives of a great people, and the house and ordinances on which the salvation of that people depend?"

Sept 12, 1846 - William Clayton writes, "President Young brought me $8 in money, one half dollar bogus."

Sept 12, 1847 - William Clayton writes: "Our bread stuff is now out and we have to live solely on meat the balance of the journey. John Pack has got flour enough to last him through. We have all messed together untill ours was eat up, and now John Pack proposes for each man to mess by himself. He has concealed his flour and beans together with tea, coffee, sugar &c. and cooks after the rest have gone to bed. Such things seem worthy of remembrance for a time to come."

Sept 12, 1852 - Parley P. Pratt preaches: "At what speed would the Saints travel? We are told that light is the power that governs all things. If the Saints travel as fast as light they would go at the rate of 200,000 miles in a second. God can go as fast as light and He has made the Saints And I am led to conclude that they can travel as fast as light for they have got to go on missions to far distant worlds and if they did not go as fast as light they would be a long time on their way spending their time without doing any good."

Sept 12, 1857 - At Jacob Hamblin's ranch, 4 miles from the Mountain Meadows killing field, John D. Lee (sleeping on his saddle blanket with his saddle for a pillow) is awakened by an argument between Col. William Dame and Lt. Col. Isaac Haight. After breakfast they continue on to Mountain Meadows to secure property and supervise burial of the dead. Upon seeing the sight Dame and Haight argued over whether Dame ordered it or not. The bodies are stripped of any valuables but many bodies are either left unburied or buried so shallowly that animals dig them up and wild animals and buzzards eat flesh from their bones.
Stake President Haight told the men, "thay had been priveleged to keep a part of their covenant to avenge the blood of the prophets." The men then held a prayer circle (left hand on shoulder of man next to him, right arm to the square) with John Higbee, Isaac Haight, John D. Lee, and William Dame in the center, facing the four points of the compass. Stake president Haight led the men in a solemn oath never to discuss the matter and "to help kill all who proved to be traitors to the Church or people in this matter."

Sept 12, 1857 - Brigham Young meets with Captain Van Vliet, representative of Johnson's Army. Young tells him, "I do not want to fight the United States but if they drive us to it we shall do the best we can & I will tell you as God lives that we shall Come off Conquerer for we trust in God. For God has set up his kingdom on the Earth & it will never fall but it will stand. We shall do all we can not to fight but if they drive us to it God will overthrow them." Van Vliet tells Young, "I do not think that it is the intention of the Government to take you but to instill a New Governor in this Territory." Young responds, "I Believe that you tell the truth that you believe this but you do not know their intention as well as I do."

Sept 12, 1858 - Church historian's office notes discovery this morning of severed head of Provo woman who has been at U.S. military camp for a week. Six weeks earlier another woman's head is discovered. These are earliest verified examples of someone taking literally the repeated teachings of Mormon leaders that apostates and adulterers should have their heads "cut off" as "blood atonement" for their sins.

Sept 12, 1890 - In san Francisco, pro-Mormon Republicans (including "permanent" national chair of Republican Party's national convention) tell presidents Woodruff and Cannon that LDS church's only hope is to make "some announcement concerning polygamy and the laying of it aside." Republican leaders then promise to promote Utah's statehood in expectation that church will work to have majority of Mormons vote Republican.

Sept 12, 1894 - Samuel W. Richards writes, "Prest Snow informed me he had not been able to obtain information why women were required to vail their faces when at prayer in the Temple."

Sept 12, 1902 - At meeting of Stirling Ward, Canada: "Apostle Taylor said he had decided to let the people write the name of the man they desired to act as Bishop of the Ward. Bro. Taylor wished them to write 3 names after which a selection would be made. Bro Taylor put the [minimum] age in voting at 20 years. Bro Taylor said that thought the people had had a chance to make their choice he wished the final vote to be unanimous." This is also practice of Apostle Francis M. Lyman in choosing new bishops.

Sept 12, 1977 - A former LDS chapel in Washington D. C., which has recently been purchased by the Unification Church, is "sanctified" by Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

Sept 12, 1981 - First Presidency announces standardized "Sage Plan" for small meeting houses, further evidence of financial strains of church growth since 1960's.

September 11th

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Sept 11, 1841 - Hosea Stout, Nauvoo Legion clerk, reports that the Legion totals 1,490 men, and that at a special review Lieutenant General Joseph Smith "delivered a military speech to the troops in his usual energetic style."

Sept 11, 1853 - Brigham Young says there will be temple in Scotland. Joseph Smith once made similar promise to Apostle Parley P. Pratt.

Sept 11, 1857 - Members of Parowan's militia participate in killing 120 men, women, and children in Mountain Meadows Massacre. This is largest massacre of wagon train in American history and is unparalleled because killing begins as "whites" are excorting emigrants under flag of truce. After holding prayer circle, local LDS leaders decide not to await word from Brigham Young about whether to help Indians destroy emigrants. At pre-arranged signal, most Mormon participants dutifully kill unarmed emigrant walking beside each militiaman, while some Mormons fire their weapons in air, and a few kill as many emigrants as they can. They spare eighteen small children.
Apostle Amasa M. Lyman crosses the Meadows on route to Salt Lake City from California and meets militia as it returns from burying murdered emigrants. "The twilight had commenced and he knew many of them, but none of them spoke to him or his company." His son says, "The stench was nearly unbearable, and the cattle were nearly crazy smelling blood. . . .it was the most hideous night he has spent."
Decades later participants acknowledge various motivations for destroying this Missouri and Arkansas group which antagonized both Mormons and Indians of southern Utah: war hysteria that belligerent emigrants might incite California to send military force to combine with "invasion" from east by U.S. army; fear that Indians would attack isolated settlements if they didn't assist; "avenging the blood' of Missouri expulsion of 1838 and of Apostle Parley P. Pratt's recent murder; desire to plunder wagon train's property, which included 1,000 head of cattle, according to Church Historian's Office on Sept 28, 1857; and intimidation by some Mormon firebrands who threaten to "blood atone" LDS militiamen who didn't want to participate.
Brigham Young gives unsuccessful order to prevent massacre but becomes accessory after fact. He later tells participants that he approves of the massacre and lets them know he expects them to exonerate each other in court of law. He publicly intimidates anyone who is inclinded to give evidence against Mormon participants. He refuses to give federal authorities information that would implicate nearly all adults of small Mormon community in massacre and division of victims' property. Then when total denial becomes impossible, Young scapegoats three men through excommunication and arranges for participants to testify against (and jurymen to convict) only John D. Lee, Brigham Young's adopted son and Council of Fifty member.

Sept 11, 1871 - Counselor Daniel H. Wells tells Grantsville School of the Prophets that "a great many of our young men are abusing themselves by the habit of self-pollution: or self abuse, or as the Bible terms it, Onanism," which he regards as "one great cause why so many of our young men were not married, and it was a great sin, and would lead to insanity and a premature grave." Polygamy is likelier cause for prevalence of bachelorhood in nineteenth-century Utah. First, every national census lists more males than females in Mormon population. Second, 20 - 40 percent of Mormon men marry polygamously which demographically requires bachelorhood in Utah's majority population of males.

Sept 11, 1876 - Jens C. A. Weibye lists number of married LDS men in his home town of Manti Utah, and calculates that 15.8 percent are polygamists

Sept 11, 1884 - A letter from former Mormon and Godbeite Henry Lawrence appears in the DESERET NEWS explaining the Liberal party's reason for opposing raising property taxes to build a new public school in Salt Lake City's Eighth Latter-day Saint Ward (until 1890 school districts in the city coincided with Mormon church ward boundaries). "[First] Utah schools are not free from sectarian biases and influences, not withstanding the statements of the Church party to the contrary. [Second] a large proportion of the present Territorial school fund is derived from a tax on the property of non-Mormons, who educate their children outside of the district schools. Members of the Liberal Party, and non-Mormons in general, send their children to private schools, not public ones. [Third] When the time shall come that the school teachers are selected with more regard for their ability for teaching than for their allegiance to a certain creed, then, no doubt, the Liberals will not only send their children to the district schools, but contribute freely for their support."

Sept 11, 1892 - St. George, Utah stake leaders proudly report that only 20 percent of its young men smoke tobacco. Apostle Francis M.Lyman preaches to St. Goerge stake conference: "in Prest Brigham Young's time an effort was made to make certan man as Bp of the 3rd Wd Salt Lake City. Bro Young named him but the people did not want the man for a Bp. and did not have him. Prest Young wanted Bro. Jesse N. Smith to be Prest of Parowan Stake But the people did not want him and would not have him and he was not their President. Prest. Woodruff felt desirous to having a certain man ordained a Patriarch in Parowan stake but the people did not want him and would not and did not have him. This indicates the liberty of the Latter Day Saints."
At priesthood meeting, Lyman "referred to the disappointment of Pres Woodruff on discovering that there was not influence enough with the Presidency and Twelve to put one Republican in the Legislature. I felt the time would come when we would wish we were not so fanatically Democratic."

Sept 11, 1893 - World Parliament of Religons refuses to admit LDS delegates.

Sept 11, 1903 - First Polygamous marriage performed in Canada by authorization of President Foseph F. Smith. Patriarch John A. Woold performs this plural marriage and several others until end of 1905.

Sept 11, 1955 - Dedication of LDS temple near Bern Switzerland by President David O. McKay. This is first temple in Eruope.

September 10th

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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,

September 9th

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Sept 9, 1845 - Brigham Young's convenes the Council of Fifty. They resolve "that a company of 1500 men be selected to go to Great Salt Lake valley and that a committee of five be appointed to gather information relative to emigration, and report the same to the council."
Nauvoo Police Chief Hosea Stout writes: "went with Brother Harmon and Horr to see a boy look in a 'peep stone,' for some money which he said he could see hid up in the ground. He would look and we would dig but he found no money; he said it would move as we approached it."

Sept 9, 1849 - James H. Mulholland writes anti-Mormon Thomas Sharp from Iowa to Inform him that "I was present last fall when I seen a man hired with a promise of five hundred dollars to go to your place [at Warsaw, Illinois] and take your life. . . . the man that hired Bill Hickman to come and murder you was [Apostle] Orson Hyde." Mulholland is already excommunicated, and Hyde publishes denial of his claim in Jan, 1856.

Sept 9, 1850 - Official establishment of Territory of Utah by federal government which also appoints Brigham Young as Utah's first governor.

Sept 9, 1851 - Brigham Young has conference covenant to accept and obey Word of Wisdom as commandment and to accept excommunication for non-payment of tithing. Church leaders do not consistently enforce either practice until 20th century.

Sept 9, 1857 - Emigrant George Powers meets William H. Dame (Colonel in Mormon militia) at Parowan and asks if he could not raise a company to relieve the besieged train at Mountain Meadows. Dame, the senior Mormon military officer in southern Utah replies, "that he could go out and take them away in safety, but he dared not; he dared not disobey counsel." Mormon militia Lt. Col. Isaac C. Haight dispatches troops from Cedar City to Mountain Meadows where most of the Paiutes have left.
At night the besieged emigrants devise a plan to alert the outside world to their plight. They send William Aden on horseback through enemy lines to get help. Aden is shot down by Mormons after approaching their campsite.
Courier James Holt Haslam (carrying a letter from Haight to Brigham Young asking for orders) reaches Nephi. He pauses for breakfast and will stop again at Payson, Provo and American Fork to change horses.
Brigham Young walks with U.S. Army Captain Van Vliet through Albert Carrington's garden and orchard. Van Vliet asks Mrs. Carrington "if she was willing to Cut down her fine peach orchard for her faith & Religin. She said yes and would set up nights to do it if it became necessary."

Sept 9, 1860 - Wilford Woodruff records: " Presidet Young made some remarks upon his Commandmets to the Elders. He said that every man that had gone out on missions and turned merchants there are not worth a groat. When they Come home they are empty in spirit and become beggerly poor. Brother P. P. Pratt began this in England and He was beggerly poor for years & Erastus Snow and F. D. Richards Came home merchants and they are poor and Orson Pratt came home in Carriages & with silks and satins and he is poor. He spoke in the power of God and sharply rebuked the Twelve & Elders for their spirit of speculation which they indulged in and when such Elders get home they have not the spirit of God in them. H. C. Kimball. . . . said that the Elders had been like blood suckers from Here to England and it is time for it to be stoped, and let the women alone & not be Corting them but let them alone. Many bring home women & want the president to soon seal a woman to him. This will soon kill him."

Sept 9, 1860 - Brigham Young preaches: "Brother Cannon remarked that people wondered how many wives and children I had. He may inform them that I shall have wives and children by the million, and glory, and riches, and power, and dominion, and kingdom after kingdom, and reign triumphantly."

Sept 9, 1887 - The Apostles meet: "The Committee on Wages reported and the report was read and received. [Presiding Bishop] W[illiam] B. Preston made a recommend that the Twelve be put on the same footing as to pay. After consideration, the allowance for the Twelve and Bishopric was fixed at $3,000.00 each."

Sept 9, 1889 - First Counselor George Q. Cannon writes "President Woodruff, in reply, said . . . I feel that it is not proper for any marriages of this kind to be performed in this territory at the present time . . . He intimated, however, that such marriages might be solemnized in Mexico or Canada . . . I made no reply; for I was not fully prepared to endorse these remarks, and therefore thought it better to say nothing. . . . This is the first time that I have heard President Woodruff express himself so plainly upon this subject, and therefore I was not prepared to fully acquiesce in his expressions; for, to me, it is an exceedingly grave question, and it is the first time that anything of this kind has ever been uttered to my knowledge, by one holding the keys" Woodruff had previously made public statements that no more plural marriages were to be performed. This is the first time Cannon had heard him express it privately.

Sept 9, 1898 - At a meeting of the Apostles, Heber J. Grant objects to Apostle Brigham Young Jr. being ahead of Joseph F. Smith in seniority. Young had been ordained an apostle by his father before Smith but had been admitted to the quorum after Smith. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve meet to discuss the problem on 5 April 1900. They decide that an apostle's seniority dates from when he enters the quorum and that Smith outranks Young. Eighteen months later Joseph F. Smith becomes president of the Church

Sept 9, 1899 - The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that Heber J. Grant pleads guilty to a charge of unlawful cohabitation and is fined $100.

Sept 9, 1931 - Apostle (and trained scientist) John A. Widsoe writes from England that he thinks James E. Talmadge's speech "The Earth and Man" should be published by the Church as it is. The speech accepts geologist's determination of the age of the earth and that fossils are remnants of life that lived and died before Adam. A group of three apostles, including Joseph Fielding Smith, is adamantly against publication of the speech. After two months of meetings (one lasting seven hours) the speech is published and later issued as a pamphlet.

Sept 9, 1944 - CHURCH SECTION article "Primary Boys Make Quilts."

Sept 9, 1977 - An entrepreneur purchases the only LDS chapel in Washington D.C. from the Church for $300,000 and the same day, sells the building Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church for $475,000. The building, dedicated in 1933 by Heber J. Grant, had been abandoned for two years. Local church leaders felt the building was too costly to refurbish. Rev. Moon, who is accepted by his followers as the new messiah, "sanctifies" the building on September 12.

Sept 9, 1978 - Announcement training program for full-time missionaries from Canada and U.S. in new facility at Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center (MTC). For missionaries from other countries, Area Missionary Training Centers are established adjacent to LDS temples in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Pacific islands.

Sept 9, 1984 - CHURCH NEWS article on the "Salamander Letter" explains that the letter's "white salamander" was only Martin Harris's use of "language and symbolism." "If you look the word up in the Oxford Dictionary it has many uses and meanings not known to the modern world, not just the amphibian we think of today. By the time of Martin Harris, the word also meant angel. It also referred to brave soldiers who would run into the heat of battle. The bravest soldiers in the French Revolution were known as salamanders." It is later revealed that the letter was forged by Mark Hofmann

Sept 9, 2001 - Comedian, writer, and actor Steve (wild and crazy guy) Martin remarks at a Toronto Film Festival press conference concerning rumors that he is a Mormon: "I'm not a Mormon. That rumor dates back to Father of the Bride," explained Martin. "In one scene the shirt I was wearing was thin enough that you could see the undershirt. Apparently it looked like the garment some Mormon men wear under their clothes."
Among Mormons rumors have circulated that Martin had been seen on the Tonight Show wearing a CTR ring, that he had been "secretly baptized," and that he had taught a class at BYU Education Week.

September 8th

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Sept 8, 1824 - Geneva Presbytery records state, "there has been no remarkable revival of religion within our bounds. The "bounds" include Palmyra, N.Y. Since Methodists in Palmyra have already begun a revival this verifies Joseph Smith's description of the revival as having "commenced with the Methodists."

Sept 8, 1833 - Orson Pratt records in his journal: "O[rson] P[ratt] and L[yman] J[ohnson] sealed the members of the church at Bath, New Hampshire, Conn., to eternal life."

Sept 8, 1834 - Joseph Smith rules that the use of the "gift of tongues" in giving testimony in church disciplinary proceedings is "contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church."

Sept 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."

Sept 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…"

Sept 8, 1844 - A special council publicly excommunicates Sidney Rigdon for his succession claim in opposition to the Twelve. Rigdon is not present. Before the membership votes "President Young arose and requested the congregation to place themselves so that they could see all who voted. We want to know who goes for Sidney and who are for the Twelve." Ten Mormons who vote in favor of Rigdon at this meeting are suspended from fellowship pending trial before the High Council, an action to be extended to all "who shall hereafter be found advocating his principles." Benjamin Winchester, a prominent elder, writes: "As regards the trial of Elder Rigdon at Nauvoo, it was a forced affair, got up by the Twelve to get him out of their way, that they might the better arrogate to themselves higher authority than they ever had, or anybody ever dreamed they would have; and also (as they perhaps hope) to prevent a complete exposé of the spiritual wife system, which they knew would deeply implicate themselves." William Clayton writes, "There was a good feeling among the people and a bad feeling among the Rigdonites."
A final irony to the meeting was Brigham Young's use of the DOCTRINE & COVENANTS's justification for the High Council to "sit in judgement against any of the first presidency." He tacitly, and possibly unwittingly, admits that a First Presidency is still intact and that Rigdon is still first counselor.

Sept 8, 1856 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Br[other] Dimmock [Huntington] also stated the Indians occasionally had what they called a whore dance, which was lewd and wrong. President said he should drive away the boys that congregated, round the Indians, and whip the Indians that they might desist from these dances and practices."

Sept 8, 1875 - George Goddard records that on his son's sixteenth birthday "his Mother and Myself, put our hands upon his head and pronounced a parents blessing upon him." Such "parents blessings" were common in the early church but have been replaced by "fathers blessings."

Sept. 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.

Sept 8, 1886 - Isaac C. Haight dies in Arizona, fully reinstated in church sixteen years after his excommunication for ordering Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Sept 8, 1887 - Wilford Woodruff and Twelve formally establish fixed salaries for themselves. Previous to this apostles negotiated individually with Trustee-in-Trust for allotments according to their needs. At this meeting Joseph F. Smith prefers old system and comments that "it was repugnant to the people to have the 12 draw a salary." Not long after this meeting, apostles set the "annuity" of Presiding Patriarch at rate exactly one-third of annual allotment for each apostle. Church members also give patriarch $2 for each patriarchal blessing.

Sep 8, 1890 - Apostle John Henry Smith preaches from the pulpit that "married people who indulge their passions for any other purpose than to beget children, really committed adultery."

Sep 8, 1892 - John H. Gilbert, typesetter for the Book of Mormon, swears in an affidavit: "Martin [Harris] was in the office when I finished setting up the testimony of the three witnesses,--(Harris--Cowdery and Whitmer) I said to him,--'Martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes?' Martin looked down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, 'No, I saw them with a spiritual eye.'" Gilbert also says that the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon had no punctuation. Gilbert himself added the punctuation to the manuscript in pencil. This is the punctuation that was in the first edition.

Sept 8, 1893 - First national recognition of Mormon Tabernacle Choir which receives second prize of $1,000 at Chicago World's Fair. Wilford Woodruff writes: "I think without Doubt that our Quire [Choir] 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."

Sept 8, 1897 - Apostle John Henry Smith "blest four sisters and set them apart as Midwives."

Sept 8, 1898 - Wilford Woodruff's funeral is held in the Tabernacle after which "All of the Apostles went to Johnson's Art Galery and sat for a group picture."

Sept 8, 1910 - Apostle (and U.S. Senator) Reed Smoot proposes to Apostles that "all new cases [of polygamy] should be excommunicated from the church and that action should be taken at once. Also that the church should not retain any man taking a plural wife after the Manifesto in a church position where people were asked to support him" The Apostles refer to this as "wholesale slaughter" and recommend a quieter approach.

Sept 8, 1969 - BYU president Ernest L. Wilkinson writes: "If the gospel were not true, some of the [church's] authorities with their internal disputes would have ruined it long ago"

Sept 8, 1975 - LDS Air Force Sgt. Leonard P. Matlovich is featured on the cover of TIME Magazine with the headline, "I Am a Homosexual: The Gay Drive for Acceptance.” The accompanying article makes no mention of Matlovich's Mormonism. Two months later Matlovich is excommunicated. Matlovich served three tours of duty in Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and an Air Force Meritorious Service Medal. Sgt Matlovich was discharged from the army for coming out. He sued and settled for $160,000. He became a gay-rights activist and died, from complications due to AIDS, on June 22, 1988. The epitaph carved in his tombstone in the District of Columbia’s Congressional Cemetery reads “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”

September 7th

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Sept 7, 1857 - The Fancher wagon train from Arkansas, bound for California, is attacked at dawn at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah. The emmigrants form a defensive position and launch a counterattack quickly killing two Paiute Indians. John D. Lee watches the battle and later commented on the situation, "Now we knew the Indians could not do the work, and we were in a sad fix." Before the attack the Fancher party's cattle (which had earlier been promised to the Paiutes by Brigham Young) had been driven off. In the afternoon the battle becomes a standoff. Stake President Isaac Haight, former bodyguard of Joseph Smith, decides to send James Holt Haslam on horseback to Brigham Young for instructions.

Sept 7, 1859 - Salt Lake City clerk records sale of twenty six year old "negro boy" for $800 to William H. Hooper. Until federal law ends slavery in U.S. Territories in 1862, some African-American slaves are paid as tithing, bought, sold and otherwise treated as chattel in Utah.

Sept 7, 1874 - Brigham Young's son Joseph A. Young preaches to the Richfield United Order: "The feeling of 'mine' is the greatest feeling we have to combat."

Sept 7, 1916 - Corporation of the Presiding Bishop.

Sept 7, 1935 - First excommunication of many Mormon Fundamentalists who refuse to sign loyalty oath that, among other things, denies "any intimation that any one of the Presidency or Apostles of the church is living a double life." Later these excommunicants learn that Apostle Richard R. Lyman was living a polygamous "double life" at this time.

Sept 7, 1963 - DESERET NEWS insert titled PRESIDENT McKAY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE, with headline on page 2: "Portrait of a Prophet at 90," and caption on page 7: "Hunstville 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 reverential title for the living LDS president. However, 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."

Sept 7, 1976 - At a BYU devotional address President Spencer W. Kimball preaches: "We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally . . . . and above all, the same religious background, without question." This is quoted in the June 17, 1978 issue of CHURCH NEWS in an article "Interracial Marriage Discouraged." This is the same issue which announces the lifting of the priesthood ban on Blacks.

Sept 7, 1982 - DENVER POST article "Fed Up, Mormon's Request Stuns Her Church" tells of 19-year-old Ann Wallace who in a surprise announcement that took even her family off guard, stood up in a Sunday public church meeting and read an 8-minute statement asking that she be excommunicated from the LDS church in which a woman cannot "experience 'the full power of God' without a man as intermediary." The 250 worshipers were reported to be "stunned" and "shocked." "A lot of people knew how I felt but no one expected me to ask for my excommunication," she added. "I wanted the women of the Church to know about it, too."

September 6th

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Sept 6, 1847 - William E. McLellin and BOOK OF MORMON witnesses John Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, and Hiram Page ordain David Whitmer as "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and Translator" for the church organized by McLellin at Kirtland in February. All living BOOK OF MORMON witnesses except Oliver Cowdery join.

Sept 6, 1857 - Thomas B. Marsh, former president of original Twelve, is received back into the church years after his apostasy. Brigham Young publicly compares himself physically to the ailing Marsh: "He has told you that he is an old man. Do you think that I am an old man? I could prove to this congregation that I am young; for I could find more girls who would choose me for a husband than can any of the young men. . . . . 'Mormonism' keeps men and women young and handsome; and when they are full of the Spirit of God, there are none of them but what will have a glow upon their countenances; and that is what makes yea and me young; for the Spirit of God is with us and within us."

Sept 6, 1879 - Other apostles vote against presiding apostle John Taylor's proposal to organize First Presidency.
DESERET NEWS editorial "What Shall the Mormon Church Do?" quotes recommendation of pro-Mormon OMAHA HERALD: "Let the Mormon people renounce all future polygamous marriages by an open and honest declaration, and there are not a baker's dozen of decent people in America who would ask that any such a brand [of abandonment] as is mentioned by the NEWS should be put upon the women and children." NEWS replies: "If the authorities of the Church were to take any such stand as some friends suppose possible, their enunciation [pronouncement] would in all probability be repudiated by the people." Apostles restate this fear in 1890.

Sept 6, 1902 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes at Nauvoo: "Mr. Chas. E. Bidamon showed us a medal said to have been carved by Joseph Smith with this inscription on it [-] Confirm[o] O Deus Potentissimus." Bidamon is Emma Smith's stepson, and these Latin words are traditional inscriptions for magic talisman of Jupiter.

Sept 6, 1912 - Utah Power and Light Company incorporates in Maine with at least one general authority on its board since then.

Sept 6, 1938 - First Presidency appointes coordinator of church's first anti-polygamy surveillance team which obtains information on Mormon Fundamentalists and turns it over to excommunication courts and to law enforcement agencies. Surveillance coordinator reports to first counselor J. Reuben Clark.

Sept 6, 1846 - President George Albert Smith visits Church Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith [not to be confused with his apostle cousin of the same name] whose homosexual activities have recently come to light and notes in his diary, "a pitiable case." He is released at October general conference for "ill health."

Sept 6, 1869 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "I went to the Endowment House & was sealed at the Altar in company with Mrs Woodruff for 5 Couple and as I went to the Altar to Commenced sealing others I was taken deadly sick at the stomach /though I sealed 11 Couple/. I went out of Doors & vomited severely. I had to leave the House & go home. I soon was Covered all over from head to Foot with the Hives. The ownly thing I Could do to get releaf was to be rubed over with raw flour."

Sept 6, 1889 - Secretary to the First Presidency L. John Nuttall records: "Bro. Fred W. Taylor called and expressed his desires to go to New York for the purpose of entering some college there to study and graduate in Medicine and Surgery, and wished the counsel and sanction of the Presidency. The brethren consented to his going for the propose desired, and hoped he would be firm to the principles of his religion, and not allow his studies or associations to weaken his faith in the Gospel. I suggested to him if he found there was any possibility of his losing his faith, that he come home right away."

Sept 6, 1894 - Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his diary: "Among other matters the propriety of sending Bro Anthon W. Ivins to Mexico to preside there was considered and all of those who were present seemed to favor the proposition. I confess that I know of no man in the Church who as well qualified to go there as Bro[ther] Ivins at the same time it would be a hard thing for me to see him go as long as his father and mother are alive." Ivins's assignment in Mexico includes performing many post-manifesto plural marriages.

Sept. 6, 1898 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes in his journal: "I was sent for by President 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. [who died four days earlier] 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."

Sept 6, 1902 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes, while visiting Nauvoo, "Mr. Chas. E. Bidamon showed us a medal said to have been carved by Joseph Smith with this inscription on It Confirms O Dius Potentessemus." This is Joseph Smith's "Jupiter Talisman" which he had with him at the time of his assassination.

Sept 6, 1960 - Second Counselor Henry D. Moyle confides to BYU President Ernest Wilkinson that Apostles Joseph Fielding Smith and Harold B. Lee were in "real opposition" to his "accelerated missionary program." The program includes using baseball as a missionary tool to baptize teenage boys.

Sept 6, 1966 - Deseret Management Cororation as holding company for church's income producing enterpriese. "There was criticism from members of Twelve," second counselor N. Eldon Tanner later comments, "because they couldn't see why the First Presidency would hand that [power] over to the Deseret Management Corporation."

Sept 6, 1974 - First Presidency announcement of intention to legally divest church of fifteen hospitals in three western states. Most maintaintheir "LDS Hospital" titles despite ownership by "non-Mormons" and non-profit corporation, Intermountain Healthcare. This move also representes First Presidency's decision to publicly disengage church from hospital ownership following 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision ROE VS. WADE which legalized abortion s on demand, Although Presiding Bishop signs final divestiture agreement on April 1, 1975, Intermountain Healthcare is listed among "Associated Businesses" of LDS church in GENERAL CHURCH OFFICES TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, JANUARY 1996.

Sept 6, 1980 - CHURCH NEWS article about Ronald Mead Horton, "newly appointed music director of National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador."

Sept 6, 1991 - LDS leaders give $25,000 to Philippines after eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

Sept 6, 1992. - Bryan Waterman, who had written a summary about the controversy surrounding Mother in Heaven for STUDENT REVIEW in July/August 1992, is called in by his stake president, Allen Bergin, on the instructions of Elder Malcolm Jeppsen (of the Second Quorum of Seventy) who wanted Bryan interviewed immediately and also at the end of the semester. Bergin, had been supplied with a photocopy of the article highlighted in yellow. Bryan, expresses some concern in the second interview about the creation of a file on him that contained only "narrowly focused" material on controversial topics, says he has "misgivings about the nature of the `confidential files" maintained on church members.

September 5th

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Sept 5, 1929 - In Rochester, N.Y. THE GEM reports: "A man by the name of Martin Harris was in this village a few days since endeavoring to make a contract for printing a large quantity of a work called the Golden Bible. He gave something like the following account of it. In the autumn of 1827, a man named Joseph Smith of Manchester, in Ontario County, said that he had been visited by the spirit of the Almighty in a dream, and informed that in a certain hill in that town was deposited a Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of divine origin. He states that after the third visit from the same spirit in a dream he proceeded to the spot, removed the earth, and there found the Bible, together with a large pair of spectacles. He had also been directed to let no mortal see them under the penalty of immediate death, which injunction he steadfastly adhered to. The treasure consisted of a number of gold plates, about eight inches long, six wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved hieroglyphics. By placing the spectacles in a hat and looking into it, Smith interprets the characters into the English language. Harris states that he went in search of some one to interpret the hieroglyphics, but found that no one was intended to perform that all-important task but Smith himself. Smith has interpreted the whole, and it is now in press in Palmyra, Wayne County."

Sept 5, 1840 - Joseph Smith brings charges against Almon W. Babbitt before the High Council. He charges Babbitt with "First . . . stating that Joseph Smith, Jun., had extravagantly purchased three suits of clothes while he was at Washington City, and that Sidney Rigdon had purchased four suits while at the same place, besides dresses in profusion for their families. Second. For having stated that Joseph Smith, Jun.: Sidney Rigdon and Elias Higbee had said that they were worth one hundred thousand dollars each, while they were at Washington, and that Joseph Smith, Jun., had repeated the same statement while in Philadelphia, and for saying that Oliver Granger had stated that he also was worth as much as they (that is, one hundred thousand dollars). Third. For holding secret councils in the Lord's House, in Kirtland, and for locking the doors of the house, for the purpose of prohibiting certain brethren in good standing in the Church, from being in the Council, thereby depriving them of the use of the house. . . . The parties spoke at length, after which, Joseph Smith withdrew the charge."

Sept 5, 1841 - Joseph Smith "preached to a large congregation at the Stand, on the Science and practice of Medicine, desiring to persuade the Saints to trust in God when sick, and not in an arm of flesh, and live by faith and not by medicine, or poison, and when they were sick, and had called for the Elders to pray for them, and they were not healed, to use herbs and mild food."

Sept 5, 1844 - William Clayton writes in his journal: "This evening I heard Elder [Orson] Hyde in the Masonic Hall. He proved very plain that Elder Rigdon's course since he came here has been a continued course of deception and falsehood and that his object is to scatter the people and break up the foundation laid by our beloved prophet Joseph Smith. The people seem to feel indignant at Elder Rigdon for it is now reduced to a certainty that he is conspiring with the apostates to bring a mob upon us."

Sept 5, 1846 - At Wilford Woodruff's request, two young men, Daniel Barnham and Palatire Brown, are whipped with 18 and 23 lashes for "larking" with his teenage brides who he divorced two weeks earlier because of "night ramblings." The young men's families refuse to continue to Utah. A week later Heber C Kimball "spoke upon the fuss made by some persons about those boys being whipped. Some went and hid themselves saying that they would shoot anybody who should undertake to whip them, which he regarded as a pretty sure sign of their guilt. The whipping has been done by order of the council and he would support his brethren in the course they had taken." Brigham Young "spoke very severely upon the course taken by some in undertaking to stir up strife in the camp because some boys had been whipped. . . . He thought the marshall [Hosea Stout] had not whipped them severe enough or they would hold their tongues." Woodruff writes of his two former wives: "Sarah Brown & Caroline Barton who had led them into evil, needed Punishment as well as the young men."

Sept 5, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "The President observed he was prejudiced against many of the Elders who had labored in England their course had been oppresive to the people for the sake of living like gentlemen, coming home in carriages, and bringing [or buying] home Merchandize to trade with; he should enquire of other Elders into particulars, and do all he could to stop this system of begging from the Saints. The President alluded to his former travels in England and how little he had done upon. H. C. Kimball alluded to the little he had ever received from the Saints."

Sept 5, 1873 - Wilford Woodruff dreams "I went up Big Creek & Caught 15 trout. I dreamed last night the 4 That the United States Flag passed from North to South in the sky all tattered & torn. Then the Constitution of the United States followed it but was all tied up with ropes to keep it from falling to Peaces. Then followed an imens Eagle with his tallons fast in the hair of the Head of President [Ulysses S.] Grant Carrying him off. When this passed I awoke."

Sept 5, 1882 - First Counselor George Q. Cannon pays $50,000 for one-half interest in an iron mining property even agreeing to the stipulation that President John Taylor would not be brought into the enterprise under any circumstance. The property was bought to keep it out of non-Mormon hands.

Sept 5, 1898 - Three days after Wilford Woodruff's death the "Twelve and Counselors . . . decided to hold the funeral services for President Woodruff on Thursday, September 8th, at 10:30 a. m. in the Tabernacle." The body was being kept in ice at Woodruff's home where the next three days "were occupied in endeavoring to make the face so it could be looked upon, yet without satisfactory results."

Sept 5, 1981 - William Appleman Williams, writing in THE NATIOn, Calls the LDS First Presidency's statement on the MX missile system a "truly radical action," which has "received far less attention than it deserves. He encourages radicals committed to social change to learn from the Mormons. Williams asserts "the left has created nothing to compare with the concentrated force of the Mormon opposition to the MX and to the American acceleration of the arms race." Williams, who teaches history at Oregon State University and is president of the Organization of American Historians, acknowledges that "the Mormons display a very, shrewd understanding of the kind of national power that can grow out of organizing a relatively small number of people in a specific region."

Sept 5, 1983 - PEOPLE magazine story on Howard Hughes widow Terry Moore says that Moore wed Hughes in 1949. "Though the two were never properly divorced," reports PEOPLE, Moore subsequently remarried four times. Once was to L.A. Rams football star, Glenn Davis, "in a quiet Mormon ceremony." The magazine also reports her inheritance (10 to 20 million dollars) will be channeled into charity funds, personal gifts, a new limo, a suburban mansion, and "ten percent will go to the Mormon church to which she tithes."

Sep 5, 1997 - Mormon singer and actress Shawn Southwick marries CNN broadcast interviewer Larry King (born Lawrence Harvey Ziegler). Shawn Southwick (aka Shawn Engemann) is known to Mormon audiences as original cast member of "Saturday's Warrior" and as cover model for Jack Weyland's popular, LDS novel CHARLEY. It is her second marriage and King's sixth. King publicly refers to her repeatedly as "a devout Mormon." Their first child, Chance Armstrong King, is born March 9, 1999. LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley appears as sole guest on King's hour-long interview program, "Larry King Live" on Sept. 8, 1998 and again on Dec. 24, 1999. Hinckley appears a third time on Sept. 14, 2001 and a fourth on Dec 26, 2004. King refers to Hinckley on the air as "The prophet."

September 4th

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Sept 4, 1838 - John N. Sapp swears in an affidavit that "I was a member of said body of Danites," and that Danites numbered "betwixt eight and ten hundred men, well armed and equipped . . ."
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon began to study law under the tutelage of local militia general David R. Atchison and Alexander Doniphan Doniphan with assurances of being admitted to the bar after a year's "diligent application."

Sept 4, 1841 - Apostle Orson Pratt is the first general authority to receive an honorary college degree (M.A. from the University of the City of Nauvoo).

Sept 4, 1873 - Brigham Young preaches: "We also have the privilege of sealing women to men, without a Temple. This we can do in the Endowment House; but when we come to other sealing ordinances, ordinances pertaining to the holy Priesthood, to connect the chain of the Priesthood from father Adam until now, by sealing children to their parents, being sealed for our forefathers, etc., they cannot be done without a Temple. But we can seal women to men, but not men to men, without a Temple."

Sept 4, 1877 - Two days after Brigham Young's funeral the apostles meet in council and sustain John Taylor as president of the Quorum of the Twelve and Young's former counselors John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells as "counselors to the Twelve." Unable to agree on reorganizing the First Presidency, the Twelve govern as a collective leadership until they call a new first presidency at the October 1880 conference.

Sept 4, 1888 - Apostle Moses Thatcher is arrested at Logan and charged with unlawful cohabitation.

Sept 4, 1929 - First Counselor Anthony W. Ivins computes that church lost $6 million in stock investments and $900,000 in loans and business transactions with Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley before his appointment as second counselor in First Presidency in 1925.

Sept 4, 1934 - Heber J. Grant gives "little or no encouragement" for proposal that LDS church join World Fellowship of Faith.

September 3rd

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Sept 3, 1837 - Book of Mormon witness Martin Harris, discontented after the collapse of the Kirtland Anti-Banking Society, is dropped from the Kirtland High Council. He and his family remain in Kirtland when most Saints emigrated to Missouri or Nauvoo. He later says: "I never did leave the Church, the Church left me."
Also on this day Apostles Luke S. Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and John F. Boynton are disfellowshipped by the Kirtland High Council.

Sept 3, 1845 - NAUVOO NEIGHBOR reports the first suicide by a Mormon woman. She slit her throat with a straight-edged razor "in a state of mental aberration."

Sept 3, 1857 - According to John D. Lee, Stake President Isaac Haight tells him that the massacre of the emigrants "is the will of all in authority. The emigrants have no pass from any one to go through the country, and they are liable to be killed as common enemies, for the country is at war now. No man has a right to go through this country without a written pass."

Sept 3, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal recoreds: "The President alluded to a joke between him and Dr Willard Richards. The Pres[ident] had [sic] once s[ai]d to him if you will make a gentleman of me I will make a real man of you."

Sept 3, 1887 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "I have a large stout man who goes with me every [where] night and day carries 2 pistols & a double barrel shot gun and sayes [sic] he will shoot the marshals if they come to take me (Don't tell anybody this) so I am [] well garded [sic] . . ."

Sept 3, 1890 - "President Wilford Woodruff hurriedly leaves Salt Lake City with his counselors for San Francisco to avoid being subpoenaed to testify in government's court case against the Church over polygamy.

Sept 3, 1892 - Second Counselor Joseph F. Smith preaches: "Concerning the question of blind obedience. Not a man in this Church, since the Prophet Joseph Smith down to the present day, has ever asked any man to do as he was told blindly. No Prophet of God, no Apostle, no President of a Stake, no Bishop, who has had the spirit of his office and calling resting upon him, has ever asked a soul to do anything that they might not know was right and the proper thing to do. We do not ask you to do anything that you may not know it is your duty to do, or that you may not know will be a blessing for you to do. If we give you counsel, we do not ask you to obey that counsel without you know that it is right to do so."

Sept 3, 1937 - Charles Bidamon, step son of Emma Smith, sells "One Silver Pocket Piece. Inscribed 'Make me O Lord all Powerful'" for $50.00 to Wilford Wood, agent for the LDS church. The piece, a "Jupiter's Talisman" was in Joseph's pocket when he was assassinated.

September 2nd

2008-10-19T23:44:00.001-07:00

Sept 2, 1829 - The PALMYRA REFLECTOR publishes: "THE GOLDEN BIBLE, by Joseph Smith Junior, author and proprietor, is now in press and will shortly appear. Priestcraft is short lived!" The REFLECTOR is published in the same building in which the Book of Mormon was being typeset and printed.

Sept 2, 1842 - Orson Pratt Orson writes in the Mormon newspaper THE WASP that, contrary to rumor, he had not "renounced 'Mormonism,' left Nauvoo, &c." He further explains how he is able to believe his wife's accusations against Joseph Smith while remaining in the Church: "The lustre of truth cannot be dimmed by the shadows of error and falsehood. Neither will the petty difficulties existing among its votaries weaken its influence or destroy its power. Its course is onward to accomplish the purposes of its great Author in relation to the happiness and salvation of the human family."

Sept 2, 1844 - Brigham Young performs the first plural marriage by his own authority.

Sept 2, 1852 - Henry Jacobs, living in California, writes to his legal wife Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith Young (a plural wife of Brigham Young who was also a plural wife of Joseph Smith while married to Henry), "O how happy I should be if I only could see you and the little children, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. . . . I am unhappy, there is no peace for poor me, my pleasure is you, my comfort has vanished. . . . O Zina, can I ever, will I ever get you again, answer the question please."

Sept 2, 1862 - Brigham Young holds a meeting with "with some merchants . . . for the purpose of getting our Brethren who were Merchants to enter into some arrangements to lower the present high prices of goods, and by combination to drive from our midst all foreign merchants. . . . Many explanations were made by the Brethren present relative to their manner of doing business showing from figures that their profits were not so large now as they were when goods were sold at much lower figures. . . . No definite conclusion was arrived at, The Brethren agreed to think about the matter and expressed themselves willing to do what they could to accomplish the object in view."

Sept 2, 1875 - The day after his father (George A. Smith, First Counselor to Brigham Young) dies Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "Father still lays in the ice and is keeping very nicely."

Sept 2, 1877 - At Brigham Young's funeral "18,000 people by actual Count passed through the Tabernacle to visit the Body of President Young and several thousand were not Counted. It is estimated that 25,000 took their last fare well of the honored dead."

Sept 2, 1887 - Wilford Woodruff notes the cost for the yet uncompleted Manti Temple: "Total up to date $890,662.95. Almost one half of this Expense was in Moving a Mountain to get a place to build a Temple on." Brigham Young had said that the site had been chosen by Moroni.

Sept 2, 1897 - First Presidency and apostles at their weekly meeting in the Salt Lake Temple "agreed that our people should try and avoid having outsiders settle in their midst."

Sept 2, 1898 - Death of Wilford Woodruff, only Utah church president to die outside Utah (in San Francisco, California, at the home of non-Mormon Isaac Trumbo); buried in Salt Lake City. Lorenzo Snow has a vision in the Salt Lake Temple where Jesus Christ instructs him to organize a First Presidency. A new First Presidency is organized eleven days later. Each of the previous three times a church president had died it had taken from twenty months to over three years to organize a new First Presidency. Apostle Brigham Young Jr. writes I his journal: "Pres Woodruff has passed away far from home and in the house of one I cannot believe to be an honest man."

Sept 2, 1908 - First Presidency and apostles meet in Salt Lake Temple and agree "that the Rule made in the past and adhered to by all of the former Councils of the church [is] that the Negro Race might be baptised but could not have the Priesthood."

Sept 2, 1938 - Popular general authority J. Golden Kimball, asleep in the back of the car while returning from a vacation in California, is thrown from the car and suffers a fatal skull fracture when the driver loses control.

Sept 2, 1965 - A month after race riots in the Watts suburb of Los Angeles, Reed Benson, Utah John Birch Society coordinator and son of Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, writes to Birch Society Members in Utah: "It is common knowledge that the Civil Rights Movement is Communist controlled, influenced and dominated. . . . Our founder and guide, Mr. Robert Welch, has instructed us that when necessary we must adopt the communist technique in our ever present battle against Godless Communism. It is urged that in the coming weeks the Utah Chapters begin a whispering campaign and foster rumors that the Civil Rights groups are going to organize demonstrations in Salt Lake City in connection with the forthcoming LDS conference. . . . A few well placed comments will soon mushroom out of control and before the conference begins there will be such a feeling of unrest and distrust that the populace will hardly know who to believe. The news media will play it to the very hilt. No matter what the Civil Rights leaders may try to say to deny it the seed will have been sown and again the Civil Rights movement will suffer a telling blow."

Sept 2, 1996 - Gordon B. Hinckley receives American Legion's "Good Guy Award."

September 1st

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Sept 1, 1827 - Lemuel Durfee, landlord to the Smith family, writes in his account book: "two barrels of Cider racked of[f] to Joseph & Hiram Smiths at 9/ per barrel $2=25"

Sept 1, 1838 - Entry in the "Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith:" "[I]n the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God we will endure [persecution] no longer. . . . Our rights and our liberties shall not be taken from us, and we peacably submit to it as we have done heretofore, but we will avenge ourselves of our enemies, inasmuch as they will not let us alone."

Sept 1, 1840 - John C. Bennett arrives in Nauvoo. Within eight months he joins the Church, helps secure a city charter, is cited by revelation to "help [Joseph Smith] in your labor in sending my word to the kings and people of the earth, and stand by . . . Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction, and its reward shall not fail, if he should receive counsel," is elected mayor of Nauvoo, becomes chancellor of the University of the City of Nauvoo, is appointed Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion, and becomes assistant president in the First Presidency.

Sept 1, 1842 - Joseph Smith editorializes in the TIMES AND SEASONS that "the public mind has been unjustly abused through the fallacy of Dr. Bennett's letters" and reminds readers that the church's rule for marriage was "that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband." At this time Joseph Smith has married sixteen plural wives in addition to his legal wife, Emma.

Sept 1, 1853 - Brigham Young writes to Apostle Orson Pratt that certain points of doctrine treated in the pages of the SEER "are not SOUND DOCTRINE, and will not be so received by the Saints." [Emphasis in original.]

Sept 1, 1857 - Brigham Young's Journal records a visit of Indian chief Kanosh and several of his band asserts that "a Spirit, seems to be taking posses(s)ion of the Indians to assist Israel. I can hardly restrain them from exterminating the Americans."

Sept 1, 1858 - Brigham Young writes Thomas L. Kane "that the time is not far distant when Utah shall be able to assume her rights and place among the family of nations."

Sept 1, 1859 - Brigham Young preaches: "I have flattered myself, if I am as faithful as I know how to be to my God, and my brethren, and to all my covenants, and faithful in the discharge of my duty, when I have lived to be as old as was Moses when the Lord appeared to him, that perhaps I then may hold communion with the Lord, as did Moses. I am not now in that position, though I know much more than I did twenty, ten, or five years ago. But have I yet lived to the state of perfection that I can commune in person with the Father and the Son at my will and pleasure? No—though I hold myself in readiness that he can wield me at his will and pleasure. If I am faithful until I am eighty years of age, perhaps the Lord will appear to me and personally dictate me in the management of his Church and people. A little over twenty years, and if I am faithful, perhaps I will obtain that favour with my Father and God."

Sep 1, 1870 - Salt Lake City's 9th Ward reports that only thirty one of its 181 families attends Sunday Services regularly and 50 percent of families are "perfectly indifferent."

Sept 1, 1890 - Federal officials indicate that they intend to confiscate LDS temples. Presidents Woodruff and Cannon soon leave for San Francisco to avoid subpoena to testify.

Sept 1, 1906 - J. Reuben Clark is first Mormon appointed to federal government service (U.S. State Department's assistant solicitor). He serves as department's solicitor from 1910 to 1911. No Mormon serves in equivalent legal position until Rex E. Lee's appointment as U.S. Solicitor General (1981-85).

Sept 1, 1936 - German mazazine DER STERN reports on a lecture by Dr. Max Haenle from Tubingen, a non-Mormon who visited Utah in the late twenties and became a friend of Anthony W. Ivins, First Counselor to Heber J. Grant. The article says that Haenle made "comparisons ... throughout the whole lecture between the Mormon state founded 86 years ago by Brigham Young in Utah and Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. . . . In its political productivity, its organization forms, and its unswerving successes in the various areas of governmental, social, and communal life," he proclaimed, "Utah bears a really striking similarity to our Germany of today. Here as well as there, the unshakable faith in and willingness to die for their Fuhrer [respective leaders] is the foundation and prerequisite for all further development."

Sept 1, 1976 - In response to the increasing "personal problems of church members . . . in number and seriousness," together with the absence of "revealed truth about human behavior" among professionals "to combat these problems," BYU President Dallin Oaks proposes to the Board of Trustees that "an Institute for Studies in Values and Human Behavior be established at BYU to sponsor and conduct research that would assist in preventing and changing [deviant] behaviors which lead people away from eternal life." The trustees approve Oaks's proposal and back the appointment of BYU psychologist Allen Bergin as its director. Noting that "too many LDS behavioral scientists do not harmonize their professional concepts with their religious stands," Bergin explained that his "first project [would] be to state as clearly as possible to the behavioral scientists . . . that Jesus Christ teaches in principles of behavior. He later adds, "What we can do is receive inspiration in our research and then seek reviews by the authorities [of the church] for their interpretations, disapproval, or whatever, if doctrinal questions are raised by it." Institute member Victor Brown, Jr. writes to BYU officials, "Our basic theme is that truth lies with the scriptures and prophets, not with secular data or debate."

Sept 1, 1978 - DENVER POST article "LDS Urges Anti-ERA Letters to Senators."

Sept 1, 1989 - Excommunication of Navajo general authority George P. Lee for "apostasy," first excommunication of a general authority in almost 40 years. He has written letters to First Presidency accusing them of promoting racist policies. Deseret Book had issued Lee's biography in its ninth printing the week of the excommunication. A representative of the First Presidency orders KSL-TV news personnel to read the announcement with no comment or contextual information, a ruling reversed only when, forty minutes before air time, both news anchors and other staff decided to walk off the set unless they were allowed to report the story according to their journalistic standards.

August 31st

2008-10-14T21:00:00.002-07:00

Aug 31, 1838 - Joseph Smith "beats his fists together" and angrily tells Mormon John Corrill (who had publicly expressed disagreement with a recent revelation on the United Order), "if you tell about the streets again that you do not believe this or that revelation[,] I will walk on your neck Sir." After Corrill had abandoned his belief in Mormonism he was nevertheless extremely generous in helping the Mormons during their Missouri difficulties.

Aug 31, 1841 - Quorum of Twelve votes "unanimously, that we for ourselves, and the Church we represent, approve of the proceedings of President Smith, so far as he has gone, in making over certain properties to his wife, children, and friends for their support, and that he continue to deed and make over certain portions of Church property which now exist, or which may be obtained by exchange, as in his wisdom he shall judge expedient, till his own, and his father's household, shall have an inheritance secured to them in our midst"

Aug 31, 1842 - To refute John C. Bennett's allegations Joseph Smith authorizes publication of affidavits in the Mormon publication THE WASP accusing first counselor Sidney Rigdon's daughter Nancy and Orson Pratt's wife Sarah of sexual misconduct with Bennett. This is part of an ongoing pattern to attack the moral character of women who have publicly told of being approached regarding the still-secret practice of polygamy.

Aug 31, 1844 - Brigham Young becomes lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion, although the governor does not officially appoint him until Sept. 27.

Aug 31, 1846 - Brigham Young warns non-Mormon Thomas L. Kane (whom Young had just met) "that we had more influence with the indians than all other nations on earth, & if we were compelled we would use it."

Aug 31, 1856 - Brigham Young publicly prophesies that by 1882 "Elders of this church will be as much thought of as the kings on their thrones." He further preaches, "I have traveled and preached, and at the same time sustained my family by my labor and economy. If I borrowed one hundred dollars, or fifty, or if I had five dollars, it almost universally went into the hands of brother Joseph, to pay lawyers' fees and to liberate him from the power of his enemies, so far as it would go. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars that I have managed to get, to borrow and trade for, I have handed over to Joseph when I came home. That is the way I got help, and it was good for me; it learned me a great deal, though I had learned, before I heard of "Mormonism," to take care of number one"

Aug 31, 1873 - Brigham Young preaches: "Now, where a man in this Church says, "I don't want but one wife, I will live my religion with one," he will perhaps be saved in the celestial kingdom; but when he gets there he will not find himself in possession of any wife at all. He has had a talent that he has hid up. He will come forward and say, "Here is that which thou gavest me, I have not wasted it, and here is the one talent," and he will not enjoy it, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife, and he will remain single for ever and ever. . . . I recollect a sister conversing with Joseph Smith on this subject. She told him: "Now, don't talk to me; when I get into the celestial kingdom, if I ever do get there, I shall request the privilege of being a ministering angel; that is the labor that I wish to perform. I don't want any companion in that world; and if the Lord will make me a ministering angel, it is all I want." Joseph said, "Sister, you talk very foolishly, you do not know what you will want." He then said to me: "Here, brother Brigham, you seal this lady to me." I sealed her to him. This was my own sister according to the flesh." Brigham Young's sister, Fanny, became Joseph Smith's last plural wife on Nov 2, 1843.

Aug 31, 1880 - St. George Temple President John D. T. McAllister instructs temple workers: "With regard to new Names. give easy names to be understood: Scripture names or names not in the Scripture, there are many good names of those who have lived upon the earth which are easy to understand, don't give any fanciful names, be Sure they get the New Name and that they understand it. . . . During the time of the Endowments, there Should be no knitting or Sewing in any of the rooms, no loud talking or noise, Workers who are called to take parts, commit them [to memory] So as not to have to read them but have your book with you So you can refer if necessary."

Aug 31, 1886 - U.S. officials at Staten Island, New York, send immigrants back to England because they are Mormons. They board next ship, conceal their religion and destination, pass through American customs, and arrive in Salt Lake City on Oct. 27. For next several years, European immigrants conceal their LDS religion and Utah destination.

Aug 31, 1887 - Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his diary of fellow apostle George Q. Cannon: "Nearly every move George Q. Cannon makes decreases my confidence in his sense of honor, in financial matters."

Aug 31, 1894 - First Presidency letter to "Elder Lorenzo Snow, Prest. Salt Lake Temple" includes the instructions: "The words 'that my tongue be torn from its roots in my mouth,' were substituted for 'from the roof of my mouth.' In giving the sign and token of the Aaronic priesthood that Salt Lake Temple use the word, 'index', meaning the fore-finger. It was decided to use the words, 'fore finger,' instead of 'index finger,' the latter being more easily understood. It has been the practice to mark the shirt, but we think this unnecessary as it is not strictly a part of the Temple clothing. The marking of the garment should be done in the washing room and not at the veil; and the greatest care should be taken to see that no person is permitted to leave that room wearing an unmarked garment." The letter is signed by Wilford Woodruff, Geo. Q. Cannon, and Jos. F. Smith

Aug 31, 1954 - Herbert Salisbury, grandson of Cathrine Smith Salisbury, sister of Joseph Smith, says in an interview, "I was visiting my grandmother at her home in Hancock County, near Fountain Green, when I asked her for some recollections of her brother, the Prophet Joseph Smith. Catherine Smith Salisbury then told me that while dusting up the room where the Prophet had his study she saw a package on the table containing the gold plates on which was engraved the story of the Book of Mormon. She said she hefted those plates and found them very heavy like gold and also rippled her fingers up the edge of the plates and felt that they were separate metal plates and heard the tinkle of sound that they made. . . . the Prophet's sister, told me that she was there when he came in running and burst through the door carrying the plates; and that his hand was injured from striking one of the villains. He told her that he had jumped over a rail fence; when one of the villains grabbed for the plates, he knocked him down with his right fist while carrying the plates under his left arm clasped to his body. Then he ran the gauntlet with several more, and when he came in the house she said he was completely out of breath. She took the plates from him and laid them on the table temporarily, and helped revive him until he got breathing properly, and also examined his hand, and treated it for the bruises on his knuckles, where he had struck the villain and thus defended himself and the plates."

Aug 31, 1964 - First Presidency letter "TO PRESIDENTS OF STAKES and BISHOPS OF WARDS . . . Where the military regulations are of a character that 'hinders', that is, makes impossible the wearing of the regulation garments, either in training on the drill grounds or in combat zones, effort should be made to wear underclothing that will approach as near as may be the normal garment. Where military regulations require the wearing of two-piece underwear, such underwear should be properly marked, as if the articles were of the normal pattern. If circumstances are such that different underwear may be turned back to the wearer from that which he sends to the laundry, then the marks should be placed on small pieces of cloth and sewed upon the underwear while being worn, then removed when the underwear is sent to the laundry, and resewed upon the underwear returned."

Aug 31, 1967 - George W. Romney states on national television that U.S. government leaders and senior military officers have "brainwashed" him and every other American about Vietnam War. First Mormon to seek U.S. presidency since 1844, Romney announces: "I no longer believe it was necessary for us to get involved in South Vietnam to stop Communist aggression." U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara immediately responds: "I don't think Governor Romney can recognize the truth when he sees it or hears it." Three decades later McNamara admits that at this time he privately regards Vietnam War as misguided and unwinnable, despite his public statements to the contrary as U.S. ground troops in Vietnam increase to half a million. Romney's use of word "brainwashed" is ridiculed nationally and he withdraws as presidential candidate in Feb. 1968.

Aug 31, 1967 - John Wilson, Professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, writes in reply to an inquiry by Mormon Glen Wade that Wade had heard Wilson might know where the (yet unpublicized) Joseph Smith Papyri might be), "I was told verbally and in confidence that they were still in existence, recently bought by an American museum from a private source. I have been asked not to reveal their present location, and I have to keep my word on that. Thus I cannot suggest to you how you can secure more definite information."

Aug 31, 1979 - Sally Rand dies at age 75. Her "fan dance" scandalized visitors at the 1933 Chicago World's fair and brought herself national recognition. In 1934 she scandalized St. Louis with a Lady Godiva horseback ride. "It was my form of social protest," she said according to UPI, "People were starving during those depression days and here the aristocratic women were spending a thousand dollars for a dress to go to a party." She appeared at fairs, nightclubs, and on the burlesque stage. At age 61 she was arrested for dancing nude behind the five-foot ostrich fan which became her trademark. She celebrated her seventieth birthday with a fan dance at the Los Angeles Music Center. She joined the Mormon Church in June 1978, baptized by her son Sean who had joined the Church at her urging.

Aug 31, 1993 - Lynne Kanavel Whitesides, Mormon Women's Forum president, receives a letter from Bishop Virgil Merrill stating that a disciplinary council for apostasy is scheduled. Whitesides has regularly spoken on women and priesthood, Mother in Heaven, and other feminist issues. When she asks her bishop who her accusers are she is informed that there were none but her own words from public addresses, of which he had transcripts and cassette recordings. To prepare her defense, she asks which of her statements would be used; she was told that she knew what she said. Merrill had been contacted repeatedly by a general authority concerning Whitesides and had been sent materials, such as copies of news reports about her. When he receives a full transcript of a television interview Whitesides had given, with yellow highlighted passages, he immediately sets a date for the disciplinary council. 150 friends hold a vigil on the lawn during the disciplinary council. Whitesides is disfellowshipped and reports that Merrill had said that the support of so many friends had an impact on him. The day after the Whitesides's disciplinary council LDS historian D. Michael Quinn receives a letter from his stake president notifying him of his disciplinary council on the charges of "apostasy and conduct unbecoming a member."

August 30th

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Aug 30, 1826 - The LYONS ADVERTISER, in Lyons N.Y., ten miles from Palmyra, prints: "All wonders heretofore said or sung, from the legends of the Arabian Nights, down to the marvels of Cotton Mather, are flat & tame in comparison with many of the tales in this AUTHENTIC account of the WONDERS OF NATURE AND PROVIDENCE It's fame has spread far and wide among us." ." Josiah Priest's book, "The Wonders of Nature and Providence," argues that the Indians are descended from Hebrews, contains a condensed version of Ethan Smith's "View of the Hebrews," and is one of the more widely circulated books of the Manchester rental library (just five miles from Joseph Smith's home) in 1827.

Aug 30, 1844 - William Clayton writes: "At the Temple all day. Talked with L[ydia] but she don't seem disposed to do what is councilled." The previous day Heber C. Kimball counseled Clayton "to take L[ydia Moon] for time." Lydia was a sister of two of Clayton's wives and Joseph Smith had proscribed marrying more than two women from the same family.

Aug 30, 1857 - Apostle John Taylor preaches that Mohammed "might have been a true one [prophet], for aught I know."

Aug 30, 1857 - With Johnston's army approaching Utah to install federally appointed territorial officials Heber C. Kimball preaches: "You ladies, too, will certainly have to do your part, or back out. I told you last Sunday to arm yourselves; and if you cannot do it any other way, sell some of your fine bonnets, fine dresses, and buy yourselves a good dirk, a pistol, or some other instrument of war. Arm your boys and arm yourselves universally, and that, too, with the weapons of war; for we may be brought to the test, to see if we will stand up to the line. . . . Can you live your religion, except you do as you are told? I have said, again and again, that if we live our religion, and do as we are. told, those men will never come over those mountains; for we shall slay the poor devils before they get there. I do not know of any religion, except doing as I am told . . . I have acknowledged myself as one of the people; and now I say, we will take our own name, and we will not be false-named any more. We are the Kingdom of God; we are STATE or DESERET; and we will have you, brother Brigham, as our Governor just so long as you live. We will not have any other Governor."

Aug 30, 1906 - At testimony meeting of general board of Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association invited guests Lillie T. Freeze and Maria Young Dougall speak in tongues and interpret. Sisters Freeze and Dougall are general board members in other auxiliaries and speak in tongues and interpret at such meetings until they die in 1937. By then glossolalia no longer occurs in LDS meetings, since all Mormons with this gift have died without successors. After 1930s LDS leaders redefine "gift of tongues" to be ability to learn unfamiliar language (such as Japanese), rather than spontaneous speaking of "unknown tongues" which correspond to no recognized language.

Aug 30, 1922 - Apostle and Salt Lake Temple President George F. Richards notes in his journal: "Brethren and sisters who have been set apart as regular temple workers may have access, while in the temple, to the books containing the ceremonies, but neither the books nor a transcript there from should be taken away from the Temple."

Aug 30, 1932 - B. H. Roberts, senior Seventy's president and assistant church historian, writes complaint about censorship. Heber J. Grant requires him to remove from forthcoming volume of HISTORY OF THE CHURCH the statement of Brigham Young that Seventies are ordained apostles. "I desire, however, to take this occasion of disclaiming any responsibility for the mutilating of that very important part of President Young's Manuscript," Roberts writes, "and also to say, that while you had the physical power or eliminating that passage from the History, I do not believe you had any moral right to do so."

Aug 30, 1939 - President Heber J. Grant writes to Kenneth Macgowen, associate producer of Twentiety-Century-Fox's film "Brigham Young:" "I hope we shall not appear to you to be over anxious, and we have no disposition to be oversensitive, but we are tremendously concerned that this picture shall be a true picture, and, while we are not, any of us, playwrights, or dramatists, or Movie technicians, we can appreciate the war which must constantly go on in one preparing a picture, between the highly dramatic and the sober fact." The LDS Church provided constant input to the making of the film.

Aug 30, 1944 - First Presidency authorizes stake president and bishops to join "AS INDIVIDUALS a civic organizaton whose purpose is to restrict and control negro settlement in his stake" (emphasis in original)

Aug 30, 1967 - First Presidency letter to "Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of Wards" "Occasionally young women come to the temple to receive their endowments or to do ordinance work for the dead WEARING SLACKS OR MINI-SKIRTS. We suggest that when interviewing sisters applying for temple recommends you kindly remind them of the sanctity of the temple and the propriety of being MODESTLY DRESSED when they enter the House of the Lord."

Aug 30, 1989 - LDS Brent Scowcroft, national security advisor to President George Bush, presents U.S. Presidential Citizens Award to Ezra Taft Benson.

Aug 30, 1996 - Announcement that Billings, Montana will be site of sixty-third functioning LDS temple. It is dedicated in 1999.

August 29th

2008-10-14T20:59:00.002-07:00

Aug 29, 1842 - Nauvoo resident, Mary Clift, testifies to the Nauvoo High Council that she is pregnant with Gustavius Hills's child. She says he told her that "the heads of the Church practiced such conduct & that the time would come when men would have more wives than one." Hills is excommunicated.

Aug 29, 1842 - Joseph Smith preaches: " Let the Twelve send all who will support the character of the Prophet, the Lord's anointed, and if all who go will support my character, I prophecy in the name of the Lord Jesus, whose servant I am, that you will prosper in your missions. I have the whole plan of the kingdom before me, and no other person has. And as to all that Orson Pratt, Sidney Rigdon, or George W. Robinson can do to prevent me, I can kick them off my heels, as many as you can name, I know what will become of them." Joseph writes in his journal, "I concluded my remarks by saying I have the best of feelings towards my brethren, since this last trouble began, but to the Apostates and enemies, I will give a lashing every opportunity and I will curse them."

Aug 29, 1843 - Joseph Smith's confidant and personal secretary, William Clayton, writes in his diary: "A.M. at the Temple. President Joseph at my house with Miss W[oo]d[wor]th." Sixteen-year-old Flora Ann Woodworth was a secret plural wife of Joseph Smith.

Aug 29, 1852 - First public announcement of previously denied practice of plural marriage. Contemporary reports show this causes extensive disaffection among British Mormons.

Aug 29, 1858 - Brigham Young tells a visitor to his office: "I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I tell you, that if the Congress will do justice to this people the Union will be preserved; but if they trample upon our rights, and interfere unconstitutionally with our privileges they will fall--they will separate."

Aug 29, 1877 - Brigham Young dies in Salt Lake City. This is exactly twenty-five years after he authorized public announcement of polygamy. His last words are "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph!" He leaves twenty-three widows of whom seventeen receive a share of his estate. Young's personal secretary L. John Nuttall writes that he "felt that the Master Mind of Utah & in the Whole World had been called away leaving a blank and a sorrowful time for the Latter-day Saints." Young had wanted to appoint his son, Apostle Brigham Young Jr., as his successor but many in the Church's hierarchy oppose the establishment of a dynasty. The office of President of the Church is not filled for over three years.

Aug 29, 1901 - First Presidency statement against secret orders and organizations. This is official culmination of half-century of estrangement from church's involvement in Freemasonry, which Joseph Smith thought would help protect him and Mormons.

Aug 29, 1901 - Apostle John W. Taylor marries two half-sisters, Rhoda and Roxie Welling, both on the same day. This increases his number of wives to five. Apostle Matthias F. Cowley performs the weddings at the Taylor home in Farmington, Utah. Taylor's third wife, Janet Maria Woolley (whom Taylor married four days after Wilford Woodruff's manifesto was presented to the Church in general conference) says that Taylor was given permission to marry the Welling girls by Joseph F. Smith, a counselor in the First Presidency.

Aug 29, 1904 - Joseph Smith's youngest son, David Hyrum Smith dies in the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane in Elgin, Illinois. Although David was born after his father's martyrdom Joseph had prophesied that his unborn son would be male and would be named "David" and would be "president and king of Israel.
David did not go with Brigham Young to Utah. However as an apostle and later first presidency member in the Reorganized church he went on two missions to Utah to convert the "poor decieved souls." The Utah Mormons returned the favor by trying to convince him that polygamy was instituted by his father rather than by Brigham Young as his mother (and Joseph widow) Emma had claimed. He gradually accepted that his father practiced polygamy but considered it to be adulterous rather than of divine revelation. This realization was accompanied by a decent into severe mental illness. He spent the final 27 years of his life in the Asylum for the Insane.

Aug 29, 1946 - Apostle George F. Richards asks Alberta temple president to stop "Seances" there.

Aug 29, 1964 - DESERET NEWS editorial, "One Nation Under God" endorses adding the phrase "under God" to the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Assistant to the Twelve Thorpe B. Issacson reads this editorial approvingly at October general conference.

Aug 29, 1964 - Joseph F. Smith II dies. At the time of his death he is serving as a stake high counselor. He had been Presiding Patriarch to the Church but is released in 1946 due to homosexual activities. No church trial is ever held, and no formal action is taken against him but for ten years his local leaders are instructed that he is not to assume any responsibilities or callings. This restriction is lifted by President David O. McKay in 1957.

Aug 29, 1991 - Arthur K. Smith is first non-LDS president of University of Utah.

Aug 29, 2005 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE publishes AP story "Egyptian wife: Polygamy is the answer." Story states, "CAIRO, Egypt - Hayam Dorbek wants her husband to get married. Again. In urging him - and the rest of Egypt - to be more open to polygamy as approved by Islam, the 42-year-old journalist has set off a lively debate in her country and the rest of the Arab world tuning in on satellite TV. Dorbek says she felt her work was keeping her so busy that her husband needed a second wife. She says he refused, 'but my son is helping me promote the idea,' she said." Dorbek states that the practice is the answer to many of her society's ills, such as adultery. In this she echos the arguments advanced 153 years earlier when Orson Pratt formally announced the LDS practice of polygamy.

August 28th

2008-10-14T20:59:00.001-07:00

Aug 28, 1843 - William Clayton (Joseph Smith's personal secretary) records in his Journal: "President Joseph met Ms Wdth at my house." "Ms Wdth" was sixteen-year-old Flora Ann Woodworth, daughter of Lucien Woodworth the architect of the Nauvoo house hotel. She had become Joseph's plural wife in the spring of 1843. She is mentioned in Clayton's journal more often than any of Joseph's other plural wives.

Aug 28, 1852 - Brigham Young preaches: "After men have . . . become Gods, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit . . . and then commence the organization of tabernacles. . . . How can they do it? Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children. This is a key for you. The faithful will become Gods, even the sons of God; but this does not overthrow the idea that we have a father. Adam is my father; (this I will explain to you at some future time;) but it does not prove that he is not my father, if I become a God: it does not prove that I have not a father."

Aug 28, 1852 - Heber C. Kimball preaches: "I say to those who are elected to go on missions, . . . You are sent out as shepherds to gather the sheep together; and remember that they are not your sheep: they belong to Him that sends you: Then do not make a choice of any of those sheep; do not make selections before they are brought home and put into the fold. You understand that. Amen."

Aug 28, 1881 - President John Taylor preaches, "And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? Because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God"

Aug 28, 1947 - At meeting of the Twelve: "Letter read from Elder John A. Widstoe calling attention to the engagement of a young couple, members of the Church, the sister having one thirty-second of negro blood in her veins. Brother Widstoe raises the question as to whether in such cases the individual having Negro blood might be recommended to the temple for marriage. Brother Widstoe states that he informed the couple of the ruling of the Church in the past that any one having negro blood in his veins cannot receive the Priesthood or go to the temple. Council approved the attitude indicated by Brother Widstoe."

Aug 28, 1954 - Joseph Fielding Smith speaks, at a lecture for Seminary and Institute teachers, for two hours on his recently published book, MAN HIS ORIGIN AND DESTINY, repeating many of the points in previous classes at the summer session. He insists on the view that the earth was only 6,000 years old and that no one and nothing had died before Adam and Eve's transgression. He concludes, 'I hope you take what I'm saying [literally], because if you don't you have no business in the church school system.'"

Aug 28, 1985 - The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, and LDS offshoot, is organized in Los Angeles. Its membership is primarily gays and lesbians. It also condones gay polygamy. Temporary president of the church, Antonio A. Feliz (former LDS bishop) states: "If a group of people feels that a plural relationship is confirmed by the Lord and the presidency has no objection, a sealing will be performed."

Aug 28, 1993 - Apostle Russel M. Nelson represents LDS church at Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, exactly 100 years after it rejected first Mormon delegation.

August 27th

2008-10-14T20:58:00.002-07:00

Aug 27, 1804 - Solomon Mack buys 100 acres of land in Sharon, Vermont. He rents part of this land to his son-in-law Joseph Smith Sr. Sixteen months later Joseph Smith is born on this property. Lucy Mack Smith later records "went to Sharon and hired a farm of my father which My husband cultivated in the summer season and in the winter he taught school."

Aug 27, 1842 - LDS newspaper THE WASP denounces "John C. Bennett, the pimp and file leader of such mean harlots as Martha H. Brotherton and her predecessors from old Jezebel." Brotherton had gone public about being approached regarding polygamy. This is part of a pattern, extending to Nancy Rigdon and Sarah Pratt, to attack the moral character of women who have publicly told of being approached regarding the still-secret practice of polygamy.

Aug 27, 1843 - During a sermon Joseph Smith refers to the succession promise to his son Joseph III.

Aug 27, 1843 - Apostle Orson Pratt identifies the Book of Mormon as "a History of nearly one half of the globe & the people that inhabited it, that it gave a history of all those cities that have been of late discovered by Catherwood and Stephens [explorers of remains of early American civilizations]."

Aug 27, 1844 - A private council meeting votes to sustain Brigham Young's resolution to fulfill all of Joseph Smith's Nauvoo innovations.

Aug 27, 1844 - William Clayton's six-month-old son by his secret plural wife, Margaret, dies. Clayton writes: "Thus has ended the earthly career of an innocent sufferer who has known no comfort in this life but has suffered since his birth to his death. The tongue of slander has swung freely against him."

Aug 27, 1845 - NAUVOO NEIGHBOR reports: "On Saturday last a large number of persons partook of a feast of melons, round a table 87 feet long, in the attic story of the Temple."

Aug 27, 1847 - In England Henry Jacobs's missionary companion, Oliver B. Huntington receives a letter informing the two missionaries that Huntington's sister "Zina [Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith Young, Jacobs's legal wife, plural widow of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young's plural wife] had gone to Salt Lake City to live with President Young's family". Oliver dashes off a letter to Zina, complaining that "Henry is here and herd the letter. He says all is right, he don't care. He stands alone as yet. I have had almost as much trial about you as he has. I have had to hear, feel and suffer everything he has--If you only knew my troubles you'd pitty me."

Aug 27, 1871 - Brigham Young preaches: "Now, I wish to make this request: that the Elders who return from missions consider themselves just as much on a mission here as in England or in any other part of the world. There is no people need preaching to more than those who live in this Territory and in these mountains. The Latter-day Saints, or those who profess to be, need talking to just as much as a child who begins to prattle and run around the house. It gets into mischief continually and its mother has to keep talking to it to keep it from meddling with things that it should not. It does not know how to guide itself, and wants guiding and correcting all the time; but not more than the Latter-day Saints who gather together."

Aug 27, 1871 - Brigham Young preaches: "I will turn again to the Latter-day Saints and to the world, and will say I would to God that the Latter-day Saints would take the word of Brigham Young to be law! I will defy the inhabitants of the whole earth to tell one word that he ever counseled that was wrong; or to point out a path that he ever advised man or woman to walk in but would lead to light, life, glory, immortality, and to all that is good or desirable by the intelligence that dwells upon the earth. What do you say, is that boasting? If any person has a mind to call it boasting, do so."

Aug 27, 1884 - U.S. President Cleveland issues amnesty for previous violations of anti-polygamy laws and restores civil rights to disenfranchised polygamists.

Aug 27, 1889 - DESERET NEWS describes as "Organized Tyranny" a labor strike at construction site of Zion's Savings Bank. "We feel ashamed to know that many of these men who have combined [in] this improper manner are 'Mormons,'" NEWS observes. "On general principles we are opposed to 'strikes,' because they usually result in much more harm than good to all parties affected and are often started on incorrect principles."

Aug 27, 1954 - With specific reference to U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision of BROWN vs. BOARD OF EDUCATION which declared segregation unconstitutional, Apostle Mark E. Petersen instructs all LDS "college level" religion teachers: "I would be willing to let every Negro drive a Cadillac if they could afford it. I would be willing that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. But let them enjoy these things among themselves. I think the Lord segregated the Negro and who is man to change that segregation?" After stating that marriage with African-American is impossible for faithful caucasian Mormons, Apostle Petersen extends his opposition to racial intermarriage by affirming that it is God's will that "the Hawaiians should marry Hawaiians, the Japanese ought to marry the Japanese, and the Chinese ought to marry Chinese, and the Caucasians should marry Caucasians."

Aug 27, 1967 - LOS ANGELES TIMES article "Race Discrimination Becoming Hot Issue in Mormon Church."

Aug 27, 1985. Apostle Russell M. Nelson, speaking at Brigham Young University, says, "Some truths are best left unsaid. . . . Extortion by threat of disclosing truth is labelled 'blackmail.' Is sordid disclosure for personal attention or financial gain not closely related?"

August 26th

2008-10-14T20:58:00.001-07:00

Aug 26, 1838 - Sally Parker, former neighbor of the Joseph Smith family in New York writes: "I lived by his [Hyrum Smith's] Mother and and [she] wass wone [one] of the finest of wimen[.] always helping them that stood in need[.] she told me the [w]hole story[.] the plates wass in the house and some times in the woods for eight months2 and on account of peopel trying to get them[.] they had to hide them[.] wonce [once] they hid them under the hearth[.] they took up the brick and put them in and put the bricks back[.]3 the old lady told me this hur self with tears in hur eyes, and they ran down bur cheeks too[.] she put hut hand upon hut stomack and said she [ha]s the peace of god that rested upon us all that time[.] she said it wass a heaven below[.] I axter [asked her] if she saw the plates[.] she said no it wass not for hut to see them but she hefted and handled them4 and I believed all she said for I lived by hut eight months and she wass wone of the best ofwimen"

Aug 26, 1844 - The apostles privately excommunicate James Strang, a repetition of the Michigan branch's action. He is publicly excommunicated again in the Nauvoo temple Feb. 1, 1846.

Aug. 26 1856 - Brigham Young's office journal records: ". . . Bro[ther] Brown lately arrived from Kanesville left a Bottle of Wine of his own make made from the juice of the grape as a present for President Young . . ."

Aug 26, 1883 - Apostle Heber J. Grant notes in his diary that yesterday a mob lynches "the nigger" who kills LDS bishop and policemen Andrew Bury. On May 14, 1885 jury finds police officer not guilty for his part in "assaulting the negro." However, Grant's political newspaper generally uses respectful terms when referring to African-Americans.

Aug 26, 1894 - "First time a woman has spoken in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on the Sabbath at the regular service- the people don't know what to make of it-it must bode good for women." The speaker is a non-Mormon.

Aug 26, 1896 - Apostle Moses Thatcher begins treatment with Keeley Institute for his addiction to opium and morphine. First Presidency and apostles tolerated Thatcher as a "morphine fiend" and "opium eater", but on 26 July his family and friends considered involuntary commitment to treatment. His is most prominent drug addict in Mormon history. Twelve drop Thatcher from quorum membership on 19 Nov because of four year conflict over his insubordination in political matters, but Thatcher's drug addiction aggravates that conflict.

Aug 26, 1923 - Heber J. Grant dedicates temple in Cardston, Alberta, Canada.

Aug 26, 1940 - VARIETY reports on the Salt Lake City Premiere of the motion picture BRIGHAM YOUNG: "Huge 'Brigham' Preem Enthuses Zanuck Party"

Aug 26, 1953 - David O. Mckay informs Utah's Congressional delegation that he does not want them to help European Mormons to immigrate to United States. Instead church president says they should remain and build church in their countries. Unlike earlier statements McKay strengthens this appeal by building European temples, primary motive for moving to Utah.

Aug 26, 1971 - During church's first area conference in Manchester, England, there is formal meeting of joint council of First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles. This is first such council meeting outside United States in Mormon history.

Aug 26, 1972 - CHURCH NEWS article about Mrs. Viola Clawson's recent retirement as supervisor of all-male guides on Salt Lake Temple Square since 1942. She had total discretion in their appointment, assigned days/hours, and release.

August 25th

2008-10-14T20:57:00.003-07:00

Aug 25, 1830 - The JOURNAL OF HEALTH, published semi-monthly at Philadelphia, concludes a year-long series of articles denouncing the use of ardent spirits, tobacco, tea, and coffee in the strongest terms. It claims, "The most deadly of all poisons, the prussic acid, has been detected in green tea." It also advises, "A substitution almost entire, of vegetable for animal substances . . ."

Aug 25, 1836 - the CINCINNATI JOURNAL AND WESTERN LUMINARY prints a letter from Truman Coe pastor of the Old South Church in Kirtland, Ohio: "Mormonism, it is well known, originated with Joseph Smith in the town of Manchester, adjoining Palmyra, in the state of New York. Smith had previously been noted among his acquaintances as a kind of Juggler, and had been employed in digging after money. He was believed by the ignorant to possess the power of second sight, by looking through a certain stone in his possession. He relates that when he was 17 years of age, while seeking after the Lord he had a nocturnal vision, and a wonderful display of celestial glory. An angel descended and warned him that God was about to make an astonishing revelation to the world, and then directed him to go to such a place, and after prying up a stone he should find a number of plates of the color of gold inscribed with hieroglyphics, and under them a breastplate, and under that a transparent stone or stones which was the Urim and Thummin mentioned by Moses."

Aug 25, 1842 - Joseph Smith publicly admonishes the Twelve and others to "support the character of the Prophet, the Lord's anointed." He lashes out at "O[rson] Pratt and others of the same class [who] caused trouble by telling stories to people who would betray me, and they must believe these stories because his Wife told him so! And as to all that Orson Pratt, Sidney Rigdon, or George W. Robinson can do to prevent me, I can kick them off my heels, as many as you can name."

Aug 25, 1845 - Apostle Orson Pratt writes in the NEW YORK MESSENGER against Mormons who are teaching that the mortal body "of our martyred prophet and seer, or of any other person, was, or is the especial tabernacle of the Holy Ghost . . ." This is the earliest specific reference to a belief that Joseph Smith was the Holy Ghost in the flesh. Nearly fifty years later Wilford Woodruff would publicly indicate that this was a continued belief among some Mormons. It is still a belief among some Mormon fundamentalists (polygamists) today.

Aug 25, 1872 - Brigham Young preaches: "I remember once, when a boy, Jedediah M. Grant saw me chewing tobacco, and said be, 'You chew tobacco, do you?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Well, I never had any taste for it; it is no virtue in me that I do not use it, I tried hard enough, but it made me sick.'"

Aug 25, 1878 - Aurelia Rogers holds first meeting in Farmington, Utah, of her independently devised program for children. Not until June 19, 1880 does this become official churchwide "Primary" program, with Louie B. Felt as its first president.

Aug 25, 1881 - Organization of Utah Iron Manufacturing Company.

Aug 25, 1882 - First Presidency secretary John Nuttall records: "In the afternoon Pres Taylor & Smith decided that both tubs at Logan Temple shall be [illegible] feet long for Males and 6 feet long for females -- 24 inches wide at top -- 21 inches wide at bottom -- 20 inches deep the flare to be in front."

Aug 25, 1890 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon writes: "Pres. Petersen told of an incident which he often heard Zebedee Coltrin relate. One day the Prophet Joseph Smith asked him [Coltrin] and Sidney Rigdon to accompany him into the woods to pray. When they had reached a secluded spot Joseph laid down on his back and stretched out his arms. He told the brethren to lie one on each arm and then shut their eyes. After they had prayed he told them to open their eyes. They did so and they saw a brilliant light surrounding a pedestal which seemed to rest on the earth. They closed their eyes and again prayed. They then saw, on opening them, the Father seated upon a throne; they prayed again and on looking saw the Mother also; after praying and looking the fourth time they saw the Savior added to the group. He had auburn brown, rather long, wavy hair and appeared quite young."

Aug 25, 1895 - At Salina, Utah, Apostle Francis M. Lyman "denounce[s] the ideas of the world in regard to small families and the use of preventatives to avoid large families."

Aug 25, 1901 - When visiting apostles ask congregation how often ward teachers visit them, some "had not seen a Teacher in their homes for years and many not for months."

Aug 25, 1903 - First Presidency letter states: "Complaints have reached us from Presidents of Stakes that persons doing temple work have been advised by temple workers to speak to the President of their Stake about obtaining their Second Anointing. This must not be done, or suggested by any one laboring in our temples. . . . No person has the right to ask for this blessing. He must wait till sought out by his Stake President."

Aug 25, 1914 - First Presidency cables missionaries to leave France and Germany immediately, due to outbreak of war. LDS missionaries leave in safety.

Aug 25, 1936 - Twenty-year-old Fawn McKay, niece of David O. McKay, marries non-Mormon Bernard Brodie, a graduate student in international relations, at a Chicago LDS ward after a six-week "whirlwind" courtship. On the same day she receives an M.A. in English from the University of Chicago. She is later excommunicated for writing NO MAN KNOWS MY HISTORY.

Aug 25, 1939 - First Presidency cables mission presidents to have all missionaries leave France and Germany immediately. Mormon missionaries are safely in neutral countries when World War II begins week later with Nazi invasion of Poland and declaration of war by France and England. All missionaries cross Atlantic within three months.

Aug 25, 1984 - BYU anthropology professor Ray T. Matheny, speaking at a Sunstone Symposium states, "All these [Book of Mormon cultural traits] paint a scene that seem[s] to be quite foreign to what I am familiar with in the archaeological record of the New World. . . And the terminologies and the language used and the methods of explaining and putting things down are nineteenth century literary concepts and cultural experiences one would expect Joseph Smith and his colleagues would experience. . . If I were doing this cold like John Carlson is here. I would say in evaluating the Book of Mormon that it had no place in the New World whatsoever. . . It seems like these are anachronisms. It seems like the items are out of time and place, in trying to put them into the New World. And I think there's a great difficulty here for we Mormons in understanding what this book [of Mormon] is all about."

Aug 25, 1987 - National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gives Emmy for public service spot "produced for the Church's Missionary Department by Bonneville Media Communications." LDS church is first religious organization to receive national Emmy (again 1988, 1993)

Aug 25, 1990 - First counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple at Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

August 24th

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Aug 24, 1843 - William Clayton writes in his journal: "At night I asked mother [his mother in law] if M[argaret Moon--his plural wife] might sleep with Ruth [Moon--his legal wife and sister of Margaret] and me. She appeared very rebellious and would not consent but said we might do as we had a mind."

Aug 24, 1844 - A council meeting of the apostles and other members of the Anointed Quorum accepts two written revelations to Brigham Young concerning completion of the Nauvoo temple. These would never be published and are unavailable.

Aug 24, 1848 - Along the pioneer trail Heber C. Kimball and his son-in-law Horace Howard open the two-day-old grave of the infant son of Horace and Kimball's daughter Helen Marr Kimball Smith Howard (a widow of Joseph Smith) to see if it had been buried prematurely. They determine that it had not been.

Aug 24, 1877 - First President of Seventy B. H. Roberts receives a patriarchal blessing from Presiding Patriarch John Smith. He later writes of it: "The blessing in the main was unsatisfactory and greatly disappointing, . . ."

Aug 24, 1893 - Presidency and apostles vote to "save Bro. [Leonard G.] Hardy from penitentiary, and take steps to get the means to meet the amount of his defalcations" from Salt Lake County. Son of former Presiding Bishopric counselor and a local bishop himself, general authorities want to protect embezzler Hardy's appointment by courts as receiver for LDS church's confiscated properties.

Aug 24, 1898 - George H. Hudson is first Mormon to die in combat during U.S. War. As private in Battery B of Utah Light Artillery, he is killed by Filipinos during Philippine Insurrection at conclusion of Spanish-American war of 1898. Filipinos want true independence, not to be new colony of the United States.

Aug 24, 1954 - Apostle Mark E. Petersen states, in defense of the exclusion of black men from LDS priesthood ordination, "Is it not a reasonable belief that the Lord would select the choice spirits for the better grades of nations?" Three days later he gives a speech I support of segregation.

Aug 24, 1985 - Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Aug. 24, 1991 - CHURCH NEWS prints official reassurance of Jack H. Goaslind, Jr. (First Quorum of Seventy member on executive board of Boy Scouts of America) that LDS church is still in BSA: "'Learning for Life' [program for self-identified homosexual scouts] does not affect the use of traditional Scouting as a tool to further the goals of the Aaronic Priesthood. As far as the Church is concerned, we are still totally supportive of the Boy Scouts of America program as we know it." This is in response to distressed inquiries from parents about Goaslind's previously published statements that LDS church "would withdraw from the Boy Scouts of America" if it permitted membership by self-identified homosexual teenagers. This retraction represents either a reversal of First Presidency decision or repudiation of Goaslind's speaking out of turn.

August 23rd

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Aug 23, 1843 - Joseph Smith's personal secretary, William Calyton, writes: "President Joseph told me that he had difficulty with E[mma] yesterday. She rode up to Woodworths with him and called while he came to the Temple. When he returned she was demanding the gold watch of F[lora]. He reproved her for her evil treatment. On their return home she abused him much and also when he got home. He had to use harsh measures to put a stop to her abuse but finally succeeded…This evening I had some more conversation with Margaret [Clayton's plural wife] and find she is stubborn and disposed to abuse me. I feel resolved to break my feelings from her if I possibly can.

Aug 23, 1857 - John Taylor preaches: "[Horace] Greeley is a great man to talk about a higher law, which means, with him, stealing niggers. We do not care anything about that. We want to do something better--something higher and more noble. That is rather too low for us; consequently, they need not be afraid of our stealing their niggers: we will let them have all the benefits of them as one of the grand institutions of Christians, . . ."

Aug 23, 1857 - Heber C. Kimball preaches: "Some of you, ladies, that go abroad from house to house, blessing the sick, having your little circles of women come together, why are you troubling yourselves to bless and lay your hands on women, and prophesy on them, if you do not believe the principle? You make yourselves fools to say that that same power should not be on the man that has got the Priesthood, and with sisters that have not got any, only what they hold in connection will their husbands. We can tell what will come to pass; and one of you can talk in tongues and pour out your souls to God, and then one interpret; that is the course you take, and it is all right: go ahead, and God bless you and multiply blessings on you; but do not go round tattling about your husbands and talking against the Priesthood you are connected to. I do not say many of you do it; but you that do it are poor, miserable skunks."
Kimball also preaches: ". . . let me tell you, the Holy Ghost is a man; he is one of the sons of our Father and our God; and he is that man that stood next to Jesus Christ just as I stand by brother Brigham"

Aug 23, 1862 - Wilford Woodruff records words of Brigham Young: "'If we do not Hurry with this [building the Salt Lake Temple] I am afraid we shall not get it up until we have to go back to Jackson County which I Expect will be in 7 years. I do not want to quite finish this Temple for there will not be any Temple finished until the One is finished in Jackson County Missouri pointed out by Joseph Smith. Keep this a secret to yourselves lest some may be discouraged. Some things we should keep to ourselves. . . . President Young then said to Brother Morley & Levi Jackman who was Standing by, you are both Jackson County Members, & I want you to live to go back to jackson County with me. He also said here is brother Woodruff. He was the first man that I felt lead by the spirit to speak to about the organization of the Church."

Aug 23, 1865 - First Presidency and Twelve publish proclamation against Lucy Mack Smith's BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF JOSEPH SMITH THE PROPHET and against some of Apostle Orson Pratt's published teachings. Concerning Mother Smith's biography of her son: "Every one in the Church, male or female, if they have such a book, to dispose of it." Proclamation also threatens excommunication against anyone espousing doctrines such as Pratt's statement: "The Father and Son do not progress in knowledge and wisdom, because they already know all things past, present, and to come."

Aug 23, 1868 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff tells congregation in Logan, Utah that within thirty years New York City will be destroyed by "the Sea Heaving itself behond its bounds & washing the inhabitants into the Sea," Albany, New York will be "utterly Destroyed by fire," Boston will be "sunk with an Earthquake," and Chicago will be "burned with fire." As for United States, it will be "broken to peaces [sic]." Brigham Young says Woodruff's remarks are "given By Revelation." Although Mormons regard Chicago fire of 1871 as fulfillment of this prophecy, they donate "for the relief of the sufferers."

Aug 23, 1870 - LDS political newspaper SALT LAKE HERALD reports "The Outrage," in which four unidentified men "discharged the contents of a bottle filled with diluted excrements" upon Mormon apostates T.B.H. Stenhouse and his wife Fanny.

Aug 23, 1875 – Joseph F. Smith writes, "From my childhood--for twenty years and upwards I chewed the filthy weed. I never saw the moment during the whole time that I was not inwardly ashamed of it, insomuch I endeavored to keep it to myself, using great caution. One day I went into the president's [Brigham Young] office. He whispered to me, I was obliged to whisper back. He smelt my breath, and started in surprise. "Do you chew tobacco?" I could have shrunk out of existence, or anihilated myself from very shame, and he saw I was ashamed of myself, and pitying me said, "Keep it to yourself"!” In the 1860's Brigham Young also struggled with an addiction to chewing tobacco.

Aug 23, 1875 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff is proxy in vicarious baptisms for all signers of Declaration of Independence (except John Hancock) and for all decesaed U.S. presidents, except James Buchanan and Martin Van Buren. This is first baptism for dead on behalf of U.S. president since 1840.

Aug 23 1890 - DESERET WEEKLY NEWS reports that Jesus Christ appeared recently to Indian delegations gathered near Walker Lake and "showed scars on his hands and feet where he said the people had driven spikes, nailing him to the cross. He also had a bad wound in his side, where he said a spear had pierced his flesh."

Aug 23, 1896 - Sugar House Ward congregation votes against man proposed as Bishop of new ward to divided from the old. Salt Lake stake president Angus M. Cannon furiously shouts, "Sit down! and shut your mouths, you have no right to speak!" When Cannon engages in shouting match with dissenting congregation, a ward member and policeman threaten to arrest stake president for disturbing the peace. Cannon more calmly repeats his attempt but is voted down "again several times." Secretary of the First Council in attendance writes: "I have been taught that the appointing power comes from the priesthood and the sustaining power from the people and that they have the right of sustaining or not sustaining appointees."

Aug 23, 1908 - U.S. immigration officials send nine Mormon immigrants back to England because they admit belief in LDS doctrine of plural marriage.

Aug 23, 1909 - Two days after the death of former Apostle Moses Thatcher, who had been removed from the Quorum of Apostles, the DESERET NEWS publishes an obituary claiming that Moses Thatcher "lived to acknowledge the justness of the action of his brethren of the Twelve." Two weeks later Thatcher's son, Moses Thatcher Jr. responds: "There is a wide difference between accepting the decision of that council, and even fulfilling its every requirement, and acknowledging the justice of the decision or the justice of the action of his brethren in the twelve in making the complaint. So far as I understand my father's position, or so far as his family and near friends understand it, he accepted the decision of the high council and complied with its requirements because it was the only thing he could do and retain his membership in the church, and to lose his standing in the church for him was not to be thought of. But the truth of the statement 'he lived to acknowledge the justice of the action of his brethren of the Twelve,' should be denied, for no such acknowledgement was ever made so far as I know or can find out."

Aug 23, 1940 - Premiere of Twentieth-Century-Fox motion picture "Brigham Young" at the Centre Theater and six other theaters in Salt Lake City. All seven theaters completely sell out to nearly 9,000 people at the then high ticket price of $1.10. Such unprecedented response to a film premiere sets an industry record for the number of theatres used simultaneously for the premiere of one film.. Ten days previously, the First Presidency was given a private screening. Emerging from the screening, President Heber J. Grant says to waiting reporters. "I endorse it with all my heart and have no suggestions. This is one of the greatest days of my life. I can't say any more than 'God Bless You'."
Utah's Governor Henry H. Blood and Salt Lake City Mayor Ab Jenkins declare the 23rd as "Brigham Young Day" complete with parade, window display competition amongst the downtown merchants, and special advertising campaigns based on the pioneer theme.
Actor Dean Jagger, who played the part of Brigham Young, converts to Mormonism later in life.

Aug 23, 1946 - First presidency tells LDS judge to be cautious about sending LDS "subnormals" to be sterilized in facility at American Fork, Utah.

Aug 23, 1982 - President Spencer W. Kimball is photographed with Brent and Charlene Ashworth with Mark Hofmann's forged "Lucy Mack Smith letter." The photograph and others are used extensively by the church to publicize the letter. At the meeting Kimball genially asks Ashworth, " Are you giving this letter to me?" Asworth replies, "I'll see that you get a good copy of it this afternoon."

Aug 23, 1991 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles, by infrequently used format of joint declaration, issue statement which refers to the Sunstone Symposium's annual meetings on 7-10 Aug. It condemns "recent symposia" for presentations which are "offensive . . . in bad taste . . . and publicized in such a way as to injure the Church or its members or to jeopardize the effectiveness or safety of our missionaries." In following weeks church authorities instruct local leaders to meet with Mormons, particularly BYU faculty, who participated in Sunstone to persuade them to cease such activities.

August 22nd

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Aug 22, 1843 - Mormons in New York City ask: "Is it right for a priest to be appointed to accompany a teacher to the house of each member." Brigham Young responds, "Yes, any officer from a high priest to a deacon may visit the Church or members, and be set apart for this purpose." This is the earliest instruction on what would become known in pioneer Utah as "block teaching" or "ward teaching." Now called "home teaching."

Aug 22, 1851 - At Councilof Fifty meeting Phineas H.Young admits plotting with Indians to kill apostle Orson Hyde in Iowa, because Hyde ordered someone to kill Phineas. Hyde mentions William A. Hickman but doesn't admit responsibility for an attempt on Phineas's life. Brigham Young successfully reconciles these two members of the Fifty.

Aug 22, 1868 - At a meeting of church leaders with LDS youth in Logan Wilford Woodruff preaches: "When these Boys & girls meet to g[a]ther thirty years hence in 1898 & Convers[e] to gether upon the scenes of this visit, what will be their Conversation? It will be sumthing like the following: . . . This visit was in 1868. Then we were Children. Now it is 1898 & great Changes have taken place since that day throughout Great Babylon as well as in Mount Zion. . . . Then the Nation felt Strong & Powerful. Since then it has been broken to peaces. That visit was before the destruction of the City of New York By the Sea Heaving itself beyong its bounds & washing the inhabitants into the Sea & they were drowned. It was Before Albany was utterly Destroyed by fire. It was before Boston was sunk with an Earthquake. It was before Chicago was struck with lightning & burned with fire & Brimstone for their Abominations. It was before the many Millions of the People of the United States & other Nations of the Earth were destroyed with their Cities By the Great Judgments of God Because of their great sins & wickedness in the sight of Heaven & Earth. This was Before the United States became so weakened & Broaken to peaces that they Called upon Brigham Young to take the Presidency of the United States to save the Constitution & the remnant of the Nation from utter destruction." Woodruff writes, "At the Close of the meeting Presidet Young said my remarks were given By Revelation."

Aug 22, 1895 - First Presidency and apostles decide to deny temple endowments to "Black Jane" Manning (James) because of her "negro blood." Black women are banned from temple, as are black men until 1978.

Aug 22, 1962 - First Presidency letter to stake presidents: "It is contrary to our counsel and advice that ward, branch or stake premises, chapels or other Church facilities be used in any way for political campaign purposes, whether it be for speech-making, distribution of literature, or class discussions." First Presidency finds it necessary to reissue these instructions on Mar. 5, 1980.

Aug 22, 1981 - Apostle Boyd K Packer instructs BYU religion faculty, all seminary and institute teachers, and administrators of Church Education System that Mormon history, "if not properly written or properly taught, may be a faith destroyer," and he affirms that Mormon historians are wrong in publicizing controversial elements of Mormon past. BYU STUDIES publishes this address in full. At request of students, BYU history professor D. Michael Quinn gives his perspective on Elder Packer's talk and role of historical inquiry to meeting of BYU's history majors. Summarized within days by off-campus student newspaper SEVENTH EAST PRESS, this conflict between some apostles and some Mormon historians is subject of Feb 1982 NEWSWEEK article which quotes Professor Quinn that "a history which makes LDS leaders flawless and benignly angelic would border on idolatry."

Aug 22, 1990 - LDS missionaries Manuel Antonio Hidalgo and Christian Andreani Ugarte are shot and killed in Peru.

Aug 22, 1991 - Bode Uale, first judge of Samoan ancestry in United States, is appointed to Family Court of Hawaii.

Aug 22, 1993 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports survey showing that 55 percent of Utah's residents favor right of persons to commit suicide under any circumstances. For persons with terminal diseases, 65 percent of Utahns favor physician-assisted suicide.

August 21st

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Aug 21, 1843 - Joseph Smith's personal secretary, William Clayton, writes: "E[mma] asked if I handed 2 letters to Joseph which she showed me. I had not done it. I satisfied her I had not. They appeared to be from E[liza] R[oxcy] Snow and President Joseph found them in his pocket. E[mma] seemed vexed and angry." Joseph had taken Eliza R. Snow as a plural wife on June 29, 1842.

Aug 21, 1877 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "I Wilford Woodruff went to the Temple of the Lord this morning and was Baptized for 100 persons who were dead including the signers of the Declaration of Independance all except John Hancock and [William Floyd]. I was Baptized for the following names:" He then lists the 100 names. Most of them are endowed by proxy the next day.

Aug 21, 1967 - First Presidency letter: "It appears that some bishops and branch presidents remove the names of inactive members of their ward or branch from Church rolls in order that the ward or branch statistical records may present a better showing. . . . Even the fact that an individual has joined another Church in not always justifiable cause for excommunication. . . . some wives of non-members have been excommunicated because their husbands refuse to permit them to be active."

Aug 21, 1991 - MONEY magazine ranks Provo-Orem as America's "No. 1 most-livable metropolitan area." By 1985 it also has highest percentage of church membership in nation.

Aug 21, 1993 - CHURCH NEWS article features Egide Nzojibwami, university dean of engineering and branch president of Burundi, Africa.

August 20th

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Aug 20, 1842 - Three apostles excommunicate Orson Pratt and ordain his replacement, Amasa Lyman, in the Quorum of the Twelve. Pratt is excommunicated for his anger against Joseph Smith who, Pratt found out from his wife, had propositioned Pratt's wife, Sarah, while Pratt was absent on a mission. Joseph, in maintaining his innocence, calls Sarah Pratt "a whore from her mother's breast."

Aug 20, 1843 - William Clayton records aspects of the polygamous dating scene in Nauvoo: "M[argaret] came up stairs to me …P.M. I went to Sister Booths and had some conversation about S[ara]h A[nn] at Sister B's request. I have evidence that S[arah] A[nn] is true to me and desire to receive her. I also had talk with M[ary] Aspen who is in trouble. P[arley] P. P[ratt] has through his wife made proposals to her but she is dissatisfied. Sister P[ratt] is obstinate. When P[arley] went away Sister P. cautioned A. against me and said the Twelve would have more glory than me &c. I tried to comfort her and told her what her privilege was."

Aug 20, 1859 - NEW YORK DAILY TRBUNE publishes Horace Greeley's recent interview with Brigham Young: "H.G. What is the position of your church with respect to slavery? B.Y. We consider it of divine institution, and not to be abolished until the curse pronounced on Ham shall have been removed from his descendants."

Aug 20, 1862 - DESERET NEWS reports first counselor Heber C. Kimball's sermon: "Do not fret yourselves; if any man has done a wrong deed, do not undertake to kill him without knowing whether he has done right or wrong; wait till you have ascertained the facts in the case." No sermon requires Mormons to seek permission to blood-atone.

Aug 20, 1871 - Apostle Orson Pratt preaches: "Some may inquire, 'Do you think the sun is a glorified world?' Yes, in one sense. It is not yet fully glorified, redeemed, clothed with celestial power, and crowned with the presence of the Father in all the fullness and beauty of a celestial mansion, because it is still subject to change more or less. If it were fully glorified; if it had passed through its temporal existence and had been redeemed, glorified, and made celestial, and had become the eternal abiding place of celestial and glorified beings, it would be far more glorious than our eyes could behold, the eyes of mortality could not endure the light thereof."
Pratt also preaches: "Much might be said in this connection with regard to the doctrine of plurality of wives. There is a difference between the male and the female so far as posterity is concerned. The female is so capacitated that she can only be the mother of a very limited number of children. Is man thus capacitated? . . .Were not many of the ancient prophets and inspired men capable of raising twenty, forty, fifty, or a hundred children, while the females could only raise a very limited number on an average. . . . Would a monogamist have power to fill a world with spirits sooner than a polygamist? Which would accomplish the peopling of a world quickest, provided that we admit this eternal increase, and the eternal relationship of husband and wife—after the resurrection as well as in this world?"

Aug 20, 1876 - Apostle Orson Pratt preaches: "There are many promises which God has made to his servants in these latter times, and in connection with these promises he has given many commandments which we are required to observe and keep. One of these commandments, given to his missionary servants in the year 1832, reads as follows: 'Verily I say unto you, let no man that goes forth to preach my Gospel, from this hour, take purse or scrip.'"

Aug 20, 1972 - Joel F. Lebaron is murdered in Mexico by order of his brother Ervil. This is first fatality involving polygamy since 1886 and first killing of Mormon schismatic leader since 1862. However, it is unfortunately only first of dozen or more murders involving Ervil Lebarons's violent group, The Church of the Lamb of God.

Aug 20, 1988 - CHURCH NEWS article about Aledir Paganelli Barbour, PhD. in geology, university professor, and stake president in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

August 19th

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Aug 19, 1842 - The SANGAMO JOURNAL publishes "JOE SMITH'S MORALITY. What Joe's morality amounts to, can be learned from his letter to Miss Rigdon, which will be found in the 6th communication of Gen. Bennett, in this paper. Joe Smith, in the letter alluded to, undertakes to sustain by the Scriptures, by reason, argument, and GOD'S REVELATION TO HIMSELF, the lawfulness of his "spiritual wife doctrine." Joseph Smith's letter to Nancy Rigdon is given by John C. Bennett, former Assistant P resident of the Church, in his exposee of Mormonism: "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it, . . . That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, thou shalt not kill, -- at another time he said, thou shalt utterly destroy. This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted -- by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, . . . " Mormon leaders deny that Joseph wrote the letter and claim it is made up by Bennett. However long after the Mormons have moved to Utah the same "essay" is published in the History of the Church and later in "Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith" as being by Joseph Smith.

Aug 19, 1846 - Brigham Young writes to the members of the Mormon Batallion: "We have the opportunity of sending to Fort Leavenworth, this morning, by Dr. Reed, a package of twenty-five letters, which we improve, with this word of counsel to you all: If you are sick, live by faith, and let the surgeon's medicine alone if you want to live, using only such herbs and mild food as are at your disposal. If you give heed to this counsel, you will prosper; but if not, we cannot be responsible for the consequences. A hint to the wise is sufficient."

Aug 19, 1856 - Brigham Young's representative "Wild" Bill Hickman and his Indian wife Margaret, both dressed in their beaded-buckskin suits, meet with forty lodges of Indians (numbering about three hundred). Gifts are distributed. The Indians believed Brigham Young had supplied the gifts, when they were in fact presents from the U.S. government.

Aug 19, 1860 - Brigham Young states, " Joseph & Hyrum Smith were Master Masons and they were put to death by masons or through there instigation and he gave the sign of distress & he was shot by masons while in the act. . . . There are other Masons sent to this territory for the same purpose to Esstablish a lodge here & try to get an influence with some here to lay a plan to try to murder me & the leaders of the Church But they will not accomplish it."

Aug 19, 1866 - Brigham Young preaches from the pulpit: "The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary, the wife of Joseph, had another husband. On this account infidels have called the Savior a bastard... he was begotten by God our Heavenly Father." He further preaches: "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." He futher preaches, "The Lamanites or Indians are just as much the children of our Father and God as we are. So also are the Africans. But we are also the children of adoption through obedience to the Gospel of his Son. Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a sin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the Holy Priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."

Aug 19, 1877 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff tells Sunday school meeting that he heard Joseph Smith say: "If the people knew what was behind the vail they would try by every means to commit suicide that they might get there but the Lord in his wisdom had emplanted the fear of death in every person that they might cling to life and thus accomplish the designs of their creator." Later Woodruff spends the evening preparing a "list of the Noted Men of the 17 Centaury and 18th including the signers of the declaration of Independance for Baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877." Though he did not record the incident in his journal, he later claims that he had been visited in dreams or visions by the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who had urged him to help redeem them by doing their temple work"

Brigham Young preaches: "The great majority of men who have amassed great wealth have done it at the expense of their fellows, on the principle that the doctors, the lawyers and the merchants acquire theirs. Such men are impositions on the community, and they ought to be taken and put to some honorable labor such as raising potatoes, raising grain, cattle and sheep, and performing other useful and necessary labors for the good of mankind. Amen."

Aug 19, 1897 - Apparent date Wilford Woodruff marries Lydia Mountford as plural wife aboard U.S. vessel. He authorizes Apostle Anthon H. Lund to perform polygamous marriage for Apostle George Teasdale under same circumstances in October. On Apostle Lund's return from that trip, President Woodruff confides the Mountford marriage to him while authorizing the apostle to perform another shipboard polygamous marriage. Federal law applies to U.S.-flagged vessels, and therefore these shipboard marriages violate letter and spirit of 1890 Manifesto. As Salt Lake temple president and Presidency first counselor, Lund ratifies Woodruff's out-of-temple 1897 sealing by re-performing it as proxy sealing on Nov. 23, 1920. Woodruff's son stands as his proxy, and Woodruff's former sister-in-law stands as proxy for the 1897 polygamous wife.

Aug 19, 1901 - It is decided to create a visitor's center near the south entrance to Temple Square. The center will be "provided with a tract for free distribution, specially written to cover a brief history of the church, its first principles, and a description of places of interest in Salt Lake City, general tracts treating the principles of the gospel from our standpoint, and other church literature; that the bureau should be in charge of two young men, naturally adapted for the work, to be called as missionaries for two years, one to distribute the literature and the other to operate as a missionary on the temple block."

Aug 19, 1914 - Circular is sent to all Stake Patriarchs from Presiding Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith: "You may accept a gift if it is offered, but do not permit anyone you have blessed to leave your presence feeling that they have paid for a blessing; Patriarchal blessings cannot be purchased, they are the free gifts of God to his children under the hands of His Patriarchs." Some Stake Patriarchs had been charging a fee for Patriarchal blessings.

Aug 19, 1979 - By authorization of one apostle, Ann Kenney is set apart as stake Sunday School president of University of Utah 2nd Stake. A counselor in the stake presidency, assures her that he has been "strongly impressed" to issue the calling and also had a general authority approve the calling. Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, president of Twelve, requires her release month later by his definition that Sunday School president must have Melchizedek priesthood.

Aug 19, 1989 - First Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple near Portland, Oregon.

Aug 19, 1991 - Legal holiday commemorates one hundred years of Mormon presence in Tonga which issues two postage stamps for occasion. King Taufa'ahau Tupuo IV speaks at commemorative services. One-third of Tonga's population is LDS.

August 18th

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Aug 18, 1835 - Minutes of the Kirtland High Council: "Testimony of Elder B. Riggs, as follows, that said Elder [Phineas H.] Young, borrowed a Book of Mormon of Mr. Childs of Madison Co. N. Y. and agreed to return it, but instead of doing so, sold it, also gave another to a poor female as a deed of charity, afterward borrowed it & sold it. For which said council decided that Elder P. H. Young should be suspended from church fellowhip, until he gives satisfaction to this council for this unchristian conduct." Phineas H. Young, Brigham Young's brother; was chosen in 1835 to be an apostle but passed over when William Smith was ordained instead.

Aug 18, 1842 - Joseph Smith writes to Newell Whitney, Newell's wife and seventeen-year-old daughter Sarah Ann who became Joseph's plural wife three weeks earlier: "Dear, and Beloved, Brother and Sister, Whitney, and &c.--I take this oppertunity to communi[c]ate, some of my feelings, privetely at this time, which I want you three Eternaly to keep in your own bosams; for my feelings are so strong for you since what has pased lately between us, that the time of my abscence from you seems so long, and dreary, that it seems, as if I could not live long in this way: and if you three would come and see me in this my lonely retreat, it would afford me great relief, of mind, if those with whom I am alied, do love me, now is the time to afford me succour, in the days of exile, for you know I foretold you of these things. I am now at Carlos Graingers, Just back of Brother Hyrams farm, it is only one mile from town, the nights are very pleasant indeed, all three of you can come and See me in the fore part of the night, let Brother Whitney come a little a head, and nock at the south East corner of the house at the window; it is next to the cornfield, I have a room intirely by myself, the whole matter can be attended to with most perfect safty, I know it is the will of God that you should comfort me now in this time of afiliction, or not at [al]l[;] now is the time or never, but I hav[e] no kneed of saying any such thing, to you, for I know the goodness of your hearts, and that you will do the will of the Lord, when it is made known to you; the only thing to be careful of; is to find out when Emma [Smith] comes then you cannot be safe, but when she is not here, there is the most perfect safty: only be careful to escape observation, as much as possible, I know it is a heroick undertakeing; but so much the greater frendship, and the more Joy, when I see you I will tell you all my plans, I cannot write them on paper, burn this letter as soon as you read it; keep all locked up in your breasts, my life depends upon it. one thing I want to see you for it is to git the fulness of my blessings sealed upon our heads, &c. you will pardon me for my earnestness on this subject when you consider how lonesome I must be, your good feelings know how to make every allowance for me, I close my letter, I think Emma [Smith, his first wife] wont come tonight[,] if she dont dont fail to come to night. I subscribe myself your most obedient, and affectionate, companion, and friend."

Aug 18, 1896 - Wilford Woodruff receives revelation concerning recent death of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, which Woodruff relates next general conference. Paraphrased text published in DESERET NEWS report of his Oct. 1896 sermon. This revelation's full text is never published or canonized. Woodruff also relates that on this night "I was vary much troubled in the fore part of the night with Evil spirits that tried to Afflict me. Finally A spirit visit[ed] me that seemed to have power over the Evil spirits And they departed from me. I had Concluded not to attend the Mormon Meeting for Testimony in the City but the spirit said to me it was wisdom for us to Attend the Testimony Meeting as the Saints knew we were here in the City and if we did not attend it would have a bad Effect upon the Saints so I Concluded to Attend."

Aug 18, 1939 - First Presidency agrees to allow Southern Woman (who looks Caucasian) to be endowed in Salt Lake temple despite the fact that her membership record is marked "negro blood." Reason for their decision is that Apostle George F. Richards already gave her patriarchal blessing which declares her lineage as Ephraim through Joseph and Israel.

Aug 18, 1949 - Apostle (and Salt Lake Temple President) George F. Richards reads a letter to the assembled First Presidency and Twelve Apostles decrying the lack of second anointings being performed. The letter states that to date 22,278 second anointings had been performed for living persons and 10,217 for the dead. Richards's letter states: "I have not been able to bring myself to feel that the Lord is pleased with us in neglecting such an important and sacred endowment, which He has given us to be administered in His holy temples to worthy members of His Church. The Second Anointings were given by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith to be administered to worthy members of the Church, both the living and the dead; and from the days of the Prophet Joseph to the days of President Heber J. Grant that practice continued. . . . When living members receive their Second blessings, or anointings, they are given a charge that they must not speak of those things to anybody; that only those who are invited by the President of the Church are to receive them, and that none others are supposed to know anything about them. . . . About 1928 an incident occurred which so incensed the First Presidency that they had all the recommend books brought in to the President's office, and instructions were given that no recommends of that character should be given by stake presidents thereafter. . . .The incident above mentioned which so exasperated the First Presidency was as follows: A brother who had received his Second Blessings, while speaking in a priesthood meeting in one of the Idaho stakes, told the brethren that they all should have their Second Blessings. Of course that was a serious infraction of the charge which he received when he had his Second Anointings; but I have never learned of any serious consequences to follow, except the action on the part of the Authorities, discontinuing the administration of those blessings in the Church. It appears to me that the mistake made by the good brother in Idaho was not so serious as to justify letting those sacred ordinances come into disuse in the Church. I think now is the time to act; with such modifications as to details as the brethren might feel to make, insuring that these blessings be administered only to those who are worthy to receive them." The letter quotes the endowment ceremony to say, "Brethren and Sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up and anointed kings and queens, priests and priestesses, whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness." (Endowment Ceremonies, p. 1x2.}"

Aug 18, 1954 - First Presidency rules that Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith's anti-evolutionary MAN: HIS ORIGIN AND DESTINY should not be used for study in LDS seminaries and institutes. McKay expresses from 1954 on: "On the subject of organic evolution the Church has officially taken no position. The book 'Man, His Origin and Destiny' was not published by the Church, and is not approved by the Church."

Aug 18, 1978 - Mormon feminist Sonia Johnson cables Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Jake Garn: "Since you have announced your intention to filibuster when the ERA extension bills comes before the Senate, I am announcing my intention to begin fasting on the Capitol steps in Washington as soon as the filibuster begins—a genuine Mormon fast, without food or liquid—and to continue until you stop talking or I die." Johnson later applies for a permit to stand on the front steps of the Capitol building. "Mormons Against ERA" in reply announce their intentions to hold family home evening on the Capitol steps. Garn and Hatch decide not to filibuster. Johnson writes "I rather think that neither the church nor the Utah senators were willing to chance the sensational headlines: 'Mormon Woman Dies of Mormon Senator's Prolixity.'" Fifteen months later Johnson is excommunicated.

In a talk at BYU Apostle Bruce R. McConkie discusses the recent revelation granting "all worthy males" the priesthood. "The Lord could have sent messengers from the other side to deliver it, but he did not. He gave the revelation by the power of the Holy Ghost. Latter-day Saints have a complex: many of them desire to magnify and build upon what has occurred, and they delight to think of miraculous things. And maybe some of them would like to believe that the Lord himself was there, or that the Prophet Joseph Smith came to deliver the revelation (see Time, 7 Aug. 1978, p. 55), which was one of the possibilities. Well, these things did not happen." He further states, "Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. We get our truth and our light line upon line and precept upon precept. We have now had added a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don't matter any more. It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year."

Aug 18, 1985 - three days before the Sunstone Theological Symposium convened for its annual meetings, Elder Dallin Oaks makes headlines when he publicly decries Mormon scholars who criticize LDS leadership. Church leaders are entitled to the respect and support of their members, he says, regardless of whether their counsel and opinions were right or wrong.

Aug 18, 1992. Keynoting the devotional for the estimated 30,000 participants at BYU Education Week, Elder Neal A. Maxwell criticizes some intellectuals: "Exciting exploration is preferred by them to plodding implementation, as speculation and argumentations seem more fun to these few individuals rather than consecration, so they even try to soften the hard doctrines. By not obeying, they lack knowledge and thus cannot defend their faith, and a few become critics instead of defenders."

Aug 18, 1996 - Groundbreaking for temple in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

August 17th

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Aug 17, 1835 - A special conference accepts the DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS which contains unannounced changes and expansions of revelations previously published in THE EVENING AND MORNING STAR and 1833 BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS. This canonized work includes a statement on marriage which prohibits polygamy.

Aug 17, 1845 - William Smith preaches in favor of "spiritual wifery," to which John Taylor gives an immediate rebuttal. William's niece Mary (orphaned daughter of Samuel Smith) later writes: "He was ordered to discontinue his discourses, but he did not obey orders." His relatives helped build wooden seates to accommodate a crowd near his house. On the first Sunday "every seat in that grove had been fouled with outhouse refuse." Within months his mother Lucy Mack Smith would angrily tell James J.Strang's followers about this incident.

Aug 17, 1858 - Apostle George A. Smith, after extensive consultation with leaders of Mountain Meadows Massacre, writes official account which deteils their movements on day of massacre but not their participation in it. Begins conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Aug 17, 1864 - The Deseret News reports the setting up of a list of articles and prices in gold for Utah markets. Flour is put at $12 a hundred pounds, wheat $5 a bushel, and corn $4. This is, in reality, a form of price control.

Aug 17, 1872 - Brigham Young privately tells Wilford Woodruff that he "would like to put 1,000 families on My farm [presumably his Cache Valley operation] which would make 10 Acres each & Commence the [United] order of Enoch but I would want a Revelation to know who to put there. . . . I know of 2 Men that I think would do right & that is you & me. I Could not say about our families."

Aug 17, 1874, - William Clayton appears before notary public John T. Caine and swears out an affidavit giving in greater detail than any other document the circumstances surrounding the origin of the written revelation on polygamy later published as section 132 of the D&C. He does this to counter charges by Joseph Smith's son, Joseph Smith III, president of the RLDS church that polygamy was not started by his father..

Aug. 17, 1899 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "Prests. Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Myself, Geo. Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, Artthou H. Lund, and Rudger Clawson met at the Temple. It was determined to have a silk Temple apron with raised flowers woven."

Aug 17, 1942 - SS BRIGHAM YOUNG is launched as Liberty Ship for transporting troops, prisoners, and freight. Christened by Lucy Gates Bowen (his granddaughter) in Los Angeles Harbor. On May 22, 1943 SS JOSEPH SMITH is launched. Former survives World War II, but latter sinks in heavy seas on Jan. 11, 1944.

Aug 17, 1949 - First Presidency statement:
The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."
President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: "The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have."
The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.

August 16th

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Aug 16, 1930 - Heber J Grant remarks that Apostle George Albert Smith "is getting very nervous. We don't want him to have another breakdown such as he had years ago, almost costing him his life." Apostle Smith doesn't begin describing his symptoms until Jan 1932, and year later writes, "My Nerves are nearly gone but am holding on the best I know how." Symptoms gradually subside and do not resume until he is church president.

Aug 16, 1944 - First Presidency instructs its Hotel Utah to stop serving liquor.

Aug 16, 1985 - "Our individual, personal testimonies are based on the witness of the Spirit, not on any combination or accumulation of historical facts. If we are so grounded, no alteration of historical facts can shake our testimonies." --Dallin H. Oaks, "1985 CES Doctrine and Covenants Symposium," Brigham Young University.

Aug 16, 1894 - Jewish boy gives his bar mitzvah talk in LDS stake conference "in confirmation of his faith in the Jewish religion."

Aug 16, 1930 - Heber J. Grant remarks that Apostle George Albert Smith "is getting very nervous. We don't want him to have another breakdown such as he had years ago, almost costing him his life." Apostle Smith doesn't begin describing his symptons until Jan. 1932, and years later writes: "My nerves are nearly gone but am holding on the best I know how." Symptoms gradually subside and do not resume until he is church president.

Aug 16, 1985 - Apostle (and former Utah Supreme Court Justice) Dallin Oaks instructs educators and administrators of LDS Church Educational System: "Balance is telling both sides. This is not the mission of official Church literature or avowedly anti-Mormon literature. Neither has any responsibility to present both sides."