80 years ago today - Jun 15, 1935

[David O. McKay] During the last year particularly we have been more deeply impressed than ever with the need of Stake and Ward officers exercising more care and of giving deeper personal inquiry into the lives of those who are promoted in the Priesthood and to those who are recommended to go through the temple. That there is too much moral laxity in the Church today, as in the world generally, is apparent to anyone who will give the least thought to the matter. Unfortunately we have some psychologists in our leading institutions of learning and some teachers in our high schools who by their unwise instructions and sometimes by innuendoes and sneers lend encouragement to wilful youth to disregard the tried and proved laws of chastity and virtue.

There are three things which we can do'(1) raise the standard of parental instruction, and try to improve home conditions; (2) encourage more chaperonage of youth; (3) choose more competent Ward Teachers whose duty it is to 'watch over the Church always and to see that no iniquity exists.' &c.

[Source: David O. McKay, Letter to Joseph F. Merrill, 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]

120 years ago today - Saturday, Jun 15, 1895

[Franklin D. Richards] At 7 am Sister Zina DH Young called and with Jane Emily & FSR spent about an hour listening to FSR explain to us the present political move of joining the ladies with the Gents in their societies, canvases, conventions for precinct, city, count & territorial work in nomination as well as in voting at elections.

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

155 years ago today - Jun 15, 1860

Albert Carrington read a letter from Sydney Rigdon to the President. The President remarked, Sydney is crazy'- The President remarked at Haun's Mill about 100 men ravished a young woman after tying her to a bench. They were part of a mob headed by Governor Boggs that was worse than whipping Henifer. I also Consider, observed the President, that the Troops are a mob of the United States, before our persecutions were from single states. -- Salt Lake City

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

165 years ago today - Jun 15, 1850

First issue of church's DESERET NEWS, which includes astrological almanacs. Willard Richards is the editor.

170 years ago today - Jun 15, 1845

Sidney Rigdon publishes an editorial: "Nauvoo is a sink of corruption, Deception in its most forbidding forms, is resorted to by them, to make people think they are different from what they are in truth. They deny, or attempt to deny, the existence of the very doctrine on which they pretend that their exaltation depends. . . . A true saint would publish his faith to the world, though he would suffer death for it; and rejoice in the thought that he suffered death for Christ's sake. . . . Has it come to this, that men must lie, defame, and slander, in order to sustain the religion of Jesus Christ?"

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

175 years ago today - Jun 15, 1840

[Patriarchal Blessing of Abigail Haws] .. Thou hast had a desire to do good, and to serve God, but didst not know the way, and hast joined thyself to a harlot, but the Lord has now opened thy eyes, that thou canst see ... thou mayst tarry until the winding up scene and then be numbered with the hundred and forty and four thousand that stand upon Mount Zion; thou shalt have many blessings, that I cannot speak at this time; the lame shall leap as a hart, the blind shall see, the deaf hear, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel through thy instrumentality; thou shalt be useful, and shalt bring in thy thousands, through thy ministry, and great things shall appear to thee, and marvelous things to be done at thy command, for thou art of the blood of Ephraim; thou art a pure Ephraimite, and thou shalt have power over sickness, and death, and the power of the Holy Ghost shall rest upon thee. If thou art faithful, not one of the least of these promises shall fail, for I seal them by the power of the Priesthood, by my office in the name of Jesus Christ, and seal thee against the power of the destroyer, against the devil and all evil spirits, and every abomination and wickedness, and I seal thee up to Eternal life, in the Celestial Glory of God. Even so. Amen.

[Source: Patriarchal Blessing of Abigail Haws given by Joseph Smith, Sr. on June 15, 1840 ]

175 years ago today - 1840: 15 June

[Patriarchal Blessing of Charlotte Haws] ... I now seal thee against the destroyer and I seal thee up to Eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

[Source: Patriarchal blessing of Charlotte Haws. Given by Joseph Smith, Sen., Haws Family Patriarchal Blessing Book," RLDS Archives.) [Age, 42; Scribe, Zenas W. Gurley, Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

115 years ago today - Jun 14, 1900

First Presidency and apostles agree to give $3,600 to Brigham Y. Hampton for his prior "detective work" in which he paid prostitute to allow him and nearly thirty LDS "Home Missionaries" and policemen to spy on anti-Mormons engaging in sex acts in Salt Lake City brothels in 1885. Although first counselor denies it at this meeting, in private meetings of First Presidency George Q. Cannon refers to Hampton's brothel work as "services rendered the Church" and "work in behalf of the Church." Hampton has been set apart as a Salt Lake temple worker since 1893, and another coordinator of brothel spying is the temple doorkeeper (1893-1910).

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

120 years ago today - Jun 14, 1895

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman] [Tooele] At 10:30 P.M. met with a woman suffrage meeting in meeting and occupied considerable time exploding the argument against the question.

[Source: Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - Jun 14, 1885

[Wilford Woodruff] ... E Snow who spoke 40 minuts and gave a history of Judge Zane's desision in A.M. Cannons Case and represented that a Gentile was brought up for seducing a girl while He had a wife But the Judge ruled that the Law was not meant for Gentiles & nobody Els but the Mormons. The gentile foots must be kept out of the trap & the Mormon foot kept in.

... Also Brother Harriman wanted me to Ordain him the Senior President of the 7 Presidet of the Seventies. I laid my Hands upon Henry Harriman & ordained him the senior President of the first Seven Presidts of the seventies. That is I Confirmed this Ordination upon his Head. He had been holding the office for many years. ...

[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 - Jun 14, 1880

[Wilford Woodruff] June 14, 1880 What strange things one will dream when asleep. I dreamed this morning that Queen Victoria had received the gospel and Been Baptized. She appeared vary humble, none of which is likely to happen in this world. I also thought of Prince Albert. Is Richard or Robert Connected with his Name? <I dreamed that Queen Victoria was sealed to me and she bid me an [-] thanks. This is not likely to happen.>

[Note angled brackets <> are in code - shorthand]

[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 - 1845 14 Jun.

"i cant support the twelve as the first presidency," George J. Adams writes. "i cant do it when I know that it belongs to Josephs Son--Young Joseph who was ordained by his father before his Death." In May Adams had organized a church with Joseph Smith III as the intended president and himself as spokesman.

[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 - Jun 14, 1840. Sunday.

[William Clayton] In the P.M. Sister Pool spake in tongues then Rich[ard] Hardman James Mahon Sister Heath. We confirmed 4. Christiana Crooks and Jemima Whittaker spake in tongues.

[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]

175 years ago today - Jun 14, 1840

Wilford Woodruff attends a meeting at the Gadfield Elm Chapel of the United Brethren, where they unanimously pass a resolution that henceforth they will be known as the Brand Green and Gadfield Elm Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Woodruff remains in this area until August, by which time he will have converted approximately 800 members.

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

135 years ago today - Jun 13, 1880

Apostle Orson Pratt preaches: "There are some, however, so foolish in their ideas that they suppose that it does not require time for the Almighty to go from world to world, or for any celestial messenger to do so. But this is a grand mistake. Time is included in all motion. Time is included between the event of a heavenly being leaving the celestial abode, where he dwells, and going to some other abode at a distance."

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

175 years ago today - Jun 13, 1840. Saturday.

About 2 o'clock this A.M. Elizabeth Crooks began in her sleep to sing in tongues. She spake and sung in about 7 languages occupying about 2 hours. During the day Betsy Pool got the gift of tongues.

[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]

185 years ago today - Circa 13-Jun 25, 1830

Joseph Smith begins his revision of Genesis, dictating to Oliver Cowdery the text of Moses 1:1-5:23a. The heading of the first chapter reads: "A Revelation given to Joseph the Revelator June 1830."

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

115 years ago today - Jun 12, 1900

[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill] Brought my wife Maria and daughter Lenora Eveline to be baptized for the cure of her eye, which has been afflicted all winter.

[Source: Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

125 years ago today - Jun 12, 1890

Secretary of state James G. Blaine gives a paper to First Counselor George Q. Cannon who was visiting in Washington, D.C., for the "leading authorities of the church to sign in which they make a virtual renunciation of plural marriage." Cannon's son Abraham said that his "feelings revolt at signing such a document."

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

155 years ago today - Jun 12, 1860

J. D. 8:243-244; President Heber C. Kimball delivered at Willow Creek; June 12, 1860.

We often sing, "This earth was once a garden place," where God our Father dwelt, and took possession and a stand that mankind will take who attain to that honour. . . . When he (Adam) planted the garden, he planted it with seeds he brought with him; and he also brought the animals from the earth he lived upon, where his Father dwelt.

[Source: Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]