Today in Mormon History: October 2011

170 years ago today - Oct 31, 1841

[Polygamy] Benjamin Winchester is summoned to appear before the Quorum of the Twelve in Nauvoo for misconduct.

[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2011 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]

75 years ago today - Oct 31, 1936

[General] 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.

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

180 years ago today - Oct 31, 1831

[Lucy Mack Smith] Orson Hyde is baptized at Kirtland, Ohio, by Sidney Rigdon.

[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]

100 years ago today - Oct 30, 1911

The custom has developed in some of the temples of selling consecrated oil, books and records, and of renting temple clothing, the object being to accommodate persons who come to do work in the House of the Lord. Trafficking in these commodities is hardly in keeping with the sacredness of the temple, and we would, therefore, like you to discontinue this practice after December 31, 1911. In the meantime, arrange with the Bishops to sell consecrated oil and records and to rent temple clothing, all profits (if any) over and above expenses to be turned in as temple donations once a month. In view of the sacredness of temple work the Latter-day Saints should be encouraged to prepare temple garments, the workmanship of their own hands, and every effort should be made to discourage the practice of renting such clothing. [Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund to Temple Presidents, Oct. 30, 1911]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

10 years ago today - Oct 30, 2001

[U.S. Religious History] Lawsuits were filed on behalf of three lawyers who sought the removal of Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Building. The suit claimed that the monument "constitutes an impermissible endorsement of religion by the state."

[Source: Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]

180 years ago today - Oct 30, 1831

[General] In Hiram, Ohio, Joseph Smith receives Doctrine and Covenants 65 (according to the Kirtland Revelation Book), which he designates as a prayer. This is the first of fifteen revelations received by the Prophet in Hiram.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

60 years ago today - 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).

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

180 years ago today - Oct 29, 1831

Hiram, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 66. William E. McLellin (h) met Joseph at the conference in Orange a few days earlier (Minutes of October 25-26, 1831) and went home with him that day. Joseph received this revelation for William a few days later. He is to take Samuel H. Smith with him on a mission to the East.

William E. McLellin journal gives the October 29 date; heading: This day the Lord condecended to hear my prayr and give me a revelation of his will, through his prophet or seer (Joseph) -And these are the words which I wrote from his mouth, saying,

Not printed in the Book of Commandments.

Kirtland Revelations Book heading: Rev To Wm E McLelin Oct 1831.

1835 Doctrine and Covenants 74 heading: Revelation given October, 1830 [1831].

William E. McLellin Kirtland Revelations Book/McLellin journals, 45-46; KRB, 95-97.

[Source: Kenny, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]

170 years ago today - Oct 29, 1841

[Brigham Young] --29-- Met in council with the Twelve.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

140 years ago today - 1871. October 28

[General] (Daniel H. Wells) : Charged with Hosea Stout and William H. Kimball for the 1857 murder of Richard Yates. The three were confined at Camp Douglas, east of the city. William Hickman apparently killed the man, but no one ever came to trial.

[Source: Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - Oct 28, 1881

[J.D.T. McAllister Diary] Administered to a broken arm

I then called at Bro. Wm W Smiths and to Sister Listons and Administered to her broken Arm. returned home.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

25 years ago today - Oct 28, 1986

Jerald Tanner publishes Tracking the White Salamander: The Story of Mark Hofmann, Murder and Forged Mormon Documents.

[Source: Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]

50 years ago today - Oct 27, 1961

[General] 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 Oct 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-Co
mmunism.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 27, 1841

[Joseph Smith] Sealed polygynously to Zina D.(Huntington) Jacobs.

[Source: Scott H. Faulring, An American Prophet's Record, 'A Joseph Smith Chronology', http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

120 years ago today - Oct 27, 1891

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] [At Hotel Del Monte, Monterey, California] The visit to Delmonte will be one long to be remembered.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 26, 1891

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr. Diary] [After writing an answer to a question on polygamy recounting his advice that the subject be avoided as much as possible, but to stand by the revelation.] The Lord had said cease & we stopped its practice for we have always obeyed the laws of the land, but when the laws of the land are made to specially abrogate the Commands of God, it takes the word of the Lord, as in this case, to render congressional action effective. God will deprive those wicked men of every vestige of family indeed of every private and national virtue for their hypocrisy towards His saints.

[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

180 years ago today - Oct 26, 1831

Hiram, Ohio. En route from Orange, Ohio, to Hiram, Joseph Smith healed William McLellin's ankle.

[Source: Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0]

20 years ago today - Oct 26, 1991

[General] Benjamin L Clapp: Baptized by proxy again 30 Apr. 1991 and priesthood again restored before proxy endowment 26 Oct. 1991.

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

170 years ago today - Oct 25, 1841

[Polygamy] Already married, 19 year-old Zina remained conflicted with Smith's polygamy proposal "until a day in October, apparently, when Joseph sent [her older brother] Dimick to her with a message: an angel with a drawn sword had stood over Smith and told him that if he did not establish polygamy, he would lose "his position and his life. " Zina, faced with the responsibility for his position as prophet, and even perhaps his life, finally acquiesced." They were secretly married within days. Smith tells 19 year-old married woman that she must marry him or an angel with a sword will slay him . SOURCE: In Sacred Loneliness, page 80-,81

[Source: Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm]

180 years ago today - Oct 25, 1831

[General] 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 Apr 6, 1830, the earliest manuscript does not seem to date before 1831.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 24, 1841

[Joseph Smith] On the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem Apostle Orson Hyde dedicates Palestine for the return of Jewish people.

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

15 years ago today - Oct 24, 1996

[Same-Sex Marriage] Hawaiis Future Today sends out a letter soliciting its members to participate in Save Traditional Marriage-98²s Steve Covey seminar dinners.

[Source: Crapo, Richley, Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/?q=node/59]

120 years ago today - Oct 24, 1891

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] Gusta & I went over to Oakland, and said good bye to Sister Cutler and her sister, also Mrs. Pomeroy;--they expect to leave for Salt Lake within a few days.

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

150 years ago today - Oct 23, 1861

[General] Western line of telegraph from Salt Lake to Carson City, Nevada to San Francisco completed. Brigham Young sends the first message.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 23, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 23 In Company with many others including my wife Emma I took Cars & rode to Lehi to visit the sugar works. It was vary interesting. It took us several hours to go through the works. First we visited the store houses whare the new beets were stored. There were 3 sheds 500 feet long filled with Beets & room for 2 more. There was a Canal runing in the Middle of the sheds with runing water whare the Beets were flung in & washed in the Curant. The beets were never touched again by hand but were sliced up by Machinery & the juce pressed out & traveled in pipes three Miles & then droped into sacks pure white granulated sugar. It was a great institution at a Cost of a about 500,000 Dollars. We then returned home. Distance 80 m.

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

20 years ago today - Oct 23, 1991

[General] Elder James E. Faust dedicates Uganda for the preaching of the gospel.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

More History?

Want more Mormon history? Check out LDS-Church-History, a topical approach to the history of the church. Topics from the past have included Tithing, the Word of Wisdom, Z.C.M.I. and Dreams in Latter-day Saint history. More info can be found here: http://bit.ly/ldshst

150 years ago today - Oct 22, 1861

[General] The Deseret News publishes first regular News with telegraph accounts from the East, containing a message from President Lincoln.

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

5 years ago today - Oct 22, 2006

[General] Married couples who share religious beliefs and practices are better able to prevent, resolve and reconcile marital conflict, according to a new BYU study.

[Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]

170 years ago today - 22/Oct 25, 1841

[Lucy Mack Smith] Don Carlos Salisbury, the fifth child and third son of Katharine Smith Salisbury and Wilkins J. Salisbury, is born at Plymouth/Fountain Green, Hancock County, Illinois.

[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]

95 years ago today - Oct 21, 1916

"The Lecture," which is given in the Temple from time to time, as circumstances require, was first delivered by President [Brigham] Young in this [St. George] Temple. It was written down as he spoke it, and was subsequently revised by him. The ordinances were written [down] by Presidents Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon, under the direction of President Young[,] and, when completed, he said "Now you have before you an ensample to carry on the endowments in all the Temples, until the coming of the Son of Man." [David H. Cannon to Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, and Charles W. Penrose, Oct. 21, 1916]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

120 years ago today - Oct 21, 1891

[General] 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."

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

50 years ago today - Oct 21, 1961

[General] The first branch in New Caledonia, a territory of France in the South Pacific, is organized, with Teahu Manoi as president.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

25 years ago today - Oct 20, 1986

[General] LDS Lt-Gen. Robert C. Oaks is commander of Allied Forces in southern Europe. He is uncle of recently-sustained apostle Dallin H. Oaks.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 20, 1891

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Spent this forenoon in listening to testimony by Pres[iden]ts GQ Cannon, JF Smith before master in Chancery Loufborow at Franklin's office.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

175 years ago today - Oct 20, 1836

Charles Coulson Rich: Left Pleasant Grove 20 October 1836.

[Source: Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]

120 years ago today - Oct 19-20, 1891

[General] - 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.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

40 years ago today - Oct 19, 1971

[General] 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.

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

155 years ago today - Oct 19, 1856

[General] Orson Hyde: Criticized 19 Oct. 1856 by Brigham Young who said he should be excommunicated for clerking for non-Mormon judge

175 years ago today - (Tue) Oct 18, 1836

[General] The first installment for proposed bank stock was transacted. [Dale W. Adams; BYU Studies Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 468-470.] Sidney Rigdon paid $12.00 as an initial installment for 2000 shares of the proposed Kirtland Safety Society stock.[D. Paul Sampson and Larry T. Wimmer, BYU Studies, Vol. 12, No. 4, p.427.]

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

120 years ago today - Oct 18, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 18 Sunday I spent the day reading.

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

130 years ago today - Oct 18, 1881

[General] Ngataki was the first Maori baptized in New Zealand.

[Source: Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]

150 years ago today - Oct 17, 1861

[General] The Transcontinental Telegraph is completed to Salt Lake City.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 17, 1891

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Met with Pres[iden]t L. Snow AH Lund in Pres[iden]ts room with WW, GQC and Attorney FSR who gave the fine suggestions of procedure at the ExaminerÂ's court for next monday very interesting & important.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

170 years ago today - Oct 17, 1841

[Brigham Young] --17-- I accompanied Elder Richards to La Harpe.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

100 years ago today - Oct 16, 1911

[Temple] President [Joseph F.] Smith requests you to not send more than one family represented by the enclosed recommends for second blessings to the temple in one week, this as a precaution against it being known one by the other that they are recommended for the higher blessings, as strict privacy should be observed in regard to this matter. [George F. Gibbs to Robert D. Young, Oct. 16, 1911]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

60 years ago today - Oct 16,1951

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

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]

25 years ago today - Oct 16, 1986

[Mark Hofmann] Church announces that a search of its archives and First Presidency's vault found no Oliver Cowdery history.

[Source: Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]

105 years ago today - Oct 15, 1906

Pres[ident] [David H.] Cannon * remarked, it was designed to have all [officiators] stick to the [scripted] text and all unwritten parts to be given [acted out] exactly alike in all the temples. He wished there would be no corrections made in the wording by any one, except by those accompanying them in the ceremonies as Eloheim may prompt Jehovah and vice versa, then only in very important errors and in a manner not to give offense or that exception may be taken. [Temple Minute Book, St. George, Oct. 15, 1906]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

15 years ago today - Oct 15, 1996

[General] 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.

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

175 years ago today - mid Oct 1836

[General] Joseph Smith purchased a safe -- probably intended for bank use. [Dale W. Adams; BYU Studies Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 468-470.]

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

5 years ago today - Oct 14, 2006

[General] Ground was broken in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, for the first meetinghouse in the country that will serve the three branches in Slovenia, which was once part of the former country of Yugoslavia.

140 years ago today - Oct 14, 1871 (Saturday)

[General] Mayor Daniel H. Wells remitted $12,000 for the relief of the sufferers by the Chicago fire. He subsequently sent another amount.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

135 years ago today - Oct 14, 1876

[General] "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.

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

180 years ago today - Oct 13, 1831

[General] 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.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

15 years ago today - Oct 13, 1996

Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple; Location: American Fork, Utah, US; Announcement: 3 October 1992; Dedication: 13 October 1996 by Gordon B. Hinckley; Style: Classic modern, single-spire design

[Source: Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples]

100 years ago today - Oct 13, 1911 - 7 December 1911

[1st Presidency Changes] Joseph F. Smith Anthon H. Lund Death of John Henry Smith

[Source: Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]

120 years ago today - Oct 12, 1891

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Attorney FSR and LG Young considered answers that may be required on examination before Master in Chancery on 19th inst ... 2.45 pm brethren of Twelve met W[illia]m H. Dixon, FSR, & Leg. Y(?) in Presidents old office to get Dixons views on our probable answers to questions, his & our views harmonize nicely.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

175 years ago today - Oct 12, 1836

[General] Orson and Sarah Pratt arrive in Kirtland.

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

50 years ago today - Oct 12, 1961 - 18 September 1963

[1st Presidency Changes] David O. McKay Henry D. Moyle Hugh B. Brown Henry D. Moyle called as First Counselor; Hugh B. Brown called as Second Counselor

[Source: Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]

130 years ago today - Oct 11, 1881

You say, "If parties are to be rebaptized regardless of how recent their first baptism may have been, &c. &c. we will cheerfully comply." In the first place we think it extremely riskey to send persons to the [Endowment] House &c. who are only "recently baptized." We think people should have an opportunity to prove themselves, before coming to the House or going to the Temple, especially [in]experienced people. They should at least "summer and winter" in the Church, and then if deemed worthy to come for sacred ordinances, agreeable to [the] letter of instructions sent to the Bishops and Presidents on this subject when the House was re-opened, they should be rebaptized for the renewal of their covenants before being recommended by the bishop. [Joseph F. Smith to William Bringhurst, Oct. 11, 1881; emphasis in original]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

40 years ago today - Oct 11, 1971

[General] TIME Magazine article, "The Whispered Faith," about. Modern- day polygamy in Utah.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

60 years ago today - Oct 11, 1951

[General] Marion G. Romney is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

[Source: Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]

60 years ago today - Oct 10, 1951

[General] 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.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 10, 1841

[Brigham Young] --10-- Met with the Twelve for the purpose of holding a council, but spent most of the day in visiting the sick.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

180 years ago today - Oct 10, 1831

Ezra Thayer: In 10 October 1831 conference of church instructed to remain with family in Kirtland until spring 1832. William W. Phelps instructed by conference to rebuke Thayer for giving disrespect to Church.

40 years ago today - Oct 9, 1971

[General] 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.

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

25 years ago today - Oct 9, 1986

[General] Joseph B. Wirthlin is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

[Source: Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]

100 years ago today - Oct 9, 1911

[Thomas A. Clawson Diary] Special priesthood meeting, "The question of whether a man violates his covenants made in the Temple if he is married civily after he has once been married in the Temple. Tba answer was No. That he has married according to law and a covenant made by the contracting parties therefore he does not violate any covenant. The meaning of the words "that he shall nothing (Sic) to do with any woman save those given to him of the Lord" refers more to the acts of whordom and illicit relations."

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

150 years ago today - Oct 8, 1861

[General] 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."

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

170 years ago today - Oct 8, 1841

[Brigham Young] --8-- I attended the dedication of the baptismal font in the Lord's House; President Smith called upon me to offer the dedicatory prayer. This is the first font erected and dedicated for the baptism for the dead in this dispensation.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

80 years ago today - Oct 08, 1931

[General] Joseph F. Merrill is ordained an Apostle, replacing Orson F. Whitney, who had passed away.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

10

[General Conference, October 1916, Apostle Hyrum M. Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith publicly attacked Catholicism claiming that it Â"is a great liability in any nation. It wields a power for evil... [Catholicism] does not promote civilization, it binds them in the thralldom of superstition.Â" Salt Lake Catholic Bishop Joseph F. Glass, responded, writing to Joseph F. Smith on Oct. 7, 1916 asking if Â"the sentiments expressed by Hyrum M. Smith represent the feelings of the Latter-Day Saints toward the Catholic Church?Â" Joseph F. Smith gave the letter to his son and Hyrum M. Smith who wrote a letter to Joseph S. Glass on October 11, 1916 in response:

Â"It would have been more consistent, in my judgment, had you submitted your questions to me rather than to the President of the Church, since I alone am responsible for the remarks to which you make reference."] General

[Source: 19161007]

150 years ago today - Oct 7, 1861

[General] 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.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 7, 1841

Amasa Mason Lyman: Appointed to serve mission to New York City 7 October 1841.

120 years ago today - Oct 6, 1891

[Polygamy] First Presidency testifies plural marriages had ceased, and that cohabitation was discontinued.

Church authorities and lay members, familiar with the private sanctioning of plural marriages, were probably very surprised when they read the testimony of their leaders before the Master in Chancery, as Woodruff, Cannon and Smith all testified that not only had polygamy ceased, but cohabitation had discontinued and that the Manifesto also applied to Mexico and Canada. ( Quinn, LDS, p 50 ) Woodruff pointedly stated that the Manifesto applied both within as outside of the United States, in an attempt to get the government to return the church's confiscated property. (Van Wagoner, p. 154.)

[Source: Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]

50 years ago today - Oct 6, 1961 - 12 October 1961

[1st Presidency Changes] David O. McKay Henry D. Moyle Hugh B. Brown (Third Counselor) Death of J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

[Source: Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]

170 years ago today - Oct 6, 1841

[Brigham Young] --6-- I was very sick. Elders Kimball, Richards and Woodruff laid hands upon me, and I recovered.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

20 years ago today - Oct 5, 1991

[General] 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.

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

50 years ago today - Oct 5, 1961

[General] Gordon B. Hinckley is ordained an apostle Harold B. Lee directs the development of the Church correlation program

[Source: Madsen, Truman G., The Presidents of the Church]

170 years ago today - Oct 5, 1841

[Brigham Young Sermon] President Brigham Young spoke on the contents of the letter, [which had just been read by Orson Pratt] and expressed his earnest desire that the business might be speedily adjusted and a proper title obtained by the Church. [Nauvoo, Illinois - HC 4:428]

[Source: Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]

50 years ago today - Oct 4, 1961

[General] 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.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 4, 1841

[Brigham Young Sermon] President Brigham Young made some appropriate and weighty remarks on the importance of more liberal consecrations and more energetic efforts to forward the work of building the Temple and Nauvoo House; and after purchasing Elder Wight's text, by paying him fifty cents, tore it to pieces and gave it to the winds, saying, "Go ye and do likewise, with all old claims against the Church." [Nauvoo, Illinois - HC 4:427-428]

[Source: Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]

25 years ago today - Oct 4, 1986

[General] Seventies quorums in stakes throughout the Church were discontinued.

144 years this week - Oct 6, 1867

The first conference to be conducted in the newly completed Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City began. The building was dedicated eight years later on Oct. 9, 1875.

143 years this week - 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.

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

143 years this week - Oct 6, 1868 (Tuesday)

The general conference was commenced in Salt Lake City. It was continued three days. For the first time in Utah, a full quorum of the Twelve Apostles was present at conference. A number of missionaries were called to strengthen the southern settlements. On the 6th Geo. A. Smith was chosen as First Counselor to Pres. Brigham Young, in place of the late Heber C. Kimball, and Brigham Young, jun., was called to fill the vacancy caused thereby in the Council of Twelve Apostles.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

141 years this week - Oct 6, 1870

Brigham Young tells general conference that his published talks are scripture.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

139 years this week - 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."

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

136 years this week - Oct 9, 1875 (Saturday)

At the general conference the large Tabernacle, in Salt Lake City, was dedicated. A large number of missionaries were called during the conference.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

134 years this week - Oct 6, 1877

For first time, conference sustains John Taylor as president of Quorum of Twelve Apostles, office not presented for vote since release of Orson Hyde. Conference also sustains Twelve as "Prophet, Seers and Revelators" for first time in 41 years. John Taylor is sustained as Trustee-in-Trust with rest of Twelve as "Counselors."

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

131 years this week - Oct 10, 1880

Joseph Smithâ€"History becomes part of the Pearl of Great Price as Church members vote on the canonized scripture in General Conference. Pearl of Great Price becomes fourth standard work of Church. By this date, the Church officially had four standard works of scripture: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

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

129 years this week - Oct 6, 1882 (Friday)

The semi-annual conference of the Church, which continued three days, was held in Salt Lake City; 78 missionaries were called.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

128 years this week - Oct 6, 1883

King David Kalakaua speaks at LDS conference in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii. He is first reighning monarch to speak at Mormon meeting. King Kalakaua's premier (1882-87) is Walter Murray Gibson, former Mormon.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

124 years this week - Oct 6, 1887

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr. Diary] Conference began this morning ... Meeting at 7 P.M. Most of the brethren present. Differences healed and we were one again. Thank God now we may unite the people for oh! they need a solid head that God may transmit freely the appointed source His Will.

[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

123 years this week - Oct 5, 1888 (Friday)

The Fifty-ninth semi-annual conference of the Church commenced in Salt Lake City. It was continued until the 7th, on which day Brigham H. Roberts was sustained as one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, Horace S. Eldredge being deceased.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

123 years this week - Oct 7, 1888

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] [General conference] John Nicholson and Thatcher talked) Bro[ther] Nicholson made some remarks regarding the present condition of our affairs in Utah that were entirely uncalled for in consideration of the policy decided upon by our quorum and some of the leading brethren. [Criticizes him for making his opposition public.)

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

121 years this week - Oct 6, 1890

The "Manifesto" was unanimously accepted by vote in general conference. This marked the beginning of reconciliation between the Church and the United States, which effectively paved the way to statehood for Utah a little more than five years later.

120 years this week - Oct 6, 1891 (Tuesday)

The general conference of the Church in Salt Lake City passed a number of resolutions, condemnatory of the false reports which the Utah Commission had forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

117 years this week - Oct 4, 1894

[Thomas A. Clawson Diary] "The main theme this conference has been on the Word of Wisdom and when Prest. Woodruff got up he administered a most stinging rebuke to Patriarch John Smith for failing to observe that counsel given by the Lord in the Word of Wisdom."

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

117 years this week - 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.

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

116 years this week - Oct 4, 1895 (Friday)

The general semi-annual conference of the Church commenced in Salt Lake City, continuing three days.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

116 years this week - Oct 5, 1895

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] [General conference] This pm AH Cannon 27 m, M. Thatcher 22m Pres[iden]t GQ Cannon 35 m.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

115 years this week - 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."

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

114 years this week - Oct 4, 1897 (Monday)

The 68th annual conference of the Church convened in Salt Lake City. It was continued three days. On the 5th, when the general authorities of the Church were submitted to the vote of the conference, Matthias F. Cowley and Abraham O. Woodruff were sustained as members of the council of Twelve Apostles, to fill vacancies caused by the death of Abraham H. Cannon and the rejection of Moses Thatcher. Joseph W. McMurrin was sustained as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

113 years this week - Oct 7, 1898

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

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

113 years this week - Oct 9, 1898 (Sunday)

At the afternoon session of the general conference of the Church, Lorenzo Snow was sustained as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and President of the Church, and Geo. Q. Cannon as his first and Joseph F. Smith as his second Counselor. Rudger Clawson was chosen to fill the vacancy which had occurred in the Council of the Twelve Apostles by the reorganization of the First Presidency.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

110 years this week - Oct 5, 1901

[Apostle Anthony W. Ivins Diary] Attended Conference...B. H. Roberts [said] Members of the Church at time of Martyrdom of Prophet not to exceed 28,000. 310,000 present population.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Anthony W. Ivins, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

110 years this week - Oct 6, 1901

[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Chosen by President Lorenzo Snow and sustained at general conference as second counselor in First Presidency.

[Source: Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

110 years this week - 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.

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

109 years this week - Oct 6, 1902

President Joseph F. Smith has general conference sustain Presiding Patriarch as prophet, seer, and revelator, first time since Hyrum Smith in 1880's

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

108 years this week - Oct 4, 1903 (Sunday)

The 74th semi-annual conference convened in Salt Lake City. It was continued until the 6th, on which day George Albert Smith was sustained as one of the Twelve Apostles to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Brigham Young, jun. Francis M. Lyman was sustained as president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

108 years this week - Oct 6, 1903

George Albert Smith is presented to general conference as new apostle. "A cold wave passed over the congregation," general authority J. Golden Kimball writes, "and many expressed themselves to me as disgusted. . . . It is nepotism of the strongest kind since the days of Brigham Young."

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

104 years this week - Oct 4, 1907 (Friday)

The general semi-annual conference of the Church commenced in Salt Lake City. It was continued on the 5th and 6th.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

104 years this week - Oct 6, 1907

At sustaining of church officers a man votes against Joseph F. Smith because of his admitted violation of Utah's cohabitation law. Smith has him ejected from Salt Lake Tabernacle. Conference sustains new apostle Anthony W. Ivins, who performed dozens of plural marriages in Mexico after 1890 Manifesto. Francis M. Lyman instructs newly ordained Ivins: "The Twelve are the Special witness of Jesus Christ & should be able to testify that he lives even AS IF he had been seen by them" (emphasis added). At general conference Apostle and U.S. Senator Reed Smoot tells of a traveling medicine salesman: "in order to hold the crowd until he could convince some of them that they had worms, or something worse, he had three or four niggers sing songs-by the way, I have been told that the niggers furnished the best part of the entertainment."

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

102 years this week - 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 Jan 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.

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

102 years this week - Oct 6, 1909 (Wednesday)

At the closing session of the general conference Levi Edgar Young was chosen and sustained as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George Reynolds.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

101 years ago this week - Oct 2,1910

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).

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]

100 years ago this week - 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).

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

95 years this week - 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..."

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

87 years this week - Oct 3, 1924

Radio broadcast of general conference began on KSL in Salt Lake City, the Church-owned station. Coverage was expanded into Idaho in 1941.

72 years this week - Oct 6, 1939

The First Presidency message on world peace was delivered in general conference by President Heber J. Grant.

69 years ago this week - 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 Apr 10, 1947.

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

66 years this week - Oct 5, 1945-7

The first general, unrestricted conference of the Church in four years was held in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. (During World War II, general conferences were limited to general, stake, and ward priesthood leaders.)

65 years this week - 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).

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

59 years ago this week - 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.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/extensionsofpower]

58 years this week - Oct 04, 1953

General conference is televised live from Salt Lake City to locations outside the Intermountain West for the first time.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

58 years this week - 1953. October 8

(Richard L. Evans) : Called to the Quorum of the Twelve by President David O. McKay. His committee responsibilities included Church magazines, Temple Square activities, world fair exhibits and other Church information centers, the Tabernacle Choir and the Choir broadcast, general conference broadcasts, the Hill Cumorah pageant, Church historical sites, management of Church communications, public relations, publications, translation and distribution, and temple ceremonies.

[Source: Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

51 years this week - Oct 7, 1960

[David O. McKay Office Journal] 8:30 a.m. Held a meeting with President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and President Henry D. Moyle. We three decided upon the calling of the following men to be Assistants to the Twelve: [Nathan Eldon Tanner, Franklin D. Richards, Theodore M. Burton]. After we had taken up the matters before us, President Clark broke down and said that he would not be able to attend Conference--said he is not well enough; that his legs are weak, and that he cannot get up the steps. I wept with him, and reluctantly said that he probably should not attempt to attend the meetings.

[Source: McKay, David O., Office Journal]

36 years this week - Oct 3, 1975

President Kimball announced in general conference the organization of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and the first three members of the quorum were sustained.

14 years this week - Oct 4, 1997

It was announced in general conference by President Hinckley that the Church would construct temples in remote areas of the Church that have small LDS populations. The first were to be built in Anchorage, Alaska; in the LDS colonies of northern Mexico; and in Monticello, Utah.

12 years ago this week - Oct 02, 1999

The 160th Semiannual General Conference marks the last general conference held in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square. The worldwide conference had been held in the Tabernacle sine 1867.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

4 years this week - 2007 6-7 October

[Hinckley] Conducted and spoke at the Church-"s 177th Semi-Annual World General Conference

[Source: LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president]

3 years this week - Oct 4, 2008

Calgary Alberta (Under Construction) Temple; Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Announcement: 4 October 2008; Groundbreaking: 15 May 2010 by Donald L. Hallstrom; Notes: Announced at the 178th Semiannual General Conference.

150 years ago today - Oct 1, 1861

[General] 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."

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

30 years ago today - Oct 1,1981

[Utah] New York Times reports official announcement that new edition of Book of Mormon changes prophecy that Lamanites will "become white and delightsome." Instead of continuing original reference to skin color, new edition emphasizes inward spirituality: "become pure and delightsome."

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]

10 years ago today - Oct 1, 2001

[General] Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates the 100th temple, the Boston Temple

[Source: Madsen, Truman G., The Presidents of the Church]