20 years ago today - 10/31/1995

A letter from Loren C. Dunn to Neal A. Maxwell discusses the need for immediate fundraising ($500,000) to begin in Hawaii in order to address forthcoming same-sex marriage legislation.

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

30 years ago today - Oct 31, 1985

Mark Hofmann released from LDS Hospital [after accidently blowing himself up with a bomb]. Later in the day he is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun. He pleads innocent and posts $50,000 bail. A Daniel Boone letter (1775) is sold at a Sotheby's auction for $29,000. The letter was a Hofmann creation. Sotheby's later buys letter back.

[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,]

120 years ago today - Oct 31, 1895

[President Wilford Woodruff] 31 I met the Twelve in the Temple & Attended to what business we had. We still have trouble with Debts And the Political Elements are full of Darkness and lies. /<[---].>/ I never saw such a time in politics in this Church as to day. President Cannon has to Explain in a Card what He said at a Conference at Brigham City. F. M Lyman accused.

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

145 years ago today - Oct 31, 1870

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

170 years ago today - Oct 31, 1845. Friday.

[William Clayton] ...Evening met the Twelve and others at Elder Taylors for prayer. The subject of the United States endeavoring to prevent our removal West by taking out U.S. writs for the Council of Fifty was talked over and plans devised to defeat them in case they undertake to do it.

[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://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]

170 years ago today - Oct 31, 1845

Brigham Young records in his journal: "I received a letter from Charles A. Lovell, Mass., Oct 20th recommending us as a community to remove to California. Another from Thomas J. Farnhaus, New York, Oct 20th, on the same subject. Also one from Edward Warren, Boston, Oct 22nd portraying the Bay of San Francisco and country round as one well adapted for our location in the west."

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

170 years ago today - Oct 31, 1845

The Quorum of the Twelve were beginning negotiations for the sale of Church property in Nauvoo to "outside" interests. Judge Ralston of Quincy, Illinois, had suggested that the Quorum invite officials of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Nauvoo with a view of prospective purchase of the Mormon properties. The Roman Catholic Church did subsequently purchase some of the L.D.S. properties which aided the Mormons in their move West.

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

180 years ago today - (Sat) Oct 31, 1835

William Smith confronted his brother Joseph, accusing him of always carrying out his planned course, "whether right or wrong." William tried to justify his "treating the authority of the Presidency with contempt." He then resigned his eldership in the Church and made public exclamations against his brother Joseph.

[Source: LDS Church History Vol II, pp. 296-297; cf. Frost statement, in Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

185 years ago today - Oct 31, 1830

The first sermon on what would later be known as Mormonism was delivered in Ohio to a Sunday congregation at the Mentor Disciples of Christ church.

[Source: Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]

75 years ago today - Oct 30, 1940

[Heber J. Grant] Then President Clark ... said he had talked with some of the political men who believed if the Church were to sign as a body of the leading officials in favor of defeating Roosevelt it would do more harm than good in creating ill will, and maybe not get any more votes; so I suppose that temporarily at least I will abandon my pet desire to have the Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventies and the Presiding Bishopric publish a card that we hope and pray that Roosevelt will be defeated.

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

105 years ago today - Oct 30, 1910; Sunday

Cache [Utah] Confer[ence]. Large assembly. [Francis M.] Lyman preached on Bogus plural marriage.

[Source: Charles W. Penrose, Diary]

115 years ago today - Oct 30, 1900; Tuesday

Mr. Richard C. Evans and Mr. Peter Anderson, ministers of the "Reorganized" church [who did not believe Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, nor some Nauvoo doctrines] who are at present stationed in North-western Missouri, called and had a long interview with President [Lorenzo] Snow in regard to plural marriage and other doctrines of the Church. President Snow gave them his personal testimony of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith to himself on the subject of plural marriage. They expressed themselves as very well pleased with their visit while in the city.

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

130 years ago today - Oct 30, 1885

[Heber J. Grant] Bro Lyman and I had a long talk this afternoon regarding what a sad and terrible thing the affair with Bro Carrington [excommunicated member Twelve for adultry] was. We considered it especially unfortunate coming just at this time when our enemies were so hard at work enforcing the provisions of the Edmunds Law and so many of our brethren were suffering in penitentiaries for having kept God's commandments and entered into His law by marrying more than [one] wife.

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

135 years ago today - Oct 30, 1880 (Saturday)

Gordon S. Bills and another Elder were mobbed in Lawrence County, Ky.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

170 years ago today - Oct 30, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff in England] I recieved A Neighbor & N. York Messenger speaking of the mob in Hancock County Illinois against the Saints. Said that the gentile mob had burned about 105 of the buildings of the Saints And that the Saints had taken up arms against the mob according to the laws & commands of God & officers of the Land. Three or four of the mob had been killed, And the rest wer fleeing to Missouri & other counties of Illinois.

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

75 years ago today - Oct 29, 1940

[Nauvoo Temple] The purchase of three lots, making up the southern side of Lot 4 (southeast quarter), begun by Wilford C. Wood, but it took thirteen months for the titles to clear. The deeds for some of the buildings had as many as eleven signatures. One of the buildings had been built by the Icarians. Wood also turned this property over to the Church.

[Source: Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]

110 years ago today - Oct 29, 1905; Sunday

In 1905, the agitation of hireling priests and many misguided people was strong against the seating of Apostle Reed Smoot in the United States Senate. The hue and cry was that many individuals had entered Plural Marriage since the Manifesto, among others, Brother John W. Taylor and myself [i.e., Matthias F. Cowley]. It was therefore thought advisable for us to to [sic] resign our places in the Council of the Twelve. Before doing so, President B. H. Roberts had made a speech, I understand by the request of the Presidency, in which he said that unless individuals would shoulder the responsibility of these marriages, the Church had not a "foot of ground to stand on, and that they were guilty of duplicity and double dealing." We had meetings with the Twelve for about six days which the Presidency did not attend except a part of the first one. No minutes of the meetings were kept. In one of these meetings Elder [Charles W.] Penrose said, referring to Elder [John W.] Taylor and myself--these are very nearly his words, but I do not say verbatim--"These brethren are not on trial--they are not charged with disobedience and transgression, but we've all got in a box with the Government and something must be done to meet this fight, and if these brethren are willing to be humiliated they can be re-installed," whereupon Brother John Henry Smith threw up his hands and said, "yes, I'll vote for them with both hands." This was the spirit of the occasion--we had no arguments against our brethren. After the last meeting, which meetings were held in the Temple, Brother Penrose brought our resignations to us in the Temple all written, with no suggestion from us (although Brother Taylor desired to write his own). We signed them, and after doing so Brother Penrose said he had no idea that they would go into effect, and would not, unless matters came to the last ditch of necessity. This was in the fall of 1905, and at the April Conference of 1906, they were made public and became of effect. After this action, I have done very little preaching but have been faithful in the payment of my tithing and offereings [sic]. Have

spent about $7,000.00 supporting my sons and others in the mission field. Have been regular in attendance at my Sunday Schools, Sacrament Meetings, Priesthood meetings, etc. In temporal affairs I have been engaged in different lines. Have sold Church books, life insurance, and real estate. At present I am working for the County Assossor's office in collecting personal taxes. Have done some assessing, and acted under Sheriff Clifford Patten as Bailiff in the Courts of Judges Ephraim Hanson and Oscar W. McConkie. After resigning from the Council of the Twelve, President Jos[eph]. F. Smith, recognizing that Brother Taylor and myself had not been wilfully wrong, continued my allowance of $150.00 a month from the Church. This was a great help to me, and was kept up until President Smith passed into the Spirit World. His kindness and element of justice I shall never forget. God bless his memory! In saying this I do not with to cast any reflections upon President [Heber J.] Grant for stopping the allowance.7 I think it was the right thing for President Smith to keep it up. For aught I know it may have been just as right for President Grant to stop it. At any rate, I shall sustain and uphold President Grant in his administration as I did his predecessors, and I hope and pray that my wives and children will do the same. This is my counsel to them, now and forever, even so, Amen.

7Heber J. Grant recorded in his diary on January 20, 1919: "Ev[enin]g chat P[residen]t [Anthon H.] Lund & [Arthur] Winter. stop--[$]150 [Matthias F.] Cowley's wives."

[Source: "Family History Sketch of the History of Matthais Foss Cowley," ca. 1930, LDS Archives]

160 years ago today - Oct 29, 1855 (Monday)

The First Presidency of the Church, in the "Thirteenth General Epistle," proposed that the Saints, who emigrated by the P.E. Fund, should cross the plains with handcarts.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

170 years ago today - Oct 29, 1845, Wednesday

There is a rumor that Wm. Smith and others are trying to get up an influence with the president of the United States to prevent our going West and has already wrote to him on the subject, revealing the acts of the Council of Fifty &c and representing the council guilty of treason &c.

[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 - Oct 29, 1845

William Smith publishes a lengthy "Proclamation" in the Warsaw Gazette accusing Brigham Young of usurpation and painting a pitiable picture of Lucy's age and poverty.

[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]

170 years ago today - Oct 29, 1845

[William Smith] ". . . I heard Brigham Young say, on the stand, that he was glad that Alvine Hodge was killed, . . . And he said further that it was far better for Alvine Hodge to die, than to live any longer in sin, for that he might now possibly be redeemed in the eternal world. That his murderers had done even a deed of charity for that such a man deserved to die."

[Source: William Smith, Warsaw Signal, October 29, 1845, in Mormon Bookshelf: Blood Atonement, http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]

175 years ago today - Oct 29, 1840

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

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

180 years ago today - Oct 29, 1835

Joseph testifies before the high council in behalf of a brother who is accused of beating and whipping his daughter. In the second session, Joseph and his brother William, get into a furious argument over whether their mother should testify.

[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

50 years ago today - Oct 28, 1965

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

110 years ago today - Oct 28, 1905

[Apostle John W. Taylor] I hereby tender to you my resignation as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, as it is clear to me that I have been out of harmony with you in some very important matters which have apparently brought reproach upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I wish to state in the first place that I have not violated the laws of the United States nor of the State of Utah in relation to Polygamous or plural marriages. Also that the authorities of the Church have not directed or authorized me to do so or to do anything contrary to the rules of the Church as adopted by that body. But I find that I have been out of harmony with the said authorities as to the scope and meaning of the Manifesto issued by President Wilford Woodruff and adopted by the General Conference on Oct[ober]. 6 1890 and also as to the meaning of the last clause of the petition for amnesty to President Benjamin Harrison in Dec[ember]. 1891. I have always believed that the government of the United States had jurisdiction only within its own boundaries and that the term 'laws of the land' in the manifesto meant merely the laws of the United States. I find now that this opinion is different to that expressed by the church authorities who have declared that the prohibition against plural marriages extended to every place and to every part of the Church. It is doubtless true that this view of the matter has been given by President Woodruff and others, but I have never taken that an binding upon me of the Church, because it was never presented for adoption by 'Common Consent' as was the Manifesto itself and I have disputed its authority as a law or rule of the Church. I acknowledge that I received a request from President Joseph F. Smith by letter, to appear as a witness in the Reed Smoot case before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, but I declined to do so because, while I recognized his right to direct me in church affairs, I did not think his authority extended to civil affairs to the extent that I should expose my family concerns and be questioned and held up to public ignominy as some of my brethern were before that body, and I still hold the same views upon that matter. In as much as I have not been in harmony with my brethren in these subjects and I have been called in question concerning them, I now submit myself to their discipline and to save further controversy tender this my resignation and hope for such clemency in my case as they may deem right and just and merciful. Met with council. Important matters. Conclusion arrived at on two of the brethren.

[Source: John W. Taylor, Letter to the Council of Twelve Apostles, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

110 years ago today - Oct 28, 1905

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

165 years ago today - Oct 28, 1850

[Wilford Woodruff] I commenced this morning to sell some goods which I had on hand. The people crouded Hard around my waggon to buy sugar Coffee &c as they had not had a supply in the valley.

[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 - Oct 28, 1845. Tuesday.

...[Major] Warren stated that when he came in with his troops on Saturday he had writs against the Twelve for "treason" but he considered it unjust to serve them, he considered that if the Twelve were to be harassed with writs, this people could not get away in the spring ... It appears that the Lord has softened his heart in answer to our prayers for which we felt thankful.

[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://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]

170 years ago today - Oct 28, 1845

B.[righam] Y.[oung:] I am on hand to answer the ends of the law any time'[.] I am informed that Dr. Williams has made an oath about the 12 making bogus'[.] tthe Govr. of Iowa is going to make a demand to take us into Iowa territory'but I will not go there' ... Ill defy any man to say I ever broke any law'[.] I never will break any law'[.] I wont be taken to Jail by any kind of process alive'they must take me dead '...

[Source: Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

185 years ago today - Oct 28, 1830

Oliver Cowdery and Parley P. Pratt arrived in the Mentor, Geauga, OH and went directly to the home of Sidney Rigdon and stayed at his residence for a few days. Then Cowdery and Pratt went to Kirtland where they were well received by Rigdon's communal colony at the Morely farm.

[Source: Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]

75 years ago today - 75 years ago - Oct 27, 1940

[Heber J. Grant] ... He [J. Reuben Clark] read to me the editorial of the Salt Lake Tribune of a day or two ago, in which it referred to the Hitler hatred and the hatred in early days of Salt Lake City and intimated that they hoped that there was not going to be any recurrence of that. To my mind it was absolutely uncalled for. ...

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

95 years ago today - 95 years ago - Oct 27, 1920; Wednesday

Lamanite Gen[er]al Mtg. 2398 names. 1100 baptisms. 585 Endowed. 100 couple[s] sealed.

[Source: Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]

110 years ago today - 110 years ago - Oct 27, 1905

"Had a talk with Prest. Jos F Smith and expressed my views as to the necessity of a Republican victory which views he said were quite right."

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

125 years ago today - 125 years ago - Oct 27, 1890

27 Monday Conference Met at 10 oclok. ... We Closed the Conference with the shout of (Hosannah to God & the Lamb) which was a vary impressive & solemn.

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

135 years ago today - Oct 27, 1880

... Brother John Henry Smith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Authority of the Holy Priesthood And Apostleship confered upon us we lay our hands upon your head, and we ordain you an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and as A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And we seal upon you all the power And Authority to Administer in all the Ordinances of the House of God agreeable to this Office Even the Apostleship which is the Highest Authority Ever Confered and sealed upon the sons of men in the flesh.

And we pray God to Cloth you with the power of this Apostleship, with the power of God, That your mind may be open to Comprehend & understand your relationship to God, your relationship to your Brethren, your relationship to the Church and Kingdom of God, in relation to this world, and in relation to the responsibility which now rest upon you.

And we say unto you The Eyes of God & his Son Jesus Christ and of the Heavenly Hosts, and of Joseph Smith and the Apostles, and the Eyes of your Father who are behing the veil are upon you. And there is rejoicing in Heaven becaus you are one of the Sons of the Prophets & Apostles and have Come forth to take upon yourself the Holy Apostleship and we say unto you be humble before God and seek for the Holy spirit For you need this power to guide and direct you in this Apostleship. And inasmuch as you walk in faithfulness and humility before God and seek and obey the Council of your Brethren you will become a Mighty man in the Earth. And you shall stand in the flesh to behold the great work fullfilled and the promises of God Concerning the great last dispensation of the fulness of times.

We pray God to Cloth you with his Power, with the spirit and Power of the Holy Ghost and the Revelation of Jesus Christ which Belongs to the Apostleship which is your right to Claim which is your right to exercise, & which is your right to Enjoy. Lift up your voice as with the Sound of a trumpet long & loud as far as you have an opportunity in your day and declare the word of life & salvation unto the inhabitants of the Earth.

You are ordained unto this power. You hold the [Issu.sd?] of life & death as far as the salvation or Condemnation of the world is Concerned. You are Called to Stand in the defense of the truth and to bear your record of the Kingdom of God on the Earth and your Testimony will rise in judgment against the wicked in the day of Judgments in the day when all men will give an account of the deeds done in the body. Your words shall be a savior of life unto life to those who believe and obey, or of Death unto Death to those who reject your testimony.

Therefore we say unto you go forth in peace & the power of God to bear a record of the word of Everlasting life. And take upon you and feel in your spirit this Apostleship, and the blessings of God will attend your labors. We seal again your Evry Blessing, and evry Key and Endowment of the New and Everlasting Covenant Even the Blessing of Abraham Isaac & Jacob in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer Amen. ...

[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 - Oct 27, 1850

President Young spoke in the Bowery and urged the Saints to avoid becoming the slaves of merchants. -- SLC Bowery

[Source: Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002); CA, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

170 years ago today - Oct 27, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff] The Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles is out of press And we are now sending it to the clergy And circulating it whare we can. ...

I should judge from my feelings And intimations of the spirit of God that the endowment had comericed & that the Lord had commenced pouring out some special blessings upon the Saints in Nauvoo but time will determin whether this is the case. My soul has been much refeshed and edefyed of late in reading the Book of Mormon. The time has come for its sayings to be fulfilled.

[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 - Oct 27, 1840

Apostle Wilford Woodruff, as the officially appointed "Church Historian" recorded the following in his "Historian's Private Journal "Joseph Smith & Zina Huntington were sealed Oct. 27, 1840 by Dimick B. Huntington in Nauvoo"

[Source: Wilford Woodruff, "Historian's Private Journal" (one volume, 1858-78), entries after 1 July 1866, LDS Church History Library, in "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)]

180 years ago today - Oct 27, 1835

[Joseph Smith] In the morning I was called to visit at Br[other] Samuel Smith's. His wife was confined an[d] in a verry dangerous situation. Br[other] Carloss took one of my horses and went to Chardon after Doct[or] [Frederick G.] Williams. I went out into the field and bowed before the Lord and called upon him in mighty prayer in her behalf. The word of the Lord came unto me saying, "My Servant Frederick shall come and shall have wisdom given him to deal prudently and my handma[i]den shall be delivered of a living child and be spared." He [Frederick G. Williams] come in a bout one hour after that and in the course of about 2 hours she was delivered. Thus what God had manifested to me was fulfilled every whit.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

20 years ago today - Oct 26, 1995

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

165 years ago today - Oct 26, 1850 (Saturday)

At an adjourned meeting of the Seventies, held in the Bowery, G.S.L. City, it was resolved to build a hall, to be called "The Seventies' Hall of Science"; $5,200 worth of shares were subscribed for at once, each share being $25.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

180 years ago today - Oct 26, 1835

Joseph goes to court in Chardon to contest the case of his brother Samuel, who is accused of avoiding military duty. Joseph feels that they would have won the case if they had brought the necessary evidence, but Samuel is fined $20 and has to sell his cow. Joseph writes, "The money which they have thus unjustly taken shall be a testimony against them, and canker, and eat their flesh as fire."

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

185 years ago today - Oct 26, 1830

A writ against Hyrum for a debt owed to Alexander McIntyre is returned; the officer failed to find either Hyrum or any attachable property.

[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]

110 years ago today - Oct 25, 1905

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

125 years ago today - Oct 25, 1890

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

155 years ago today - Oct 25, 1860 (Morning)

[Brigham Young] Let the people make good improvements, and plant out nice orchards; and try to live here, and then you will have plenty to go back to Jackson County with. But if you pinch yourselves up and do nothing, you will be as poor as the Gentiles, and they will not have as much as a bob sled. May the Lord -- Pleasant Grove, Utah

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

180 years ago today - Oct 25, 1835

[Joseph Smith] The Lord pour[e]d out his spirit and some glorious things were spoken in the gift of toungs [tongues] and interp[r]eted concerning the redemption of Zion.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

190 years ago today - Oct 25, 1825

The Erie Canal officially opens, transforming social and economic relationships in Ohio's Western Reserve.

[Source: Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]

65 years ago today - 65 years ago - Oct 24, 1950

[George Albert Smith] After giving the matter consideration asked Arthur to tell my counselors, President Clark and President McKay, that it was quite all right with me for them to sign letters of the First Presidency with two signatures on most routine matters, saving only the more important and policy matters for the signature of three, thus husbanding my strength.

[Source: George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Oct 24, 1910

[Thomas A. Clawson] "Bro B.H. Roberts has again attacked Senator Reed Smoot through polaticks (Sic) and is a very bad thing for him."

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

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Monday, Oct 24, 1910

[John Henry Smith] Salt Lake City

The day was spent in the office. Politics is getting exceedingly hot all over the land.

The Prohibition one is burning fiercely here. My son George [Albert Smith] is gaining a little.

[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]

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Oct 24, 1910

[George Albert Smith] at Grays [sanitarium], "had a bad night am very nervous."

[Source: Journals of George Albert Smith]

115 years ago today - 115 years ago - Oct 24, 1900; Wednesday

The Historian, Anthon H. Lund met with the Presidency for the purpose of giving a title to the History of the Church now being prepared. It was agreed on motion of President George Q. Cannon that it should be called "The History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The history will be printed from the journals kept by the Prophet [Joseph Smith] and his clerks with notes and additions in the form of footnotes, it having been previously agreed to follow the account as recorded in the manuscripts on file in the archives of the Church, which will compose four or five volumes when published. President Cannon suggested that there be a preface written explaining that part of the work known as the "History of Joseph Smith," these being the personal writings of the Prophet or his dictations to his scribes or clerks. This was approved.

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

155 years ago today - 155 years ago - Oct 24, 1860

[Brigham Young] I had a couple of teeth extracted night before last, went out of door soon after and got cold. ... I would try to keep off the jaw and teeth with all my might to prevent my teeth from aching, and then talked some two hours to the people, as hard as I could preach, and, when I would get through, feel as though I would die during the following night. ... I have suffered more than to die a thousand times over. I have felt deaths iron grasp many and many a time, but I have so far over come the grim Messenger so far ...

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

20 years ago today - Oct 23, 1995

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that during a formal meeting with the Univesity of Utah's president, nine Utah legislators from Utah County (home of BYU) criticize coursework at the state campus. Utah County legislators (including several members of the appropriations committee for the University of Utah) complain about "topics being taught that are inconsistent with the beliefs of the predominant religion, particularly in the Graduate School of Social Wrok and the department of philosophy." these legislators (eight Republicans out of nine) also have "concerns about the Women's Resource Center."

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

50 years ago today - Oct 23, 1965

After their work at the Church's pavilion at the New York World's Fair, the First Presidency appoints Irene Edwards Staples as the official hostess of the Church.

90 years ago today - Oct 23, 1925

[Heber J. Grant] Brother Joseph J. Daynes called with a Brother Joseph L. Broadbent, and after questioning Brother Broadbent, I felt it would be a mistake for him to respond to a call to go on a mission. As near as I could judge he is more or less in sympathy with people who have entered into plural marriage since the declaration of President Smith that no more marriages should be allowed.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 23, 1895

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.] Dem. Con. adjourned having issued a long address to all good Dem. to resist affiliation of Church and state. There has been no interfering with politics by church authorities, but if some does not interfere with before long I shall be surprised. Bro[ther] [Apostle Moses] Thatcher & [Seventy B. H.] Roberts have declared their intention of standing by their party. I am sorry that they have taken this stand for they have thrown up their rights sacrificed their rights to the Priesthood having trampled their first duty under their feet.

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

130 years ago today - Oct 23, 1885

A letter from Brother Richard Bridge was read also a written statement made by Bro John W Taylor from statements made to him by Bro Bridge. This statement accused Apostle Albert Carrington of having committed adultery with his wife before and since her marriage. Sister Bridge was housekeeper at the church offices in Liverpool (42 Islington) at the time that Albert Carrington was presiding and she claims that he then seduced her and that he was the first man that had ever had intercourse with her.

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

180 years ago today - Oct 23, 1835

Joseph, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, Samuel H. Smith, Frederick G. Williams, and W. W. Phelps pray for relief from debt, deliverance of Zion without bloodshed, protection from the Missourians, and the means to buy inheritances in Zion to accomplish the Lord's work there, "all this easily and without perplexity and trouble; and finally, that in the end He would save us in His celestial kingdom."

[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

10 years ago today - 10/22/2005

First Ex-Mormon Foundation Conference held.

[Source: Standing for Something More: The Excommunication of Lyndon Lamborn: Appendix D, Modern True History Timeline of the LDS Church, by Lindon Lamborn, http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Something-More-Excommunication-ebook/dp/B004R1PYEK]

120 years ago today - Oct 22, 1895

[Brigham Young Jr.] ... I am sick of the extravagant sayings & doings of both [political] parties; let us be gentlemen & christians.

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

135 years ago today - Oct 22, 1880

Lucy Grant (Cannon), later the fourth general president of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association (predecessor to the Young Women organization), is born in Salt Lake City, Utah.

155 years ago today - Oct 22, 1860

President Young observed no man can speak as a Mormon Elder can, no man dared to do so. there was a power that whispered to him tell them of their meanness. -- Salt Lake City

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

170 years ago today - Oct 22, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff] I sent one letter to Elder Dan Jones containing the first copies of the Proclamation of the Twelve Apos-ties. I ordered Twenty thousand to be printed in English. The first Copy came to me to day which I immediately sent to Capt Dan Jones to be published in the welch language.

This is the proclamation to All the Kings of World & rulers & people of All nations. May the Lord make it a blessings to All nations. This Proclamation is made by the Twelve Apostles in fulfillment of the Revelations & Commandments of God. ... This is A warning to the whole gentile world that they may be left without excuse in the day of Gods Judgment upon the nations. I thank God that I am an instrument in his hands of printing & Circulating this important Proclamation through Britain & Europe.

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

115 years ago today - Oct 21, 1900

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

135 years ago today - Oct 21, 1880

[Wilford Woodruff] Br Henry Charles Fowler Baptized my Daughter Susan C Scholes in the font for the Renewal of her Covenants and her health.

[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 - Oct 21, 1860

Orson Hyde asked President [Brigham] Young if there would be any women in a terrestral Kingdom. President Young said I will say that man must be an heir to the Celestial Kingdom of God in order to have wives & increase in the Eternal world and in order to do this He may keep a Celestial Law.

[Source: Wilford Woodruff, Historian's Private Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

155 years ago today - Oct 21, 1860 (Morning)

Bro Brigham showed how we should return to Jackson Co Mo. The Lord would open up the way before us. ... Said also that the time would come when there would not be as much as a dog to wag his tongue in all the mountains of Ephraim. And they extended from East to West, from North to South, yea [the] whole length and breadth of this vast American Continent

[Source: Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980, 143, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

160 years ago today - Oct 21, 1855

[Wilford Woodruff] Some think that we have not as much faith as we used to have. I cannot believe this. I believe we are advanceing in the kingdom of God.

Some are much tryed because all are not healed that they lay hands upon but I do not feel so. I had a Case during Conference concerning the case of Sister Baris. She was sick & I laid Hands upon her & blessed her with life & helth & went to meeting. In an hour I had word that she was dead. It did not try me. The Lord saw fit to take her & all is right.

...Shall we be in these mountains when Christ Comes? No at least head quarters will not be here. It will have to be on more ground. It will be in Jackson Co Mo. We may leave some Millions here but the Head quarters will be on More ground....

How will it be with the Lamanites? They will be the most important actors in the scene. We shall be secondly in that work. They will be so delightful & have such great knowledge of Architecture that they will be able to build up a New Jerrusalem. Then we shall go out throughout all the land to gather all the remnant of Jacob the Lamanits to come to the New Jerrusalem. What For? Why that they may be prepared to be Caught up to meet Christ in the clouds of Heaven.

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

185 years ago today - Oct 21, 1830

Joseph translates Gen. 5:28-37, which becomes Moses 5:43-51. The translation of Genesis continues sporadically throughout the following three years.

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

25 years ago today - Oct 20, 1990

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

90 years ago today - Oct 20, 1925

[Heber J. Grant] This evening Brother Widtsoe read to Brother Ivins and myself some extracts from the sermons of Brigham Young. We made some suggestions as to eliminating certain parts from a book that is to be published of his sermons, for the Priesthood to study. We suggested that some parts be left out as they would create a great deal of discussion, in our judgement.

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

125 years ago today - Oct 20, 1890

I understand that Bro[ther] Solomona Piipiilani and Sister Maria Kamalo [Hawaiians] have gone to Logan to do some work for themselves and their dead. They are THE FIRST who have been privileged to receive their 2d An[oin]t[ing]s. And this will authorize you to allow Solomona and John Kamalo (deceased husband of Maria) to be adopted or sealed to Joseph [Smith] the Prophet if it reaches you in time, which I hope will be the case.

[Source: Joseph F. Smith to Marriner Wood Merrill, Oct. 20, 1890; emphasis in original, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

165 years ago today - Oct 20, 1850

[Wilford Woodruff] I spoke of my dream I dreamed of dying & going to the place of the departed spirits. I saw Brother Joseph & Hyram Smith & many of the Saints who had died. They all appeared to be in a Hurry. I thought Strange to find them in A Hurry And I enquired the Cause. They informed me that the time was set for Christ to Come as the great Bridegroom to the Earth to meet the Bride the Lambs wife & they had not had time to prepare as those of other dispensations & Had to be in a Hurry in order to get ready. And when I awoke I was overwhelmed with a peculiar sensation at the view of the work the Latter Day Saints Had to perform in order to prepair the Bride for to meet the Bridegroom.

[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 - 1840: 20 October

[Patriarchal Blessing] Howard Coray (Given by Hyrum Smith)

... You are of the Tribe of Caleb according to the manifestation of the Spirit; or a descendant of Caleb; and according to the blessings of thy lineage, are entitled to the blessings made to that Tribe ...

If you were sent to spy the land, you would not be afraid of the sons of Amos notwithstanding your infirmity; ... When you have power to heal, your enemies will say, heal yourself; and this is a word to strengthen your memory. You are entitled to the gift of prophecy; and shall have power to preach the Gospel of the kingdom unto many kindreds, nations and Tongues. For you shall have power to speak in a language which you know not... And in your day, shall the plates containing the Record of Mormon, and the Brass Plates, be brought into the bosom of the church; and also many other sacred records for the benefit of the Saints. ...

[Source: Howard Coray autobiography, LDS Archives, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

80 years ago today - Oct 19, 1935

[Heber J. Grant] In early years from the time I was made President of the Tooele Stake, when I had a complete breakdown and was a nervous wreck for six full months, and for 20 days after the nervous convulsion that caused me to be insensible all day long and could not lift myself up without assistance while lying in bed, I went to St. George to recuperate. I have gone to California time and time again to keep from breaking down completely because of insomnia. Thirty-two years ago I went to Europe, and I got a new lease of life and learned to take a nap in the day-time after my lunch, and today I am thankful beyond expression that I am in better health, can do mor work, feel better, sleep better than I did when I left for my mission. I have only had two serious attacks of insomnia since I returned from Europe. When I wake up not at 4 o'clock as I did yesterday morning and this morning, I try for a few minutes to go to sleep; failing, I sit up and talk to my dictaphone for two or three hours, then, I turnover and take a nap of an hour, sometimes of two hours.

[Source: Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mary Smith Ellsworth, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

105 years ago today - Oct 19, 1910; Wednesday

There are so many rumors afloat just now in relation to some of the brethren having been dealt with by the Apostles quorum for being guilty of having gone contrary to the instructions of the Authorities in taking plural wives since the declarations of the church that such must cease. I hope the time will come when we can proclaim that grand principle without fear from the courts and the

rabble who are in a position to cause the church so much trouble at present.

[Source: James D. Cummings, Diary]

170 years ago today - Oct 19, 1845

William Smith: Publicly excommunicated 19 Oct. 1845, offered reinstatement in Quorum 28 Oct. by Orson Hyde , declined offer 12 Nov. and called Brigham Young despot

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

180 years ago today - Oct 19, 1835

[Joseph Smith] Ex[h]ibited the records of antiquity [Egyptian Papyri] to a number who called to see them.

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

35 years ago today - Oct 18, 1980

A Church News article about the LDS institute of religion at university: "Kim R. Rogers was warmly received despite [his] long hair, liberal attitudes."

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

70 years ago today - Oct 18, 1945

Ranking LDS General Authorities adopted an ambitious program—the first large-scale humanitarian outreach in Mormon history—to initiate overseas shipments of desperately needed food and clothing [following WWII]. They assigned Elders John A. Widtsoe, the Church's only living Europe-born apostle, and Thomas E. McKay, former European Mission president, to "make contact with all European missions" and to find "ways and means to send food and clothing to those [Saints] in need."

[Source: Gary James Bergera, "Ezra Taft Benson's 1946 Mission to Europe" Journal of Mormon History 34:2 (Spring 2008)]

115 years ago today - Oct 18, 1900; Thursday

Brother Isaac Riddle, of Provo [Utah], in a communication to the Presidency, offered to donate $25,000. to a fund for the redemption of the center stake of Zion, this donation to be largely in real estate.

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

140 years ago today - Oct 18, 1875

Patriarchal Blessing of Horatio Morrill by John L. Smith ... thou are ... entitled to all he gifts blessings and promises pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant the Priesthood or fullness with wives and children a mighty host which will be stars in thy crown given thee of thy Saviour for thou shalt stand on Mount Zion with the 140 and four thousand Thy name recorded among the righteous. Thy guardian angel hath and will continue to watch thy feet that they slip not... At thy command mountains be removed springs break forth in dry places the dead raised, prison walls burst assunder [asunder], the captives set free. ...

[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]

175 years ago today - Oct 18, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] ... I felt the spirit of God bear testimony that there would be a work in London.

We retired to rest in good season & I felt well in my mind & slept untill 12 at night. I awoke & meditated upon the things of God untlll near 3 oclock & while forming a determination to warn the people in London & overcome the powers of Darkness by the assistance of God; A person appeared unto me which I considerd was the Prince of Darkness or the Devel. He made war with me & attempted to take my life. He caught me by the throat & choaked me nearly to death. He wounded me in my forehead. I also wounded him in a number of places in the head. As he was about to overcome me I prayed to the father in the name of Jesus for help. I then had power over him & he left me though much wounded.

3 personage dressed in white Came to me & prayed with me & I was immediately healed & delivered me from all my troubles.

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

50 years ago today - Oct 17, 1965

The New York World's Fair concludes. The Mormon Pavilion, with a 127-foot-high replica of the triple east towers of the Salt Lake Temple, was visited by millions during the fair.

125 years ago today - Oct 17, 1890

[Wilford Woodruff] I visited the Saltair works in the Afternoon. They had made 36,000 tons in 1890. They take out 500 tons a day. They have now 20,000 piled for shiping. It is the greatest salt works in the world.

[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 - Oct 17, 1890

[Abraham H. Cannon] Uncle David [Cannon] came in about noon and told me that he had just had a conversation with Lindsey Sprague, a deputy marshal, who told him that there were papers out for my arrest, but it was not the intention to serve them until my family were located and where they could be captured. I got Chas. H. Wilcken to investigate the matter for me and he learned that it was indeed a fact that a warrant was issued and in Doyle's hands for my arrest. I therefore kept in my room all the afternoon.

[Source: Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]

150 years ago today - Oct 17, 1865 (Tuesday)

[Seven women and men] were killed by Indians, under the chief Black Hawk, near Ephraim, Sanpete Co.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

185 years ago today - Oct 17, 1830

Oliver Cowdery signs a statement with an addendum signed by Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer Jr., and Ziba Peterson declaring their intention to preach as missionaries to Lamanites "to rear up a pillar as a witness where the Temple of God shall be built, in the glorious New-Jerusalem."

[Source: Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]

30 years ago today - Oct 16, 1985

Mark Hofmann injured by bomb in his car. Some speculate that the bomb was intended for Brent Ashworth or Christensen's attorney.

Police identify Hofmann as suspect in Christensen and Sheets murders, motive linked to dealing in fraudulent documents. Police with search warrant go through Hofmann's house, find a green high school letterman'sjacket, and, in a locked basement room, books and manuscripts and note cards containing words from the Book of Mormon.

[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,]

40 years ago today - Oct 16, 1975

BYU publishes a half-page newspaper advertisement, "Notification of Brigham Young University Policy of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sex," to counter protests that BYU gender discrimination. Two days later BYU places an advertisement in various newspapers that the university refuses to comply with six regulations of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare's Title IX regulations for non-discrimination on the basis of gender.

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

140 years ago today - Oct 16, 1875

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

175 years ago today - Oct 16, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] Sister Charlotte Turley was sick. I lade hands upon her & she was healed. I visited a Mr Parrott who was sick but he had an evil spirit in him that rejected the truth & I did not lay hands upon him.

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

30 years ago today - Oct 15, 1985

[Mark Hofmann] Steven Christensen and Kathleen Sheets killed by bombs. Police warn Ashworth that he may be on the same hit list. As the Ashworths hurriedly go into hiding, their son is involved in a tragic accident that proves fatal.

[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,]

45 years ago today - Oct 15, 1970

The Deseret News ceases advertising films rated "X" or "R."

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

145 years ago today - Oct 15, 1870

[Joseph F. Smith] Prest. Young [advised] the brethren to meditate on the subject [of Adam], pray about it and keep it to yourselves. -- Salt Lake City

[Source: Joseph F. Smith Journal, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

145 years ago today - Oct 15, 1870

[Wilford Woodruff] President Young asked me to speak upon the Character of Adam who he was. I proved that Adam was Michael the Archangel, the Seventh Angel, & the Ancient of Days, The Father of all, & the prince of All. I quoted the 7 Chapter of Daniel 9 to 14 verse, Doctrine & Covenants 79 page 28 Paragraph 106 Page 35 P. 201 P. 2d Paragraph. I was followed by G Q. Cannon, President Young & G. A Smith. ...

[School of the Prophets Minutes] Elder George Q. Cannon fully endorsed the doctrine that Father Adam was our God and Father....the above doctrine had been revealed to him, so that he knew it was true. -- Salt Lake City

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 6:576, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

175 years ago today - Oct 15, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] I arose refreshed by sleep but had a wait upon my mind, which has been upon me for many days the spirit of which manifests great trouble & persecutions of the Saints in general, throughout Europe & America & that many will fall away, that the U.S.A will rise against the church & that they will be driven from whare they are & that great trouble awaits the world universally.

I had a long conversation with Catherine the Prophetess upon these things while in Manchester. ...

I herd a letter read while in Manchester from Doctor Foster to O. Pratt which contained many important items. He speaks of some of the prophesies of Joseph concerning the building of the house of the Lord in Nauvoo many trials of the Saints perils among fals brethren &c.

... I had an interview with Sister Eliza Bromley during the afternoon, & she related to me the following vision which she had on the 8th inst:

Lane End Statfordshire Oct 8th 1840

At one oclock at noon there came a deep sleep upon me & I slept one hour. I was awoke with a hand touching me. I looked around me & saw one s a personage standing by the side of me clothed in linen. His face had the appearance of much meekness love & light. I said Oh. He Said fear not. He came & touched me with his hand. Then fear departed from me. I said doth the Lord love me so much? He said it is thy faith in the servents of the God of heaven. ... No weapon shall prosper against thee for thou art sealed up unto the Lord.

Think it not strange when you see many fall away & some of the Elders of this Church for the Scriptures must be fulfilled. ... If the Father gives a desire that will be the assurance of the gift, & as desire increases there will be the greater love to the servants of God. This is the mark the servants of God have to go by & is a mark Satan Cannot give.

... I said tell me sumthing els before you go. He smiled & said keep these from the world. I said must I not tell no one? He said thou wilt know by the spirit of God that is within thee who to tell. Thou hast asked for wisdom & it will be given thee. He turned around from me & a greater light overshadowed me & he disappeared.

Eliza Bromley

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

185 years ago today - Oct 15, 1830

The four missionaries arrive in Mentor, Ohio, and introduce the gospel to Sidney Rigdon. Within a week they preach in Mentor, Euclid, and Kirtland and baptize 17. Sidney Rigdon refuses to debate his former follower, Parley P. Pratt, but agrees to study the Book of Mormon alone, and after two weeks Rigdon also is converted.

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

55 years ago today - Oct 14, 1960

[First Presidency letter to Roy Disney] We have been most earnestly grateful for the use of this footage [a clip from "Fantasia"], and our need for it is urgent and will continue to be so into the future as far as we can foresee. For your information, this brief excerpt is used without identification in small restricted instruction classes, in which it introduces a discussion on the creation of the earth. The public is never invited to these classes; no publicity is ever given, and no admission charge is ever made. This most excellent footage has become inseparably a part of the brief introduction to this instruction in establishing a mood of reverence and awe for the Creator's work.

[Source: LDS First Presidency to Roy Disney, Oct. 14, 1960 , typed excerpt in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

80 years ago today - Oct 14, 1935

Canadians elect Church member John Horne Blackmore to the Canadian Parliament, making him the first Latter-day Saint to serve in that capacity.

120 years ago today - Oct 14, 1895

[Brigham Young Jr.] Politics has made many foolish brethren, they have lost their heads & are more foolish than the wicked gentiles. I fear for many who have been faithful men but are now blatant politicians [who] 'don't know a saints face from a gentiles backside.'

[Source: Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

125 years ago today - Oct 14, 1890

[Wilford Woodruff] We have decided to have the Bank loan the Hedrick[ite]s $20,000 in Jackson County Mo & take the Temple Block as security. They will build a Meeting House on the Block.

[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 - Oct 14, 1890

[Franklin D. Richards] Rec[eive]d letter from Bro[ther]. Jos[eph]. Leairy, London [England] asking counsel of the recent action at home in relation to polygamy [IE the Manifesto], All the elders there were dumbfounded and could not satisfy the saints nor stand against sinners.

[Source: Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

155 years ago today - Oct 14, 1860

[Brigham Young] Many of the sisters grieve because they are not blessed with offspring. You will see the time when you will have millions of children around you. If you are faithful to your covenants, you will become mothers of nations. You will become Eves to earths like this; and when you have assisted in peopling one earth there are millions of earths still in the course of creation.

[Source: J. D. 8:208, in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]

160 years ago today - Oct 14, 1855 (Council Meeting)

[Brigham Young] I can tell you the Lord has a hand in it. (The war between the Indians and Whites). I will prophesy the Indians will overcome the whites but the whites will continue to progress, until the Indians turn unto the Lord. I would rather have 1000 Latter-day Saint warriors trained to the Lord, than all the Indians, as they now are. -- Evening.

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

160 years ago today - Oct 14, 1855

[Wilford Woodruff] I attended prayer meeting at a Circle & herd President Young Prophesy that the Lamanites would not Conquer their Enemies nor get much Advantage over them in ther battles but they would continue to be destroyed & distressed untill they sought unto the Lord & his servants for assistance & Embraced the Gospel & became a righteous people. Then they will begin to prosper & not before.

[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 - Oct 14, 1845

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

[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]

30 years ago today - Oct 13, 1985

Mark Hofmann tries to sell papyrus (supposedly Facsimile 2), for $100,000. By now Hofmann's debts are at least $1,300,000.

[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,]

35 years ago today - Oct 13, 1980

The "Anthon Transcript" is sold by Mark Hofmann to the LDS church. In exchange the Church gives him a five dollar Mormon gold coin minted in 1850, a first edition of the Book of Mormon, and several examples of pioneer Mormon Currency. Total value: $20,000.

[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,]

100 years ago today - Oct 13, 1915

[James E. Talmage] At a conference today attended by the First Presidency, Brother Horace G. Whitney, Business Manager of the Deseret News, and myself, Brother Whitney explained the need of an early beginning on a second edition of the book 'Jesus the Christ'. This day marks the end of the first month since the book was placed on sale and according to Brother Whitney's written report over half the edition has already been sold. As the book is to be used in the Advanced Theology classes in the Sunday Schools beginning January next, and as it has also been adopted in the quorum classes of the Melchizedek priesthood, it appears that a second edition must be issued before the beginning of the coming year. The decision was reached today that plans for the second edition be proceeded with immediately.

[Source: James E. Talmage Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

115 years ago today - Saturday, Oct 13, 1900

[Rudger Clawson] In the afternoon I assisted Pres. J. F. Smith in ordaining Elder Squire Coop an elder and in setting him apart and blessing [him] for a musical mission to Europe—namely, to pursue the study of music.

[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

120 years ago today - Oct 13, 1895

[Wilford Woodruff] 13 Sunday There is a terrible Stir to day through Utah over the Meeting Held in the Tabernacle Assembly Hall on Oct 7. The Democrats are trying to break up the State Government over [it].

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

120 years ago today - Sunday, Oct 13, 1895

We returned home in the evening to find that Prest. Jos. F. Smith's speach at the Priesthood meeting had thrown the Democracy into Confusion.

[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]

155 years ago today - Oct 13, 1860

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

170 years ago today - Oct 13, 1845

A non-Mormon in Auga, Illinois writes his brother: "there are hundreds of good farms, that the Mormons would sell cheap, go in the Spring they must. They talk of going over the rocky mountains, but I dont believe it. But wherever the wretches can go, I dont know. They have no right to go or stay any where, on earth. They are not fit to be among men!"

[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]

175 years ago today - Oct 13, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] I conversed much with Catherine the Prophetess.

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

35 years ago today - 35 years ago - Oct 12, 1980

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

40 years ago today - 40 years ago - Oct 12, 1975

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Oct 12, 1910; Wednesday

[Joseph W. Summerhays speaking:] ... I take the stand that you have no right to excommunicate me from the Church for the reasons which I will state further. ... I am at liberty now to say some things which I was not at liberty to say before. In the year 1905, after President [Joseph F.] Smith had issued his statement on plural marriages in 1904, he took a party to Mexico, the occasion being the dedication of the Juarez Academy. Among the party were President Smith and wife, his son Joseph F[ielding]. Jr., and myself. ... President Smith called me to him and took me up into one of the upper rooms in President Ivins' home and he told me this man whom he had met in the garden was married, but had no children and had made all arrangements before the President's declaration to marry a girl and he said I don't know how this can be done, but if you know how it can be done you have it done; you say that it can be done. I spoke to President Ivins about it and he said that he had been told by President Smith on a previous occasion that unless a bigger man than he came along that he was not to marry any one unless so instructed by this bigger man. I asked President Ivins to let me see his ceremony and he did I have had invitations from twenty or more people to go and officiate and in every instance I have told them no as I had no authority. My conscience is free before God and I had the authority and if told to do it tomorrow I would do it. That is one reason why I think you cannot cut me off the Church. ... I went to President Ivins and said President Smith wants Brother Sears married, and then is when he made the remark that he had instructions that unless a great man came he was not to perform any marriages.... President Smith has said further on several occasions that he didn't want to know anything about this. ...

Summerhays: In February of 1898, President Smith who was then counselor to President [Wilford] Woodruff, Brother Spence and others were in New York, and I asked for an interview with him. I told him some of the brethren were getting wives and I asked him if it would be alright if I took one. He said it would under certain conditions. But my marriage did not take place for five years afterwards on the 25th of September 1903. ... [Not excommunicated].

[Source: Excerpt from the Minutes of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]

110 years ago today - 110 years ago - Oct 12, 1905

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

135 years ago today - 135 years ago - Tuesday, Oct 12, 1880

City Hall, Salt Lake City

[Orson Pratt:] In the Church we take the Law of God & his Priesthood as the Constitution of his Church-here in this Council [of Fifty] we have a living constitution not a written one-which we must conform to.

[Source: L. John Nuttall minutes, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]

170 years ago today - Oct 12, 1845

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

[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 - Oct 12, 1845

[Brigham Young] [On moving west] We calculate to go three months journey into the wilderness - let every man learn to hold his tongue and I will say to you there are a great many good places not yet settled by whites - and large enough as England, France, etc. - There are many countries not yet explored - excellent islands well watered, good mill privileges - some say Vancouver Island is very fruitful, and would make an excellent beginning for a kingdom when we get ready to start we can say, we are from ev- ery place but this and we will soon be from this. but where we go we know not - Vancouver Island is perfectly healthy - plastered - outside - and if we should float down stream - we shall like to see them look well. -- Nauvoo, Illinois

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

30 years ago today - Oct 11, 1985

Mark Hofmann offers to sell President Hinckley a Kinderhook plate and Joseph's translation of it. The offer is declined.

[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,]

175 years ago today - Oct 11, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] ... We took tea with Sister Katherine Betes the Prophetess....

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

180 years ago today - Oct 11, 1835

Sunday, 11th Visited my Father /again/ who was verry sick./ In secret prayer in the morning the Lord said, "My servant thy Father shall live." ...

At Evening Bro[ther] David Whitmer came in. We called on the Lord in mighty prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, laid our hands on him [Joseph Smith, Sr.], and rebuked the diseas[e]. God heard and answered our prayers to the great Joy and satisfaction of our souls. Our aged Father arose and dressed himself, shouted, and praised the Lord. ...

[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

The WAYNE SENTINEL, published in Palmyra New York, prints an article stating: Those

[Source: 18251011]

125 years ago today - Oct 10, 1890

[Within days of the Manifesto being presented in General Conference, Apostle] John W. Taylor marries 3rd wife

[Source: Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]

Oct 10, 1880

Oct 10 1880 Sunday This is a great day to Israel. ... The various Quorums of the Priesthood were seated in the following Order: The first Presidency in the upper Seat The Twelve Apostles in the 2d seat. On the South of the Stand the Patriarchs & Presidets of the Stakes & their Councillors and the High Councils. On the North of the Stand the Bishops and their Councillors, Presiding Bishop Hunter & his Councellors in front of them. The High Priest on the North Benches of the house. The Quorum Presidets in the front. The Elders immediately Behing the High Priest. The Seventies on the Benches of the South side of the House And the Quorum Presidets in the front. The Lesser Priesthood in the North side of the House.

Conference Called to order By Presidet John Taylor. Prayer By Albert Carrington. This is the third time the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have been Called upon to organize a first Presidency of the Church. First the Prophet Joseph Smith & Councillors. Seconed when President Brigham Young & Councillors were Appointed. Third when President John Taylor & Councillors are now Presented to the Assembly.

Elder Orson Pratt then Presented the following Authorities of the Church to the Conference all of which were unanimously sustained without a dissenting vote By Each Quorum of the Priesthood rising in their order with uplifted hands to heaven.... After which George Q Cannon said I hold in my hand the Doctrins & Covenants and I present them to the Conference to see if the people will vote for them. He had also the Pearl of Great Price in Connexion with the Covenants and all the Conference voted to sustain the Revelations Contained therein.

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

135 years ago today - Oct 10, 1880

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

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

135 years ago today - Oct 10, 1880

John Taylor: Sustained Trustee-in-Trust and president of church 10 Oct. 1880 without setting apart or ordination

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

140 years ago today - Oct 10, 1875 (Afternoon, Conference)

[Brigham Young] When the earth was framed, made, and brought forth and man placed in the Garden of Eden, the earth was placed at his disposal, and man, not woman, is the King, lord and governor of the earth; and if men, since the fall, had done right, had kept the commandments of God, women would have been willing to go with them and be Saints; and at the present time there are thousands and millions of females who will receive the gospel whose husbands, fathers, and brothers will reject it, and it crowds the necessity of taking more wives than one upon the elders of Israel; for if they were not to do so a great many women never could attain to the same exaltation hereafter they would not have the glory of propagating their species and filling worlds and being associated with the Gods. But to prevent them being thus cut off hereafter, the Elders of Israel, who are obedient to the priesthood, are under the necessity of taking those that present themselves and who wish to be sealed to men. Now, O ye inhabitants of the earth, repent of your sins, become sons of God by adoption, by entering the Kingdom of God upon the earth, keep his commandments, glorify his name, sanctify yourselves before the Lord, and every one of you take a wife to save us this care and share with us in this blessing....

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

170 years ago today - Oct 10, 1845

[Hosea Stout] ... selected a Temple guard out of Hunter company & regulated the Commissary department. While there recieved orders from the Lieutenant General by A. P. Rockwood to have the Second Cohort ready to be called out at a moments warning – for them not to be far from home and to rally as usual at the hoisting of the flag at the Temple, for them not to give up their gains to our enemies but first to Shoot....

[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]

185 years ago today - Oct 10, 1830

Sunday, Samuel Smith is able to visit Joseph Sr. in prison but cannot effect his release to the jail yard.

[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]

190 years ago today - 10-Oct 24, 1825

The Smith family meets Josiah Stowell, who hires Joseph Jr. to locate a lost Spanish mine in Harmony (PA) with seer stone.

[Source: Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]

110 years ago today - Oct 9, 1905

The President instructed Patriarchs about keeping with the legitimate line of blessing when giving patriarchal blessings. For instance, some patriarchs had told people they should live in the flesh and never taste of death. It was very questionable, he said, that the Lord revealed such things to them to make known to individuals receiving blessing under their hands, they should not make such promises. This should be understood: that whatever promises are made which do not come to pass are made by the patriarch and not by the Lord through the patriarch. The President thought it would be very proper for the Presiding Patriarch to visit stakes and review the blessings given by local patriarchs, and where necessary, to correct extravagances of every kind. The President also said the Lord had not revealed to him when He is coming to earth; but He has commanded all to be ready when He shall come, and all who are ready will be worthy when he does come. ... By unanimous vote it was decided that the present condition under which waltzing is not permitted in our social parties continue in force. ...

[Source: Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

130 years ago today - Oct 9, 1885

[J.D.T. McAllister Diary] Erotic revelations of Herman Fascher Conference. Apostle Erastus Snow addressed us ... and referred to the pretended and exotic Revelations of Herman Fascher.

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

135 years ago today - Oct 9, 1880

[Joseph F. Smith] ... The rest of the time was used in discussing the propriety of organizing the First Presidency. The council are not unanimous. Did not conclude. ... The Twelve met at 6 p.m. in the Endowment House when the motion of C[harles]. C. Rich and seconded by O[rson]. Pratt that we organize the council of the First Presidency was put and carried. Then on motion of W[ilford]. Woodruff, John Taylor was chosen president. He then chose G[eorge]. Q. Cannon and J[oseph]. F. S[mith]. as counsellors.

[Source: Joseph F. Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

135 years ago today - Oct 9, 1880

... The Apostle then met in Council at 6 oclok and Decided to Organize the first Presidency of the Church. Wilford Woodruff Nominated John Taylor to be the Presidet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it was Carried unanimously. Presidet John Taylor then Chose George Q Cannon as his first Councillor and Joseph F Smith as his second Councillor. It was then Moved seconded & Carried Unanimously that Wilford Woodruff Should be the Presidet of the Twelve Apostles.

We then Met in the Assembly Hall with the Priesthood Meeting and at the Meeting after documents were read upon the priesthood Presidet John Taylor was then Presented before the Priesthood Meeting as the Presidet of the Church and his two Councillors And Wilford Woodruff as the Presidet of the Twelve Apostles and Receivd the unanimous vote of all the Priesthood Assembled upon the occasion.

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

140 years ago today - Oct 9, 1875

Last evening the 12 met at Presidet Youngs and after Discussing the Subjet of the Presidency & Twelve voted to drop John Smith from the Patriarchal Office & put in his place Joseph F Smith but during the day John & Joseph F Smith had Seen Presidet Brigham and pled vary hard to try John another six month to see if he would magnify his calling any better than he had done in the past....

John Taylor offered up the dedication prayer which was printed in the Deseret News and Herald. The Tabernacle was then Dedicated. It took 40 Minuts to read it. ...

W. Woodruff said I feel to bear my testimony to what the Apostles have said to you. I have had vary peculiar feelings for the last 3 months of my life. I view in the vision of my mind Forty thousand men in these mountains bearing the Holy and Everlasting Priesthood of the Son of God and these men were fore ordained before the world was Created to Come here on the Earth in this dispensation on purpose to labor with the Lord to build up his kingdom on the Earth. And then I view in the vision of my mind forty Million Devels, fallen spirits gathered to gether to make war against these forty thousand priest of the Lord and strive to hender their building up the kingdom of God.

...I will also say we have many Bishops & Elders who have but one wife who are abundantly able to support more but their wives will not let them do it. Any man who will permit a woman to lead him and bind him down is of but little account in the Church & kingdom of God..

[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 - Oct 9, 1865

President B. Young spoke of the calling and ordination of the Twelve Apostles. They were called by revelation, through the Prophet Joseph, and Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris officiated in the ordination in the beginning of 1835. He referred to the washing of feet, in the solemn assembly held in the Temple of Kirtland that was called together by the Prophet. Gave instructions on the principle of adoption, teaching that a man by being adopted, to connect the chain of the Holy Priesthood, loses nothing which he has; and treated on the continued growth and increase in capacity to receive and enjoy given blessings, and of the continued blessings bestowed upon those who live according to the principles of the holy gospel. -- SLC Bowery

[Source: Deseret News, in 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 - Oct 9, 1865

THE SPIRIT

* * *

O may the Saints be perfect

As God our Father was,

When he got back to Eden,

By her celestial laws. ...

He [Elder Richards] dwelt at length on some of the principles of theology, showing that duties of a temporal nature were the first that were enjoined upon our first parents when they were placed in the garden of Eden;. . .

[Source: Conference Report, October 1865, Semi-Annual General Conference; Monday, October 9th, 1865, 10 a.m. [See also Millennial Star XXVII, pp. 770-771; Deseret News XV, 5 (October 12, 1865); "Journal History", 9 October 1865; and "Documentary History", p. 924-- in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]

150 years ago today - Oct 9, 1865

[Brigham Young] I am addressing myself to the ladies of the kingdom of God, to those who know how to keep their houses, furniture and beds pure and clean, who can cook food for their husbands and children in a way that it will be clean, tasteful and wholesome. The woman that can do this I call a lady. In this view I differ from the world generally; for the lady of the world is not supposed to know anything about what is going on in the kitchen; her highest ambition is to be sure and be in the fashion, at no matter what cost to her husband or father; she considers that she may as well be out of the world as out of the fashion...

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

155 years ago today - Oct 9, 1860

W. W. Phelps came in, and made a statement about the revelation which says the Southern States shall be divided against the north, he said after this revelation was given it was locked up in a desk and the key got lost. Joseph said it was the will of the Lord. Joseph prayed and afterwards ascertained from the Lord that he did not want it published just then; the Pres[ident] remarked he was glad he did not call him to the stand. -- Salt Lake City

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

175 years ago today - 1840: 9 October

[Patriarchal Blessing] Wilford Woodruff

"... thou shall be instrumental of Thousands being brought to the knowledge of the truth ..."

[Source: Ms d 7074, LDS Archives, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

55 years ago today - Oct 8, 1960

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

[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

105 years ago today - Oct 8, 1910; Saturday

Certain apostles seeming to be perfectly conscien[t]ious in their position, by authority of their priesthood solemnized such marriages. Subsequently after death of Pres[ident]. Woodruff & Pres[ident]. [Lorenzo] Snow, Pres[ident]. Smith endorsed manifesto and endeavored to make it plain that the church isnot sanctioning further plural marriages. But some men holding the Melchisedick priesthood and claiming to thus have the right to marry still has performed such marriages persumably taking licence from what had been done by certain apostles. There has been a kind of secret company of brethren mosto f whom good men in other respects have either willfuly or innocently said that they First Presidency are in sympathy with these plural marriages but it must not be known as the government forbids such. ...

[Source: William H. Smart, Diary]

105 years ago today - Oct 8, 1910; Saturday

President [Joseph F.] Smith made clear his attitude on the question. He said, "There is not a man in all Israel who is authorized to perform plural marriages. If any man shall say there is tell him he lies. The Lord has revealed that there is but one man at a time who has that authority. Any man who assumes that authority is a falsifyer and trying to injure me and the church and should you knock such an one down I shall not feel badly about it. Now is this clear? Do you see any loophole? If so tell me. If there is any way to make it plainer I wish you would tell me how to do it.["]

[Source: George F. Richards, Diary]

110 years ago today - Oct 8, 1905

Saml. W. Richards saidhe was intimate with the prophet Jos. In the winter of 1843-44 a messenger came and asked me if I would be one of the party to go and explore the Rocky Mountains with 23 other men to find a place where the Church could be established. He related a vision in which he saw the vallies of the Mountains, California & Northern Mexico, & then the building of a temple at Jackson Co. & the earth redeemed and filled with towns & villages & producing all that was necessary for sustenance of men. -

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

115 years ago today - Monday, Oct 8, 1900

L. S[now]. He said ... When Jesus came to the earth, he was a God without knowing it—he did not comprehend his

former greatness, neither did we comprehend ours. We are scarcely out of our infancy. We ought to be up and doing, and when people come for counsel, be prepared to give it to them.

... We are giving the brethren their second anointings, and anyone who receives them, I should think, would never apostatize. ... Presidents of stakes and bishops of wards should be very careful in recommending people for their second anointings. They should be sure, so far as it is possible to be sure, that they will not afterwards apostatize. Do not recommend those who are not worthy.

As to some presidents of stakes who have not received their second anointings, he said, if they were worthy to be presidents of stakes, they were worthy of this blessing and could have it upon application.

...J. W. T[aylor]. Warned the authorities against hastily cutting people off the church. We should seek rather to convert than to cut off.

[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

115 years ago today - Monday, Oct 8, 1900

Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon said the Saints must guard against extreme partisanship in politics.

[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]