20 years ago today - 20 years - 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."

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

120 years ago today - 120 years - Aug 31, 1893 (Thursday)

The Supreme Court of Utah handed down a decision in the Church suits, to the effect that the government, under the escheat clause of the Edmunds-Tucker law of 1887, was entitled to confiscate the Gardo House, the coal lands and the Church farm; but that the Historians' office and the Tithing yard were excluded and legally the property of the Church. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

125 years ago today - 125 years - Aug 31, 1888 (Friday)

Bishop James C. Hamilton, of Mill Creek, Salt Lake Co., was arrested for u.c. [Unlawful Cohabitation, I.E. living with a polygamous wife]

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

140 years ago today - 140 years - 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.

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

140 years ago today - 140 years - Aug 31, 1873

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] President B Young Spoke 1 Hour & 18 Minuts. In his remarks He said that a Man who did not have but one wife in the Resurrection that woman will not be his but [be] taken from him & given to another But he may be saved in the kingdom of God but be single to all Eternity. Mother Eve was the Daughter of Adam.

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

170 years ago today - 170 years - Aug 31, 1843

[Joseph Smith] Joseph begins moving into the Nauvoo Mansion. Up until this time the Smiths (Joseph, Emma, and four children) have been living in the same log house Joseph purchased from Hugh White in 1839. The mansion is a 22-room L-shaped building. The Smith family takes over six rooms and the rest are for entertaining visitors to Nauvoo. Fifteen days after moving into the mansion, Joseph gives notice that he is no longer able to provide free facilities, but thereafter the mansion will operate as a hotel. Joseph lives at the mansion until his death. At this time the men in Nauvoo are donating one day out of ten to work on the temple and Nauvoo House. The sisters are donating 1 percent of their weekly money for those structures.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

175 years ago today - 175 years - 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.

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

5 years ago today - 5 years - 8/30/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] mormonsfor8.com goes up connecting donor names to LDS membership. Mormons accounted for not quite 2% of California's population, yet are credited with raising more than half of the $32+ million donations to protectmarriage. Similar to the "grass roots" response to Virginia's battle over extending the ratification deadline for the ERA: Mormons made up 0.5% of the state's population, yet accounted for 85% of the anti-ERA letters to state legislators.

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

170 years ago today - 170 years - Aug 30, 1843, Wednesday

[William Clayton Writings] 30 August 1843 A.M. ... at Pres J's. He & Hyrum told me that Mr Brown of Rushville had arrived last night & had no where to go. They requested me to taken them in for about 3 weeks and I consented

[Source: Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]

170 years ago today - 170 years - Aug 30, 1843

[Brigham Young] --30-- Rode with General Bennett and Brother Foster to Coney Island, where we bathed in the Atlantic. He requested me to baptize him, which I did, and we confirmed him and returned to his house, where we remained overnight and spent a pleasant time.

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

175 years ago today - 175 years - Aug 30, 1838

[Missouri War] Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, responding to reports of civil and Indian disturbances in western counties, orders twenty-eight hundred state troops to stand ready to march.

[Source: LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, Appendix: Chronology of Events in Missouri, 1838-1839]

175 years ago today - 175 years - Aug 30, 1838

[Lucy Mack Smith] Governor Boggs orders Major General David Rice Atchison to call out the militia. About this time Neil Gillum/Gillium, a militia captain, begins beating, plundering, and burning out the Saints at Hunters Mills.

[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]

90 years ago today - 90 years - Aug 29, 1923

Sister Lee, we lay our hands upon your head in the name of the Lord, and inasmuch as you have been chosen to act as the presiding woman in the temple, working in harmony with and under the direction of President [Edward J.] Wood ...

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

120 years ago today - 120 years - Aug 29, 1893

[Rudger Clawson] Leaves with Lydia to attend Chicago World's Fair.

[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]

120 years ago today - 120 years - Aug 29, 1893

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 29 In Company with my Councillors GQC & J.F.S And the Utah Quire of singers And wife Emma & Daughters Blanch & Alice we went on board of the Cars to start upon our Journey. There were some 2,500 persons Present to see us off. We stoped a short time at Ogden. We Crossed green River in the night. I was not well. I did not sleep last night. I felt quite unwell this morning.

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

125 years ago today - 125 years - Aug 29, 1888

[Franklin D. Richards] At 10 met with M[oses]. T[hatcher]. & J[ohn]. R. W[inder]. & discussed items urged by J[ohn]. W. Young both of which we deem impolitic at present.

Government has what represents $800,000 of our Church property in its Receiver s hands- has inflicted perhaps $200-000 fines and caused us to pour out money like water to pay Attorneys for best legal defence we can get & now J[ohn]. W. Y[oung]. thinks we should advance money to help assure Dem[ocratic]. party we are sincere in our politics.

[Source: Franklin D. Richards, Diary]

130 years ago today - 130 years - Aug 29, 1883 (Wednesday)

The steamship Nevada sailed from Liverpool, England, with 682 Saints, including 29 returning missionaries, in charge of Peter F. Goss. The company arrived at New York Sept. 7th, and at Salt Lake City Sept. 17th.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

135 years ago today - 135 years - Aug 29, 1878

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 29 I stacked wheat all day.

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

155 years ago today - 155 years - 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."

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

170 years ago today - 170 years - 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.

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

130 years ago today - Aug 28, 1883

[Joseph F. Smith to Henry Tingey, Aug. 28, 1883; emphasis in original] I have read your letter and noted its contents. I am of the opinion that the parties should have ample time to prove their sincerity and repentance before they are recommended to the House of the Lord. "The way of the transgress[o]r is hard," and I know of no way to make it easy. If people will transgress the laws of God they must abide the consequences. I never believed a transgressor can jump from crime to innocence in one leap. The road back from vice to virtue is a long one, lost confidence returns but slowly and very cautiously, and then only when room for doubt and distrust is fully removed by a life of unimpeachable integrity, humility, honesty & sincerity. I should want them to prove themselves worthy before giving a recommend, if I were their Bishop.

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

170 years ago today - 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.

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

175 years ago today - Aug 28, 1838

[Joseph Smith] Joseph spends several days at home. Adam Black swears out an affidavit stating that 154 men threatened his life on Aug. 8. Joseph calls him a liar.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

5 years ago today - August 27

[Same-Sex Marriage] MormonsFor8.com is registered by a private individual and launches as a clearinghouse for information about tracking the exploding Mormon contributions for Prop 8.

[Source: Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

10 years ago today - Aug 27, 2003

[U.S. Religious History] Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument was moved out of the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building to comply with a federal court order.

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

170 years ago today - Aug 27, 1843

During a sermon Joseph Smith refers to the succession promise to his son Joseph III.

[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]

170 years ago today - Aug 27, 1843

[Joseph Smith] Joseph states that two weeks earlier a vote had been taken to disfellowship Sidney Rigdon. And although Gov. Carlin now denies any conspiracy with Rigdon, Joseph still believes there has been such a conspiracy. After these comments, Joseph gives a doctrinal sermon. Rigdon then takes the stand to defend himself, stating that he has seen Gov. Carlin only three times in his life and has never talked to a soul about the subject of a conspiracy to arrest Joseph. Sidney asks pardon for doing anything that would make Joseph come to this conclusion.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

170 years ago today - Aug 27, 1843

Joseph Smith lectured on the three orders of priesthood, Aaronic, "Patriarchal Power" of Abraham which was "the greatest yet experienced in this church." And the forthcoming "perfect law of Theocracy": the "kingly powers" to "administer ... endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam." This "perfect law," "the Highest and Holiest Order," was realized in new washing and anointing rituals initiated in September where Joseph and Emma were given this final "fullness of the priesthood," or "second anointing."

[Source: Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994. p.256]

170 years ago today - 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]."

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Wednesday, Aug 26, 1908

[Black History] Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency: Letter read from Elder Ralph A. Badger, late President of the South African Mission, dated this city 17th Inst., asking in substance the following questions: (1) What shall be done where people tainted with negro blood embrace the Gospel, the writer going on to say that such people are very numerous in South Africa and some are now members of the Church whose children associate with those of the white race who are members of the Church, the latter objecting to this being done. (2) The writer wished to know if the Gospel should be preached to the native tribes, and states that an old native missionary had become a member of the Church at Queenstown, and is anxious to start an active missionary work among the natives; that the son of a Zulu chief had also been baptized who had requested that missionary work be done among the Zulus.

With reference to the first question President [Joseph F.] Smith remarked that he did not know that we could do anything more in such cases than refer to the rulings of Presidents [Brigham] Young, [John] Taylor, [Wilford] Woodruff, and other presidencies, on this question, amounting to this, that people tainted with negro blood may he admitted to Church membership only. In this connection President Smith referred to Brother Abel, who was ordained a Seventy by Joseph Young [sic; Zebedee Coltrin], in the days of the Prophet Joseph [Smith], to whom Brother [Joseph] Young issued a Seventies certificate; but this ordination was declared null and void by the Prophet himself. Later Brother Abel appealed to President [Brigham] Young for the privilege of receiving his endowments and to have his wife and children sealed to him, a privilege President Young could not grant. Brother Abel renewed this application to President [John] Taylor with the same result, and still the same

appeal was made to President Woodruff afterwards, who of course upheld the position taken by Presidents Young and Taylor. He later wrote to President Smith that he had received a patriarchal blessing under the hands of Father Joseph Smith, and he said he inferred that the blessing conveyed the idea that he was to be the connecting link between his race and those holding the priesthood. But notwithstanding the fact that he was a staunch member of the Church, Presidents Young, Taylor, and Woodruff all denied him the blessings of the House of the Lord. The same efforts he said had been made by Aunt Jane to receive her endowments and be sealed to her husband and have her children sealed to their parents and her appeal was made to all the Presidents from President [Brigham] Young down to the present First Presidency. But President [George Q.] Cannon conceived the idea that, under the circumstances, it would be proper to permit her to go to the temple to be adopted to the Prophet Joseph

Smith as his servant and this was done. This seemed to ease her mind for a little while but did not satisfy her, and she still pleaded for her endowments. President [Joseph F.] Smith then remarked that if we take this position without any reserve and refer such people to the curse pronounced upon Cainan, giving them to understand that they are descendants of Cainan, that the curse has not been removed, and that all of his race are deprived of the rights of the priesthood because of the decree of the Almighty, and until the Lord sees fit to remove that curse it would be for them to content themselves with the privilege of receiving the First Principles of the Gospel, thereby enabling them to become members of the Church, and thereafter live righteous lives, which will bring them far greater salvation in the Kingdom of God than any other so-called Christian religion is capable of doing for them. And in closing the President added that where the priesthood may have been bestowed upon

men tainted with this blood, in all such cases their ordinations must be regarded as invalid.

Brother [Francis M.] Lyman said he fully endorsed this position, and remarked that whatever the Lord has in store for the negro race it must be received through obedience to the Gospel, and it will therefore be for them to receive the Gospel of repentance as circumstances may admit, and be satisfied with that portion of it, and prove faithful to it.

As an item of information, the truth of which however President Smith said he could not vouch for, although it had come to him through the late President Jesse N. Smith, who claimed that it had come to him indirectly from the Prophet [Joseph Smith], that Ham's wife was an adulteress, and that she went into the ark pregnant from the seed of Cain, and in that way brought that blood through the flood, from whom sprang the early inhabitants of Egypt. Also that Ham finding that he was deprived of the rights of the priesthood, and becoming desperate in consequence of his condition, sought to emasculate his father and brothers and thereby usurp the rights of the priesthood for himself and posterity which wicked attempt renewed and intensified the curse of God upon him and his seed, in that they should be deprived of the priesthood and become servants of servants forever.

President [John R.] Winder moved that the Council endorse the former rulings of the first Presidency, which are the rulings of this Council. In connection with this motion it was understood that our Elders should not take the initiative in proselyting among the negro people, but if negroes or people tainted with negro blood apply for baptism themselves they might be admitted to Church membership in the understanding that nothing further can be done for them. It was also understood that the secretary was to get together the rulings of former councils on this question, also the public utterances of President [Brigham] Young and others on the same subject.

Motion put and carried.

(George Albert Smith Papers, Manuscripts Division, Marriott Library, University of Utah)

[Source: Marquardt, H. Michael, Mormon Central: Excerpts From Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg2.htm]

130 years ago today - 130 years ago - Aug 26, 1883

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] This morning I copied a letter of Prest Taylor's written about the plurality of wives. He was very plain in giving the Sister to whom the letter was written to understand that simply being sealed did not fulfill the law.

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

130 years ago today - 130 years ago - Aug 26, 1883

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] Learned that Bp Andrew Burt of the 21st Ward Salt Lake was shot & killed yesterday by a negro, and that the nigger that did the shooting had been hung by the citizens. --also learned that Chas Wilcken was shot in the arm by the same nigger.

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

170 years ago today - 170 years ago - Aug 26, 1843 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young Sermon] Elder B. Young next spoke and made some useful remarks. Said the scriptures had been mystified to that degree that the greatest divine of the day is as ignorant as the dumb ass concerning the things of God. They don't know their right hand from their left and we are trying to revere it to make it so simple that the people can understand it. Place a man in this room that is ignorant of science and take every thing out that we can see and then ask him if their is any thing in the room. He says no nothing but we two. I tell him that there is millions of live animals in the room even we breath them and I will show him by the aid of glasses that their is live animals in one drop of water eight feet long. But he don't believe it until he sees it through glasses. So with the unbeliever. He does not believe in God, in Angels, in spirits because he cannot see them. But let him have spiritual glasses or obey the commandments of God and get the spirit of God and then he can see, and many other useful remarks he made.

[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

120 years ago today - Aug 26, 1893

[Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to John D. T. McAllister, Aug. 26, 1893] We have made the following ruling which is self-explanatory, and send it to you for your guidance as President of the Manti Temple. "Persons having received their endowments, who are otherwise qualified, may act for the dead in the ordinances, of sealing and adoption, without having been Sealed or adopted themselves. But in Second Anointings, none shall be eligible to act for the dead, unless they have received this blessing themselves."

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

170 years ago today - Aug 26, 1843

Joseph Smith meets with Flora Ann Woodworth and her mother.

[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]

175 years ago today - 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"

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

110 years ago today - Aug 25, 1903; Tuesday

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. None but Stake Presidents have the right to suggest and recommend persons to obtain their Second Annointings. The reason is plain: those working in the temples see people in their Sunday clothing only, and are not acquainted with their every day life. When such persons come to their Stake Presidents and ask for this blessing, saying they were counselled to do so in the temple, it places him in the unpleasant position, perhaps, that he has to refuse their request, and he is blamed by the applicants. No person has the right to ask for this blessing. He must wait till sought out by his Stake President. If the President of a temple feels impressed with the worthiness of any person, dead or alive, he can make suggestions to the President of the Stake, but he should not mention this to the persons themselves. ...

[Source: Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to John D. T. McAllister, LDS Archives]

115 years ago today - Aug 25, 1898; Thursday

During the summer of 1898 a number of Elder [B. H.] Roberts' friends urged him to become a candidate for Congress. Complying with the rule of the Church, that before accepting any nomination for political office or engaging in other business that would interfere with their work in the ministry, the brethren should obtain the consent of the authorities of the Church, the matter of Elder Roberts being released from his duties in the ministry in order to accept the aforesaid nomination, was presented to the Presidency and to the Council of the Apostles, and they unanimously approved of his being released for this purpose, whereupon Elder Roberts became a candidate before the Democratic Convention, and was nominated on the first ballot. The convention was a stormy one, and much opposition developed against Elder Roberts on the part of a number of Gentiles, who were in the convention. Indeed, it had been intimated before the convention convened that open war would be made upon him on account of his plural family relations. At the time Elder Roberts heard of this threat, he called at the office of the Presidency of the Church, with the view of presenting the matter to the brethren and ascertaining if such a controversy should be risked. At the time Presidents [Wilford] Woodruff and [George Q.] Cannon were in California, but the matter was presented to President Joseph F. Smith, who, in substance, said that he did not think we were under the necessity of paying any attention to the threats of our enemies with relation to that subject; and stated that the same matter had been brought up in the office the day previous, when several of the Apostles were present, and they also were of that mind; and, hence, Elder Roberts continued his efforts among his political friends, and secured the nomination, as above stated.

[Source: Excerpt from the Minutes of the First Council of the Seventy, February 7, 1900]

130 years ago today - Aug 25, 1883 (Saturday)

Bishop Andrew Burt, captain of the Salt Lake City police force, was killed by a negro, whom he was trying to arrest. Half an hour later the negro was lynched by a mob, in the jail yard.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

135 years ago today - Aug 25, 1878

The Primary, founded by Aurelia Rogers, held its first meeting at Farmington, Utah. The movement spread rapidly and on June 19, 1880, a Churchwide organization was established, with Louie B. Felt as the first president.

[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]

140 years ago today - Aug 25, 1873

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] The Team that John Taylor rode after got frightened ran Broke the Tongue. Brother Taylor was flung out but did not Hurt him.

The Team that Thomas Taylor & myself was riding after was troting vary fast around a short turn & a sideling peace of Ground & I was on the off side & the fore wheel struck a rock which Stoped the waggon & it flung me near 10 feet clear of the waggon & I struck upon my hands & knees but it happened to be in a soft Bed of sand & did not hurt me & it was almost the ownly soft spot I had seen all day by the road side as most of the way it was rocks & Stubs. I was almost mirracleously preserved from being Hurt. 24 M.

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

150 years ago today - Aug 25, 1863

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] President Young spoke with great Plainness and Power. He Called upon His Councillors & the Twelve to wake up & get rid of there selfishness & get the spirit of God & Edify the people. He Called upon the whole people to Covenant with uplifted hands to Heaven to obey his Council which we all did.

He told the people to go to & build graneries & Continue to lay up grain untill they had bread to last them seven years & not sell their grain to any body untill they had done this ... Stop carrying grain to the distilleries to be made into whiskey. Stop making whiskey & stop drinking whiskey. And if you will do this I promise you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you will suffer no famine.

He said some opposed our admission into the family of States upon the ground that we would be uniting with a Corrupt Body.

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

170 years ago today - Aug 25, 1843

[Joseph Smith Diary] Hyrum in the office. Spoke of a new revelation...

Saw the President at tea 5 P.M.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

120 years ago today - Aug 24, 1893

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] I went into the Temple and Had [ ] Persons of the [ ] Adopted to me. Also I officiated for my Brother Azmon in having [ ].

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

165 years ago today - 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.

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

170 years ago today - August 24, 1843. Thursday.

[William Clayton Journal] ...At night I asked mother if M[argaret] might sleep with Ruth and me. She appeared very rebellious and would not consent but said we might do as we had a mind. J[oseph] S[mith] through W[illiam] C[layton] pays D[avid] D. Yearsley.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

180 years ago today - (Sat) Aug 24, 1833

The Chardon Spectator printed its "The Mormonites" article, with text was derived from the Missouri Republican of Aug. 9, 1833. It said: "A meeting of the citizens of Jackson county, to the number of four or five hundred, was held at Independence on the 20th of July. Their avowed object was to take measures to rid themselves of the Mormonites.... the citizens have been daily told that they are to be cut off, and their lands appropriated to the Mormons for inheritances; but they are not fully agreed among themselves as to the manner in which this shall be accomplished, whether by the destroying angel, the judgement of God, or the arm of power. The comittee express their fears that, should this population continue to increase, they will soon have all the offices of the county in their hands; and that the lives and property of other citizens would be insecure, under the administration of men who are so ignorant and superstitious..."

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

80 years ago today - Aug 23, 1933

[Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark Jr. to Stake Presidents, Aug. 23, 1933] ... The Church discontinued the use of all Temple garment labels several years ago. Notwithstanding this fact garments are still sold to the public bearing labels reading in some such form as the following: "This Garment Approved 1st Presidency. No knitted garment approved which does not bear this label;" or "This garment approved by the Presidency: Always look for this label on an approved garment;" and similar formulae. You will direct all Bishops in your Stakes to advise every person who applies for a recommend to enter the Temple, that the Church has no label of any sort for Temple garments; that it has not authorized, nor does it sanction, the placing of any label of any sort on Temple garments; and that the use of all such labels by any and all mercantile establishments is a misrepresentation of fact. ... You will direct all Bishops also to instruct every applicant for a Temple recommend, that Temple garments with shoulder straps instead of sleeves do not meet the requirements of a proper garment, nor do they meet the obligations assumed in the endowment ceremony by those endowed. Temple garments with straps are disapproved. ...

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

80 years ago today - Aug 23, 1933

[Patriarchal Blessings] [Patriarchal Blessing of Lucy Emily Woodruff Smith by Nicholas G. Smith on August 23, 1933]...Lucy - the blood of the Prophets flows in your veins, the best blood in the nation. ... You are of Ephraim, loved of your Heavenly Father. He needs your service, and I rebuke the destroyer that he shall not have the power to molest you in mind or body, bless you that your nervous system may be renovated from the crown of your head to the souls of your feet, that you may calmly go about your duties in the home and in the community life, resume your activity with the youth of Isreal [Israel], bringing blessings to them. ... I seal you up unto eternal life to come forth on the morning of the resurrection of the just, A savior upon Mount Zion, and I bless you to this end in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Approved: Nicholas G. Smith

[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]

105 years ago today - Aug 23, 1908

U.S. immigration officials send nine Mormon immigrants back to England because they admit belief in LDS doctrine of plural marriage.

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

150 years ago today - Aug 23, 1863

I feel as I said to Van Vliet "We calculate to be the kings of these mountains." Now let us go ahead and occupy them.

[Source: Minutes, Quorum of Twelve]

170 years ago today - Aug 23, 1843. Wednesday.

[William Clayton Journal] ...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 [Joseph Smith's plural wife] 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...

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

170 years ago today - Aug 23, 1843

[Joseph Smith's plural wife] Flora Ann Woodworth marries non-Mormon Carlos Gove.

[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]

175 years ago today - Thurs. [August] 23 [1838]

[Samuel D. Tyler] I was running a wheel-barow this forenoon & Elders Snow & Jackson were filling it for me; the sun beat hot upon me and my sore legs (See p. 21 for they have not yet got well for it is the pleasure of the Lord in this thing to try my faith, & perhaps the faith of others,) became painful. I had sat down on the run. Elder G. Snow observing that I was in pain & without my speaking a word he laid his hand upon my legs & spake in an unknown tongue perhaps 15 or twenty words; he then said Amen. Is the pain gone, said he? At that moment I first perceived that I was entirely free of the pain for the Lord had taken it from me & I noticed it not before he asked me, for my mind had soared above pain & I was thinking of the words spoken. Now the interpretation I did not know, because I have not the gift of interpetation. But I believe that he meekly entreated the Lord for me & the Lord heard & answered him.

[Source: Journal of Samuel D. Tyler]

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: - The Life of Lorenzo Snow - Speaking in Tongues - Rebaptism, - Word of Wisdom - Dreams in LDS history - The life of George Albert Smith - The history of Z.C.M.I. - Tithing More info can be found here: http://bit.ly/ldshst mh

20 years ago today - 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.

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

105 years ago today - Saturday Aug 22, 1908

[Apostle Anthony W. Ivins Diary] ...We drove 4 miles to Naples Ward where we held meeting. Just before leaving Naple a girl 18 years old came to Pres. Smarts home and asked us to administer to her. She had been thrown from a horse and hurt her shoulder so that she could not use her arm. I annointed her & Bro. Lyman blessed her. After, I took hold of her arm and raised it up bending it at the elbow, and asked her if I hurt her. Why, she said, I'm plumb well, and ran out on the street and threw her arms around the neck of a woman there.

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

135 years ago today - Aug 22, 1878

[John Nuttle Diary] We examined the effects of the Lightening stroke on the tower of the Temple. which had done some damage to repair which would cost some $200.00 . . .

[Source: Diary Excerpts of L. John Nuttall, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

150 years ago today - Aug 22, 1863

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 22d We held a Conference with the People of Cash valley. Met in a large Bowery. W Woodruff spoke in the morning /and fore told the Building of the temple in Logan By prophesy/ followed by President Young /who said Br Woodruff spoke By Revelation"/. I attended meeting in the Afternoon. Was not well.

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

170 years ago today - Aug 22, 1843

Flora Woodworth said that she "felt condemned for" her "rash" decision "in a reckless moment" to marry a young non-Mormon. Flora had impulsively married Carlos Gove the day after her confrontation on 22 August 1843 with Emma Smith, who jealousy demanded the gold watch her husband had given to Flora. Flora then had two subsequent trysts with the 37-year-old Prophet in William Clayton's house later that week.

[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]

170 years ago today - 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."

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

170 years ago today - Aug 21, 1843

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith received a letter written by Mr. J. Hall of Independence, Missouri, -"breathing hard things against us as a people,-" which he forwarded along with some additional remarks to Thomas Ford, governor of Illinois.

[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

170 years ago today - 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 Jun 29, 1842.

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

110 years ago today - Aug 20, 1903: Thursday

A meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles was held this morning.

...The following cable message was sent to Brother Heber J., Grant today: "You are now released; leave business in hands of [Horace S.] Ensign." This was sent in three cipher words.

[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

170 years ago today - 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."

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

175 years ago today - Aug 20, 1838

100-150 armed men ride into DeWitt and give the Mormons to October 1 to leave the county.

[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

25 years ago today - Aug 19, 1988

[Mark Hofmann] LDS church releases official statement condemning The Mormon Murders for its "scurrilous descriptions accusations, and willful misrepresentations of the actions and motives of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

[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,]

80 years ago today - Aug 19, 1933

Mary Ellen Wood (Smoot), later the thirteenth general president of the Relief Society, is born in Ogden, Utah.

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

125 years ago today - Aug 19, 1888

[Abraham H. Cannon Journal] "Had quite a time with Junior (his son of Sarah), who refused to say "Â'Amen"Â' after I had asked the blessing. After whipping and scolding him for about 20 minutes, he yielded and obeyed.

[Source: Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]

170 years ago today - Aug 19, 1843. Saturday.

[William Clayton Journal] ... M[argaret] says D[iantha] Farr said to day she believed M[argaret] and I was vexed at her and she almost felt disposed almost to go to every house in the city and tell all she knew [about plural marriage] and then come home and kill herself. I felt my heart ac[h]e to night when we lay down being down stairs and M[argaret] up. My soul loves M[argaret] and my desire is to see her happy and comfortable. Oh may the Lord bless her.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

35 years ago today - 35 years ago - 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 Jun of this year."

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

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Aug 18, 1908; Tuesday

At this meeting the place of burial of Joseph & Hyrum Smith was discussed. Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith said they were first buried in the Nauvoo House or Mansion, I do not just know which not having been there, They were afterward at the instance of _________ moved to the old Smith Home/basement Lot. Afterward at the instance of Emma Smith they were moved to a grove some distance either up or down the river I forget the name of the grove & whether up or down the river. Hibbard grove. They were afterward moved back to the Smith Lot where there are others of the family buried. pres[ident]. Smith's mother was an eye witness to the burial moving of the bodies from the Smith Lot to the Hibbard grove mentioned which event took place in the night. Emma had told the Patriarch's wife that she intended to have it done

that night and the day previous told her it would not be done but about eleven o'clock that night the Patriarch's wife, Jos[eph]. F. Smith's mother felt impressed & following those impressions went to the spot and found them in the act of removing the bodies. The following day Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith then a boy went to the place and found the open graves of as I remember it Don Carlos Smith. A corner of the lid was broken in and he looked into the casket and saw the face and the worms crawling.

Some years ago when Jos[eph]. Smith [III] the Son of the Prophet and head of the Re-organite Church moved to Independence he wrote to John Smith the Eldest living Son of the Patriarch Hyrum stating his intention to move his father's bones to Independence [Missouri] and asking permission to move Hyrum's remains. John & Jos[eph]. F. [Smith] half brothers conferred to-gether and answered that if he Joseph wished to move his father they supposed he had a right to but that he was not to move the remains of their father but should he Joseph decide to move his father's remains they desired to be notified for the time that they might have a representative there and they would move the remains of their father Hyrum to Utah. Nothing more came of it.

At the time of Emma Smith's burial a certain man, I forget his name, said he saw Joseph slip off the distances to determine where the Prophet was buried and when they came to dig the grave they dug too close the Prophet's grave and uncovered a part of the casket. All this shows the buried to be at that place in Nauvoo [Illinois]. The purpose of Emma having the bodies of the Prophet and Patriarch moved from the Home lot to the grave and of deceiving the wife of the Patriarch was to keep the knowledge of the whereabouts of their burial from the Twelve.

[Source: George F. Richards, Diary]

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Aug 18, 1908; Tuesday

A letter was read from Mahonri M. Young, dated 27th ult., proposing to make a companion figure of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith for the same figure as the one made by him of the Prophet, $4500. delivered complete in bronze, to include certain alterations in the figure of the Prophet Joseph [Smith], said alterations to involve the remodeling of the figure of the Prophet at no additional expense to the Church.

After discussing the matter for some time, President Anthon H. Lund moved that a companion statue of Patriarch Hyrum Smith be made by Brother Young at the figure and on the conditions named by him. Motion seconded by Bro[ther]s. Clawson and John Henry Smith, and carried.

[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

115 years ago today - 115 years ago - Aug 18, 1898

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] In the evening I attended the exhibition of the Battle of Manilla. I never saw such fireworks in my life.

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

170 years ago today - 170 years ago - Aug 18, 1843. Friday.

[William Clayton Journal] President Joseph instructed S[amue]l James in the order of the Holy Priesthood [Plural Marriage] ...I had some conversation with Brother [Newel] Whitney and have learned that Farrs family are conspiring with Walkers boys and girls and they with E[mma] to accomplish my downfall. I find they are my secret enemies but I fear them not for God who knows the secrets of all hearts knows mine also. I told M[argaret] [his plural wife] of this and ascertained that she had acknowledged to A[aron] [her former fiance] that I had slept with her and if it never had been done (our union) it should not be. This of course has given him a plea and a weapon against me.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

180 years ago today - 180 years ago - Aug 18, 1833

D&C 98 raise standard of peace, not revenge. ... it is the will of the Lord that the Store shou[ld] be kept and that <not> one foot of <land> the perchased should <be> be given to the enimies of god or sold to them but if any is sold let it be sold to the chirch we cannot git the consent of the Lord that we shall give the ground to the enemies ... we wait the Comand of God to do whatever he plese and if <he> shall say go up to Zion and defend thy Brotheren by <the sword> we fly ...

[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

5 years ago today - 5 years ago - August 17

[Same-Sex Marriage] A somewhat mysterious and hard to decipher group called the Eagle Foundation joins the Prop 8 forces. It apparently is the evolution of the Eagle PAC which was formed to get Mormons financially involved in politics. One of the main players in Eagle, Bart Marcois, founded and chaired the RNC Advisory Council on LDS Outreach, and was responsible for massive volunteer surge team deployments nationwide in the 2004 and 2006 campaign cycles. He apparently used his talent for grass-root Mormon organizing for the Prop 8 campaign. The Prop 8 campaign reportedly paid Eagle $130,000 in October.

[Source: Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

155 years ago today - 155 years ago - Aug 17, 1858

[Wilford Woodruff] Federal troops enter Salt Lake Valley

[Source: Kenney, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah, http://bit.ly/wwjournal]

155 years ago today - 155 years ago - 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.

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

180 years ago today - 180 years ago - (Sat) Aug 17, 1833

The Chardon Spectator printed its "Mormonites" article, saying that "a great riot" had taken place at the Mormon "headquarters in Jackson county, Missouri...in which the inhabitants of that neighborhood attacked the Mormonites, endeavoring to make some of their leaders recant their faith -- refusing to do this, the people tarred and feathered them..." The Spectator reprinted part of the Missouri Republican's"Regulating the Mormonites" article of Aug 9th. The Spectator also said: "After their colony went to Missouri it was understood, they disagreed among themselves, and the society, without opposition, would have soon fallen to pieces, and resolved itself into the beggarly elements of which it was composed."

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

175 years ago today - Aug 17, 1838

It is stated in the Canton, Ohio, Repository, that this people to the number of about 200, with 57 waggons filled with furniture, cattle, &c. have left Geauga [county, Ohio], on their way to the "promised land" in Missouri. They pitch their tent in the open field at night after the manner of the ancient Israelites.

--

[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

120 years ago today - Aug 17, 1893

[Francis M. Lyman] Bro[ther] S. S. Jones came up from Provo [Utah] and came before Pres[ident] [George Q.]

Cannon and me and confessed to us the had committed adultery. I told Pres[ident] Cannon I had advised him to go before the high Council and make full confession and ask of them merciful treatment. Pres[ident] Cannon endorsed my advice as the very best that could be given. Pres[iden]ts [Wilford] Woodruff and [Joseph F.] Smith said the same. They felt very merciful towards him ... it was thought best to have their action quiet so he may not be thrown into the hand of the courts. ... I pled with them for mercy for him but it did not appear that they could do less than to excommunicate him.

[Source: Francis M. Lyman, Diary]

170 years ago today - Aug 17, 1843

[Joseph Smith Diary] Thursday, August 17th In office 10 1/2 A.M. Trial [of] a case against Margaret Butterfield vs Alexander Mill. Also commenced a suit [of] Nauvoo vs Joel Bullard. Adjourned to 4 P.M. After dinner tried a case Nauvoo vs John Frizzacharly. 4 P.M. finished trying Butterfield[']s case.

9 P.M. Issued out a capius[?] before Alderman Harris vs A. LaForest and he was brought to court room and left $5 to secure for use of room till morning. P[arley] P. Pratt and O[rson] Hyde started for Boston by Chicago.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

5 years ago today - 8/16/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] First weekend of precinct walking. ... ProtectMarriage coalition says 15,000 first weekend; second weekend 25,000 door-to-door walkers were out ... Aiming for 64,000 volunteers (about 40 per ZIP Code). Handouts include "Six Consequences if Prop 8 Fails"....

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

135 years ago today - Aug 16, 1878

Lightning strikes the tower of the St. George Temple (later the St. George Utah Temple) and damages it slightly.

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

170 years ago today - Aug 16, 1843. Wednesday.

[William Clayton Journal] ... This A.M. Joseph told me that since E[mma] came back from St. Louis she had resisted the P[riesthood] [[IE polygamy]] in toto and he had to tell her he would relinquish all for her sake. She said she would [have] given him E[liza] and E[mily] P[artridge], but he knew if he took them she would pitch on him and obtain a divorce and leave him. He however told me he should not relinquish anything. O God deliver thy servant from iniquity and bondage.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

175 years ago today - Aug 16, 1838

[Joseph Smith] Judge Morin and a sheriff come to arrest Joseph. He says he is always willing to submit to the laws of the land, but asks not to be tried in Daviess County because of his many enemies there. The sheriff decides not to serve the writ. Lyman Wight, however, defies the sheriff's authority, and when the story is published, state officials take immediate action against the Saints.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

25 years ago today - 1988 Mid-August

100 millionth endowment performed for the dead.

[Source: Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550]

180 years ago today - mid-Aug 1833

News of the Missouri Mormons being "regulated" by a "committee" in Jackson county spread among Kirtland area anti-Mormons. They discussed the pros and cons of this kind of action. Although the Ohioans did not elect to resort to the extreme illegalities and outrages perpetrated by the Jackson county "committee," they were no doubt impressed by the successful results of concerted group action against the congregating of large numbers of impoverished Mormons.

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

180 years ago today - mid-Aug 1833

Joseph Smith sent his secretary, Orson Hyde, from Kirtland to Jackson county to deliver messages and seek the assistance of the Governor of Missouri in maintaining the Mormons upon their property there.

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

5 years ago today - 8/14/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] ZIP Code Supervisor Jack Slade writes: "I (Jack Slade) have been asked by my bishop to be a zip code supervisor in my area to organize volunteers to identify voters in my area who are voting in favor of this proposition. I learned during training sessions that the LDS church is the only member of the Protect Marriage group that will be performing this initial door-to-door voter identification. It is a solemn duty that we have been called to perform." (https://island.byu.edu/content/protect-marriage-yes-ca-prop-8)

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

10 years ago today - Aug 14, 2003

Hildale police officer Rodney Holm, who was wed in a spiritual marriage to his wife's sister, is convicted of one count of bigamy and two counts of unlawful sex with a minor. He is sentenced to one year in jail.

[Source: Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy, http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/bustupinbountiful/timeline.html]

75 years ago today - Aug 14, 1938

First Deseret Industries store opens with its dual purposes of providing low-cost used items as well as employment for disabled and elderly persons. Orson H. Hewlett patterns this after Goodwill Industries.

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

5 years ago today - 8/13/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] The unsigned "Divine Institution of Marriage" document released via LDS Church newsroom. Several of its arguments opposing same-sex marriage reflect arguments espoused by Greener and others. The document suggests that domestic partnerships would be okay, a shift from the prior position stated in the 2006 LDS Public Affairs interview with Dallin Oaks and Lance Wickman . LDS bloggers noted the position shift: http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/08/13/what-about-domestic-partnerships/ and http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/11/10/civil-unions/ . After this and other LDS leadership statements noting the lack of opposition to civil unions, at least in some cases, Equality Utah developed and presented the "Common Ground Initiatives " in the hopes of finding legislative support for domestic partnerships in Utah.

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

5 years ago today - 8/13/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] Launch of official grassroots effort dedicated to supporting the campaign.

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

35 years ago today - Aug 13, 1978

BOISE IDAHO STATESMAN article: "BYU Clarifies Dress Code to Allow Women to Wear 'Female-Cut' jeans."

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

70 years ago today - Aug 13, 1943

Setting of the draft age at eighteen years of age for young men for military service brought about certain considerations on the age at which young men should be ordained elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. On the basis of individual worthiness young men might now be ordained elders at the age of eighteen. The former recommended age was nineteen years of age.

[Source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

170 years ago today - Aug 13, 1843

[Joseph Smith Diary] ...It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty....

Had I inspiration, Revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times /past/ there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.

Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God when all things with you are so uncertain. ...

The world is reserved unto burning in the last days. He shall send Elijah the prophet and he shall reveal the covenants of the fathers in relation to the children /originally written/ and the children and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers.

Four destroying angels holding power over the 4 quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. What is that seal? Shall I tell you? No.

Doctrine [of] Election Sealing /of the servants of God/ on the top of their heads tis not the cross as the Catholics would have it. Doctrine of Election to Abraham was in relation to the Lord. A man wishes to be embraced in the covenant of Abraham. A man [like] Judge Higby in world of spirits, is sealed unto the throne, and doctrine of Election [is] sealing the father and children together. [rest of page left blank]

To the mourner, do as the husband and the father would instruct you? [Then] You shall be reunited.

....

Mr. Bagby[, county tax collector out] of Carthage, who has exercised more despotic power over the inhabitants of this city than any despot of the Eastern country I met. He gave me some abusive language [and] took up a stone to throw at me. I siezed him by the throat to choke him off.

....Sidney Rigdon, I most solemnly proclaim the withdrawalof my fellowship from this man /on the condition that the Judgingbe true/ and let the Saints proclaim it abroad that hemay no longer be acknowledged as my counselor and that all who feel to sanction my proceedings and views will manifest it by uplifted hands. It was a unanimous vote that Sidney Rigdon be disfellow[shipp]ed and his license demanded.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

175 years ago today - Aug 13, 1838

[Wilford Woodruff Journal] We left the Islands, for the last time, at Br. Luces wharf, and I thank the Lord for once more delivering me from the hands of wicked and ungodly men who seek my destruction while their anger is kindled against me.

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

175 years ago today - Aug 13, 1838

Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith was chased by -"evil designing men-" on his journey back to Far West from the Grand River and upon arrival was informed of a writ for his arrest.

[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

100 years ago today - Aug 12, 1913; Tuesday

Forenoon was occupied in committee meeting of the Twelve called by President [Francis M.] Lyman, particularly to consult with the Presidency of the Nebo [Utah] stake relative to the activity of Bishop John H. Koyle, of Leland ward. Brother Koyle is the instigator of the excitement and agitation relating to his so-called "Dream Mine." It appears to me necessary that he be relieved of his bishopric.

[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary]

120 years ago today - Aug 12, 1893

[Francis M. Lyman] The financial embarrassment of the Church were laid before us by Pres[iden]ts [Wilford] Woodruff, [Joseph F.] Smith and [George Q.] Cannon. Will the Saints who are able come to the rescue of the Church credit by loaning money or security and by coming forward with their tithes and temple offerings? was the question. All present felt they would with all their ability. This was decided by unanimous vote. The straightened circumstances of the people were referred to. Very little talk was done. The Church will pay 10% per annum and give Trustee in Trust notes payable in one year. The prospect does not look very favorable as the Saints are just as pinched as the Church.

[Source: Francis M. Lyman, Diary]

170 years ago today - Aug 12, 1843

Polygamy was announced in the Nauvoo High Council, read by Hyrum Smith. No wording exists. This is supposedly what was read to Emma shortly thereafter. It was supposedly received on July 27, 1842. As a result, Austin A. Cowles resigned from the High Council. On Apr 27, 1845 Cowles is run out of the city of Nauvoo by the Whistling and Whittling Brigade.

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

170 years ago today - Before Aug 12, 1843

Lucy Walker Smith Kimball recalls Joseph Smith saying about her ailing sister, ["]I am under the greatest obligations to look to her welfare and have come to take her home with me, where I can look after her myself,["] instead of taking her into the house he told the boys to drive down to the Mississippi River, then took her in his arms and baptized her, then brought in Sister Emma, Noble woman that she was, helped change her clothing - and all that loving hearts and willing hands could do, was done but a few days only she lingered, then joined her dear mother in the spirit world and we were left more lonely than before."

[Source: Stapley, Jonathan and Wright, Kristine, '"They Shall Be Made Whole": A History of Baptism for Health,' Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008]

175 years ago today - Aug 12, 1838

[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 12 Sunday I met with the Saints at Br. Ephraim Luce & gave the Saints my farewell address which is the last time I shall meet with the Saints upon these Islands of the Sea; the spirit of God rested upon me and I had an interesting time. It was a day of decision with the saints. Some concluded to go to Zion & some concluded to stay. Justus Ames Concluded to stay because some of his Children were against him. I expect he will stay until! hes drove out by the Judgments of God.

After meeting was closed I went home with Br. Ames and while the Sun was sitting in the western horizon, I retired aside from the abodes of men by the sea shore alone by myself and clensed my feet with pure water and bore testimony before GOD against the inhabitants of those Islands of the Sea for rejecting my testimony while in their midst and were excedingly mad against me.

[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 - Aug 11, 1993

More than a hundred Latter-day Saint volunteers help at the Catholic World Youth Day during Pope John Paul II's visit to Denver, Colorado.

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

80 years ago today - Aug 11, 1933

[U.S. Religious History] Jerry Falwell was born. Falwell is a prominent leader in the American Religious Right and helped found the Moral Majority in 1979.

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

120 years ago today - Aug 11, 1893

[Wilford Woodruff to William H. Evans, Aug. 11, 1893] [I see] that your father died without having heard the gospel, and that your mother, in 1872, was sealed to him; and that in 1889, desiring the ordinance of adoption attended to, she wanted to be sealed over again, and that Pres[iden]t [Daniel H.] Wells said it could not be done, and advised that your mother be sealed to some good man, and her children adopted to him, etc. In regard to this I would say that I take it for granted that you fully appreciate the risk which a woman runs in being sealed to a man, who is dead, who had not received the gospel; and appreciating this I feel to allow your mother her own choice in the matter, but I see no reason whatever for a repetition of the sealing ordinance. In the event, however, of her allowing the sealing to remain uncancelled and you being adopted to your father I would advise that you, immediately after the adoption, have your father adopted to some good faithful man, dead or alive.

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

150 years ago today - Aug 11, 1863

[RLDS Church] On 11 August 1863 Brigham Young and about thirty other church leaders met with Briggs and McCord to discuss the situation. The Reorganization missionaries declared their purpose, condemned the organization that Young headed, and immediately set up a confrontational relationship. As a result, Young told them he would not allow them to preach in any building that the church controlled in Utah Territory, which was most of them, and suggested that Briggs and McCord leave Utah because they might not be safe. Young said that zealots might try to cause them harm and that he "would not be responsible for [their lives] on the streets for a single hour." Whether this was an honest expression of concern or a veiled threat matters little, for there were no incidents of physical violence during the missionaries' stay in Utah. With enmity clearly showing between the factions the meeting then broke up; but, as they left, the missionaries declared their intention to continuing their preaching.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/r/REORGANIZEDCHURCH.html]

170 years ago today - Aug 11, 1843. Friday.

[William Clayton Journal] Joseph told me to day that [William?] "Walker" had been speaking to him concerning my having taken M[argaret] away from A[aron] and intimated that I had done wrong. I told him to be quiet and say no more about it. He also told me Emma was considerably displeased with it but says he she will soon get over it. In the agony of mind which I have endured on this subject I said I was sorry I had done it, at which Joseph told me not to say so. I finally asked him if I had done wrong in what I had done. He answered no you have a right to get all you can.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

170 years ago today - Aug 11, 1843

Hyrum Smith is sealed [by Joseph Smith] to his first plural wife, Mercy Rachel Fielding Thompson. Later that month he is also sealed to Catharine Phillips and Lydia Dibble Granger.

[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]

75 years ago today - Aug 10, 1938

... In a further effort to provide opportunities for individuals to become self-sustaining, there has been organized in the Salt Lake Region of the Church Welfare Plan a project to be known as Deseret Industries.

This project may roughly be described as essentially a salvaging project in which useable materials ... are solicited from each home-owner in our communities within the Salt Lake Region. This organization will make periodic collections of these materials from homes within the Region, and employ (at a building located at 342 West Second South, Salt Lake City) men and women workers to sort, process, and repair the articles collected for sale and distribution among those who desire to obtain useable articles thus provided at a minimum cost. It is the intent that first consideration on this project will be given to brethren and sisters who might find it difficult to qualify for employment in private industry. ...

Sincerely yours, HEBER J. GRANT, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency. {1938-August 11-Original circular letter, L.D.S.}

[Source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

140 years ago today - Aug 10, 1873

[Brigham Young Sermon] The President then delineated the nature of what is sometimes denominated the '"one man power,'" showing that it originated in God, and when people obeyed the revelations of God as given through those delegated with authority from the almighty, it was the latter who was obeyed and not those so authorized to act for him. What is called the '"one man power'" was not confined to the Latter-day saints, but people endeavored to carry it out all over the world.

[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

150 years ago today - Aug 10, 1863

CHICAGO TIMES notes, in an article about the newly opened Chicago Museum: "There are the two mummies which in the hands of Joe Smith were made to give a revelation and still they bear the original tablets with the cabalistic or coptic characters thereon."

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

165 years ago today - Aug 10, 1848 (Thursday)

The Saints in G.S.L. City had a feast to celebrate the first harvest gathered in the Great Basin.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

175 years ago today - Aug 10, 1838

[Joseph Smith] William P. Peniston swears out a warrant to Judge Austin A. King against Joseph and Lyman Wight stating that they have an army of 500 armed men, and with a force of 120 have threatened the life of Justice Adam Black and forced him to sign the affidavit of August 8.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

80 years ago today - Aug 9, 1933

[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Lawrence Epperson called in regard to creating an organization to be called the Sons of the Pioneers. I told him I had neither endorsement nor criticism so far as I was concerned, that I thought we were getting more organizations than we had any need for.

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

150 years ago today - Aug 9, 1863

[Plains] John W. Woolley Company begins crossing plains

[Source: Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868, Chronological Company List, http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanylist-chronological/0,15765,3968-1,00.html]

165 years ago today - Aug 9, 1848 (Wednesday)

The G.S.L. City fort contained 450 buildings and 1,800 inhabitants. There were three saw mills and one temporary flouring mill running, and others in course of construction.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

170 years ago today - Aug 9, 1843

[Nauvoo Neighbor] - Story: "Is it true!" -- Editorial -- Describes the city of Nauvoo from the perspective of someone who is not a member of the church. He states that there are about 15,000 persons in Nauvoo, and about 1/3 of which are not members.

[Source: http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]

35 years ago today - Aug 8, 1978

TIME magazine reports a ninety-minute interview with President Spencer Kimball. The article reports that President Kimball's version of the process leading to the change [allowing Blacks to hold the priesthood] was much more "matter of fact" than the sensational speculations circulating in Salt Lake City: "I spent a good deal of time in the temple alone, praying for guidance, and there was a gradual and general development of the whole program, in connection with the Apostles." The article says that President Kimball "says flatly that Mormonism no longer holds to . . . a theory" that blacks had been denied the priesthood "because they somehow failed God during their pre-existence."

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

70 years ago today - Aug 8, 1943

[Joseph Fielding Smith] I attended the High Priests’ meeting in the Garden Park Ward and set them straight on some doctrine.

[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary]

75 years ago today - Aug 08, 1938

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. of the First Presidency delivers his influential address, "The Charted Course of the Church in Education," at a summer gathering of Church Educational System teachers at Aspen Grove in Provo Canyon.

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

170 years ago today - Aug 8, 1843

[Brigham Young] ... At the end of the discussion I was called upon to decide the question, and perceiving the feeling among the Saints, I told them I was reminded of the anecdote of the negro's attempt at shooting a squirrel. His master having occasion to be absent from home, charged him to be sure and not meddle with his guns and ammunition; but no sooner had the master got fairly out of the way, when the negro's curiosity prompted him to try one of the master's guns; he accordingly took one down which had been loaded for some time, and went into the woods. He soon saw a squirrel, and crept up a hill behind a log and fired, but the gun being heavily charged, it knocked the negro over, and he rolled down the hill.

Upon gaining his equilibrium and realizing his defeat, he looked up from the ground where he lay, and seeing the squirrel jumping from tree to tree as if conscious of victory, he cried,--"Well, well, cuffy, if you had been at the other end of the gun you would have known more about it." This excited laughter, in which all the company joined...

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

175 years ago today - Aug 8, 1838

[Joseph Smith] Joseph and the others meet with Adam Black, justice of the peace, and ask him to sign a letter stating that he had nothing to do with the mobs at Gallatin. Black later testifies that he was forced to sign the documents under threat of violence, and others state that Sidney Rigdon pulled a sword on Black.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

5 years ago today - Aug 7, 2008

[Media] The LDS Church launched its own YouTube channel “Mormon Messages” to share inspirational videos with the world.

[Source: The Mormon Channel: The Broadcast and Media History of the LDS Church Timeline, http://radio.lds.org/eng/about/media-timeline]

80 years ago today - Aug 7, 1933

Wesley P. Lloyd, later dean of BYU graduate school, writes in his journal of a three-and-a-half-hour conversation with his former Mission President B. H. Roberts: "The conversation then drifted to the Book of Mormon and this surprising story he related to me.... a Logan man by the name of Riter persuaded a scholarly friend who was a student in Washington to read thru and to criticize the Book of Mormon.... Riter sent the letter to Dr Talmage who studied it over and during a trip east ask Brother Roberts to make a careful investigation and study and to get an answer for the letter. "Roberts went to work and investigated it from every angle but could not answer it satisfactorily to himself. At his request Pres. Grant called a meeting of the Twelve Apostles and Bro. Roberts presented the matter, told them frankly that he was stumped and ask for their aide in the explanation. In answer, they merely one by one stood up and bore testimony to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. George Albert Smith in tears testified that his faith in the Book had not been shaken by the question.... No answer was available. Bro Roberts could not criticize them for not being able to answer it or to assist him, but said that in a Church which claimed continuous revelation, a crisis had arisen where revelation was necessary. After the meeting he wrote Pres. Grant expressing his disappointment at the failure... It was mentioned at the meeting by Bro Roberts that there were other Book of Mormon problems that needed special attention. "Richard R. Lyman spoke up and ask if they were things that would help our prestige and when Bro Roberts answered no, he said then why discuss them. This attitude was too much for the historically minded Roberts... "After this Bro Roberts made a special Book of Mormon study. Treated the problem systematically and historically and in a 400 type written page thesis set forth a revolutionary article on the origin of the Book of Mormon and sent it to Pres Grant. Its an article far too strong for the average Church member but for the intellectual group he considers it a contribution to assist in explaining Mormonism. "He swings to a psychological explanation of the Book of Mormon and shows that the plates were not objective but subjective with Joseph Smith, that his exceptional imagination qualified him psychologically for the experience which he had in presenting to the word the Book of Mormon and that the plates with the Urim and Thummim were not objective. "He explained certain literary difficulties in the Book... "These are some of the things which has made Bro Roberts shift his base on the Book of Mormon. Instead of regarding it as the strongest evidence we have of Church Divinity, he regards it as the one which needs the most bolstering."

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

100 years ago today - Aug 7, 1913

... A spot was selected by the President for the erection of the Temple [Cardston], and as take driven to mark the northwest corner of the building. After the afternoon meeting they went again to the temple grounds, accompanied by the congregation on which occasion the spot selected and the grounds were dedicated as the site on which the temple is to be erected. ... Letter read from Pres[iden]t. J. S. Page and Counselors, dated 4th inst., in answer to letters of the Presidency, dated April 22nd and July 19th, in regard to Bishop [John H.] Koyle and his connection with the Dream Mine. After considerable discussion it was decided, on the suggestion of President Smith that Pres[iden]t. Lyman take this matter in hand and see that the Stake Presidency were prompted to do their duty by way of releasing Bishop Koyle as Bishop of Leland Ward, this on account of his connection with the Dream Mine. ...

[Source: Journal History]

120 years ago today - Aug 7, 1893

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] ... Looking at things naturally I would say that it was a sure thing that the State Bank and the Zion's Saving Bank will have to fail also the firm of Cannon Grant & Co. I am free to say, however that I have great faith that we will all get through the present financial storm all right. I Can not give any reason for this feeling only that I have faith that the Lord does not wish failure to come to his servants who are engaged in business. I know that those in the firm of Cannon, Grant and Co. went into the business with a desire to assist if possible in building up the country, but they may have and no doubt bee too willing to run into debt for the purpose of making a dollar or so profit. I hope that our anxiety to make a dollar has not been so great that the Lord feels that it is necessary to punish us by a failure and I can't feel that He does.

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

120 years ago today - Monday, Aug 7, 1893

[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] I was in company most of today with the Presidency. Money matters are simply desperate. No person seems to know how to turn in order to meet their obligations. ...

[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]

150 years ago today - Aug 7, 1863

[R.L.D.S Church] Briggs and McCord arrived in Salt Lake City on 7 August 1863 after a thousand-mile trek by wagon. The men immediately set to work preaching in the streets of the city, calling on the Mormons to "Arise, shake off your sins; turn once again to the Lord and serve him with all your might and strength." But this did little to endear them to the church leaders in the city, and soon it provoked action to stop the missionary work.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/r/REORGANIZEDCHURCH.html]

170 years ago today - Aug 7, 1843

[Joseph Smith] The state elections are held. The Saints accept Joseph's word that, although he is voting for Walker, they should follow Hyrum's example and vote for Hoge. Hoge gets 2,000 Nauvoo votes and wins by only 700 statewide. It is thus the Nauvoo vote that elects Hoge, and the Saints as well as their enemies begin to realize that they can have enormous influence in state politics. Walker and the Whigs are, of course, furious with Joseph, having presumed that when he promised his own vote he would also deliver the whole Mormon vote. The Democrats also become suspicious of the Mormon strength in Illinois. Enemies outside Nauvoo begin to realize that something must be done about the Mormons.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

175 years ago today - Aug 7, 1838

[Missouri War] Joseph Smith leads one hundred fifty Danites to Diahman to protect the Saints. Mormons threaten judge Adam Black and others suspected of anti-Mormon activities. Reports of Mormon "invasion" spread through upper counties.

[Source: LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, Appendix: Chronology of Events in Missouri, 1838-1839]

25 years ago today - Aug 6, 1988

[Mark Hofmann] Salt Lake Tribune reports that Hofmann was plotting to have members of the Utah Board of Pardons killed.

[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,]

75 years ago today - Aug 6, 1938

First letter to First Presidency from Nigerian S. G. Bada, Baptist minister who for next year requests church publications and information. He is interested in Mormonism because in other Christian churches Nigerian polygamists "are not to be regarded as full members at all." First Presidency politely informs him of church's current ban on polygamy and sends him publications. When he announces he has resigned his pastorate and desires LDS baptism and ordination, First Presidency again sends him publications but does not inform him of church's refusal to ordain black Africans to priesthood.

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

130 years ago today - Monday, Aug 6, 1883

[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] ... I drank a glass of wine tonight for the purpose of finding what the people use.

[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]

170 years ago today - Aug 6, 1843

[Brigham Young Sermon] He said that a man or woman may ask of God, and get a witness and testimony from God concerning any work or messenger that is sent unto them; but if a person asks for a thing that does not concern him, such as governing the Church, as a member of the Church inquiring concerning the duty of a presiding Elder, what the prophet or the twelve ought to do, &c. he will not get an answer. If he does it will not be from God. He also remarked that if any in the Church had the fullness of the Melchisedec Priesthood, he did not know it. For any person to have fullness of that priesthood, he must be a king and priest. .... A person may be anointed king and priest long before he receives his kingdom.

[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)]

175 years ago today - Aug 6, 1838

[John D. Lee] Election day, 6 August 1838, provided Lee an opportunity to defend the rights of Mormon voters when Missourians who objected to Mormons voting started a riot. When one member of the secret order [Danites] made the sign of distress, eight others, including Lee, waded in with clubs and brought calm to the street. Organized marauders on both sides set loose looting and burning; Lee later admitted to looting. Governor Lilburn Boggs sent in the state militia with his "Extermination Order" to protect the public good. The Mormons, including Lee, left Missouri for Nauvoo, Illinois.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: John D. Lee, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/l/LEE%2CJOHN.html]

180 years ago today - (Tue) Aug 6, 1833

Joseph Smith claimed to receive a divine revelation instructing the Mormons to "renounce war and proclaim peace" and to allow their "enemies" to "smite" them as many as three times without their seeking revenge.

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

35 years ago today - Aug 5, 1978

UPI story about Sonia Johnson's appearance before U.S. Senate committee hearing on Equal Rights Amendment: "Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, clashed Friday with a woman of that faith who claimed a substantial number of female members are opposing the church's mandated opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. She questioned how Mormon leaders, in their official statement opposing the ERA, can talk about the 'exalted role of woman in our society' and yet follow policies in the church that push women into secondary positions. 'Where equality does not even pertain, the word 'exalted' is a mockery,' she said. 'One wonders if the leaders of the church would gladly exchange their sex and become so exalted.'"

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

60 years ago today - Aug 05, 1953

President David O. McKay breaks ground for the Swiss Temple (later the Bern Switzerland Temple), the first temple to be built on the European continent.

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

140 years ago today - Aug 5, 1873

African-American Samuel Chambers tells meeting of Salt Lake Stake deacon's quorum: "as I have been appointed a deacon I feel to fulfill my mission" On Dec. 8, 1874 he says that gospel "is not only to the Gentiles but also to the African, for I am of that race." Denied preisthood ordination by LDS presidents from 1852 to 1978, some LDS African-Americans in Utah are officially appointed as "acting deacon."

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

170 years ago today - Aug 5, 1843

Two days before the election and three weeks after Joseph's comments about Hyrum's taking over as prophet, Hyrum Smith announces to a large assembly that it was the will of God that the Saints should vote for the Democratic candidate. The next day, before the election, Joseph Smith preaches at the Sunday gathering and says, "Brother Hyrum tells me this morning that he has had a testimony to the effect that it would be better for the people to vote for Hoge; and I never knew Hyrum to say that he had a revelation and it failed. Let God speak and all men hold their peace." Joseph had promised his support to the Whig party but had changed his mind. The Mormon vote allowed Joseph Hoge to win a close race without Joseph, technically, breaking his promise.

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