180 years ago today - Mar 8, 1831

John Whitmer is officially called as church historian. He begins a history of the church titled "The Book of John Whitmer" which includes his own excommunication on Mar of 1838, in chapter 19. Joseph Smith, with Sidney Rigdon, begins his "translation" of the New Testament. At the top of the very first page of manuscript is inscribed "A Translation of the New Testament translated by the Power of God." The "translation" is done with no reference to any source documents.

[http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached)]