LDS Quotations

"I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self security. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the spirit of God t themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the lord dictates, or not."
--  Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe {1954}, 135.

"From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel. Furthermore, your ideas, as we understand them, appear to contemplate the intermarriage of the Negro and White races, a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people from the ancient patriarchs till now. God's rule for Israel, His Chosen People, has been endogamous. Modern Israel has been similarly directed. We are not unmindful of the fact that there is growing tendency, particularly among some educators, as it manifests itself in this area, toward the breaking down of race barriers in the matter of intermarriage between whites and blacks, but it does not have the sanction of the Church and is contrary to Church doctrine."
-- First Presidency Letter, July 17, 1947, to Dr. Lowry Nelson, emphasis added (need copy of letter)

On August 17, 1951, the First Presidency made an official statement on the "Negro question":

"The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the day of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the Priesthood at the present time."

(The above citations are from John L. Lund's book "The Church and the Negro," 1967. pp 88-89.)

"Well, we have nothing to hide. Our history is an open book. They may find what they are looking for, but the fact is the history of the church is clear and open and leads to faith and strength and virtues."
-- Gordon B. Hinckley (Dec. 25, 2005 interview with The Associated Press)

"If a faith will not bear to be investigated; if its preachers and professors are afraid to have it examined, their foundation must be very weak."
-- George Albert Smith, 1871, Journal of Discourses, Vol 14, pg 216.

"I think a full, free talk is frequently of great use; we want nothing secret nor underhanded, and I for one want no association with things that cannot be talked about and will not bear investigation."
-- John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Volume 20, Page 264.

"Convince us of our errors of Doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God and we will ever be grateful for the information and you will ever have the pleasing reflections that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings."
-- Orson Pratt, The Seer, pp 15-16, (1853).

"If this book be of God, it must have sufficient evidence accompanying it to convince the minds of all reasonable persons that it is a Divine revelation...the testimony establishing the truth of the Book of Mormon is far superior to that establishing the Bible in its present form...any person who will carefully examine the subject will be obliged in their hearts to say there is a hundredfold more evidence to prove the Divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon than what we have to prove the Palestine records."
-- Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, pp. 22, 36, 37

"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.  If Joseph was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead people, then he should be exposed, his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false."
-- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol 1, Page 188-189

If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed."
-- J. Reuben Clark, D. Michael Quinn, J. Reuben Clark: The Church Years. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1983, p. 24.

"The Book of Mormon can and should be tested. It invites criticism."
-- Dr. Hugh Nibley, An Approach to The Book of Mormon, 1957, p. 13.

"The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion... Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it. So does our claim to priesthood keys, and revelation, and the restored Church."
-- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign, November 1986.

"Each of us has to face the matter-either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing."
-- Gordon B. Hinckley. "Loyalty," April Conference, 2003.

"Compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test."
-- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 16, p. 46, 1873

“If true, (the Book of Mormon) is one of the most important messages ever sent from God to man. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who sincerely receive it as the Word of God, and will suppose themselves built upon the rock of truth, until they are plunged, with their families, into hopeless despair.”
-- Orson Pratt (reference needed)

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion”...“Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none.”  Joseph Smith, Jun., History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408-409 and History of the Church, 2:52

"Not until the revelations of Joseph Smith, bringing forth the Book of Mormon, did any one know of these migrants. It was not known before, but now the question is fully answered. Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego all the way up to Point Barrows, and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand. The Church is deeply interested in all Lamanites because of these revelations and because of this great Book of Mormon, their history that was written on plates of gold and deposited in the hill. The translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed a running history for one thousand years—six hundred years before Christ until four hundred after Christ—a history of these great people who occupied this land for that thousand years. Then for the next fourteen hundred years, they lost much of their high culture. The descendants of this mighty people were called Indians by Columbus in 1492 when he found them here."
-- Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign (reference needed)

"...the one-wife system not only degenerates the human family, both physically and intellectually, but it is entirely incompatible with philosophical notions of immortality; it is a lure to temptation, and has always proved a curse to a people."
-- John Taylor, Millennial Star, Vol. 15, p. 227

"Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman empire....Rome became the mistress of the world, and introduced this order of monogamy wherever her sway was acknowledged. Thus this monogamic order of marriage, so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by a set of robbers.... Why do we believe in and practice polygamy? Because the Lord introduced it to his servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the Lord's servants have always practiced it. 'And is that religion popular in heaven?' it is the only popular religion there,..."
-- Brigham Young, The Deseret News, August 6, 1862

"This law of monogamy, or the monogamic system, laid the foundation for prostitution and the evils and diseases of the most revolting nature and character under which modern Christendom groans,..."
-- Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, page 195

"We breathe the free air, we have the best looking men and handsomest women, and if they (Non-Mormons) envy us our position, well they may, for they are a poor, narrow-minded, pinch-backed race of men, who chain themselves down to the law of monogamy, and live all their days under the dominion of one wife. They ought to be ashamed of such conduct, and the still fouler channel which flows from their practices; and it is not to be wondered at that they should envy those who so much better understand the social relations."
-- George A Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, page 291

"I have noticed that a man who has but one wife, and is inclined to that doctrine, soon begins to wither and dry up, while a man who goes into plurality [of wives] looks fresh, young, and sprightly. Why is this? Because God loves that man, and because he honors his word. Some of you may not believe this, but I not only believe it but I also know it. For a man of God to be confined to one woman is small business. I do not know what we would do if we had only one wife apiece."
-- Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses Vol 5, page 22

“Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God, when all things with you are so uncertain?”
-- Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 320

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-- Statement from Bonneville Communications' website, retrieved Fall 2009

"I cannot be hypocrite enough to say that I believe something when I do not."
-- Orson Pratt (ref. needed)

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Truth, Reason, Agency

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-- Voltaire

“A man is accepted into church for what he believes – and turned out for what he knows.”
-- Mark Twain

"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
-- Christopher Hitchens

"Against logic there is no armor like ignorance."
-- Laurence J. Peter, educator and hierarchiologist, formulator of the Peter Principle

"Dogma demands authority, rather than intelligent thought, as the source of opinion."
-- Bertrand Russell

"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite."
-- Bertrand Russell

“Certainty is often the most dangerous enemy of the truth.”
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart."
-- H. L. Mencken

"Just because somebody's not on the same path as me, doesn't mean they're lost."
-- Robert Kirby

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same god who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
-- Galileo Galilei

"The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history."
-- Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love (1973)

"If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things."
-- René Descartes, in Discours de la Methode

"When 'evil speaking of the Lord's anointed' was considered worse than lying, the truth suffered."
--Richard Von Wagoner

"It is surely harmful to souls to make it a heresy to believe what is proved."
--Galileo

“It's useless to attempt to reason a person out of a position they arrived at without reason in the first place.”
-- Jonathon Swift

"'You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.'
--Doctor Seuss

"They must find it hard to take Truth for authority who have so long mistaken Authority for Truth."
-- Gerald Massey, from his lectures, c. 1900

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."
-- Carl Sagan

"No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish…"
-- Hume's maxim

"The unexamined faith is not worth believing."
-- J. Bonner Ritchie, from Sunstone or Mormon Stories interview

"A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it"
-- Max Planck

"Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will penetrate its deepest mysteries."
-- Carl Sagan

---

Authors Unknown

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.”

“It’s easier to believe than it is to think.”

“I'm not smart enough to be right all the time but I'm too smart to be wrong all the time.”

---

Original

"There should be some economy to the truth."

"Saying something with conviction does not make it true.  Saying something in a way that provokes emotion does not make it true."

“My faith should not have to encompass so much incongruity.”

---

This Day in Mormon History

June 13, 2008 statement from the editor of This Day in Mormon History:

“Actually the core of it is a re-ordering of the "selected chronology" in the appendices of Quinn's two "Hierarchy" volumes. I then added other bits and pieces as I came across them. Some of the heavily used sources are Wilford Woodruff's Journals, Brigham Young's Office Journal, John Henry Smith's Diary, Various historical articles in "Dialogue" and "Sunstone" etc.”

“The backbone of the series was culled from D. Michael Quinn's "Selected Chronology" from the appendices of his two Hierarchy volumes. I have added to it from a great variety of places.”

- o -

Jan 1, 1836 - The Church's JOURNAL HISTORY records that there is "a division among the Twelve also among the Seventy and bickering and jealousies among the Elders and the official members of the Church."

Jan 1, 1837 - Oliver Cowdery arrives in Kirtland with plates to print banknotes the same day that Orson Hyde arrives with news that the Ohio Legislature would not grant a charter for a bank to issue paper money. The leaders go ahead with the banking enterprise anyway. Overprinting the notes, they renamed the institution an "anti-banking" company on the assumption that if they could not operate a bank, they could well run an anti-bank.

Jan 1, 1838 - John Smith, an assistant counselor in the First Presidency, reports the excommunication of dozens of dissenters at Kirtland during the last week of December, including Book of Mormon witness Martin Harris.

Jan 1, 1843 - Joseph Smith tells dinner guests of his confrontation with a Baptist minister in Kirtland: "I whipped him till he begged. He threatened to prosecute me. I sent [apostle] Luke Johnson the constable after him and he run him out of the County into Mentor." Earlier in the day Smith had told visiting dignitaries, "the most prominent difference in sentiment between the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was, that the latter were all circumscribed by some peculiar creed, which deprived its members the privilege of believing anything not contained therein, whereas the Latter-day Saints have no creed, but are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time."

Jan 1, 1844 - Second Counselor William Law catches Joseph Smith and Maria Lawrence, a teenaged orphan who was living in the Smith household, in a "compromising situation." Unknown to Law, Maria Lawrence had been a secret plural wife of Joseph Smith for half a year.

Jan 1, 1846 - Brigham Young performs the first sealing of a man and wife for "time and all eternity" in the Nauvoo Temple. At meeting of endowed persons Brigham Young also announces a "thus saith . . . the Spirit" revelation to allow dancing in the temple for faithful Mormons. However, he and a few associates had been dancing in the temple late at night since Dec 17. The text of this revelation is available, but has never been canonized or officially published.
Wilford Woodruff sends a friend "A New years gift" of "some Hair from the Heads of Joseph Smith the Prophet And all the Smith family of Male members also Mother Smith And from most all the quorum of the Twelve Also a peace of Joseph Smith Handkerchief."

Jan 1, 1847 - Eliza R. Snow's diary mentions receiving a blessing "thro' our belov'd mother Chase and sis[ter] Clarissa [Decker] by the gift of tongues," adding: "To describe the scene . . . would be beyond my power

Jan 1, 1849 - "Uncle John" Smith (b. 1781) is ordained as "Patriarch over the Church." He has served in that capacity since 1845. The newly organized First Presidency privately sustained him to that position on 6 Dec. 1847, and church conference publicly did so on 27 Dec.

Jan 1, 1862 – DESERET NEWS reports that Governor John W. Dawson hurriedly left Salt Lake City yesterday at 2 p.m. after "offering a gross insult to a respectable lady of this city." "News" claims governor hired as his bodyguards Lot Huntington, Jason Luce, William Luce, and Moroni Clawson to protect against "his being killed or becoming qualified for the office of chamberlain [castrated eunuch’ in the king’s palace."
Although it is evening newspaper, DESERET NEWS does not report what happened to Dawson the previous night at Ephraim Hank’s coach station at Mountain Dell. The so-called bodyguards beat Dawson "nearly to death" and then stripped him of his clothes and valuables. Governor recovers well enough to write the NEWS on 7 Jan.: "Any report stating that I hired these desperadoes to escort me over the mountains, is also untrue." Dawson says he asked for the protection of Ephraim Hanks, who instead sent the others to escort the governor out of the territory. Dawson continues his journey back to his home in Indiana, where he dies of natural causes sixteen years later. His official biography claims he never fully recovers from the beating in Utah.

Jan 1, 1867 - George Q. Cannon and his three wives received their second anointing.

Jan 1, 1873 – Apostle Joseph F. Smith strikes his neighbor’s head “three times with my cane” for insulting him and letting his livestock trespass on Smith’s property. He voluntarily pleads guilty to assault and battery to Mormon justice of the peace. On Christmas night Smith had dreamed of using his cane repeatedly on opponent’s head, “intending to kill him, but was partially prevented from striking him with full force by my wives.”

Jan 1, 1877 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. writes in his journal: "Temple dedication. People assembled in the font room and basement rooms Bro[ther] Wilford Woodruff kneeled near the top of west steps, and read a lengthy prayer time 24 minutes. He expressed a hope that it would not weaken the faith of any to hear or see him read his prayer from manuscript."

Jan 1, 1888 - After a stake conference in St. John, Arizona the stake presidency, high council, and bishops meet with visiting apostle John Henry Smith to discuss "the waltzing business" and "it was voted to restrain it."

Jan 1, 1889 - Russian Author Leo Tolstoy writes in his journal, "I got up, cut wood, it was warm, and I went to breakfast. My thoughts were brighter. A beautiful letter from an American woman." The "American woman" was Susa Young Gates, daughter of Brigham Young, who also sent a copy of the Book of Mormon and a copy of George Q. Cannon's LIFE OF JOSEPH SMITH.

Jan 1, 1891 – Wilford Woodruff writes: "This is New Years day And the year that has been looked upon by many as one of the most important years of the world."

Jan 1, 1901 - President Lorenzo Snow issues a "Greeting to the World" in which he says "Awake, ye monarchs of the earth and rulers among nations. . . . Disband your armies; turn your weapons of strife into implements of industry; take the yoke from the necks of the people; arbitrate your disputes; meet in royal congress, and plan for union instead of conquest, for the banishment of poverty, for the uplifting of the masses, and for the health, wealth, enlightenment and happiness of all tribes and people and nations"

Jan 1, 1909 – Presiding Bishopric instructions "that as near as circumstances will permit boys be ordained as follows: Deacons at twelve, Teachers at fifteen and Priests at eighteen years of age." For first time Aaronic Priesthood officers are conferred generally on teenage boys, although age intervals later change to twelve, fourteen, and sixteen.

Jan 1,1964 - "Home Teaching" replaces traditional "ward teaching" program of monthly visits of priesthood men to church members.

Jan 1, 1968 - Start of LDS project to microfilm every Polish parish register by permission of Communist government of Poland. Its director, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, becomes general authority in 1991.
"The Mormons' Anti-bank," an article about the Kirtland Safety Society and collectability of the banknotes is published in "Numismatic News."

Jan 1, 1970 - LDS Church adopts "Computer Age Finance System," and computerizes records of membership as of May 1. These are functions of church-owned Management Systems Corporation (MSC).

Jan 1, 1976 - LDS church has float in California's Rose Parade, first time in fifty years that invitation is extend to any church by parade organizers.

Jan 1, 1981 - By appointment of First Presidency, BYU professor Edwin B. Morrell begins duties in Vienna as president over central European districts in Communist countries.

Jan 1, 1990 - New budget program eliminates need for local congregations to raise money for operating expenses, all of which are now paid by LDS headquarters.

Jan 1, 1991 - Church headquarters standardizes monthly support for full-time missionaries throughout the world at $350 (or 400 Canadian dollars). This equalizes financial burden for U.S. and Canadian families who struggle to support missionaries in cities or countries with far higher cost-of-living than missionary's family. LDS church funds continue to supplement or fully pay for support of 1/3 of LDS missionaries whose families live outside U.S. and Canada.

Jan 1, 1993 - Organization of India Bangalore Mission with Gurcharan Singh Gill as president, thirty missionaries, and 1,150 already-baptized Indian Mormons.

Jan 1, 1994 - End of congregational hymn-singing and general meeting prior to individual Sunday School classes, as per First Presidency announcement on 25 Sept. 1993.

Jan 2, 1843 - Contrary to then-current views of the inherent inferiority of African-Americans, Joseph Smith affirmed that social environment, not nature, determined their status: "Change their situations with the whites, and they [African-Americans] would be like them." However, he opposed racial intermarriage and integration, and instead favored emancipation and black nationalism: "Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization."

Jan 2, 1844 - An English court acquits the first Mormon missionaries to accidently drown a convert during baptism by immersion.

Jan 2, 1849 - Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball of First Presidency and Presiding Bishop Newel K. Whitney sign first paper bills of "Valley Currency." Second issue three days later includes $1,331 worth of re-issued notes from failed Kirtland Safety Society Bank.

Jan 2, 1854 - At the Social Hall Brigham Young gives "some instruction:" "We have assembled here to have music & dancing. The world have had vary Strange Ideas Concerning these things. They have supposed it was a vary wicked thing for a Christian to dance or hear music. Many preachers of the day have said that fiddling & music Came from Hell But I say that there is no fiddleing or music in hell." He teaches that it is safe to invite "Gentiles" to LDS-sponsored dances but if a Mormon were to attend a Gentile-sponsored dance "they would submit themselves to their spirit partake of their evils & go to the devel. Any Elder would fall that persued this course."

Jan 2, 1859 - Brigham Young begins custom of having all Mormon congregations sit with women on north side of center aisle, men on south side, and children on front benches. This seating arrangement lasts for decades, remains in temples to this day.

Jan 2, 1867 - Brigham Young gives his son Joseph A. Young his second anointing. Young also decides that "we dress & offer up the signs of the Holy Priesthood before we give the 2nd Anointing & ownly Anoint one man & his wives in one day at one place."

Jan 2, 1892 - U.S. district court in Idaho dismisses indictments against Mormons for voting.

Jan 2, 1902 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve decide against allowing temple sealing of young man who is 1/8 African-American.

Jan 2, 1919 - At temple meeting of First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve, and Presiding Patriarch, President Heber J. Grant rules that patriarch ranks below apostles and has no significant vote in temple council meetings. He orders patriarch's chair removed from its place next to First Presidency and placed after junior apostle’s chair.

Jan 2, 1993 - At sacrament meeting in Tiberias, by Sea of Galilee, in Israel, Apostle James E. Faust tells Tabernacle Choir: "My testimony is like that of the brother of Jared who saw the finger of God and believed no more, for he knew. It has been given to me to know, for I have become acquainted with the Savior."

Jan 3, 1844 - Second Counselor William Law meets with Joseph Smith and the Nauvoo police. Law claims policeman (and former Danite) Daniel Carn said they had orders to kill him. Bishop Carn defends "Daniteism" and criticizes Law's rejection of polygamy. Smith and Carn, however, deny Law's accusation.

Jan 3, 1854 - Brigham Young invites Elijah Abel, free black and ordained Seventy, to party with 98 other men in Social Hall. Some of these parties are male-only dances.

Jan 3, 1858 - Apostle Charles C. Rich tells the members of the Twelve and First Presidency that "there is snakes on the desert that have Hornes. It was said that there is also snakes that have Joints and when struck will fly to peaces then come to gether again."

Jan 3, 1867 - Brigham Young gives his son Brigham Young Jr. his second anointing.

Jan 3, 1893 - Funeral at Farmington, Utah for Joseph L. Robinson who dies leaving two hundred twenty descendants.

Jan 3, 1903 - Utah Governor Heber M Wells calls on the First Presidency "upon the request of a Committee of Citizens and asked for money to secure a historical sketch of this City in Leslie's Weekly." The first presidency gives $500.

Jan 3, 1948 - Organization of LDS Film Council "to appraise motion pictures and decide upon their suitability for entertainment and educational purposes."

Jan 3, 1953 - Church News feature story: "Incubator for Freedom: Staff of 'BYUniverse' Makes Determined Stand For Hands-Off Policy in Production of Newspaper." That editorial independence lasts sixteen more years at BYU, then falls victim to conservative reaction against student protests nationally.

Jan 4, 1836 - Joseph Smith and associates begin their first day of "Hebrew School." However they receive a message from the teacher they had hired, Doctor Piexotto, that he will not be able to give his first lecture for two days. The school votes to drop Piexotto and to hire a new teacher. Joshua Seixas is hired two days later for "the term of 7 weeks for $320.00" to teach 40 students. Joseph Smith writes of Seixas, "He is highly celebrated as a Hebrew Schollar and proposes to give us sufficient knowledge in the above term of time to read and translate the language."

Jan 4, 1867 - Joseph F. Smith and his two wives "Receive their Second Anointing" with Brigham Young officiating.

Jan 4, 1877 - Joseph Smith's last born child David is committed to Illinois Hospital for the Insane. Proclaimed by Brigham Young in 1866 as rightful heir of LDS presidency, he has served as counselor on RLDS presidency since 1873. He dies in asylum in 1904.

Jan 4, 1880 - Apostle Orson Pratt preaches at Salt Lake Stake conference that "as a general rule it was the children who were attacked by diphtheria, and on investigation it would be found that the parents of such children as had been taken [by death] were neglectful of the word of wisdom or some of the commandments of God."

Jan 4, 1882 - First Presidency and Apostles vote not to allow any "President or Apostle to draw funds from the Church without limit for their own use or any other purpose." This avoids financial abuses they attribute to Brigham Young and John W. Young, but putting fixed limit on financial allowances is a salary system. Concerning the meeting Apostle John Henry Smith writes in his diary, "I was somewhat surprised to see the president attempt to bull down the Council after giving them the utmost liberty to speak and he will find such talk will never hold the present Council in awe."

Jan 4, 1893 - Soon to leave office, U.S. president Benjamin Harrison issues amnesty for all who lived in polygamous marriage before Nov 1, 1890.

Jan 4, 1896 - Democratic president Grover Cleveland proclaims Utah as a state. Only two members of U.S. House of Representatives voted against enabling act in 1893. It caps the end of a long struggle which included a federal occupation, crushing statutes, imprisonment of Church leaders, alteration of a Church doctrine and marital pattern, and the reformation of a party system. At about mid-day, Salt Lake City erupted into an enthusiastic celebration. A shotgun fired in front of the Western Union Telegraph office signaled that word had arrived from Washington, D.C., that President Cleveland had signed the proclamation making Utah the forty-fifth state. This set off a deafening clamor of shouts, fireworks, bells, and cannon salutes. A gigantic steam whistle especially provided for the occasion sounded incessantly for two hours from the tower of the Salt Lake City and County Building. The streets were thronged with people heartily congratulating each other.

Jan 4, 1898 -Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his diary: "President Lorenzo Snow . . . There are two things required of us as apostles, a perfect union among ourselves, and a perfect union with the First Presidency. If this is brought about, may not need to die but be translated He referred to the advanced age of Prest Wilford Woodruff, and the fact that his first counselor Bro Geo Q. Cannon was doing some things that we could not approve of. This makes no difference as it is our duty to sustain him. The loss of $100,000 more or less is as nothing in comparison with our failing to sustain the First Presidency. Disunion in our midst would be sweet morsel for our enemies. It is the right of the twelve apostles to make known to the Presidency their suggestions on any matter of importance where the interest of the Church is at stake and in some cases it is our duty to express our feelings. After we have expressed our feelings it is then our duty to sustain the Presidency in their plans although they may be in opposition to our own feelings. After a free expression of our feelings we should sustain them, hit or miss, live or die. The Lord does not always select religious men to do His work, but he selects men of strong will and determination. I feel it in my bones that all will be well if we will be true to one other and sustain the First Presidency."

Jan 4, 1922 - From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Brigham H. Roberts presents detailed summary of textual and historical problems in Book of Mormon to combined meeting of First Presidency, apostles, and Seventy's presidents He recommends that these problems should be researched and publicly discussed. He continues his presentation the next day and again on the 26th. The response from the general authorities is to bear their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and to question the value of doing such research.

Jan 4, 1963 - First Presidency publishes message: "We deplore the presumption of some politicians, especially officers, co-ordinators and members of the John Birch Society, who undertake to align the Church or is leadership with their political views." Apostle Ezra Taft Benson's son Reed is Birch coordinator for Utah.

Jan 4, 1974 - WASHINGTON POST article "New Mormon Leader Won't Change Traditional Policies." The article concerns newly ordaines LDS President Spencer W. Kimball.

Jan 4, 1978 - First Presidency announces the findings of sociological survey of returned LDS missionaries: 97 percent attend at least one sacrament meeting per month, 95 percent are married or sealed in temple, 89 percent hold current church position, 85 percent have current temple recommend.

Jan 4, 1996 - U.S. postage stamp for Utah’s statehood centennial. Its image of Delicate Arch is design of McRay Magleby, creative director of BYU's Publication and Graphics.

Jan 5, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes in his diary: "Attended Hebrew School [and] divided them into classes. Had some debate with Elder Orson Pratt. He manifested a stub[b]ourn spirit, which I was much grieved at." The next day he writes, "Spent most of the fore noon in set[t]ling the unple[a]sant feelings that existed in the breast of ElderO Pratt. After much controversy, he confessed his fault and asked the forgiv[e]ness of the whol[e] school and was forgiven by all."

Jan 5, 1837 - At a prayer meeting in the Kirtland temple "One man gave us an account of the general gathering of Israel in the gift of tongues." "I [Wilford Woodruff] interpreted the Substance of the same."

Jan 5, 1841 - Joseph Smith organizes the Nauvoo Lyceum where men could give presentations on theology "for the benefit of the Elders who are calculated to proclaim the Gospel to this Generation." He also announces a revelation against phrenology, text unavailable. He also gives a description of the Apostle Paul: "He is about 5 foot high; very dark hair; dark complection; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated and then it almost resembles the roaring of a Lion. He was a good orator, but Doctor [John C.] Bennett is a superior orator, and like Paul is active and diligent, always employing himself in doing good to his fellow men."

Jan 5, 1843 - Judge Nathaniel Pope rules that the extradition request from Missouri Governor Liburn Boggs to have Joseph Smith extradited to Missouri shall be quashed and that Smith "shall be free from any attempt to secure him. He should be troubled no more in relation to the matter touching this prosecution." Smith was charged with being an accessory to the attempted murder of Boggs.

Jan 5, 1844 - At another meeting with Nauvoo Police William Law says he, Wilson Law, William Marks, and Leonard Soby feel threatened by the police. Joseph Smith denies that they are in peril. That night Joseph Smith "Dreamed about 2 serpents swallowing each tail foremost."

Jan 5, 1894 - George Q. Cannon comments "on the ambiguity existing in our printed works concerning the nature or character of the Holy Ghost [, and] expressed his opinion that the Holy Ghost was in reality a person. . . . However, the Presidency deemed it wise to say as little as possible on this as on other disputed subjects."

Jan 5, 1899 - First Presidency and Twelve discuss resuming public reporting of church finances. Senior apostle Franklin D. Richards observes that such public accounting should be "presented before the General Conference, thereby correcting false reports and bringing the people to share in the responsibility of the Church’s business." Until 1915 these annual reports to Apr. conference do not contain specific dollar amounts.

Jan 5, 1909 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes in his diary, "Ten of the Twelve and six of the seven Presidents of the Seventy met and talked over the Word of Wisdom. All agreed to live it."

Jan 5, 1938 - Charles E. Bidamon notarizes statement that he has sold [for $50] to LDS collector Wilford Wood, Joseph Smith's "sliver piece" inscribed "Confirmo O Deus Potentissimus" and that his step-mother frequently said this medallion belonged to Joseph Smith. Comparison of this artifact with illustrations for Francis Barrett's 1801 "The Magus" verifies that this is Jupiter talisman inscribed according to instructions in Barrett's book.

Jan 5, 1982 - First Presidency repeats its 1978 instructions for "interviewing married persons" but adds: "The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice."

Jan 6, 1828 - Green Flake is born into slavery on the Jordan Flake plantation in North Carolina. Green was the African-American slave who drove the wagon carrying Brigham Young across the plains. Green was owned by Mormon James M. Flake who lent him along with a wagon and two mules to the Church for the 1847 trek west. Upon the death of James M. Flake in 1850 his widow moved to California, a free state, but first donated her "Negro slave Green Flake" to the Church as tithing. Green worked two years for Brigham Young and for Heber C. Kimball, and was then granted his freedom. After his wife's death he moved to Idaho. He returned to Salt Lake in 1897 to attend the 50th anniversary "jubilee" celebration of the arrival of the pioneers, where he was given a certificate honoring him as a surviving member of the original pioneer company. He is one of three slaves listed on the plaque on the Brigham Young monument in downtown Salt Lake City under the category of "Colored Servants."

Jan 6, 1834 - A non-Mormon in Ohio writes that "Smith has four or five armed men to gard [sic] him every night." The prophet's bodyguard is Mormonism's first organization for internal security.

Jan 6, 1836 - Joshua Seixas, author of "Manual of Hebrew Grammar for the Use of Beginners" (1833, second edition 1834) and former Hebrew instructor of Lorenzo Snow, is "hired" for a term of seven weeks, to teach "forty scholars," beginning in about fifteen days. It is reported that he will "give us sufficient knowledge during this term to start us in reading and translating the language." He does not actually arrive in Kirtland until January 26.

Jan 6, 1837 - Wilford Woodruff records that in the Kirtland temple "Elder Sherman Sung in the gift of tongues & proclaimed great & marvelous things while clothed upon by the power & spirit of God. . . . I spent the evening with Priest Turpin at Bishop Whitney's. Had a vary happy time in speaking Singing hearing & interpreting tongues & in prayer with the family." Woodruff also records that Joseph Smith had received a revelation about the Kirtland Safety Society. Declining to reveal the substance of the revelation, Joseph says, "that if we would give heed to the Commandments the Lord had given this morning all would be well."

Jan 6, 1841 - Wilford Woodruff dreams "of vast Serpents both dead & alive. Some were of Antique turned into stone, & many were alive about 20 feet long & Pitched at me like Draggons & I fled from them & arose into the air & sailed a great distance with the greatest ease & delight singing Victory. I also saw large fruit. Tasted of it & it was good, & a man tried to set his dog on me, but he soon repented of his conduct."

Jan 6, 1846 - William Clayton records: "President B. Young returned to the Temple a few minutes after 10, and took part in the exercises. By his directions, Lucian R. Foster and Ann Maria, his wife, and Stephen Markham and his wife, danced a French four."

Jan 6, 1849 - High council at Kanesville, Iowa, excommunicates two Mormons for counterfeiting coins. Investigations into Feb., but council takes no action against two members of theocratic Council of Fifty involved: John M. Bernhisel (who transports counterfeiting equipment to Iowa) and Theodore Turley (Mechanic who works with the dies and press). Apostles George a. Smith and Ezra T. Benson allude to their involvement in letter to First Presidency on 27 Mar. Turley is Brigham Young's father-in-law.

Jan 6, 1856 - At a meeting in Salt Lake City after Brigham Young and Lorenzo Snow speak stressing unquestioning obedience, Jonathan C. Wright preaches that "A woman was under the Law of her husband & no other. If she obeyed his Law she was under no transgression because her husband was her head & evry man & woman had a head."

Jan 6, 1867 - Brigham Young divided the Twelve into three "Companies to attend to the second Anointings. Lorenzo Snow, C[harles]. C. Rich & G[eorge]. Q. Cannon was to meet at Presidet Youngs. H[eber]. C. Kimball D[aniel]. H. Wells[,] O[rson] Hyde[,] J[ohn] Taylor[,] E[zra]. T. Benson & Erastus Snow was to meet at the Endowment House. W[ilford]. Woodruff & G[eorge]. A. Smith was to meet at the Historians office to attend to the Anointing in the Prayer Circle Room."

Jan 6, 1870 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his diary: "There is a great Exhertion Now making By the wicked & Esspecially By the Congress of the United States to get up a Crusade or war against the Saints under pr[etense] of [opposition to] Polygamy. A Bill is Before Congress to deprive the Latter Day Saints of keeping the Commandments of God. The Lord has Revealed the Law on the Patriarchal order of Marriage & the Lord says we shall be damned if we do not obey it & Congress says we shall be damned if we do. So it is the Lord & Congress for it. I would rather obey the Lord than Congress."

Jan 6, 1879 - U.S. Supreme Court issues its "Reynolds vs. the United States" decision which upholds constitutionality of 1862 Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, and further rules that not every religious practice is protected by First Amendment. As result of the Supreme Court’s first decision about sexual conduct, George Reynolds is imprisoned from 1879 to 1881 for polygamy. As of 1990s this case continues to be Supreme Court's precedent for limiting some practices defined as religious.
John Taylor preaches in Salt Lake City: "Professor Huxley, in visiting Niagara Falls, made some remarks which I remember were published and copied extensively in the papers, to the effect that here was another evidence afforded of the many thousands or millions of years (I forget the number now) that it had taken to wash away the rocks below these falls. And this evidence was advanced in support of geological ideas. I thought to myself; yes, professor Huxley is a very learned man. I wonder if he knew that rock was once in a friable, plastic condition, when, by the force of the watery element the soft stratum might be disintegrated, excavated and removed by the washing process in perhaps a very few days."

Jan 6, 1882 - A Mormon from Brighton, Utah "applied to President Taylor for Council. He had been divorced by the Probate Court and had gone to living with the old wife without being married to her." Taylor refers the matter to Apostle John Henry Smith and instructs the man's bishop to look into the matter and report back.

Jan 6, 1896 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. notes in his diary concerning Governor Heber M. Wells' inaugural address: "Polygamy was cuffed about too much in it and in my heart I said Can I take an oath to support a Constitution and men in office who stamp upon that sacred principle to support which I would give my life--at least I think so. That spirit does not harmonize with mine."

Jan 6, 1898 - At a meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple the financial problems of the church are discussed. "Elder Brigham Young [Jr.] made a very sweeping statement in which he said president Geo. Q. Cannon was the cause of the great indebtedness of the Church. . . . Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon felt very much hurt over remarks of Elders Brigham Young [Jr.] and Heber J. Grant."

Jan 6, 1909 - The Twelve Apostles and the First Council of the Seventy call B. H. Roberts before them, accusing him of questioning the good faith and honesty of the First Presidency and the general authorities. Roberts had previously published an open letter to Richard R. Lyman, a Democrat and son of Apostle Francis M. Lyman, expressing his opposition to Apostle (and Senator) Reed Smoot's political involvement. Roberts stated that he thought it unwise for Church leaders to run for political office.

Jan 6, 1934 - Leah D. Widsoe's article "Priesthood and Womanhood" in Church Section includes following questions "5. If a boy of twelve years has this gift [of priesthood ordination] bestowed upon him while his sister has not, does it not tend to make him grow up with a feeling that he is literally a 'lord of creation,' while his sister belongs to 'the common herd?' 6. Does not this discrimination make men more arrogant in their attitude toward women? Do they not necessarily feel themselves the superior and dominant sex?" Perhaps unintentionally, the stridency of her questions outweighs article's effort to deny or down play gender discrimination in LDS church.

Jan 6, 1973 - Rahman Fatafitah of Beirut is first Muslim to join LDS church in Middle East. Other Muslims had been baptized in Utah decade earlier.

Jan 6, 1982 - BYU's DAILY UNIVERSE announces that the Office of University Standards has instituted what it termed a "silent referral system," establishing unidentified checkpoints at certain cashier windows and ticket offices where employees were asked to watch for dress and grooming violations and "silently refer" violators to Standards officials. As part of the silent referral system, students are encouraged to report known violations of the Code of Honor, without being required to divulge their identity

Jan 7, 1805 - Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer is born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. David is the brother of fellow Book of Mormon witnesses Peter Whitmer, Jacob Whimer, John Whitmer, and Christian Whitmer. His sister Catherine married Book of Mormon Witness Hiram Page, and another sister, Elizabeth, married Oliver Cowdery. This makes him a relative of all Book of Mormon witnesses except Martin Harris and Joseph Smith's father and two brothers Samuel and Hyrum.

Jan 7, 1832 - Joseph B. Brackenbury is the first Mormon to die on a proselytizing mission and the first martyr (poisoned by anti-Mormons). Mormons also make an unsuccessful effort to raise Brackenbury from the dead. Church historian and apostle George A. Smith later calls this an "attempted resurrection."

Jan 7, 1840 - At the beginning of a proselytizing meeting in Massachusetts "three sons of sectarian deacons" throw sulpher on a hot stove. After opening doors and windows to air out the building Brigham Young and George A. Smith continue their meeting.

Jan 7, 1843 - While riding from Springfield to Nauvoo after the end of Joseph Smith's extradition trial William Law sings a song he has written for the occasion: "And are you sure the news is true?/And are you sure he's free?/Then let us join with one accord,/And have a Jubilee/We'll have a Jubilee, My Friend/We'll have a Jubilee/With heart and voice we'll all rejoice/In that our Prophet's free." The song has 14 verses.

Jan 7, 1844 - Members of the Quorum of the Anointed vote one-by-one to expel William Law. Women vote on equal basis.

Jan 7, 1846 - William Clayton writes in his Journal: "This morning there was an immense crowd at the reception room waiting for admission into the washing and anointing rooms. The brethren as they came along bearing Baskets, Pails and other vessels filled with all kinds of provisions, for the use of those who are attending on the ordinances of the Lord's House."

Jan 7, 1882 - Apostle Francis M Lyman's diary begins recording month-long nervous breakdown of Heber J Grant, his successor as Tooele Stake President. Physician diagnoses Grant's condition as "nervous convulsions" and warns that condition could lead to "softening of the brain," if Grant continues his stressful pace of activity. Grant becomes apostle ten months later and is first LDS leader with diagnosed history of emotional illness.

Jan 7, 1885 - Apostle and recently releases European Mission President John Henry Smith visits the ruins of Pompei and writes that he "felt satisfied that God's Judgment was meated out to the people."

Jan 7, 1886 - U.S. Supreme Court sustains Utah judges' definition of "cohabitation" as not requiring proof of sexual intercourse but rather of marital relationship. Justices Miller and Field dissent on grounds that Congress intended law to prohibit "unlawful habitual sexual intercourse" with more than one woman. Justice Field is on secret payroll of First Presidency.

Jan 7, 1888 - Heber J. Grant writes in his journal: "Meeting at 2 pm in President's Office Wilford Woodruff, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Jos[eph] F. Smith, John W. Taylor, myself and 12 or 15 members of the next Legislature present. Quite an amount of talk indulged in of needed legislation. The officers for the House and Council talked over . . ."

Jan 7, 1892 - The Apostles and First Presidency decide: "when the coffin is closed containing the body of a sister who has been through the temple, her veil should be placed so as to hide her face, so that when her husband meets her on the other side he may lift the same from her countenance."

Jan 7, 1898 - First Presidency and Twelve meet in the Salt Lake Temple. They formally vote to forgive "each other for Harsh words spoken" and that "the presidency and Twelve that they shall act together upon all questions of great moment to the church." The vote is unanimous.

Jan 7, 1899 - Future Utah governor J. Bracken Lee is born in Price, Utah. His grandfather, Edwin C. Lee, came to Utah as a Mormon convert from England in 1855, and all of Edwin's sons were active in the Church except Arthur, J. Bracken Lee's father. Lee's maternal ancestors were also Mormon converts who arrived in Utah in 1849. When Lee's great-grandmother rejected her husband's plural marriage, she was kept in Utah by the personal intervention of (according to Lee) Brigham Young. She accordingly raised Lee's grandmother outside the Church. Lee's grandmother told him that her "own father patted her on the head at the age of ten and asked her whose little girl she was." She naturally raised Lee's mother outside the Church.
J. Bracken Lee never joined the Church, although he married a Mormon. When his daughter, Jon, a "devout Mormon," tried very hard to convert him. Lee told her, "Now you believe your religion but you leave me alone!" which ended her attempts. J Bracken Lee was one of the few political mavericks in American history. Lee as governor of Utah became known nationally and was the most colorful and controversial politician with probably a greater impact on the state and the nation than any Utah figure since Brigham Young.

Jan 7, 1904 - Church president instructs twelve apostles to walk through doorways in order of seniority. Protocol follows technology as church buildings and temples install elevators.

Jan 7, 1909 - Joseph F. Smith, son of Hyrum Smith who led similar effort in 1842-43, instructs Twelve to investigate and suppress new plural marriages.

Jan 7, 1931 - B. H. Roberts defends his position which favors the theory of evolution and the existence of "preadamites" before a council of the Twelve Apostles. In a letter to Church President Heber J. Grant Roberts had previously criticized a dogmatic anti-evolution pronouncement by Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith: "If Elder Smith is merely putting forth his own position I call in question his competency to utter such dogmatism either as scholar or as an apostle. I am sure he is not competent to speak in such a manner from general learning or special research work on the subject; nor as an Apostle as in that case he would be in conflict with the plain implication of the scriptures, both ancient and modern and with the teaching of a more experienced and learned and earlier apostle [Orson Hyde], and a contemporary of the prophet Joseph Smith--whose public discourse on the subject appears in the Journal of Discourses and was publicly endorsed by president Brigham Young, all of which would have more weight in setting forth doctrine than this last dictum of Elder Smith."
Two weeks later Joseph Fielding Smith presents his view, a defense of scriptural literalism: "The doctrine of organic evolution which pervades the modern day sciences proclaiming the edict that man has evolved from the lower forms of life through the Java skull, the Heidelberg jaw, the Piltdown man, the Neanderthal skull and last but not least the Peiping man who lived millions of years ago is as false as their author who lives in hell." The Apostles referred the matter back to the First Presidency noting only Roberts' language is "very offensive . . . failing to show the deference due from one brother to another brother of higher rank in the priesthood.” The First Presidency decides that "Neither side of the controversy has been accepted as a doctrine at all" but cautions that general authorities should be more careful when speaking publicly on controversial topics.

Jan 7, 1937 - N. Eldon Tanner is first active Mormon to serve non-U.S. government in position equivalent to U.S. Cabinet. He serves as Minister of Lands and Mines in government of Canada’s Premier until 1952. Next Mormons of ministerial rank are Manuera Benjamin Riwai-Couch of New Zealand (for Maori relations and also Postmaster General) in 1978 and Baitika Tuom of Kiribati in 1983.

Jan 7, 1950 - At funeral of a man who died six weeks after his appointment as stake president, Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith tells Apostle Harold B. Lee: "If you have called a man to a position in this church and he dies the next day, that position will have a bearing on what he will be called to do when he leaves this earth." Lee will eventually serve barely seventeen months as LDS president.

Jan 7, 1969 - First Presidency secretary Joseph Anderson answers letter about "the Church's stand pertaining to birth control," with the concluding statement: "After all, however, the brethren recognize that this is a personal matter involving the individuals concerned, and concerning which they must make their own decision." First Presidency's official statement on April 14, 1969 omits any reference to their own feelings about birth control as "a personal matter," and states: "We believe that those who practice birth control will reap disappointment by and by," and repeating earlier letter's emphasis on "self control [as] dominant factor" marriage.

Jan 7, 1974 - Swen Nielsen, head of BYU’s security department, is police chief of Provo, Utah. His replacement at BYU, Robert W. Kelshaw, has been assistant police chief since 1966.

Jan 7, 1978 - Church News article that Paul Freebairn, returned LDS missionary, is vice-president of American Surfing Association. Seventeen-year-old Peter Avery becomes U.S. National Body Boarding Champion in 1993.

Jan 7, 1987 - Forger and murderer Mark Hofmann agrees to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder—a first-degree felony—in the "knowing and intentional murders" of Steven F. Christensen and Kathleen W. Sheets, and to a second-degree theft-by-deception count in the sale of the salamander letter to Christensen. His guilty plea to a second-degree fraud in obtaining money from Alvin Rust for the non-existent McLellin collection completed the guilty pleas. In return, Hofmann is promised the following: that the State of Utah would dismiss the twenty-six remaining felony counts against him; that the U.S. Attorney would dismiss the federal machine gun charges; and that the State of New York would not prosecute him.

Jan 7-8,1960 - First Presidency decides that Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine "must not be re-published, as it is full of errors and misstatements, and it is most unfortunate that it has received such wide circulation." They are exasperated that McConkie and his publisher released the book without pre-publication publicity or notifying First Presidency. Even his father-in-law, senior apostle, Joseph Fielding Smith, "did not know anything about it until it was published." This is McConkie's way to avoid repetition of Presidency's stopping his pre-announced Sound Doctrine three years earlier.
Committee of two apostles (Mark E Petersen and Marion G Romney) reports that McConkie's Mormon Doctrine contains 1,067 doctrinal errors. For example, page 493 said: "Those who falsely and erroneously suppose that God is progressing in knowledge and gaining new truths cannot exercise sufficient faith in him to gain salvation until they divest themselves of their false beliefs." However, McConkie is affirming doctrine of omniscience officially condemned by previous First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1865. In announcing their decision to the Twelve on 28 Jan 1960, First Presidency says there should be no revised edition of Mormon Doctrine. Presidency reverses initial decision on 7 Jan. "that the book should be officially repudiated."
By 28 Jan Presidency decides against requiring McConkie to make public apology because "it might lessen his influence" as general authority.
In 1966 year after his father-in-law becomes assistant counselor to First Presidency, McConkie publishes second edition of Mormon Doctrine. It corrects only a few of first edition "errors" cited by First Presidency and apostles in 1960. Book becomes best seller among Latter-day Saints. McConkie becomes member of Quorum of Twelve Apostles to fill vacancy which his father-in-law's death creates in 1972.

Jan 8, 1837 - A week after being baptized Willard Richards writes in his journal: "I partook of the sacrament, and was confirmed by Reynolds Cahoon. I received such a measure of the Spirit as to be sensible of the subject of a song of Zion, which was sung by Elder Lyman Sherman, in the gift of tongues, on the coming of Christ."

Jan 8, 1844 - Joseph Smith tells William Law that he is no longer his counselor.

Jan 8, 1846 - Brigham Young anoints Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate as the first couple to receive the second anointing in a temple in which they are ordained as eternal "king and queen, priest and priestess unto God." Brigham Young, as part of the ceremony, promises Heber "blessing of the Holy reserection, Even to the Eternal Godhead" after which Vilate is anointed "a Queen & Priestess unto her husband."

Jan 8, 1861 - Brigham Young's Office Journal notes: "Bishop Edwd Hunter called in, The President remarked he had 41 Children living, Br Lewis enquired of him if he knew them all."

Jan 8, 1880 - LDS political newspaper "Salt Lake Herald" reports George Q. Cannon's interview with pro-Mormon Omaha "Herald," in part "Polygamous marriages have ceased entirely so far as I know." In fact, in Endowment House alone, 107 men married polygamously in 1879 and 136 in 1880, most performed by general authorities.

Jan 8, 1881 - John Taylor preaches that "President Brigham Young had adopted the system of asking one-tenth of the property of the new comers in lieu of the surplus spoken of in the [1838] revelation." Taylor says that from now on tithing should be only "one tenth of our interest annually," and says local bishops must bear responsibility for giving temple recommends to non-tithers. Clerk in Presiding Bishopric's office records that Taylor has meeting vote to continue previous requirement of "one tenth of the property on entering the church." Thus a new convert is required to pay 1/10 of his/her property but a new arrival in Utah is not required to repeat lump-sum tithing.

Jan 8, 1887 - Lorenzo Snow is released from prison after serving eleven months of an 18-month sentence. He had been convicted of polygamy but his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme court on the technicality that one charge against him had been separated into three charges.

Jan 8, 1900 - President Lorenzo Snow issues statement against polygamous cohabitation and new plural marriages and says violators of this rule must bear responsibility themselves.

Jan 8, 1902 - Apostle Matthias Cowley, at a meeting of the Twelve, "Spoke of Freemasonry as being a counterfeit of the true Masonry of the Latter-day Saints."

Jan 8, 1942 - Among toasts offered at first party for all general authorities is Amy Brown Lyman's "Even the apostles are human." This annual social is henceforth held Tuesday after April general conference. At 1946 social, Presiding Bishop LeGrand Richards and Seventy's president Milton R. Hunter perform comic skit in which these nearly bald general authorities wear outrageous-looking wigs.

Jan 8, 1947 - DESERET NEWS publishes John H. Koyle's repudiation of his former claims regarding "Dream Mine," in which he urges his followers and stockholders to "regard this mine as a business venture without any religious significance." Despite this statement, Koyle is soon excommunicated, due to pressure from Apostle Mark E. Petersen.

Jan 8, 1955 - Church News announces that "Duty To God" award is now available for LDS Boy Scouts.

Jan 8, 1965 - Secretary to the First Presidency Joseph L. Anderson writes in answer to a question by a Mormon "regarding the drinking of Sanka Coffee": "I am directed to tell you that the drinking of a beverage made from the coffee bean, from which all caffeine and deleterious drugs have been removed, is not regarded as a violation of the Word of Wisdom."

Jan 8, 1977 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer speaks at an anti-ERA rally in Pocatello, Idaho. He specifically asks that the amendment, originally passed by the Idaho legislature with a two-thirds majority, be rescinded. On the platform with Packer is Allen Larsen, speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives, who was also a stake president. Two weeks later the Idaho Legislature rescinds the ERA vote by a simple majority.

Jan 8, 1995 - In his wheelchair Howard W. Hunter dedicates temple in Bountiful, Utah.

Jan 9, 1842 - Joseph Smith writes that the covered wagon carrying Willard Richards and Lorin Walker, while traveling on icy roads, "slipped and capsized and fell off the side of the bridge, 5 feet descent. Broke the carriage, some on the top and the fore axletree which we soon spliced . . .and agreed that Liburn W. Boggs should pay the damage."

Jan 9, 1845 -Thirty-year-old William Clayton writes of his fifth wife, Diantha Farr, on their the day of their wedding which occurred at Diantha's parent's house, "The question was asked of everyone present, did they freely give her up, and they all signified their willingness by saying they had no objections. There was Present Winslow Farr her father and his wife. . . .She [Diantha] was born in the town of Charleston Orleans County State of Vermont on the twelfth of October 1828 making her 16 years old last October."

Jan 9, 1846 - During a Sunday temple meeting Nauvoo police officers Hosea Stout and John Scott throw a rock on the head of a suspected spy "which came very near to taking his life."
Brigham Young "observed to the brethren that it was my wish that all dancing and merriment should cease, lest the brethren and sisters be carried away by vanity, and that the name of Diety should be held in reverence, with all the due deference that belongeth to an infinite being of his character."

Jan 9, 1847 - Wilford Woodruff dreams "some Indians came into my house with Axes with the intent to kill me. I got away from them went into the street And there two men one an Indian Stabed me with Knives in the side. I Hollowed murder and some came to my assistance."

Jan 9, 1851 - Salt Lake City is incorporated

Jan 9, 1859 - At Sunday meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle "Orson Pratt spoke again to the people upon evidence of the Book of Mormon. He took for his text the 4th vers of the 29 chapter of Isaiah. He spoke about two hours Confining himself mostly to this chapter." That evening at a meeting of the Twelve "O[rson] Hyde was unwell with the flux & did not dress. F. D. Richards was not well & did not dress. Erastus Snow came late & did not dress.. O.[rson] Pratt W.[ilford] Woodruff G.[eorge] A. Smith E.[zra] T. Benson & Lorenzo Snow dressed. O.[rson] Pratt prayed. W. Woodruff was mouth & while praying O Pratt Fainted & fell on the floor or rather eased himself down on the floor & lay there until we got through."

Jan 9, 1867 - At a party in which most people arrive late Brigham Young "Addressed the Assembly in an interesting manner. He was opposed to Commencing parties so late & continuing them so late an hour. It was following the custom of the Gentiles & Evil would grow out of it. The people should open their party by Prayer By 5 oclock & Close By 12 oclock."

Jan 9, 1870 - In the Salt Lake Tabernacle Wilford Woodruff preaches "in our day God has revealed unto us the Patriarchal order of Marriage & has said if we do not obey it we shall be damned. Congress has said if [we] do obey it we shall be damned. Now which shall we obey God or Congress?" The congregation shouts "we will obey God."

Jan 9,1880 - Apostle Orson Pratt writes to his children that city of New Jerusalem will be constructed by April 1950.

Jan 9, 1896 - Apostle John W. Taylor is assigned by the Quorum of Twelve to speak to fellow apostle Moses Thatcher "and talk over with him his condition or views on the question of insubordination in regard to running for office without an understanding with his brethren." Three months later Thatcher is dropped from the quorum for refusing to sign the "political manifesto" which requires every leading official to get permission from the proper authorities before accepting any position "political or otherwise." The "political manifesto" was seen as aimed at Moses Thatcher and B. H. Roberts, democrats, who had run for office without first getting permission from the brethren, while leaving certain other church officers free to engage in republican politics.

Jan 9, 1900 - At a meeting of the Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple "[Apostle] Marriner W. Merrill gave us some of his early experience and stood strong for polygamy."

Jan 9, 1901 - At a meeting of the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple apostle John Henry Smith "made a motion that we suggest to the Trustee in Trust that we don't sell any Liquor at Saltair for one year."

Jan 9, 1904 - Emmeline B. Wells, editor of Woman’s Exponent, writes: "Aunts Presendia [H. Kimball] & Zina [D. H. Young] used to interpret dreams for us but now there is no one to do it." This is one of the earliest comments about loss of spiritual gifts in Mormonism.

Jan 9, 1922 - B. H. Roberts writes to Church President Heber J. Grant about his meeting with the Apostles in which he presented his research into Book of Mormon "difficulties". "There was so much said that was utterly irrelevant, and so little said, if anything at all, that was helpful in the matters at issue that I came away from the conference quite disappointed... I cannot be other than painfully conscious of the fact that our means of defense, should we be vigorously attacked along the lines of Mr. Couch's questions, are very inadequate."

Jan 9, 1943 - Church Section lists non-U.S. rulers who have received Book of Mormon since Queen Victoria (1842), King Frederick VII of Denmark (1851), King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani of Hawaii (1877), Queen Emma of Holland (1890), King Oscar II of Sweden (1897), Emperor Matsuhito of Japan (1900), Empress Haruko of Japan (1909), Crown Prince Yoshihito (later Emperor) of Japan (1909), Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium (1919), President Thomas G. Masaryk of Czechoslovakia (1930), Presindent Jose F. Uriburu of Argentina (1931), President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia (1937), and President Getulio Vargas of Brazil (1940).

Jan 10, 1837 - Apostle Brigham Young exhorts the quorum of the Seventies "not to murmer against Moses (or) Joseph or the heads of the church."

Jan 10, 1845 - At a meeting of the "lesser priesthood" at the Nauvoo Music Hall "First Bishop of the Church" [later "Presiding Bishop"] Newel K. Whitney "recommended that the bishops establish in their respective wards the manufacturing of palm leaf and straw hats, willow baskets and other business that children are capable of learning, that they may be raised to industrious habits; . . ."

Jan 10, 1846 - In Nauvoo, eleven-year-old Mosiah L. Hancock is "privileged to go in the temple and receive my washings and anointings. I was sealed to a lovely young girl named Mary, who was about my age, but it was with the understanding that we were not to live together as man and wife until we were 16 years of age. The reason that some were sealed so young was because we knew that we would have to go West and wait many a long time for another temple."

Jan 10, 1852 - Brigham Young declares in the Deseret News, "Human flesh to be dealt in as property is not consistent or compatible with the principles of government." However less than a month later he twice argues in favor of a bill legalizing Black African slavery in the territory. He favored slavery of Blacks for religious reasons but did not want slave markets in Utah.

Jan 10, 1858 - Wilford Woodruff gives a talk on the "Early events of the Church." He talks about Moroni's visits to Joseph Smith but makes no mention of the First Vision.

Jan 10, 1868 - DESERET NEWS Editorial: "In this Territory we jealously close the door against adultery, seduction and whoredom. Public opinion here pronounces the penalty of death as the fitting punishment for such crimes."

Jan 10, 1870 - Sixty-eight-year-old Brigham Young drives the last spike to complete the Utah Central Railroad connecting Ogden to Salt Lake City. An "elegantly" engraved "large steel Mallet was used on the occasion . . . There was Engraved a Bee-hive surmounted by the inscription Holiness to the Lord." Wilford Woodruff offers the final prayer: "O, God, our Eternal Father we have assembled on this occasion to Celebrate one of the greatest & grandest Events of the generation in which we live, . . . " The completion of this last link connected Salt Lake City to the Union Pacific lines and thus by rail to the rest of the country.

Jan 10, 1895 - The Twelve meet to discuss an alleged statement by apostle Moses Thatcher that "cast reflections upon the Presidency of the whole church and Bro. [apostle Marriner W.] Merrill" Thatcher "said he did not make the statement in the form in which it was." The apostles vote as to whether Thatcher "ought to write and correct this matter . . ." The vote is deadlocked with Abraham H. Cannon claiming that "the presidency of the Church were predjuced against Bro. M. Thatcher." It was finally decided that Thatcher be "given one week to write out his denial of the statement."

Jan 10, 1899 - In a meeting of the Twelve Heber J. Grant "said his financial condition left him about $77,000.00 worse than nothing. He lamented because he had no living son. Prest. F. D. Richards prophesied that he would have a son and means to pay his debts." Although Grant had three wives he never had another son.

Jan 10, 1900 - In meeting of Twelve in Salt Lake Temple "George Teasdale gave a talk on marriage and stood firmly in favor of polygamy." Apostle John Henry Smith "spoke on our being prudent and not talking to[o] much." Apostle Francis M. Lyman "favored a conservative policy and not to[o] much talk these times."

Jan 10, 1906 - First Council of Seventy instructs B. H. Roberts to go to Los Angeles for "recuperation from a weakness for liquor that had fastened itself upon him." Roberts confessed his problem to Council in 1901, and its senior president writes in 1908 that he "has been many times much the worse for Liquor in so much that his brethren of the Council have had to take up a labor with him."

Jan 10, 1907 - President Joseph F. Smith announces that the church has completely retired its debt and would save from $30,000 to $60,000 per year in interest. Beyond this, the church has land, buildings, and other property worth about $10 million, and extensive investments in business.

Jan 10, 1980 - N. Eldon Tanner, chair of LDS Personnel Committee, writes all leaders "in Wasatch Front Stakes" to invite members to serve as unpaid volunteers at headquarters. Follow-up letter Apr. 16, 1981 comments: "Their work has resulted in significant savings to the Church" and asks for more volunteers "with managerial, technical, or clerical skills."

Jan 10, 1981 - Fawn McKay Brodie, niece of David O. McKay and author of NO MAN KNOWS MY HISTORY (for which she was excommunicated) dies of cancer in Santa Monica, California at age 65. During her last months she refuses pain medication fearing that it will interfere with her final work -- a biography of Richard Nixon. She does, however, ask for and receive a blessing from her active, LDS brother. This later leads to the false rumor that she returned to the Church at the end. At the time she states, "any exaggeration about my requests for a blessing meaning that I was asking to be taken back into the Church at that moment I strictly repudiate and would for all time." Her remains are cremated and the ashes scattered to the wind over the Pacific Palisades area she loved and protected.

Jan 10, 1984 - At a BYU Devotional Apostle Bruce R. McConkie identifies "salvation by 'grace alone without works' as the 'second greatest heresy' of Christendom". He also refers to the first, or "father of all heresies" which is the "incomprehensible three-in-one spirit essence" of God. Local Christian leaders decry McConkie's "hodge podge of confused statements", his "lack of real understanding of church history", and his "lack of understanding for other groups." One labels McConkie's talk "offensive".

Jan 10, 1986 - First counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates temple at Lima, Peru. Salt Lake Tribune story, "Mormons Excommunicate Repentant AIDS Victim: He is Asked Not to Attend Church." First Presidency's spokesman agrees that this young man should not attend LDS services.

JAN 11 MISSING

Jan 12, 1836 - The Kirtland High Council nominates a committee to draft rules for the soon-to-be-dedicated Kirtland temple. The committee consists of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, W.W. Phelps, David Whitmer, and Hyrum Smith. The rules drafted include:
"1st It is according to the rules and regulations of regular & legal organized bodies to have a president to keep order.
"2nd The body thus organized are under obligations to be in subjection to that authority."
". . .No man shall be interrupted who is appointed to speak by permission of the Church, by any individual person or persons in the congregation, by whispering, by laughing, by talking, by menacing gestures, by getting up and running out in a disorderly manner, or by offering indignity to the manner of worship, or the religion, or to any officer of said Church while officiating in his office, in any wise whatever by any display of ill manners or ill breeding from old or young, rich or poor, male or female, bond or free, black or white, believer or unbeliever and if any of the above insults are offered, such measures will be taken as are lawful to punish the aggressor or aggressors and eject them out of the House. . . ."
"6th All persons are prohibited [from] cutting, marking or maiming the inside or outside of the House with a knife, pencil or any other instrument whatever, under pain of such penalty as the law shall inflict.
"7th all children are prohibited from assembling in the House above or below or in any part of it to play or for recreation at any time and all parents, guardians or masters shall be amenable for all damage that shall occur in consequence of their children.
"8th All persons whether believer or unbelievers shall be treated with due respect by the authorities of the Church."

Jan 12, 1837 - The CLEVELAND DAILY GAZETTE reports: "During the past two days an emission of bills from the society of Mormons, has been showered upon us. As far as we can learn there is no property bound for their redemption, no coin on hand to redeem them with, and no responsible individuals whose honor or whose honesty is pledged for their payment. They seem to rest upon a spiritual basis."

Jan 12, 1838 - Fleeing from creditors, civil authorities, and dissenters, Joseph Smith, deeply in debt, leaves Kirtland for Far West, Missouri. The day he leaves Kirtland he receives three revelations. They are read publicly to the congregation at Far West but no copy of them survives to this day.

Jan 12, 1845 - Brigham Young performs a second anointing ceremony for his brother Joseph Young and Joseph's wife Jane Bicknell Young, the first such ceremony since august 1844.
William Clayton writes in his journal: "At the Council Hall. Elder H. C. Kimball preached. . . . He said that the church was like a swarm of Bees, who when they want to increase the king and queen go and seek a new location and when they have found it they come back to the hive and persuade the young folks out but as soon as they begin to fly the old women and young women run with their old tin Kettles and pans and cow Bells, ti[n]kling to drown the voice of the king and throw them into a confusion and prevent their enlargement. Just so with the saints when any seem disposed to enlarge their kingdom and godhead the old women and young women run with their old kettles and pans and cow Bells to drown the sound of the leaders and throw the saints into confusion and keep them shut up in their old traditions."

Jan 12, 1846 - Brigham Young tells temple congregation that Joseph Smith instructed him in the colors and design of a flag that he intends to unfurl in the "valleys that are within the Mountains." The Flag of the Kingdom of God proved to be similar to the American flag but with twelve white stars encircling one large star, and blue and white stripes.
Young writes in his journal, "Such has been the anxiety manifested by the saints to receive the ordinances, and such the anxiety on our part to administer to them, that I have given myself up entirely to the work of the Lord in the Temple night and day, not taking more than four hours sleep, upon average, per day, and going home but once a week."
Apostle Orson Pratt writes to Brigham Young concerning his brother fellow-apostle Parley P. Pratt: "With all the light and knowledge that he has received concerning the law of the priesthood and with all the counsels that he had received from our quorum, if he feels at liberty to go into the city of New York or elsewhere and seduce girls or females and sleep and have connexion with them contrary to the law of God, and the sacred counsels of his brethren, it is something that does not concern me as an individual. And if my quorum and the church can fellowship him, I shall find no fault with him, but leave it between him, the church, and God."

Jan 12, 1851 - President Brigham Young, preaching against "swareing or takeing the name of God in vain," says "the time might Come when the Lord would require him & the Elders of Israel to sharpen up their swords & go fourth & hew down the wicked in their midst. He said any Righteous man that Herd any one of his Children take the name of God in vain that He might whip them until He was satisfied."

Jan 12, 1862 - Brigham Young preaches: "I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not."

Jan 12, 1864 - Wilford Woodruff "Called at the prision & was with the prisioner [convicted murderer Jason Luce] until a few moments before his Execution. . . ."he had a vary hard time to part with his wife Children & Friends. He felt to Confess all of his [crimes] and ask the forgiveness of God & all men for all his Crimes. He had worn his garments up to tithing an hour before his death. I advised him to take it off which he did. . . . he then walked to his place of Execution. There was a large number outside the wall & some one hundred in the Court House . . . Jason Luce sat in a Chair with his feet maniceled. He addressed the people a few moments Renounced Wm. A. Hickman as his betrayer bid the People good by. Sherif Burton drew the Black Cap over his face & at the given signal 5 Balls was shot through or near his heart & his spirit left his body without a groan or hardly a movemet of his body." Luce had killed a man by slitting his throat with a Bowie knife on Dec. 7, 1863. The execution occurred 36 days after the crime was committed.
Having been publicly accused of using improper language, First Counselor Heber C. Kimball writes in his memorandum book: "I was told by the Lord that I should not be removed from my place as first counselor to President Young, and those who had oppressed me when it was in their power to do me good, shall be removed from their places. That [second counselor] Daniel H. Wells, [future apostle] Albert Carrington, [future apostle and son of Brigham] Jos. A. Young and others were among that number."

Jan 12, 1869 - DESERET NEWS editorial against universal male suffrage for United States: "Education and intelligence should precede the suffrage, otherwise the latter would be like a razor in the hands of a child--more likely to prove destructive than otherwise." Since Utah is not a state, it is unable to cast its vote against 15th amendment (Mar. 1870)

Jan 12, 1892 - In a meeting of the Twelve apostle John Henry Smith's political situation is discussed. John Henry Smith "then spoke of the principles of his party in such a partisan spirit that it caused several interruptions from Bro. [Moses} Thatcher whi is as strong a Democrat as John is a Republican. Bro. [Lorenzo] Snow had to interfere and check the Spirit which was starting." Franklin D. Richards (a Democrat) objected to some of John Henry's "calling those who did not believe as he did some pretty hard names, and "gave Bro. Smith a rather severe rebuke." John Henry Smith writes in his journal: "I felt somewhat hurt at what they said but we all parted feeling first rate."

Jan 12, 1893 - After a six-hour meeting of the Apostles and First Presidency a resolution is moved, seconded and carries unanimously that "that we all forgive one another and hereafter work in harmony with the First Presidency".

Jan 12, 1899 - At the weekly meeting in the Salt Lake Temple of the First Presidency and Apostles, Rudger Clawson writes that "the tables were spread and the brethren partook of the sacrament. After the bread and wine were blessed by Pres. Snow, [they] ate and drank freely until satisfied. It was indeed a time of refreshing and one long to be remembered."

Jan 12, 1928 - Heber J. Grant comments about lawsuit by native Hawaiians "against the Church having the right to deed its beach property, which it recently sold for something over a quarter of a million dollars, they claiming that the property really belonged to the natives. Inasmuch as the natives never paid for it I do not know whether they can win out, but they have won in the first court in which the case came up."

Jan 13, 1830 - The PALMYRA REFLECTOR publishes an extract from the Book of Mormon. This is the second of three times the REFLECTOR does this. Joseph Smith stops the practice by threatening to take the editor to court over copyright violation.

Jan 13, 1844 - The Nauvoo City Council meets and "treated upon the Subject or granting licence for retailing liquors."

Jan 13, 1852 - Heber C. Kimball speaks against a bill requiring code commissioners to be learned in the law and argues that any good man could be a lawyer in Utah, not just those with training: "I am not learned in the law, and I want to get a salary and sit on my h---s the same as other men, let us not make laws that will prohibit ourselves from such privileges. . . . Now the most of these learned lawyers are as ignorant as I am, and I tell you, if I sat upon the bench, and they treated me as they treat Judge Snow I would knock them down. He is learned in the law and must submit to have the nasty curses shame him and they will call him a nasty s—t. Then I say let us poor ignorant fools have a chance to get salaries."

Jan 13, 1856 - Brigham Young preaches: "The Lamanites on this Continent are Manassehites almost exclusively. There is but little of the seed of Ephraim among them. They are counted as the seed of Abraham and they must be saved or they would not have become so loathsome as they are. They are punished in the flesh to make attonement in the flesh for their sins & transgressions . . . The seed of Abraham has not been counted for many years NOR NEVER WILL BE AGAIN. If an Angel as to commence now to number them all when he had got the numbers together before they could be compiled there would be a great number more born during the time of there numeration so they could not be numbered & this is the reason why his seed Cannot be numbered. . . . We will administer in the Temple which we have now begun & that is one point gained & we will seal men to men by the highest keys of the Holy Priesthood. This is the highest ordinance. It is the last ordinance of the kingdom of God on the earth and aboe all the endowments that can be given you. It is a finall sealing an Eternal Principle and when once made cannot be broaken by the Devel."

Jan 13, 1857 - Wilford Woodruff reports that "[spirits] have begun to visit the Houses in the 16th ward and the spirit rapping."

Jan 13, 1867 - Brigham Young preaches: "According to his [Apostle Orson Pratt's] theory, God can progress no further in knowledge and power; but the God that I serve is progressing eternally." In 1980 Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, speaking at a BYU devotional calls the idea that God is progressing in knowledge a "deadly heresy".

Jan 13, 1870 - "The Ladies of Salt Lake City held a Mass Meeing in the Tabernacle at 1 oclok to Express their indignation at the Course Congress was taking in receiving such Bills as Culloms Bill upon Poligamy."

Jan 13, 1892 - Franklin D. Richards writes in his diary, "Pres. Snow read a poem by himself on the sentiment of God and Man. As we are now, so once was he."

Jan 13, 1899 - First Presidency decided that James E. Talmage's ARTICLES OF FAITH will "be published by the church" due to a review of its contents by the First Presidency and committee which included three apostles. Its discussion of Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms (420-21) states that "advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for." Eleventh edition deletes latter phrase in 1919, and twelfth edition in 1924 says: "as to possible progress from one kingdom to another the scriptures make no positive affirmation."

Jan 13, 1931 - Deseret Club is organized at UCLA as church's first social organization for LDS college students outside Utah. Current organization is LDS Students association (LDSSA) for students at every non-church college and university.

Jan 13, 1974 - Three missionaries in Pennsylvania are killed in head-on collision after car repeatedly bumps rear of their car and finally forces them into path on oncoming car.

Jan 14, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes of performing a marriage ceremony after which "We then took some refreshment and our hearts were made glad with the fruit of the vine. This is according to pattern Set by our Saviour himself and we feel disposed to patronize all the institutions of heaven."

Jan 14, 1844 - Brigham Young records in his journal, "My wife Mary Ann and I received our second anointing."

Jan 14, 1845 - William Clayton writes in his journal: Talked to Aaron considerable also with D[iantha] and was with her until 12 1/2 [12:30] and accomplished the desire of my heart by gaining victory over her feelings." Clayton had taken Diantha Farr, age 16, as his fifth wife the week before. She was his first teenaged wife. During the next 25 years he would take five more wives, four of which will be in their teens at the time.

Jan 14, 1847 - Brigham Young records his only canonized and officially published revelation, which concerns organization of the pioneer trek. He presents it to the Council of Fifty the next day, then on the 16th to the high council and First Council of Seventy. It becomes D&C 136 and says, in part, "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing . . ."

Jan 14, 1848 - Brigham Young instructs Seventy's meeting: "For the first act of adultery you may forgive a man, but if a man beds with [a] woman and does it 10 times he [is] guilty."

Jan 14, 1857 - Thomas D. Brown begins "his duties in the President's Office, astonished at the number of applications for permission to take [plural] wives." A month later hard-pressed Brigham Young recites "each [sealing] ceremony requires about 600 words, which in several instances were spoken in 1 min 48 seconds!"

Jan 14, 1858 - David Fullmer, Fifty's member says all Mormons are "one--black, white or red."

Jan 14, 1861 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Bp Edward E. Hunter asked the President if he did not think our dancing parties were Kept open too late. The President said he should say no more about it. He formerly had wished the Bps to close early and he had always left the dances early by way of example of himself but he did know that a Bp knew a word about it."

Jan 14, 1877 - Two weeks after the dedication of the lower portion of the St. George Temple, Brigham Young "requested Brigham [Young] Jr. & W[ilford] Woodruff to write out the Ceremony of the Endowments from Beginning to End."

Jan 14, 1883 - Apostle John Henry Smith preaches in England: "I spoke upon the history of Joseph Smith and also upon the baptism for the dead and also upon the doctrine of plural marriage, stating that we do not teach that principal in England as it is contrary to the law." At the time plural marriage was also contrary to U.S. law.

Jan 14, 1886 - The Twelve decide "it was best to get rid of the Church property." Subsequently church property throughout Utah was put into newly formed corporations to avoid seizure by the federal government.

Jan 14, 1972 - First Presidency organizes church's historical department and for first time appoints professional historian, Leonard J. Arrington, as church historian, to which he is sustained by church conferences from 1972 to 1977. Church archives had been open for unrestricted research by scholars of all religious backgrounds since appointment in 1970 of Arrington's predecessor, Apostle Howard W. Hunter. Arrington continues as Church Historian until 1980 during which time First Presidency encourages research and publication.
From 1972 to 1980 historical department has Church History Division. Church Historian Leonard J. Arrington and his staff of trained historians publish articles and books of interpretive history which seek to provide balanced view of Mormonism's controversial past. In 1980 First Presidency eliminates Church History Division and transfers former Church Historian and his staff to Brigham Young University.
Open access to LDS archives gradually diminishes from 1980 to 1986, when historical department begins to claim right of ex post facto censorship of previous research. By 1986 historical department has created "public access" computer catalog which omits previously available manuscripts now judged to sensitive for research "patrons." Only staff of historical department has access to uncensored catalog of manuscripts. Procedurally, archival research is further impeded by requiring approval from historical department committee or even from committee of apostles for research to previously unrestricted manuscripts. By 1990 researchers having signed form since 1986 are required to obtain pre-publication approval from church's Correlation Committee. Efforts at pre-publication censorship prove counterproductive and are officially abandoned in 1992, yet researchers at LDS archives continue to be small fraction of their numbers during years in which people of all backgrounds knew they were welcome there.

Jan 14, 1975 - The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE quotes M. Byron Fisher, a member of the Utah legislature, as saying, "It is my Church, and as a bishop, I'm not going to vote against its wishes."

Jan 14, 1976 - Church president Spencer W. Kimball and other officials learn of the discovery of a 150-pound set of brass plates, bound by rings, that a man in England claims were brought from South America by his grandfather. The man, Bert Fuchs, also claims to have some parchments from ancient Hawaii (which had no written language), a sword with a jeweled handle, and an odd pair of spectacles. The artifacts are given to the Church. Fuchs and his family are baptized, later move to the United States, meet with President Kimball and are sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Paul Cheesman, a BYU religion professor interested in Book of Mormon artifacts, goes to England to collect the relics for investigation and brings them to Salt Lake City. The investigation of the relics is kept secret even from the Church Historian's Department and their existence is never announced publicly. After it is found that the supposed relics are fraudulent, modern creations, Fuchs is excommunicated.

Jan 14, 1977 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer, in a talk at Brigham Young University, preaches: "We've always counseled in the Church for our Mexican members to marry Mexicans, our Japanese members to marry Japanese, our Caucasians to marry Caucasians, our Polynesian members to marry Polynesians. The counsel has been wise. . . . Plan, young people, to marry into your own race."

Jan 15, 1844 - At the instigation of the Twelve apostles 200 Mormons turn out and cut 200 loads of wood 100 of which are given to Joseph Smith.

Jan 15, 1845 - A Mormon woman writes that "there is all ready ten hundred thousand of the lamanites baptized into the Church and thay are waiting verry impatient to avenge the blood of Joseph and Hirum. We have to keep men among them to keep them back or thay would [have] ben here before this time."

Jan 15, 1846 - Mary Fielding Smith, widow of Hyrum Smith and Mother of Joseph F. Smith, sixth president of the church and grandmother of Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth president of the church, is sealed to Heber C. Kimball as a plural wife "for time" in the Nauvoo Temple. She had married him in September of 1844 (his eighth wife) but the marriage was not "sealed" at that time.

Jan 15, 1847 - Brigham Young states, while discussing "the Levitical priesthood," that "no son of Levi has yet been round in these last days to minister at the altar."

Jan 15, 1851 - First of Brigham Young’s five formal divorces from plural wives. He is only one formally divorced while serving as church president. Joseph Smith informally ended several plural marriages, and four LDS presidents are formally divorced as apostles (John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith)

Jan 15, 1877 - Brigham Young begins dictating from memory first written version of endowment ceremony. He adds Protestant minister as new character in endowment drama which does not have set dialogue at this time.

Jan 15, 1887 - Arizona’s governor signs repeal of "Test Oath," which disfranchised all Mormons.

Jan 15,1897 - Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. temporarily resigns as vice-president of Brigham Young Trust Company because first counselor George Q. Cannon allows its property to become "a first class" brothel on Commercial Street (now Regent Street), Salt Lake City. Apostle Heber J. Grant is invited to its opening reception and is stunned to discover himself inside "a regular whore-house." This situation begins in 1891, and for fifty years church controlled real estate companies lease houses of prostitution.

Jan 15, 1902 - Church publication THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR prints instruction by Church President Joseph F. Smith: "Indeed, we believe that every man holding the Priesthood, in good standing in the Church, who owns a home, is supreme in his own household, and when another brother enters it, and he requests the latter to perform any duty consistent with his calling, the latter should accede to his wishes; and if there should be anything wrong, he who makes the request as the head of the house into which the brother has come, is responsible therefore."

Jan 15, 1925 - Excommunication of Lorin C. Woolley for "pernicious lying," rather than for any specific activities as Fundamentalist leader.

Jan 15, 1945 - Death of local LDS leader Tevita Mapa secretary to Tonga's Premier. Similarly respected Ebenezer Theodore Joshua becomes St. Vincent's Prime Minister in 1969 during this Caribbean island's "associated state" decade prior to independence from Britain. Joshua later converts to Mormonism, and at his death, thousands of non-Mormon admirers attend his funeral at LDS meeting house where he is branch president.

Jan 15, 1969 - BYU president Ernest L. Wilkinson forwards three clippings from the UNIVERSE to his assistant, Stephen R. Covey, with a memo reading, "I wish you would take the time to prepare a careful answer to the letter published January 6, and we will find some way of getting it in the Universe under some student's name."

Jan 15, 1970 - Salt Lake Tribune publishes statement from David O. McKay's son who verifies accuracy of following statement LDS president made to philosophy professor Sterling M. McMurrin in 1958: "There is no doctrine in this Church and there never was a doctrine in this Church to the effect that the Negroes are under any kind of a divine curse."

Jan 15, 1989 - The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that ourgoing director of the Utah ACLU chapter Robyn Blumner had "a heightened understanding of the culture, leaving 250 more card-carrying ACLU members in the state" than when she had arrived. Blumner is quoted as saying that "Utah is a very special place. The thing that makes it so special is that there are more unsung heroes per capita here than probably any other state in the nation." She says she had been surprised by the complexity of the society, "I have never before lived in a place where one's religion so affected one's social choices, one's religion here seems to dictate the choice of friends, associates, activities and even business contacts. I find that disquieting."

Jan 15, 1994 - CHURCH NEWS article "Suicide Rates Increasing: Church Members Not Immune."

Jan 15, 1977 - Church News article about Jack Kong, president of LDS branch at leper colony of Molokai for twenty-five years.

Jan 16, 1836 - Upon complaints by the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the First Presidency formally apologizes for not showing them due respect.
Oliver Cowdery records in his journal: "met in the evening with bro. Joseph Smith, Jr. at his house, in company with bro. John Corrill, and after pure water was prepared, called upon the Lord and proceeded to wash each other's bodies, and bathe the same with whiskey, perfumed with cinnamon. This we did that we might be clean before the Lord for the Sabbath, confessing our sins and covenanting to be faithful to God. While performing this washing unto the Lord with solemnity, our minds were filled with many reflections upon the propriety of the same, and how the priests anciently used to wash always before ministering before the Lord. As we had nearly finished this purification, bro. Martin Harris came in and was also washed."

Jan 16, 1838 - In Dublin, Indiana, Joseph Smith "destitute of money" says to Brigham Young, "You are one of the Twelve who have charge of the kingdom in all the world; I believe I shall throw myself upon you, and look to you for counsel in this case." Brigham Young helps "Brother Tomlinson" sell his farm and Joseph "got three hundred dollars from Brother Tomlinson, which enabled me to pursue my journey."

Jan 16, 1839 - Joseph Smith, in Liberty jail, writes a letter to "Brothers H. C. Kimball and B. Young," including the post-script: "Appoint the oldest of those of the twelve who were first appointed to be the President of your Quorum." Joseph (who may have thought the balding Kimball was older than Young) does not name the president of the Quorum. But because Brigham Young is thirteen days older than Heber, and because the senior Apostle Lyman E. Johnson had left the church, Young becomes the president of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Prophet's successor as president of the church.

Jan 16, 1844 - An "Ordinance concerning the sale of Spirituous Liquors" is passed by the Nauvoo City Council. It states: "Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nauvoo. that the Mayor of this city is hereby authorized to sell said liquors in such quantities as he may deem expedient." The ordinance is signed by "Joseph Smith, Mayor."

Jan 16, 1847 - Brigham Young teaches "that some men were afraid they would lose some glory if they were sealed to one of the Twelve, and did not stand alone and have others sealed to them. A Saint's Kingdom consisted of his own posterity, and to be sealed to one of the Twelve did not diminish him, but only connected him according to the law of God by that perfect chain and order of Heaven, that will bind the righteous from Adam to the last Saint. Adam will claim us all, as members of his kingdom, we being his children."

Jan 16, 1851 - The General Assembly of the State of Deseret passes a law stating: "Be it further ordained, that when any person shall be found guilty of murder, under any of the preceding sections of this ordinance, and sentenced to die, he, she or they shall suffer death, by being shot, being hung or beheaded."

Jan 16, 1862 - Orrin Porter Rockwell kills "while attempting to escape" Lot Huntington for Dawson beating. [see Jan 1, 1862] Church Historian's office notes that Rockwell shoots Huntington eight times in stomach--difficult to do while someone is running away from the shooter. Salt Lake City policemen kill Moroni Clawson and John P. Smith while escorting them to jail on Jan. 17 for the beating. On Jan. 22 bishop's court tries participant Isaac Niebaur who confesses, protests that he "never stole from a Mormon," asks forgiveness, "but if his Blood must atone he is willing to die." Church court forgives Niebaur without blood atonement, but Salt Lake county court on March 25 sentences him and two others to varying prison terms for Dawson incident.

Jan 7, 1877 - The DESERET NEWS publishes a stern attack on "mixed dancing parties" The article cites police records to the effect that several girls had been "ruined" by attending such gatherings and alerts parents to the growing evil of the waltz.

Jan 16, 1879 - Editorial comment of LDS political newspaper Salt Lake Herald: "We question if seventy-six polygamous marriages have been solemnized in the Endowment house, this city, in a year, or even twice that period." In fact, during 1878, 113 men entered polygamous marriages in Endowment House.

Jan 16, 1881 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff tells conference of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association in Ogden, Utah that "there were thousands of young men living among this people now that would live to see the Savior come to the earth." He adds that they will "be changed to immortality in the twinkle of an eye without tasting death."

Jan 16, 1894 - Presidency and apostles vote for church to pay $25,000 to Brigham Young Trust Company to act as intermediary in making "a loan" to repay that amount of monies which Bishop Leonard G. Hardy has embezzled from Salt Lake County.

Jan 16, 1895 - Heber J. Grant writes in his diary: "Spent the evening at Emily's. I will be a happy man when the time comes that I can live with her as a husband and not have to simply call and spend a few hours, and never stop over night at her home."

Jan 16, 1886 - Lorenzo Snow is sentenced to 18 months in the Penitentiary and a $900 dollar fine upon his conviction for unlawful cohabitation (polygamy).

Jan 16, 1902 - At a meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles "Apostle [Rudger] Clawson said he felt that sisters who were called to positions in the church should be carefully questioned as to their views and feelings toward the principles which we espouse, as there is danger in calling some to office who have no faith in plural marriage. The brethren were instructed to do this and also have presidents of stakes adopt the same rule."

Jan 16, 1952 - Church News reports that Yotario Yoshino and Toshio Murakami are first Japanese missionaries to be called from their homeland. Both are converts whose non-LDS parents have agreed to support them financially while proselytizing. These are first native-born Asian missionaries of LDS church, and not until December 1963 are there Chinese missionaries from Hong Kong.

Jan 16, 1981 - Esther W. Eggertsen Peterson receives U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is first Mormon to receive nation's highest civilian honor, followed by J. Willard Marriott (posthumously, 1988) and Morris K. Udall (1996). No general authority has received Medal of Freedom, but Ezra Taft Benson receives Presidential Citizens Medal (1989).

Jan 16, 1983 - Ending policy of 132 years and six months, DESERET NEWS (of which Counselor Hinckley is senior director) begins printing Sunday edition.

Jan 16, 1988 - Addam Swapp, son-in-law of deceased Fundamentalist John Singer, uses 87 sticks of dynamite to bomb LDS stake center in Kamas, Utah. He leaves behind an Indian-like spear, with an attached noted bearing the date "Jan. 18, 1979," (the date of John Singer's death at the hand of law enforcement officers) stuck into a baseball diamond near the church. This begins several-week stand-off between this polygamous clan and law enforcement officers. This results in even more cooperation between law enforcement and Mormon Fundamentalists, who repudiate Singer family's actions and seek peaceful solution. One lawman dies in arresting family.

Jan 17, 1836 - while the First Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventy, and the Councilors of Kirtland and Zion are gathered together in conference, "the gift of tongues came on us also, like the rushing of a mighty wind". Five days later the gift of tongues again comes to this group "in mighty power".

Jan 17, 1842 - Joseph Smith takes eight-months-pregnant Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner as a plural wife. Mary Elizabeth, age 24, has been legally married to non-Mormon Adam Lightner for over six years at the time. She continues to live with Adam Lightner afterward as instructed by Joseph Smith. Mary Elizabeth later states, "Joseph Said I was his, before I came here. He said all the Devils in Hell should never get me from him."

Jan 17, 1843 - As proclaimed by the Quorum of the Twelve a week earlier this day is observed "as a day of humiliation, fasting, prayer and thanksgiving for the great blessings which our heavenly Father has conferred on us in the deliverance of our beloved President, Joseph Smith, who has been honorably discharged from his arrest under the Missouri writ by the U. S. District Court of Illinois; Judge Pope presiding."

Jan 17, 1844 - Elizabeth Ann Whitney, wife of Bishop Newel K. Whitney gives birth to the first child, a girl whom Joseph Smith named Mary, born "heir to the Holy Priesthood and in the New and Everlasting Covenant in this dispensation."

Jan 17, 1846 - John D. Lee receives his second anointing in the Nauvoo Temple. He records in his diary: "Thus we were conducted to Room No 2 where we received our anointings yea, Holy anointings in the Temple of the Lord under the hands of Elder Orson Hyde this certainly produced more joy comfort and pleasure & reconciliation of feeling than could possibly have been imagined."

Jan 17, 1847 - Brigham Young addresses the assembled Saints "showing that the church had been led by Revelation just as much since the death of Joseph Smith as before, and that he was a great and good a man, and as great a Prophet as ever lived upon the earth, Jesus excepted. Joseph received his apostleship from Peter and his brethren, and the present apostles received their apostleship form Joseph the first apostle, and Oliver Cowdery, the second Apostle." Later at Municipal High Council meeting Young "cautioned the brethren against selling whiskey to the Indians . . ."

Jan 17, 1848 - A Bishop's court finds a man guilty of horse theft and orders Salt Lake City marshal to give him "30 lashes on the bare back."
Brigham Young teaches that "dancing was not an ordinance of the gospel or of the House of the Lord. But the organization of man is such that it requires a variety. Singing stimulates the whole system & the mental mind to such a degree that they want to dance. This is well enough in its place. Every thing that is calculated to fill the soul with Joy is ordained of God & is proper for the Saints if they acknowledge God in all things & do not sin." Afterward the afternoon and evening is "spent in music and dancing. The old gray headed man, with the young man, maiden and children went forth in the dance together & praised the Lord in the dance and all was peace and harmony."

Jan 17, 1858 - At a prayer circle with the apostles and first presidency President Brigham Young, "formed a true Circle. He made each man toe the mark and keep good order or stay at home. You must be of one heart and one mind for Jesus said when two or three are gathered together in my name and are agreed as touching any one thing and asked the father in my name it shall be given unto you. Now Jesus did not tell a lie and when any prayer is offered up & not answered it is because you are not agreed in it and their prayers are not offered in faith and Union."

Jan 17 1861 - Brigham Young's office journals records: "The President remarked that the People were very unwilling to pay taxes, and men that ought to know better felt this also. Men will spend money for drink but not to build up the Kingdom and if we did not mind the Lord might Let the gentiles overrun us. If gold was discovered here the gentiles might over-run us and break us up. He remarked as good a man as Patriarch Jno Smith could not see that taxation builds up a people. The neglecting the payment of taxes would run a nation into barbarism observed the President, The destitute and degraded condition of the Lamanites was through their fathers being opposed to principles of tithing and taxation."

Jan 17, 1864 - Brigham Young informs the Twelve that he has received a letter from members in Hawaii that Hawaiian Mission Leader Walter M. Gibson "had ordained on the Island a Quorum of Twelve Apostles & Seventies & Bishops & High Priests &c. He Charged $100 for Ordaining the 12 each & $50 for 70, $5 for a Bishop $2.50 for a Bishops Councelor &c And He claimed all the Island to himself & said that Brigham Young had no dominion over those Islands And all his conduct is Accordingly. He has taken possession of the Island & takes from the Saints all they they raise & is playing the Tyrant over all the Saints on those Islands." Young sends a party headed by Ezra T. Benson and Lorenzo Snow to Hawaii to set things straight. Gibson is excommunicated in July.

Jan 17, 1877 - David Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith's youngest son, is committed to the Illinois Hospital for the Insane.

Jan 17, 1878 - Apostle George Q. Cannon (special counselor and private secretary to Brigham Young) comments that fellow apostles "felt that the funds of the Church have been used with a freedom not warranted by the authority which he [Brigham Young] held." He also writes in his diary, "Some of my brethren, as I have learned since the death of President Brigham Young, did have feelings concerning his course. They did not approve of it, and felt oppressed, and yet they dare not exhibit their feelings to him, he ruled with so strong and stiff a hand, and they felt that it would be of no use. In a few words, the feeling seemed to be that he transcended the bounds of authority which he
legitimately held. I have been greatly surprised to find so much dissatisfaction in such quarters .... Some even feel that in the promulgation of doctrine he took liberties beyond those to which he was legitimately entitled."

Jan 17, 1887 - A committee of Apostles writes a letter to President John Taylor "advising the sale of all property liable to be gob[b]led by the government."

Jan 17, 1894 - John Henry Smith writes in his journal, "All of the Presidency and Bro. M[oses] Thatcher joined us [in the Temple] and we broke bread together and drank wine."

Jan 17, 1901 - At Council meeting in the Salt Lake Temple President Lorenzo Snow "favored Thomas Kearns for U.S. Senator but laid no obligation on anyone to work for him." Six days later Kearns is nominated and elected Senator by the Utah State Legislature.

Jan 17, 1924 - More people arrive at the Salt Lake Temple to perform endowments than the temple can handle. People are turned away due to overcrowding.

Jan 17, 1954 - David O. McKay tells meeting of LDS missionaries in South Africa that he wanted to ordain African-American in 1921 but that is not possible "until the Lord gives us another revelation changing this practice." McKay acknowledges two exceptions to this policy: one African-American (Elijah Abel) received priesthood during Joseph Smith presidency and one other (identity unknown and probably myth) received endowment during Brigham Young's presidency. However, McKay liberalizes church's policy by no longer requiring priesthood eligibility to depend on South African's ability to trace all his ancestral lines to Europe.

Jan 17, 1974 - The ROLLING STONE publishes an article "The Mormon Word: No Hair, Sex or 3 Dog Night" which tells of the ASBYU Social Office's cancellation of a scheduled appearance by the group "Three Dog Night" immediately after a conference address by Boyd K. Packer. The article quotes Mark Alexander, BYU social vice-president: "In light of Elder Packer's talk, we are taking a closer look at the groups we are booking, and we are making sure we are in harmony with church standards". In the previous October General Conference, Packer referred to the "shabbiness, the irreverence, the immorality, and the addictions" associated with many contemporary entertainers, and intimated that the music itself was inherently evil.

Jan 17, 1976 - CHURCH NEWS article about Mormon convert Piera Bellaviti, formerly a nun and Vatican secretary to popes Pius XII, John XXIII, and Paul VI.

Jan 17, 1977 - Gary Mark Gilmore is executed by a Utah firing squad ending an almost ten-year moratorium on capital punishment in the United States. The choices available to Gilmore were hanging or firing squad. The option of death by firing squad is a remnant of the days when the doctrine of "blood atonement" taught that to atone for certain sins a person's blood must be "spilt upon the ground."

Jan 17, 1981 - Richard N. Richards is elected national chair of Republican Party.

Jan 17, 1986 - Second counselor Thomas S. Monson dedicates temple at Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Jan 18, 1827 - Joseph Smith elopes and marries Emma Hale. Isaac Hale, Emma's father, says to Joseph, "You have stolen my daughter and married her. I had much rather have followed her to the grave." Later Emma recalls, "I had no intention of marrying when I left home...[but] Preferring to marry him to any other man I knew, I consented." To reconcile with Emma's father Joseph promises to give up the treasure-hunting business.

Jan 18, 1840 - In Manchester England Wilford Woodruff performs an exorcism: "We found the sister possessed of the Devel & a burning fever on the brain. She was rageing & trying to tare herself although in the hands of three or four men." Woodruff anoints her head with oil and then administers the oil to her internally. William Clayton writes, "after washing her forehead with rum she appeared better and we left her."

Jan 18, 1841 - Brigham Young and Willard Richards "commenced reading the Book of Mormon, and preparing an index to the English edition."

Jan 18, 1843 - Joseph Smith throws a feast for his friends "as a memento of his release from the Missouri writ by the U. S. District Court of Illinois." That night Joseph dreams "a sheriff came after me. A man put a musket in my hand and told me to keep him. I took the musket and walked around him. When he went to go away, I would push him back . . . "

Jan 18, 1844 - Book of Mormon witness Oliver Cowdery is a charter member of the Methodist church in his town.

Jan 18, 1846 - A meeting of the captains of Emigrating Companies is held in the attic storey of the Nauvoo Temple "to ascertain the number ready and willing to start should necessity compel our instant removal, . . .every man felt willing to yield to the circumstances that surround us, and let their property be used for the purpose of accomplishing the removal and salvation of this people."

Jan 18, 1847 - Brigham Young meets with his "Company or family organization or those who had been adopted unto him or were to be, & organized them in to a company out of which may grow a people that my yet be called the tribe of Brigham." Young says that "any man who would put his money to usury in the cause of God would receive an hundred fold."

Jan 18, 1866 - Deseret Telegraph Company chartered by Utah Legislature. President Lorenzo Snow sells this church business to Western Union on 8 Mar. 1900.

Jan 18, 1882 - The First Presidency and the Twelve meet in the Endowment House. It is decided by President John Taylor that the sacrament can be administered to children under eight years of age.

Jan 18, 1964 - Church News reports that LDS headquarters has donated $10,000 toward construction of John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 1974, Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs at Kennedy Center with attendance by newly installed U.S. president Gerald R. Ford.

Jan 18, 1965 - Mormon Tabernacle choir sings at inauguration of U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson, first of several such inaugural invitations by U.S. presidents.

Jan 18, 1970 - David O. McKay's death at age 96 years 4 months and 10 days, oldest age to which any LDS president has lived, but not oldest general authority. His is longest service as general authority, sixty-three years and nine months. Heber J. Grant and Joseph Fielding Smith have next longest tenures of sixty-two years and a few months as general authorities.

Jan 18, 1972 - Joseph Fielding Smith is unable to finish reading dedicatory prayer for temple in Ogden, Utah, and first counselor Harold B. Lee completes dedication. Some report seeing "a brilliant light at the pulpit whenever the First Presidency members stood to speak in the celestial room of the temple."

Jan 18, 1979 - Utah law enforcement officers kill Mormon fundamentalist John Singer as climax to armed stand-off about home schooling of his wives' children. To his adversaries Singer is shot while armed and resisting arrest. To his sympathizers he is polygamy martyr, who is literally shot in back as he flees anti-polygamy Mormon police. Utah courts exonerate police officers.

Jan 18, 1992 - Saimoni Tamani is inducted into Fiji's sports Hall of Fame. In 1970 he was first Fijian to win medal in track and field competition at Commonwealth Games.

Jan 18, 1996 - First Presidency announces that all general authorities are resigning as officers or directors of business enterprises and will not accept such positions in future.

*** JAN 19 MISSING ***

Jan 20, 1836 - Joseph Smith performs a wedding attended by "The Presidency and their companions in the first Seats, the Twelve Apostles in the second, the 70 in the third and the remainder of the congregation seated with their companions." After the ceremony "Eld[e]r O[rson] Hyde, Eld[e]r L[uke] Johnson, and Eld[e]r W[arren] Parrish who served on the occasion then presented the Presidency with three Servers filled with glasses of wine to bless. It fell to my [Joseph Smith's] lot to attend to this duty, which I cheerfully discharged. It was then passed round in order, then the cake in the Same order. Suffise it to say our hearts were made glad, while partaking of the bounty of the earth which was presented until we had taken our fill."

Jan 20, 1840 - In England Wilford Woodruff performs and exorcism: "I was called upon with my Brethren to visit a child possessed of the Devil that endeavored to destroy the child. It was the child of the Woman that was possessed with the Devil upon whome we lade hands Saturday evening. (Jan 29, 1840). We lade hands upon the child that was reathing under the power of the Deavil & commanded the Devil to Depart in the name of Jesus Christ & it was instantly done & the child fell asleep."

Jan 20, 1843 - Joseph Smith tells the Quorum of Twelve that Orson Pratt "had not legally been cut off," then rebaptizes him and reinstates him to the quorum, resulting in the first occasion where there are more than twelve men in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Concerning this "Brother Joseph Smith said he would find another place for brother Amasa Lyman." Two weeks Later Joseph ordains Lyman a counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph Smith dreams that "I was in the Lobby of the Representative House at Springfield when some of the members who did not like my being there began to mar and cut and pound my shins with pieces of Iron. I bore it as long as I could, then Jumped over the rail into the hall, caught a rod of Iron and went at them cursing and swearing at them in the most awful manner and drove them all out of the house. . . .I took a rod of Iron and mowed my way through their ranks, looking after their best race horse . . ."
Also at the meeting "Elder Hyde told of the excellent white wine he drank in the east [Palestine]. Joseph prophesied in the name of the Lord that he would drink wine with him in that country."

Jan 20, 1844 - Joseph Smith gives Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate their Second Anointing.

Jan 20, 1848 - George A. Smith addresses the Saints and "advised them to pay their tithing & not admit of making use of Ardent spirits . . ."

Jan 20, 1860 - Concerning Mormon woman who commits suicide due to chronic illness, Brigham Young says, "she had done wrong but by no means had committed the unpardonable sin and in course of time a proxy could be appointed who could be baptized for her."

Jan 20, 1862 - Unsuccessful convention seeking statehood. At the convention Brigham Young wants all to "attend to the business for which they Came together and not name Either Mormon or Christian." Concerning federal appointments sent to govern in the territory Young proclaims: "I would like to see any Lawyier show me the Constitution or law that Gives the U.S. power to send any man to rule over us. I will Claim my rights and in the name of God we will maintain them. If any more men Come here Committing treason I will treat them as treasoners whether they be many or few. If I had been in the place of the Preside[n]t of the United States [Lincoln] and had possession of Mason & Slidell [Confederate officials arrested aboard a British Ship in international waters] I would have hung them or shot them for they were guilty of treason. We have the right to do all that we shall attempt to perform and we will have our right by the Help of God and if any man Comes here again to molest us they shall pay the penalty so help me God." "

Jan 20, 1870 - Salt Lake City School of Prophets "turn[s] into a caucus meeting, for the purpose of nominating our City officers, preparatory to the forthcoming Election."

Jan 20, 1872 - At the School of the Prophets Wilford Woodruff asks, "Why has the devil sought to take my life from the day I was born untill now more than any other men? For I seem a marked victim for the devil from the day I was born untill now, and I Can find but one answer & that is the devil knew if I got into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints I would write the History of the Church & leave on Record the doings, works & teachings of the prophets & Apostles Elders & Saints in the latter days . . ."

Jan 20, 1878 - Llewellyn Harris begins proselytizing Zuni Pueblo at beginning of small pox epidemic. He administers priesthood ordinance of healing to 409 Zunis, all of whom "recovered, excepting five or six that the [Presbyterian] minister gave medicine to, and four or five that the [Zuni] medicine man had tried to cure by magic."

Jan 20, 1886 - Joseph Smith III, son of Joseph Smith Jr. and president of the Reorganized Church writes to his cousin John Henry Smith, an LDS apostle, "As the son of Joseph Smith, I have a son's right, independent of any religious obligation, to see that the name of my sire is not burdened with shame, obloquy, or unjust censure." He relates that after seriously considering joining the Mormons as a young man in 1853, he was told "by the voice of revelation, not to have anything to do with polygamy, except to oppose it." "If father had more wives than one," he writes, "it does not affect the rule given to the Church. It proves nothing only that he was a transgressor against the rule, and the civil law. From my view polygamy could not and never did emanate by command from God. It had [an]other source. Hence, Joseph Smith was not justified in its practice; nor is the practice defensible from the consideration that he did so."

Jan 20, 1887 - William Law, former counselor to Joseph Smith, writes to the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, that in spite of Joseph Smith's claim that "Jane [Law's wife] had been speaking evil of him for a long time … slandered him, and lied about him without cause," Law says, "My wife would not speak evil of … anyone … without cause," he notes; "Joseph is the liar and not she." In addition to defending the honor of his wife, Law insists that Sarah Pratt was a "good, virtuous woman."

Jan 20, 1888 - President Wilford Woodruff writes to Church Patriarch John Smith refusing his request for financial assistance. Woodruff points out that the Patriarch was drawing a thousand dollars a year from the church, "not mentioning the amount that is paid to Sister Lemon [John's plural wife]." What Woodruff failed to mention was the fact that other general authorities were drawing twice that amount.

Jan 20, 1890 - Utah Supreme Court rules that polygamous children cannot inherit from their father, even though Utah law since 1852 guaranteed: "Illegitimate children and their mothers inherit in like manner from the father, whether acknowledged by him or not."

Jan 20, 1903 - Utah legislature elects Apostle Reed Smoot as U.S. Senator. This begins national crusade, led by Salt Lake Ministerial Alliance, to persuade U.S. Senate to reject him.

Jan 20, 1946 - Council of Twelve recommends that all stake presidents and bishops engage in "a program of revival and motivation of the 'Home Evening' as a Church wide project." citing previously unfulfilled instructions in this regard by First Presidency in 1915.

Jan 20,1949 - President George Albert Smith begins week's stay in California Lutheran Hospital for his "tired nerves," which his diary first refers to at Oct 1948 general conference. He is first LDS president with history of severe emotional illness and hospitalization. He does not recover from this episode until mid May 1949, when able to be in First Presidency office at least half day. Smith is absent from church headquarters 12 Jan to 27 Feb 1950 to stay a Laguna Beach, California, "to rest my nerves." He returns there to recuperate again for ten days in March. Year later his nurse notes that church president is "very confused, very nervous." Ten days before his death, nurse adds that George Albert Smith is "irrational at times."

Jan 20, 1953 - Apostle Ezra Taft Benson begins his official service as Secretary of Agriculture in cabinet of newly inaugurated U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Church president David O. McKay already "set apart" Benson as Secretary of Agriculture on Nov 28, 1952. Subsequent LDS Cabinet members are Stewart Udall (Interior, 1961-69), George Romney (Housing and Urban Development, 1969-72), David M. Kennedy (Tresury, 1969-71, and special cabinet member while ambassador-at-large, 1971-73), Terrel H. Bell (Education, 1981-85)
In addition to this unprecedented appointment of LDS general authority, Eisenhower appoints Mrs. Ivy M. baker Priest as first Mormon to serve as U.S. Treasurer. In 1981 Republican Ronald Reagan appoints Angela Marie ("Bay") Buchanan as second Mormon to serve as U.S. Treasurer.

Jan 20, 1968 - Church News reports that LDS Genealogical Society is tape-recording "oral genealogies dating back to 9th Century among people of Samoa." Within decade LDS begin recording genealogies memorized by tribal historians of sub-Saharan Africa.

Jan 20, 1988 - In his letter of resignation for tenured position as full professor of history at Brigham Young University, D. Michael Quinn writes that "academic freedom merely survives at BYU without fundamental support by the institution, exists against tremendous pressure, and is nurtured only through the dedication of individual administrators and faculty members."

Jan 20, 1991 - At LDS interstake center, next to Oakland temple in California, LDS stake president is one of speakers at "An Ecumenical Celebration of the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr." Meeting is sponsored by Interreligous Council of Oakland.

Jan 21, 1836 - After dismissing Hebrew School for the day and attending "to the ordinance of washing our bodies in pure water we also perfumed our bodies and our heads in the name of the Lord" Joseph Smith receives a revelation in which he states "I saw father Adam, and Abraham and Michael and my father and mother, my brother Alvin that has long since slept[.]" After Joseph Smith's death the words "and Michael" are removed from the revelation because they contradict the teaching that Adam and Michael are the same personage. The altered revelation becomes section 137 of the DOCTRINE & COVENANTS. In the revelation Joseph also "saw the 12 Apostles of the Lamb, who are now upon the earth, who hold the keys of this last ministry, in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swol[l]en, and their eyes cast downward and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold him. The Savior looked upon them and wept. . . . And I finally saw the Twelve in the celestial kingdom of God." This part of the revelation is not canonized. Many members of the Twelve Apostles at that time were later either excommunicated or apostatized.

Jan 21, 1838 - Oliver Cowdery writes to his brother Warren: "When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself." In July of 1872 former apostle and apostate William E. McLellin wrote to Joseph Smith III : "Now Joseph I will relate to you some history, and refer you to your own dear Mother for the truth. You will probably remember that I visited your Mother and family in 1847, and held a lengthy conversation with her . . .I told her I heard that one night she missed Joseph and Fanny Alger. she went to the barn and saw him and Fanny in the barn together alone. She looked through a crack and saw the transaction!!! She told me this story too was verily true."

Jan 21, 1841 - In England Brigham Young and Willard Richards "completed the index [to the Book of Mormon began three days earlier], which was immediately put in type, and finished the printing of the first English edition of 5,000 copies."

Jan 21, 1844 - Brigham Young "administered to Parley P. Pratt his second anointing." Joseph Smith remarks, "Concerning Parley P. Pratt that He had no wife sealed to him for Eternity [Pratt's wife 'had a former Husband and did not wish to be sealed to Parl[e]y for Eternity'] and asked if their was any harm for him to have another wife for time & Eternity as He would want a wife in the Resurrection or els[e] his glory would be Clip[p]ed." Joseph also says, "I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to receive the things of God, but we frequently see some of them after suffereing all they have for the work of God will fly to peaces like glass as soon as any thing Comes that is Contrary to their traditions. They cannot stand the fire at all." Joseph Smith had been secretly teaching the doctrine of plural marriage and receiving opposition to it from some Mormons.

Jan 21, 1845 - Brigham Young writes for "the saints in Kirtland to come to Nauvoo, that all who have faith in the latter-day work may be united with us in building the Temple." He also writes to "Elder Jedediah M. Grant, Philadelphia, counseling him to forward all the young men and other available help he could to build the Temple."

Jan 21, 1858 - At the Territorial Legislature Heber C. Kimball "said that the thread was cut between us and the United States and it would never be tied together again."

Jan 21, 1867 - The Quorum of Twelve holds a meeting "to Examine into the subject of [Apostle] Amasa Lyman's teaching fals[e] doctrine & publishing it to the world. He had virtually done away with the Blood of Christ [saying] that the Blood of Christ was not necessary for the salvation of man. The Quorum of the twelve were horrified at the Idea that one of the Twelve Apostle[s] should teach such a doctrin[e]. . . . When the Twelve got through Speaking Amasa Lyman wept like a Child & asked forgiv[e]ness. We then all went into President Young's office & Conversed with him. He felt as the Twelve did upon the subject ownly more so & required Brother Lyman to Publish his Confession & make it as public as he had his fals[e] doctrin[e]."

Jan 21, 1892 - First Presidency letter of introduction for assistant church historian Andrew Jenson's efforts to interview participants in Mountain Meadows Massacre: "We are anxious to learn all that we can upon this subject, not necessarily for publication, but that the Church may have the details in its possession for the vindication of innocent persons, and that the world may know, when the time comes, the true facts connected with it."

Jan 21, 1896 - Frank J. Cannon, son of Presidency First Counselor George Q. Cannon, is elected U.S. Senator by Utah Legislature by two votes over fellow Republican Arthur Brown. Cannon is defeated for reelection three years later. He becomes a Democrat and apostatizes from the Church. In 1911 he publishes UNDER THE PROPHET IN UTAH an expose of the involvement of LDS church presidents in politics. As editor of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE he was a very active opponent of the LDS church.

Jan 21, 1898 - Apostle Anthon H. Lund sets apart First Council of Seventy member Joseph W. McMurrin but mistakenly does not "ordain" him to office of President of Seventy. First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve agree on April 13, 1899 that this is an error but decide not to re-perform it "correctly." This oversight in 1898 eventually leads to decision to stop using word "ordain" for any Seventy's president local or general.

Jan 21, 1902 - Reed Smoot is elected to the U.S. Senate by the Utah Legislature. His election provokes a bitter four-year battle in the Senate over whether he should be seated due to his position as a Mormon apostle and the Church's policy regarding post-manifesto polygamy, among other concerns. During these four years, the Mormon Church is on trial as much as is Smoot. Smoot is finally allowed to take his seat in the Senate on February 20, 1907. He serves in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, longer than any other Utah Senator.

Jan 21, 1925 - Grand Lodge of Utah officially prohibits Mormons from membership in any of its Masonic lodges and provides for expulsion of any Mormons who are current members of any Utah lodge. Utah is only state with formal Masonic restriction against religious group or denomination. Some Mormons (primarily converts) affiliate or preside in Masonic lodges outside Utah after 1925.

Jan 21, 1977 - U.S. president Jimmy Carter grants general pardon to Vietnam War's draft resisters, thousands of whom had fled to Canada. Utah's television stations interview draft-resister Richard W. Glade, former LDS missionary and grandson of one of Salt Lake City's mayors. Now a Canadian citizen and university professor, Glade welcomes this as beginning of reconciliation but says he has no intention of returning to United States.

Jan 21, 1983 - First Presidency letter: "We are now informed that there are members of the Church who also refuse to pay state income taxes." Provides for denial of temple recommend for any Mormon "who deliberately refuses to pay state or federal income taxes, or to comply with any final judgment rendered in income tax case." Letter also authorizes "Church court" action against those convicted of violating tax laws.

Jan 21, 1987 - Death of J. Martell Bird, "managing director of Church security worldwide" for previous five years. An FBI agent (1942-69), Bird was also a regional Representative.

Jan 21, 1990 - Appointment of David Hsao Hsi Chen, native of Chinese mainland and professor at BYU-Hawaii, to serve as First Presidency's "traveling elder" for People's Republic of China.

Jan 22, 1833 - At "a conference of High Priests convened in the council room" in Kirtland "the President [Joseph Smith] spake in an unknown tongue. He was followed by Br. Zebedee Coltrin and he by Bro William Smith. After this the gift was poured out in a miraculous manner until all the elders obtained the gift together with several of the members of the Church both male & female. . . .Praises were sang to God & the Lamb besides much speaking & praying, all in tongues. The conference adjourned at a late hour in the night . . ."

Jan 22, 1842 - The QUINCY WHIG discusses Joseph Smith's recent announcement that the Mormons will vote as a bloc: "This clannish principle of voting in a mass, at the dictation of one man, and this man who has acquired an influence over the minds of his people through the peculiar religious creed which he promulgates, is so repugnant to the principles of our Republican form of Government, that its consequences…will be disagreeable to think of bitter hatred and unrelenting hostility will spring up, where before peace and good will had an abiding place

Jan 22, 1843 - Joseph Smith delivers a discourse at the [still unfinished Nauvoo] temple. "He remarked some say the kingdom of God was not set up on earth until the day of Pentecost & that John [the Baptist] did not preach the Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. But I say in the name of the Lord that the kingdom of God was set upon earth from the days of Adam to the present time whenever there has been a righteous man on earth unto whom God revealed his word & gave power & authority to administer in his name:" He also says, "God Almighty is my shield & what Can man do if God is my friend? I shall not be sacr[i]fi[c]ed until my time comes. Then I shall be offered freely." This is contradicted 18 months later when Joseph Smith, instead of offering himself "freely," gives an order for the Nauvoo Legion to come protect him in Carthage Jail (which order was disobeyed) and fires back against the mob with a smuggled pistol killing two and finally gives a Masonic distress call to Masons in the mob as a last attempt to avoid assassination.

Jan 22, 1844 - Joseph Smith leases the "Nauvoo Mansion House to Ebenezer Robinson for $1000 per annum" plus "board for myself and family and horses, reserving myself 3 rooms in the house." Robinson continues operating the rest of the building as a bed and breakfast complete with tavern as Joseph Smith had previously.

Jan 22, 1857 - Wilford Woodruff preaches "against interfering with a mans family. that a mans family was his throne & kingdom & no man had a right to interfere with him. That many women would spin street yarn & go from House to House & try to turn away women from their Husbands & stir up strife in families." Less than four months later, on May 13 fellow Apostle Parley P. Pratt is killed by the husband of a woman he has taken as a plural wife while attempting to take the couple's children to Utah.

Jan 22, 1860 - Brigham Young teaches, "What is spoken in a prayer Circle should never be Named out of the Circle not [to] a wife or any body els[e]. If there is any thing to be said I will say it. I Could preach all about the Endowments in Public and the world know nothing about it. I Could preach all about Masonry & None but a mason know any thing about it. And the ma[in] part of Masonry is to keep a secret."

Jan 22, 1862 - At the statehood convention Brigham Young says, "We now are about to step into a State Government. . . . We now feel to do it. It is our duty and we think we Can maintain a Government. . . If the United States will admit us well. If not better. . . .We will ask Congress to admit us into the family of States. What if they do not? Se have got a Government and what are they going to do about it? If the Constitution has been carried out it would have hung President Buchannan . . ." He also states, "This is the ownly people on the Continent who are tru[e] to the Constitution of the United States. . . . We are doing nothing but what is strictly Constitutional. We shall be the ownly people that will maintain the Constitution while others will break it."

Jan 22, 1866 – Brigham Young authorizes J. H. Ellis (Worshipful Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge, U.D., F.&A.M) to rent Social Hall for “the organization of a Lodge of Masons.”

Jan 22, 1867 - Apostle Amasa Lyman's written confession, for preaching false doctrine, is read at President Brigham Young's office. It is judged "not satisfactory." "Preside[n]t Young talked vary plain upon the subject & told Brother Lyman that if he did not make a Confession that was satisfactory he Should write upon the subject himself. He said if it had [been] in Joseph[']s say he would have Cut him off from the Church & it was a question whether the Lord would Justify us in retaining him in the Church or not."

Jan 22, 1869 - At a banquet "Joseph B. Nobles said that he performed the first Marriage Ceremony according to the Patriarchal order of Marriage ever performed in this dispensation By sealing Eliza Be[a]man to Joseph Smith on the 6 day of May 1841." Joseph Smith had at least two plural wives before Eliza Beaman: Fanny Alger in 1833 and Lucinda Morgan Harris in 1838. The only official revelation allowing plural marriage, D&C 132, was not given until 1843.

Jan 22, 1872 - At a surprise birthday party for Eliza R. Snow "a large pyramid Kake [is] presented to Eliza R. Snow which she received & made a speech. . . .Sister Snow cut up her Cake which was distributed to the Company prese[n]t. She found deposited in the Box under the Cake over $200 in green backs."

Jan 22, 1885 - At the Saint George Temple Wilford Woodruff has "18 persons [who are] dead adopted" to himself. According to the Law of Adoption they become part of Woodruff's "kingdom."

Jan 22, 1894 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman records in his diary: "[Preached] that no man will attain to the Godhead as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have done unless they do the works of Abraham as plainly taught in the law on celestial marriage, either in time or in eternity. [After meeting] I was soon made to feel that my remarks on plural marriage were not at all agreeable to bro[ther] C. L. Anderson. He told me they could not be able to live with Sammy Wolley after what I had said. He evidently expects Sammy to goad the monogamists with my talk."

Jan 22, 1898 – George Q. Cannon teaches: "there are different degrees of glory. Some attain to a more exalted glory. They must help those who are lower to rise up to their plane. Then there is another degree below them, and they must labor to lift those who are lower than they . . . progressing from one degree of glory to another, without end, because there is no end to eternity."

Jan 22, 1939 – Moroni Timbimboo is first Native American Indian ordained and set apart as bishop (Washakie Ward).

Jan 22, 1988 - The WASHINGTON POST reports that the filming of the CBS mini-series based on the book THE MORMON MURDERS of the Mark Hofmann murders/forgeries had been postponed due to script rewrites as a result of pressure from wealthy West Coast Mormons.

Jan 23, 1833 - On the second day of the "conference of High Priests" in Kirtland "Conference opened with prayer by the President [Joseph Smith] and after much speaking, praying and singing, all done in tongues, proceeded to washing hands, faces [and] feet in the name of the Lord, as commanded of God, each one washing his own, after which the President girded himself with a towel and again washed the feet of all the Elders, wiping them with the towel. His father presenting himself, the President asked of him a blessing before he would wash his feet, which he obtained by the laying on of his father's hands pronouncing upon his head that he should continue in his Priest[']s office until Christ come."

Jan 23, 1837 - Sidney Rigdon announces that the Kirtland Safety Society has suspended redeeming its notes for specie. Joseph Smith urges Mormons to circulate the bank's notes instead of presenting them for redemption. In October Rigdon and Smith are tried and convicted, and sentenced to pay $1,000 plus court costs for violating the 1816 Ohio statute against unauthorized banking

Jan 23, 1841 - In England Wilford Woodruff and Heber C. Kimball visit "the Largest Wine vault in the world. . . . We had a tasting order & found the wine a good article. But it seemed dreadful to see such vast sums of money expended for intoxicating drinks when there are thousands nearly starving for bread in the streets." Woodruff writes, "We left this scenery & called into a Jewish Synagogue & attended a meeting of the Jews. They all worship with their hats on."

Jan 23, 1844 - Joseph Smith has W. W. Phelps, Newell K. Whitney, and Willard Richards "pricing the printing office and Lot at $1500 printing apparatus $950.00, Bindery [$]112, foundry [$]270. Total $2832. Joseph being about selling to J. Taylor." The next day Joseph writes in his journal, "thought the appraisal of the printing office was too low."

Jan 23, 1845 – Brigham Young and John Taylor supervise the construction of a woodcut for the “seal of the Twelve.” It has a phrygian crown over an all-seeing eye, surrounded by nine stars, not twelve as one would expect in a symbol of the apostles. Rather than an original design, the “seal of the Twelve” is based on an illustration from Bacob Boehme’s THEOSOPHICAL WORKS, favored by Rosicrucians and Christian Kabbalists for two hundred years. The only part of this seal that would be familiar to Mormons of every background is the inscription, “Holiness to the Lord,” which was also on the main magic-parchment (“Lamen”) in Hyrum Smith’s home at his death.

Jan 23, 1847 - Brigham Young writes, "In the evening I attended the Council of Seventies and made arrangements for several dances and festivals in the new Council room. I told the brethren and sisters I would show them how to go forth in the dance in an acceptable manner before the Lord. I then knelt down and prayed to God in behalf of the meeting imploring His blessings to rest upon those present and dedicating the meeting and house to the Lord. At the sound of the music I lead forth in the dance accompanied by Elder H. C. Kimball, W. Woodruff and Joseph Young; the dance went off with much satisfaction."
Wilford Woodruff writes of this evening, "The persons that took the [dance] floor to set the pattern were as follows: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff & Ezra Taft Benson of the Twelve, & Joseph Young & A. P. Rockwood of the Seventies.”

Jan 23, 1848 - At the Council House Orson Pratt "addressed them quite lengthy upon Asstronomy Philosophy, and various principles which he had studied . . . He intirely overthrows many of the systems of the modern Phylosiphers & Asstronomiers & modern reasoning in many respects to overthrow the gentile christian Argument "that God made the Heavens, sun, moon, & stars And the earth & all that in them are out of nothing in six days. He said that it was admitted by modern Phylosophers that stars had been discovered through telescopes so remote from the earth that it would take thrity thousand years for the light of it to reach this earth though it should travel at the rate of two hundred thousand miles per second. So it must have been in exhistance 24,000 before the earth was formed."

Jan 23,1852 - Brigham Young instructs Utah Legislature to legalize slavery because "we must believe in slavery."

Jan 23, 1859 - The Quorum of the Twelve meets and discusses "the subject of the Education of the people in this Territory & the furnishing of the people with Books. They estimated that it would cost about One million of Dollars to furnish Books & Stationary to educate what people there was now in the Territory. In speaking of the Deserett Alphabet they thought we would have to Continue the English Books as well as the Deserett Alphabet as we could not print but a few Books in the Deseret Alphabet."

Jan 23, 1867 – Brigham Young reconvenes Council of Fifty, first time in more than 15 years.
Apostle Amasa M. Lyman signs a confession to be published in the DESERET NEWS: "I have sinned a grievous sin in teaching a doctrine which makes the death of Jesus Christ of no force, thus sapping the foundation of the Christian religion. . . .[The] preaching was done without submitting it to, or seeking the counsel of, those who bear the Priesthood with whom I am associated. In this I committed a great wrong, for which I most humbly crave and ask their forgiveness, as I do also of all the Saints who have heard my teaching on this subject." Soon afterward Lyman repudiates the confession claiming that he "'did it to save being thrown over the fence to the dogs." He is dropped from the Twelve and disfellowshipped. Two years later he associates with the Godbeite movement and is excommunicated.

Jan 23, 1888 - President Wilford Woodruff and six apostles "met a number of the Legislative brethren" at Woodruff's office. It is decided which bills to pass and which of the governors appointments to approve and which to not approve.

Jan 23, 1889 - Russian author Leo Tolstoy writes in his diary: "I wrote down a few things. I read both the Mormon Bible and the life of Smith and I was horrified. Yes, religion, religion proper, is the product of deception, lies for a good purpose. An illustration of this is obvious, extreme in the deception: The Life of Smith; but also other religions, religions proper, only in differing degrees." He had been sent the Book of Mormon and George Q. Cannon's LIFE OF JOSEPH SMITH by Susa Young Gates, a daughter of Brigham Young.

Jan 23, 1892 - Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (Smith), the first polyandrous plural wife of Joseph Smith writes: "I could explain some things in regard to my living with Mr. L[ightner] after becoming the Wife of Another, which would throw light, on what now seems mysterious--and you would be perfectly satisfied with me. I write this; because I have heard that it had been commented on to my injury." Mary Elizabeth continued to live with her legal husband, Adam Lightner, after being secretly married to Joseph Smith.

Jan 23, 1898 - James E. Talmadge "gave a lecture with Sterescoptican views in the Tabernacle tonight on Russia. Eight thousand people present at ten cents apiece." Talmadge is ordained an apostle in 1911.

Jan 23, 1900 – U.S. House of Representatives excludes B. H. Roberts because he is a polygamist.

Jan 23, 1939 – First counselor J. Reuben Clark confides to Brigham Young University’s president that in 1938 the church spent nearly $900,000 more than its revenues. As a result Clark begins policy in 1939 of having fixed annual budget for all church expenditures to avoid deficit-spending. On Aril 1, 1940 Clark informs meeting of all chruch auxiliary leaders about 1939 deficit, as well “a deficit of over $100,000, from the point of income and expenditures” in 1937. He also refers to this deficit-spending in general terms during his remarks to general conference in April 1940.

Jan 23, 1964 - Apostle Delbert L. Stapley writes to Michigan governor George Romney with concern over Romney's "liberal" views on civil rights. Stapley agrues against the 1964 Civil Rights bill (which later passed) stating that "the Negro" is not entitled to "full social benefits nor inter-marriage privileges with the Whites, nor should the Whites be forced to accept them into restricted White areas." Stapley states that his position is due to the statements of Joseph Smith on the subject.

Jan 23, 1970 – Quorum of Twelve Apostles ordains Joseph Fielding Smith as church president. Some apostles consider by-passing this ninety-three-year-old apostle for the vigorous Harold B. Lee. Smith promised to make Lee his first counselor if he would support automatic succession of elderly apostle. Both keep their promises, and N. Eldon Tanner remains second counselor. Smith is oldest man to become LDS church president.

Jan 23, 1983 - The Idaho Falls TIMES-NEWS republishes a DENVER POST series on the Mormons. Letters to the editor are divided between Mormons incensed at what they perceived as an anti-Mormon attack and evangelical Christians angry at the generous coverage of what they perceived as an anti-Christian cult.

Jan 23, 1987 – Imprisonment of Mark Hofmann for second-degree murder in bombing-deaths of two people in Salt Lake City in October 1985 as his effort to conceal fraudulent business transactions in Mormon documents. As part of plea-bargain, Hofmann also admits forging Mormon documents for several years, including two controversial ones for which he receives greatest financial rewards and notoriety: so-called “Joseph Smith Money Digging Letter” and so-called “Martin Harris Salamander Letter." Hofmann is sentenced to live in prison and is taken to the Utah State Prison where he is placed in the prison hospital on suicide-watch.

Jan 23, 1989 – Commercial television stations in eight U.S. cities broadcast church’s “Together Forever” production. By end of April commercial stations televise it in every U.S. city with mission headquarters. On Aug. 7, 1989 church’s “What Is Real?” has similar commercial broadcast, with similar repetition.

Jan 23, 1994 – Colombian rebels blow up LDS chapel in Medellin.

Jan 24, 1796 - Joseph Smith (Sr.) and Lucy Mack are married in Tunbridge, Orange Co. Vermont by justice of the peace Seth Austin. Lucy comes from a house where the parents were divided on religious issues. She and her husband are similarly divided on religious issues until her son, Joseph Jr., unites the family under Mormonism.

Jan 24, 1832 - Bishop Edward Partridge presents his accounting for church revenues and expenditures for the previous year, and the conference votes that a financial statement should be presented to each general conference in Missouri. The practice is suspended when church headquarters moves to Illinois in 1839.

Jan 24, 1833 - The School of the Prophets commences in accordance with revelation of Dec. 27, 1832. One participant writes, "Much instruction received by the gift of tongues and the interpretation thereof. . . .[T]he science we engaged in for the winter was English grammar, of which we obtained a general knowledge."

Jan 24, 1841 - Hyrum Smith is ordained Assistant President and Presiding Patriarch. William Law becomes the first non-U.S. member of the first Presidency.

Jan 24, 1845 - The Illinois legislature repeals the powerful Nauvoo Charter, disincorporating the city as well as the Nauvoo Legion. The vote is nearly two to one, making it clear that the Mormons have little political support in the state.
Brigham Young writes in his diary: "Brothers H.C. Kimball and N.J. Whitney was at my house we Washed and Anointed and Praid had a good time. I inquired of the Lord whether we should stay and finish the temple--the answer was we should."

Jan 24, 1846 - Thirteen-year-old John Smith, son of Hyrum Smith, is ordained an elder in the Nauvoo Temple. Nine years later he is ordained Patriarch to the Church.

Jan 24, 1848 - Henry William Bigler, former Mormon Battalion member and employee at John Sutter's Mill, notes in his journal that "some kind of mettle was found [which] looks like goald". Azariah Smith, another former Mormon Battalion member at Sutter's Mill also records in this day: "Mr. Marshall found some pieces of (as we all suppose) Gold, and he has gone to the Fort, for the Purpose of finding out". News of the find leaks out slowly but when another Mormon, Samuel Brannan, publicly announces the find in San Francisco, the Gold Rush of 1849 (which aids Utah's economy) begins in earnest.
The Twelve and High Council hear a charge preferred by the police against E. D. Wolley "for making use of seditious language against the Authorities of the Church."

Jan 24, 1858 - Ezra T. Benson reports that "The English Nation are beginning to mob the Saints throughout England the same as the United States. The police look on and help the mob."

Jan 24, 1862 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "The first Presidency and their families attended a Ball at the Social Hall, only a few invitations were issued to others; after the recess The President made a few remarks about dancing[;] he wished some attention to be paid to doing well, he said he liked all things done well; mentioned that some of the brethren rested too much on the ladies, which would sometimes give them pain. The President went on to describe the general rules of dancing, mentioned that many of the brethren who had attended dancing schools, were yet unacquainted with their positions on the floor."

Jan 24, 1863 - Brigham Young marries first of six plural wives in violation of federal Morrill Act. Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal, "I think President Young took a wife to day."

Jan 24, 1868 - At the School of the Prophets Wilford Woodruff speaks on "the first doctrin[e] preacheded that Adam was our Father & God." Woodruff also spoke on which day to keep the Sabbath: "When I was Baptized into this Church I was keeping Saturday for the Sabbath. . . . I don't know as the Latter Day Saints will Ever keep this day & it does not make any difference whether they do nor not for the Lord will dictate them Just as he please in all those things. But when Moses received this Commandment to keep the seventh day of the week the Lord [said] this Law shall remain as a Statute Between me & the House of Israel forever throughout all your Generation. I have Never found this Commandment Changed By any revelation from God."

Jan 24, 1878 - Presiding apostle John Taylor tells meeting of local bishops, "He expected to present before the people at least once a year an account of what was done with their means." It becomes policy to present financial report at April general conference.

Jan 24, 1884 - Apostles Wilford Woodruff and Franklin D. Richards review records at the Historian's office concerning the dates of Orson Pratt's excommunication "for apostacy and following his wife instead of the leaders of the Church." There is some discrepancy over the date of his rebaptism and restoration to Apostleship. Pratt believed his wife over Joseph Smith when his wife told him that Joseph proposed plural marriage to her while Orson was away on a mission.

Jan 24, 1894 - At Cardston Canada, Apostle John W. Taylor prophesies that "there would yet be a beautiful Temple here built."

Jan 24, 1895 - First Presidency and apostles decide unanimously to ordain all bishops as well as set them apart.

Jan 24, 1902 - First Presidency statement that Holy Ghost is spirit personage, while Spirit of God is impersonal influence from God. This resolves quiet dispute that has existed since Joseph Smith's 1833 Lecture on Faith that Holy Ghost "is the mind of God."

Jan 24, 1974 - Elder Mark Hofmann leaves the Salt Lake International Airport. for an LDS mission to England.

Jan 24, 1981 - New York Times reports conversion to LDS church of Eldridge Cleaver, former Black Panther radical of 1960s. He is first nationally prominent African-American to convert to Mormonism. In 1995 he publicly reaffirms his faith in Mormonism, although he no longer actively attends LDS services.

Jan 25, 1825 - Rev. George Lane presents a detailed account of the Palmyra-area revival's progress focusing on how youth were especially affected: "From Catharine I went to Ontario circuit, where the Lord had already begun a gracious work in Palmyra. . . . About this time it appeared to break out afresh. Monday evening, after the quarterly meeting, there were four converted, and on the following evening, at a prayer meeting at Dr. Chase's, there were seven. Among these was a young woman by the name of Lucy Stoddard." Lucy Stoddard's brother Calvin later marries Joseph Smith's sister Sophronia. Calvin joins the Baptists but is later cut off when he affiliates with Mormonism. Lane, according to Joseph Smith's brother William, was the one who suggested the text from James ("If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God") to Joseph Smith when Joseph was unsure of which church to join. Lane began his service in the Palmyra area the year before.

Jan 25, 1832 - Joseph Smith is ordained President of the High Priesthood by Sidney Rigdon at the Amherst, Ohio conference. This was in response to a Nov. 1831 revelation added without explanation to an 1835 revelation on priesthood.

Jan 25, 1844 - At Brigham Young's House Orson Hyde receives his Second Anointing.

Jan 25, 1849 - Wilford Woodruff "dug & pulled out" two of his teeth "with twine And A Jack knife."

Jan 25, 1857 - At the Salt Lake Tabernacle Heber C. Kimball "addressed the [people] for about 2 1/2 hours upon the parable of the vine including grape pumpkin & cucumber, & Apple tree . . ." Kimball further preaches: "I love brother Brigham Young better than I do any woman upon this earth, because my will has run into his, and his into mine, and there is a free interchange of feelings."

Jan 25, 1886 - Federal court begins hearings concerning effort of two men to bribe U.S. deputy marshal E. A. Franks to give advance warning of efforts to arrest Mormon polygamists. Both men are sentenced to three years' imprisonment for attempted bribery, but are released in May 1888. Unknown to court, these men had worked with Brigham Y. Hampton in spying on anti-Mormons in the brothel. By 1888 Deputy Franks is on First Presidency's payroll as bribed informer.

Jan 25, 1888 - Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer dies in Richmond, Missouri at age eighty-six. A year previously he had published "An Address to All Believers in Christ" which was written in an attempt to promulgate his Church of Christ. After his death his movement soon fades

Jan 25, 1897 - Lorin C. Woolley tells congregation "he knew that the Prophets Joseph, Brigham and Heber lived for he had seen them as they appeared to Prest. John Taylor in Bro John [W.] Woolley's house." This is earliest known statement by Lorin Woolley about miraculous events involving President John Taylor at Woolley house in 1886.

Jan 25, 1899 - At temple meeting with First Presidency, Apostle Francis M. Lyman praises the local patriarch who administers to sick, "without receiving very much pay for his services."

Jan 25, 1900 - B. H. Roberts is excluded from taking his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 268 to 50 because he is a polygamist.

Jan 25, 1913 - DESERET NEWS favorably reviews "One Hundred Years of Mormonism," first commercial film about Mormons made with cooperation of church officials. The 6-reel, 90 minute silent film features one of Brigham Young's grandsons in role of his grandfather. During Joseph F. Smith's presidency, Hollywood produces other silent features which portray Mormonism less favorably: "A Trip to Salt Lake City" (1905), "The Mountain Meadows Massacre" (1912), "The Mormon" (1912), "Deadwood Dick Spoils Brigham Young" (1915), Cecil B. DeMille's "A Mormon Maid" (1917), and "The Rainbow Trail" (1918).

Jan 25, 1927 - George F. Richards, Apostle and Salt Lake Temple president presents his written endowment ordinance books with revisions to President Heber J. Grant, and they complete the work on several important points in the ordinances, thus "making a finish of the work which has been under consideration of the committee of five of the Twelve for several years."

Jan 25, 1936 - CHURCH SECTION photograph of LDS basketball team in Germany giving "Sieg Heil" salute of Nazi Party.

Jan 25, 1941 - Church Section article "If Christ Came To Germany," with photographs of "prisoners in a German concentration camp."

Jan 25, 1982 - First Presidency formally releases Leonard J. Arrington as Church Historian. Position has been in administrative limbo since 1980, when he and his staff are released form LDS Historical Department and transferred administratively to BYU. Day after this letter Presidency sets apart G. Homer Durham as church historian. There is no mention in either General Conference or in the CHURCH NEWS about Arrington's release.

Jan 25, 1988 - Polygamist researcher and author Ogden Kraut goes into the Singer-Swapp compound during a standoff with law-enforcement officers. Kraut is chosen because he is respected by both the Singer-Swapps and by law enforcement. Addam Swapp tells Kraut he had received a revelation that John Singer was going to be resurrected and that the setting in order of the Church, state, and nation would begin at the Singer farm. He says that a confrontation with the law is inevitable, and that there would be some bloodshed. Three days later Officer Fred House is killed during a siege which ends the standoff.

Jan 26, 1836 - Joshua Seixas, former Hebrew teacher of Lorenzo Snow, begins instructing Joseph Smith and his colleagues of the "Hebrew School" in the Kirtland Temple, to enable them to translate biblical Hebrew texts. He gives two lectures per day, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. and from 2:00 to 3:00 PM five days per week. The class has about forty students but more are added as the class continues. By mid-February, Seixas is teaching four separate classes. Joseph Smith says, "His introduction pleased me much. I think he will be a help to the class in learning the Hebrew."

Jan 26, 1839 - Under direction of Assistant Counselor John Smith, a committee organizes the exodus from Missouri to Illinois.

Jan 26, 1841 - In London, England Apostles Heber C. Kimball and Wilford Woodruff witness "the opening of the house of Parliament."

Jan 26, 1844 - At Brigham Young's House in Nauvoo Orson Pratt receives his second anointing.

Jan 26, 1845 - Brigham Young tells High Priests, "There are certain branches of the endowment that must be done in an upper room."

Jan 26, 1846 - Brigham Young introduces an "adoption" ceremony ("the sealing of men to men") in the Nauvoo temple, Rank-and-file Mormons are adopted to apostles as spiritual fathers.

Jan 26, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: " Pres[ident] Young observed to W. C. Staines he had read an article of this weeks 'Valley Tan' Jan. 25, 1860. which branded the whole Mormon Hierarchy as murderers and observed the Pres[ident] I wonder how the brethren submit to be tamely [or namely] insulted by the Editor of the Tan Mr. De Wolf. In course of the day Br[other] W. C. Staines informed us he had seen De Wolf, and told him, he would kick his arse and cow hide him if he ever inserted another article against this people".

Jan 26, 1865 - LDS missionary Francis A. Hammond agrees to pay $14,000 for church's purchase of 6,000-acre Laie Plantation on island of Oahu, Hawaii. This fulfills his written instructions from Brigham Young to obtain lands "suitable for growing cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco." Hammond’s diary notes: "Everybody says I have made a good bargain."
At Brigham Young's office Young and Wilford Woodruff are entertained by "Mr. Martin the great American Wizard. He showed us some specimens of his art in ventriloquism in imitating a rat, a Hen, a pig, & a Baby. All was vary good."

Jan 26, 1874 - Apparently last meeting of Brigham Young's School of Prophets.

Jan 26, 1880 - Wilford Woodruff, after waking in the middle of the night while camping in the mountains near Sunset, Arizona, receives his "Wilderness revelation": "Thus saith the Lord unto my servant Wilford Woodruff. . . . The hour is at the door when my wrath and indignation will be poured out upon the wicked of the nation. . . . . I have decreed plagues to go forth and waste mine enemies, and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute my heritage." It is a long and vindictive document in which the Lord swears vengeance on the officials of the United States government and on the nation as a whole, mentioning specifically, "the presidents of the United States, the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the Senate and House of Congress of the United States". It states: "And I say again, woe unto the nation or house or people who seek to hinder my people from obeying the patriarchal law of Abraham, which leadeth to celestial glory, which has been revealed unto my Saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph, for whosoever doeth these things shall be damned saith the Lord of hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under heaven by the judgements which I have sent forth and which shall not return to me void." In spite of this Woodruff, a decade later, issues the "Manifesto" purporting to end the practice of plural marriage.

Jan 26, 1881 - President John Taylor writes in a letter, "If a man enter into the everlasting covenant with one wife, with full purpose of heart to keep the commandments, and through circumstances is deprived of going further, he may be justified"

Jan 26, 1899 - At the weekly meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles "some discussion was indulged in with reference to administering to the sick, suggested by Elder R. Clawson, who spoke of Bro. Patterson. Said that he was traveling around in the stakes of Zion administering to the sick, in some cases meeting with success and in other cases failing."

Jan 26, 1909 - First Presidency letter: "Where elderly people may be found to be more or less lacking in their observance of the Word of Wisdom, and the question of their worthiness to be "commended to the temple comes before your consideration, it is in order for [the bishop] and the Stake Presidency to consider together all such cases, deciding each on its own merits, and showing appropriate leniency to elderly people, as there can be no rigid rule for each and every case."

Jan 26, 1922 - B. H. Roberts is allowed extra time to present "Book of Mormon difficulties" to the assembled First Presidency and Apostles. He had presented his researches to the First Presidency and Apostles two weeks previously but was unsatisfied with the response. This extra session was granted by President Heber J. Grant at Roberts's request. Later Roberts discussed these meetings with a friend: "Bro. Roberts presented the matter, told them frankly that he was stumped and ask for their aide in the explanation. In answer, they merely one by one stood up and bore testimony to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. George Albert Smith in tears testified that his faith in the Book had not been shaken by the question. Pres. Ivins, the man most likely to be able to answer a question on that subject was unable to produce the solution. No answer was available."

Jan 26, 1942 - First Counselor J. Reuben Clark tells reporter for Look Magazine: "Our divorces are piling up." Church Historian's Office in 1968 compiles divorce statistics since 1910 for temple marriages, "church civil" marriages, and "other civil" marriages. Although temple marriages have lowest divorce rate of the three categories, in 1910 there was one "temple divorce" for every 66 temple marriages performed that year., 1:41 in 1915, 1:34 in 1920, 1:27 in 1925, 1:30 in 1930, 1:23 in 1935, 1:27 in 1939, 1:17 in 1945, 1:31 in 1950, 1:30 in 1955, 1:19 in 1960 and 1965. Last rate for temple divorce is almost ten times higher than Utah's civil divorce rate century earlier.

Jan 26, 1967 - The NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS reviews three books on Mormonism. Reviewer Christopher Lasch writes (under the title "Burned over Utopia"): "It is not as a religious force that Mormonism now makes itself felt. . .[Mormonism] makes itself felt precisely in the degree to which the Mormon influence has ceased to be distinguishable from any other vested interest. . . .The ultimate fate of American minorities is to become tourist attractions . . . but the tourist boom means . . . the same thing . . . whenever the past has been piously 'restored,' roped off, and put on display--not the vitality, but the decadence of a way of life."

Jan 26, 1970 - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED article "Other Side of the Y: Attitude Toward Negroes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," recounts the gathering wave of protest leveled against a recent statement by the First Presidency that it expected no change in the practice of denying priesthood to blacks. It then quoted several non-Mormon athletes at B.Y.U. who expressed similar dissatisfaction. The author contended that no one would be happier to see the Church change its policy on blacks than BYU's athletic department.

Jan 27, 1839 - Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr. gives a patriarchal blessing to Charles W. Hubbard: "if thou wilt be faithful, thou shalt live to see the Savior come while in the flesh, for thou art of the House of Abraham and shall be blessed with them upon the Land of Promise and shall live to see the winding up scenes of this generation".

Jan 27, 1844 - At a meeting of the Twelve held in the room over Joseph Smith's store in Nauvoo, Willard Richards and his wife Jenetta are sealed and receive their second anointing.

Jan 27, 1845 - The Illinois legislature repeals Nauvoo's city charter. Brigham Young responds on April 7 by renaming the community "The City of Joseph." On April 16 he uses the general incorporation law of Illinois to protect the temple, Nauvoo House, and other public buildings by creating a one-mile-square "Town of Nauvoo."

Jan 27, 1857 - When ward bishop asks what should be done with Mormons who commit abortions, Brigham Young replies, "Tell them if they have destroyed children heretofore not to do so any longer," but he makes no reference to punishment for abortion.

Jan 27, 1860 - Quorum of Twelve investigates Apostle Orson Pratt for rejecting Brigham Young's Adam-God teachings. Pratt states that he cannot see the Adam-God doctrine in Joseph's revelations. Young replies, "it was Joseph's doctrine that Adam was God" and that Joseph Smith privately taught the Adam-God doctrine to himself and a select few. This repeats similar trial in Mar. 1858, and the apostles vote to drop Pratt. Young intercedes to prevent Twelve from disfellowshipping or excommunicating Pratt, but apostles do not restore him to full fellowship until April 5. On July 25, DESERET NEWS publishes confession as Twelve require Pratt to revise it.

Jan 27, 1862 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "One of the most Damniable, Diabolica., Satanical, Hel[l]ish Sacraleges has been Committed upon the bodies of the Dead Saints in the Burial Ground East of this City and brought to light this day that was ever known or recorded in the History of man." When the body of Moroni Clawson (killed twelve days earlier while being arrested) is disinterred for transfer to a different cemetery it is found that "the corps [is] Naked which was Clothed when it was buried. An inquiry leads to grave digger John Baptiste who has been systematically robbing corpses of clothing by digging them up at night after the burial. Police find "many Bundles of grave Clothes about his house in various parts." Baptiste is accused of robbing Clawson's grave, "He denyed it but after being Choaked a while He confessed it and then Confessed that he had been robbing the dead for Two and a half years." Brigham Young, upon hearing of Baptiste's crimes states, "killing [is] too good for him, he ought to be branded stating his crime, turned out of Community and told that if he ever came back again, he would be killed[;] to be a fugitive on the earth would be worse than killing him." Young's suggestion is followed: without being formally charged with any crime and without a trial Baptiste is branded on his forehead, has his ears cut off and is banished to an island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. He is never seen again.

Jan 27, 1867 - Wilford Woodruff "felt a spirit to testify to Phebe [Snow, wife of Lorenzo Snow] that her two Sons Wilford Leslie & Orion would become Prophets & Apostles in their day." Neither of the two sons is ever ordained a general authority.

Jan 27, 1868 - At the School of the Prophets Brigham Young teaches that "A man being ordained to the High Priesthood does not deprive him of any office which he held before, [A high priest] has the right to officiate as a priest, teacher or Deacon. Preside[n]ts of the seventies might act as Bishops Councellors or act as High Councillor without Being ordained a High Priest."

Jan 27, 1885 - The DESERET NEWS editorializes concerning Mormons who, when arrested and tried for polygamy, agree to obey the law and stop practicing polygamy: "A premium is placed on perfidy and heartless villainy, by offering amnesty to polygamists who will throw their manhood to the dogs and enter the ranks of the debased by discarding their helpless and dependent wives and children, an alternative that death itself would not induce a true Latter-day Saint to accept."

Jan 27, 1900 - John Steele writes, "I have worked in the Science [of astrology] for the last 40 years." He casts astrological charts before performing priesthood ordinances for the sick. He also inscribes paper charms against thieves and witches, and wax dolls to injure his enemies. Steele has been a Seventy since 1845, member of Mormon Battalion, marshal and mayor of Parowan, stake presidency counselor, participant in Mountain Meadows Massacre, probate judge, and justice of the Peace.

Jan 27, 1927 - Apostle George F. Richards writes in his journal: "At the Council meeting the last of the committees' recommendations concerning the endowment ceremonies was approved. There remains to have them written for all the temples."

Jan 27, 1939 - Counselors J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay write to Jewish non-Mormon who appeals for First Presidency help to escape Nazi regime: "We have so many requests of this sort from various persons, including members of the Church, that we have found it necessary to ask to be excused from making the required guarantee." Letter suggests that he contact American Jewish organizations.

Jan 27, 1985 - Church members in U.S. and Canada hold special fast and donate more than $6.5 million to aid famine victims in Africa. Lacking its own relief network in Africa, LDS church distributes this money primarily to Catholic Relief Services.

Jan 28, 1836 - As Joseph Smith is organizing the Twelve Apostles in the assembly room of the Kirtland temple "Pres[ident] Sylvester Smith saw a pillar of fire rest down and abide upon the heads of the quorem . . ." After Sidney Rigdon gives a hosanna shout "Eld[er] Roger Orton saw a mighty Angel riding upon a horse of fire with a flaming sword in his hand followed by five others encircle the house and protect the Saints . . . Pres[ident] William Smith, one of the Twelve, saw the heavens op[e]ned and the Lord's host protecting the Lord's anointed. Pres[ident] Z[ebedee] Coltrin, one of the seven [presidents of the Seventy], saw the Saviour extended before him as upon the cross and crowned with a glory upon his head above the brightness of the sun."

Jan 28, 1849 - Manchester N.Y., resident Lorenzo Saunders deeds about forty-eight acres of his land to Amos Miner. The land contains a hill and cave which was dug by a "money-digging" party under the guidance of Joseph Smith. Miner's heirs hold the property for three generations. Grandson Wallace Miner tells Brigham Young University professor M. Wilford Poulson in 1932, "He [Smith] dug a 40 ft. cave right on this vary farm. . . . He dug in about 20 ft. and the angel told him this was not holy ground, but to move south [to Cumorah]. Martin Harris stayed at this home when I was about 13 yrs. of age [ca. 1856] and I used to go over to the diggings about 100 rods or a little less S.E. [southeast] of this house. It is near a clump of bushes. Martin Harris regarded it as fully as sacred as the Mormon Hill diggings." In 1867 Palmyra resident and childhood acquaintance of Joseph Smith Pomeroy Tucker reports "[f]rom the lapse of time and natural causes the cave has been closed for years, very little mark of its former existence remaining to be seen." In 1893, a reporter from the NEW YORK HERALD, accompanied by Orson Saunders and John H. Gilbert (type setter for the Book of Mormon), visited the cave and reported that "[t]he door jambs leading into the cave are still sound and partly visible, but the earth has been washed down by storms and the opening to the cave nearly filled, so that it cannot be entered at present. The cave remained closed until April 1974 when Andrew H. Kommer, owner of the property, cleared the cave's opening with a bulldozer. At that time the cave was described as "about six feet high at the largest point in the middle and 10-12 feet long," and "carved into a rock-hard clay hillside. . . . The walls and ceiling of the cave appear to have been dug or picked by hand." Today the entrance of the cave is closed and overgrown with foliage. Due to Joseph Smith's association with the hill and cave it is called "Mormon Hill" by local residents and was often confused with nearby "Hill Cumorah" as the place where Joseph got the Gold Plates.

Jan 28, 1842 - Brigham Young writes in his journal, "The Lord having revealed, through Joseph, that the Twelve should take in hand the editorial department of the TIMES AND SEASONS, I bought the printing establishment, for and in behalf of the Church, from brother Ebenezer Robinson, at a very exorbitant price. The reason I paid such a price was, because the Prophet directed the Twelve to pay him whatever he asked. One item of his bill was $800, for the privilege of publishing the TIMES AND SEASONS, or good will of the office." The short revelation given to Joseph Smith is published but not canonized: "Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph, go and say unto the Twelve, that it is my will to have them take in hand the editorial department of the Times and Seasons, according to that manifestation which shall be given unto them by the power of my Holy Spirit in the midst of their counsel, saith the Lord. Amen." Ebenezer Robinson's wife had been spying on Joseph Smith's polygamous activities and reporting them to Emma. Joseph told Robinson to reprove his wife. When Robinson did not, Smith received the revelation which effectively fired Robinson as editor of the TIMES AND SEASONS.

Jan 28, 1844 - Upon waking to a temperature of "15 degrees below Zero" Wilford Woodruff "set a pot of chaircoal in the bedroom to warm it." After shaving and washing and changing his clothes he and wife Phebe are "overpowered" by carbon monoxide from the charcoal: "It made us most sick. We took the coal out. Aired the room. But it made us most sick we had to go to bed upon it. Later that evening Wilford Woodruff and wife Phebe "met with the quorum of the Twelve and others for instruction." They "were both some unwell from the effects of the coal during the day. Yet we had an interesting time." Wilford Woodruff and wife Phebe receive their second anointing in the room over Joseph Smith's store.
Joseph Smith "had some company in the eve from Warsaw &c. Lectured to them on politics, religion, &c."

Jan 28, 1851 - News reaches Salt Lake City that Brigham Young has been appointed territorial governor. "There was great rejoicing in the valley that the Government had given us our Choice for a Governor." A band and an escort go out to meet Brigham Young who was out of the city when the news arrived. They greet him with a ten-gun salute and fireworks.

Jan 28, 1880 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal: "I was again wrapped in vision during a good part of the night concerning the destiny of our nation and of Zion. It was strongly manifest to me the duty of the Apostles and Elders to go into our holy places & Temples and wash our feet and bear testimony to God & heavenly hosts against the wickedness of this nation. My pillow was wet with the fountain of tears that flowed as I beheld the judgments of God upon the wicked."

Jan 28, 1891 - First Presidency and Twelve meet to discuss the sugar business. However Lorenzo Snow "said he felt there were some feelings among the brethren and wanted them settled first, so at it we went. Bros. G.[eorge] Q. Cannon and [Moses] Thatcher poured out what was in them and agreed to forgive each other."

Jan 28, 1894 - Lorenzo Snow "said the Saints would be called to Jackson Co., in 10 or 15 years to build up the Center Stake of Zion".

Jan 28, 1897 - First Presidency and apostles discuss "the subject of building a Temple in Arizona."

Jan 28, 1904 - Mrs. Arthur Brown had calls on President Joseph F. Smith and asks for assistance for an orphanage which she directs. She tells him that of the 2000 children taken care of during the past 19 yrs. 97% were of Mormon parentage and 3% of gentile parentage. Though not in a position to dispute this assertion, President. Smith says that he did not believe it. He requests Apostle Rudger Clawson to ascertain the facts and return and report.

Jan 28, 1956 - DESERET NEWS editorializes in favor of forced removal of polygamous children from their Fundamentalist parents and into monogamous foster-homes. The editorial states that although "separating children from their parents is a heart-breaking and difficult thing to do," in this case it was warranted: "The continued teaching of children to break the law is an extreme provocation. This practice on the part of parents, as much as abandonment or neglect, justifies the state's intervention both for the welfare of the children and of society." The NEWS thought the removal of the children worth the disruption of the home if "the practice of polygamy can be entirely ended among those who still practice it."

Jan 28, 1959 - Apostle Marion G. Romney writes President David O. McKay that recently published "Mormon Doctrine" by Seventy's president Bruce R. McConkie is discourteous and offensive toward RLDS church, of Christian churches generally, of Catholic church in particular, of Communists, and of evolutionists. Romney also says the book presumes to declare controversial issues and personal interpretations as "Mormon Doctrine."

Jan 28, 1967 - Church News cover photo and feature-article shows LDS females with nose rings in San Blas islands off coast of Panama.

Jan 28, 1982 - Merlin Olsen is inducted into Pro-Football Hall of Fame. He is also inducted into College Football Hall of Fame. Steve Young, Brigham-s descendant, is National Football League-s MVP (1992, 1994) and Superbowl MBP (1995).
Provo DAILY HERALD story, "Man Faces Trial Over Stabbing Death of Baby". A Logan seminary teacher believed he was commanded by God to sacrifice his infant son and restore him again to life. His insanity plea was accepted and his wife, who deferred to his priesthood authority and did not call 911, was exonerated.

Jan 28, 1984 - Arson destroys LDS meetinghouse in Malboro, Massachusetts.

Jan 28, 1988 - Early in the morning, on the Singer-Swapp compound in Marion, Utah, officers with dogs hide in a nearby building and wait for Addam Swapp to start his morning chores. Emerging at about 8:30 a.m., Swapp and his brother Jonathan are surprised by the hidden lawmen. During the gun battle, Addam Swapp is wounded and police officer Fred House was killed. The remaining family members in the Singer home surrender and the thirteen-day siege which began when Addam Swapp bombed a nearby LDS stake house ends.

Jan 29, 1836 - Joseph Smith Senior gives six patriarchal blessings. Charles H. Smith is blessed: "Thou shalt stand on earth till thy Redeamer comes." Marietta Carter is blessed: "Thou shalt see thy Redeamer come in the clouds of heaven and be caught up to meet him and be ever with him." Joanna Carter is blessed: "Thou shalt see the end of this generation. Nancy Carter is blessed: "Thou shalt live to see the winding up of this generation."

Jan 29, 1844 - At a meeting of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles together with Joseph and Hyrum Smith Willard Richards moves that they nominate Joseph Smith as an independent candidate for the U.S. presidency "and that we use all honorable means to secure his election." The Twelve vote unanimously in favor of the motion. After the motion carries Joseph speaks to them: "to accomplish this you must send every man in the city who could speak throughout the land to electioneer . . . After the April conference we will have general conferences all over the nation and I will attend them. Tell the people we have had Whig and Democrats [as] Presidents long enough . . . I will not electioneer for myself, Hyrum, Brigham, Parley, and Taylor must go . . . There is or[a]tory enough in the Church to carry me into the Presidential chair in the first slide." Friends of Joseph make a toast for him at the Nauvoo Mansion: "May all your enemies be skined, their skins made into drum heads for your friends to beat upon. Also may Nauvoo become the empire seat of government." Joseph tells William Clayton that he will go on a political mission but writes in his journal "Clayton must go out or he will apostatize. Must."

Jan 29, 1845 - The Quorum of Twelve votes to exempt apostles, two general bishops, and the Nauvoo Temple Committee from the obligation to pay tithing.
The Illinois State Legislature votes to repeal the Nauvoo City Charter. In the preceding debate Governor Ford had admitted that its privileges had been much abused, but urged the legislators to amend the charter rather than to repeal it: "This is republican and cannot be denied without injustice," he said. "I do not see how ten or twelve thousand people can well do in a city without some chartered privileges." However, after considerable debate, the assembly revokes the city charter in its entirety by a bipartisan vote of twenty-five to fourteen in the Senate and seventy-five to thirty-one in the House.

Jan 29, 1846 - Increase McGee Van Dusen and his wife Marie are endowed in the Nauvoo temple on which Increase has worked for several years. A year later they publish THE MORMON ENDOWMENT: A SECRET DRAMA, OR CONSPIRACY, IN THE NAUVOO-TEMPLE IN 1846 . It is not the first published exposee of the Mormon endowment or even the first accurate one.

Jan 29, 1854 - The First Presidency and Twelve administer to Willard Richards. Wilford Woodruff records, "at times had a testimony by the spirit of God that he would get better but all outward appearances have been against his getting up again." Two days later Woodruff writes, "Dr Richards still lives and appears some better And I pray the Lord he may again get well for many reasons. On is the Twelve have administered to him many times and felt moved upon at times to promise him that he should live and get well and stand in the midst of his brethren and also to administer to his family. This I promised him once while the Twelve and all his wives were administering to him at the same time. Richards Dies on March 11, 1854 at age 49.

Jan 29, 1860 - At Sunday meeting in the tablernacle Orson Pratt "quite unexpectedly arose before his Brethren and made a vary humble full Confession before the whole assembly for his op[p]osition to President Young and his Brethren and He said he wished all the Church was present to hear it. He quoted Joseph Smiths revelation to prove that President Brigham Young was right and that all was under obligation to follow the Leader of the Church." Pratt and Young had differed over whether we worship God's attributes or God Himself.

Jan 29, 1862 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Bro[ther] HS. Eldredge, came in, the conversation turned on the love of property. Pres[ident] Young said he did not think there ever was a prophet on the Earth, (Jesus excepted) that cared less for the things of the world than he did. He remarked the Lord is desirious to exalt this people as we are his children, but riches would injure us at present therefore the Lord withholds riches from us till we are prepared to receive them. He knew that the more of the Spirit of the Lord a man had the better prepared he was to do business. Pres[ident] Young said he had been in Whiskey Street -- and he had felt the spirit there, and he really thought the street must be burned down before there would be a good spirit there."

Jan 29, 1870 - Salt Lake City School of Prophets "turn[s] into a caucus meeting, for the purpose of nominating our City officers, preparatory to the forthcoming Election."

Jan 29, 1876 - Apostle Charles C. Rich asks bishops of the Bear Lake Stake to follow Brigham Young's counsel by doing away with round dancing [waltzing] entirely. Four years later at stake priesthood meeting the following rules are accepted by unanimous vote: "We will not practice waltzes or any other round dances in our assemblies. . . ."Swinging with one arm around the lady's waist shall not be permitted in our assemblies."

Jan 29, 1878 - DESERET NEWS editorial denies that marked ballots have been used to ostracize those who vote against church candidates, but then observes: "And while no one should be injured in consequence of his breaking loose from his associates and joining with those who oppose them, it cannot be expected that the dissenter will receive as much cordial friendship, countenance and support from his former fellow-partisans as those who remain in accord with them."

Jan 29, 1879 - In the Saint George Temple Wilford Woodruff has "39 single females of the Hart family sealed to him" and twelve people "adopted" to him.

Jan 29, 1891 - Twelve Apostles meet and "voted to forgive each other's trespasses."

Jan 29, 1900 - Apostle John Henry Smith spends thirty minutes with U.S. President William McKinley. They had a "pleasant talk on Utah affairs" and Smith told McKinley that "plural relations" were on the decrease and that "the Mormon people had kept faith."

Jan 29, 1978 - NORTH LAS VEGAS VALLEY TIMES story: "Vegas Mormons Dare to Support the ERA."

Jan 29, 1979 - Fawn Brodie writes to a friend: "The volume would have been a harsher indictment of Joseph Smith had it not been for [her husband Bernard's] influence. I was angered by the obvious nature of the fraud in his writing of the Book of Mormon; I felt that his revelations all came out of needs of the moment and had nothing to do with God, and I thought the frantic search for wives in the last four years of his life betrayed a libertine nature that was to me at the time quite shocking. My husband kept urging me to look at the man's genius, to explain his successes, and to make sure that the reader understood why so many people loved him, and believed in him. If there is real compassion for Joseph Smith in the book, and I believe there is, it is more the result of the influence of my husband than anyone else." Some Mormons had blamed her non-Mormon husband for the controversial book.

Jan 29, 1988 - The Utah Board of Pardons deliberates 27 minutes and decides not to grant a parole or rehearing date for forger/murderer Mark Hofmann. The decision by the board virtually guarantees that Hofmann will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Although the board had suggested earlier that Hofmann serve only seven years as part of a plea bargain through which authorities hoped to learn all the details of Hofmann's extraordinarily complex case they change their mind, according to Board Chair Victoria Palacios, because of the "large number of [Hofmann's] victims" and his "callous disregard for human life"

Jan 30, 1831 - Sidney Rigdon preaches in Kirtland, Ohio that Joseph Smith, their latter-day oracle, is en route to Kirtland. During his sermon he challenges the world to "refute the divine pretensions of the Book of Mormon." In the audience is the father of Alexander Campbell, who writes to his son. Alexander Campbell, Ridgon's former mentor, writes to Rigdon taking up the challenge: "I, therefore, as in duty bound, accept the challenge, and shall hold myself in readiness, if the Lord permit, to meet you publicly, in any place, either in Mentor or Kirtland, or in any of the adjoining towns that may appear most eligible for the accommodation of the public. The sooner the investigation takes place the better for all concerned." When the letter is delivered to Rigdon he, after coming to the line "the infernal book of Mormon" throws the letter into the fire. Rigdon never meets Campbell in open debate.

Jan 30, 1836 - Joseph Smith shows several visitors "the record of Abraham. Mr. Seixas our Hebrew teacher examined them with deep interest and pronounced them to be original beyound all doubt."

Jan 30, 1838 - Oliver Cowdery meets with David, John, and Jacob Whitmer, Frederick G. Williams, Lyman Johnson, and W. W. Phelps "to take into consideration the state of the Church." They say they are opposed to the manner in which "some of the Authorities of the… [church] have for the time past, and are still, endeavoring to unite ecclesiastical and civil authority, and force men under the pretense of incurring the displeasure of heaven to use their earthly substance contrary to their interest and privilege." Cowdery says local authorities are "endeavoring to make it a rule of faith for said church to uphold a certain man or men right or wrong." He and his friends are determined to separate themselves from such a society and find a new place to gather where they could "live in peace."
The WESTERN RESERVE CHRONICLE in Warren, Ohio reports: "The Mormon Society at Kirtland is breaking up. Smith and Rigdon, after prophecying the destruction of the town, left with their families in the night, and others of the faithful are following.… An exposure of the proceedings of the Society is in course of preparation by one Par[r]ish, the former confidential secretary of the prophet Smith." Warren Parrish's expose, published the following month in the PAINESVILLE TELEGRAPH, is a devastating disclosure of the failed financial workings of the church. Of Rigdon and Smith he concludes: "I believe them to be confirmed infidels who have not the fear of God before their eyes.… They lie by revelation, swindle by revelation, cheat and defraud by revelation, run away by revelation, and if they do not mend their ways, I fear they will at last be damned by revelation."

Jan 30, 1841 - Joseph Smith is elected sole Trustee-in-rust for church, the legal entity for directing church finances until 1923. This enables Smith "to receive, acquire, manage or convey property, real, personal, or mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said church". Smith uses the office to combine corporate and personal affairs in an intricate manner never entirely unraveled after his death. Later Brigham Young, as Trustee-in-Trust does the same on an even larger scale requiring the Church to sue his estate after his death.

Jan 30, 1842 - At Joseph Smith's house he "preached in the morning and in the evening, concerning the different spirits, their operations, designs, &c."

Jan 30, 1844 - At Brigham Young's house in Nauvoo John Taylor and his wife Leonora are given their second anointing and sealing.

Jan 30, 1846 - Brigham Young receives a revelation against James J. Strang. Though the text is available, the revelation has never been canonized or officially published.

Jan 30, 1861 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres. Joseph Young related a dream he had to his brother the President as follows. He saw the first Presidency dealing out land and sections of land to the Brethren. In his dream he frequently saw the President with a Compass and chain in his hand, and sometimes working with it. Br. Joseph remarked he was sure he had dreamed this dream as often as one hundred times. Some of the brethren remarked it looked as if our inheritances would be dealt out to us in Jackson County. The President also related a dream In his dream he saw the children singing and dancing unusually merry, and the people also dancing and merry making with extraordinary energy."

Jan 30, 1878 - DESERET NEWS advertises "WAGNER'S BEER ON DRAUGHT AT 5 CENTS A GLASS" on same page as its directory of "NAMES OF PRESIDENTS AND BISHOPS OF THE ORGANIZED STAKES OF ZION." The "CITY LIQUOR STORE" ad is also immediately above "GENEALOGICAL" advertisement directed to Ladder-days. DESERET NEWS previously ran several alcohol ads in each issue for years, but alcohol ads now appear next to directory of church officers from its first publication on Jan 9, 1878 until April 1, 1880. On Jan 2, 1879 chewing tobacco ad appears on page with directory of church officers. On Jan 6, 1880 church directory appears next to ad for "BETTER AND PURER LIQUORS, WINES AND CIGARS Than can be found at any other house in Utah."

Jan 30, 1884 - Counselor in Salt Lake Stake presidency explains why women anoint and bless women: "There are often cases when it would be indelicate for an elder to anoint, especially certain parts of the body, and the sisters are called to do this and [their] blessing follows."

Jan 30, 1903 - First Presidency "found to Day in Examining the [Salt Lake] Temple that the Architect had made No provision for Dressing Rooms in the Temple." The temple is near the end of its 40-year construction period and is to be dedicated in a little over two months.

Jan 30, 1912 - Apostle George Albert Smith writes concerning the last-minute decision to not print the King Follett discourse in the first edition of the HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: "I have thought that the report of that sermon might not be authentic and I have feared that it contained some thing that might be contrary to the truth. . . . Some of the brethren felt as I did and thought that greater publicity should not be given to that particular sermon." B. H. Roberts, editor, had done considerable work on the discourse, preparing extensive footnotes in which he revealed a great reverence for it. Later editions include the sermon.

Jan 30, 1896 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve decide that women should not have their own prayer circles or participate with their husbands in prayer circle meetings.

Jan 30, 1926 - President Heber J. Grant writes to a stake president regarding a letter he received from a "Brother Arthur Bradder making application for his Second Blessings. Second blessings are only given by the President of the Church upon recommendation of a member of the Council of the Twelve. At some time when one of the Apostles is in your stake, if he feels to properly recommend Brother Bradder, the matter will be taken under advisement." This signals a policy change which greatly curtails the performance of Second Anointings during Grant's administration making them extremely rare after 1930. According to Apostle George F. Richards, the policy change was a result of an incident in which a "brother had received his Second Blessings, [and] while speaking in a priesthood meeting in one of the Idaho stakes, told the brethren that they all should have their Second Blessings. Of course that was a serious infraction of the charge which he received when he had his Second Anointings; but I have never learned of any serious consequences to follow, except the action on the part of the Authorities, discontinuing the administration of these blessings in the Church."

Jan 30, 1951 - First Presidency decides that, effective in two days, "no young men of draft age will be recommended for missionary service." As result, there is increase of missionary callings to young, married men who serve two or more years separated from their wives.

Jan 30, 1970 - First Presidency letter urges Church members to have their sons and daughters attend post-high school institutions of learning near their home, "so that our young can benefit from the influence of the home, especially during their first two years of post-high school education." It also urges leaders and parents to make full use of seminary and institute programs to supplement the home. In addition, the letter says that the Presidency believes the enrollment at BYU should not exceed 25,000.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY article, "Mormons and Blacks", commends the Church for "refusing to let popular protest shape its doctrines." However it says blacks should not feel deprived because they are not eligible for the Mormon priesthood since the Church itself is "tragically misguided."

Jan 30, 1996 - The Utah Senate closes a bi-partisan caucus billed as a discussion of a state education fund. Those present include about twenty senators, state commissioner of higher education, state superintendent of public education, and attorneys from the governor's and attorney general's offices. No vote is taken to close the meeting nor are minutes kept, though both are required by Utah's Open Meeting Act. Behind the closed doors, LDS senators Howard Stephenson and Charles Stewart level charges that public schools are promoting homosexuality and undermining family values. The meeting had been arranged after ten students petitioned to use a classroom at East High School for a gay and lesbian support group "to increase awareness about homosexuality in high schools, to decrease homophobia, and to help gay, lesbian, and bisexual students feel safe and welcome in their school environment". The students did not request meeting announcements or advertising, "we feel doing so would attract unwanted attention. We are extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of our members." The resulting controversy reaches national headlines when, with a four-to-three vote, the Salt Lake City school board bans all extracurricular clubs rather than allow the gay and lesbian support group.

an 31, 1818 - Twelve-year-old Joseph Smith writes his name in his copy of FIRST LINES IN ARITHMETIC, FOR THE USE OF YOUNG SCHOLARS by DeWolf and Brown.

Jan 31, 1844 - Joseph Smith donates 29 books to the "Nauvoo Library and Literary Institute" including John L. Stephens's TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AMERICA and INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN YUCATAN, William Beaumont's EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE GASTRIC JUICE, and a five volume collection of Walter Scott's POETICAL WORK.
At Brigham Young's Nauvoo home George A. Smith and wife Bathsheba W. Smith receive their second anointing administered by Brigham Young.

Jan 31, 1848 - Almon W. Babbitt writes to Brigham Young from Nauvoo, "William has got the mummies from Mother Smith and refuses to give them up." Joseph Smith's brother William had previously written James J. Strang, "the mummies and records are with us and will be of benefit to the Church when we can get them to Voree, [Wisconsin]." Babbitt also informs Young that Joseph Smith's widow, Emma, has joined the Methodist Church.

Jan 31, 1856 - At the Philosophical Juvenile Society in Salt Lake City "the children speak their pieces and read their compositions."
Presiding Patriarch John Smith writes to his half-brother Joseph F. Smith and shares his annoyance that William Pierce had married John's sister, Jerusha Smith, without his permission. Brigham Young had appointed John guardian of the family after Mary Fielding died. In his letter John refers to the nineteenth-century Mormon practice of adoption, the sealing of members to church leaders "for eternity" He comments, "I know the Pierce family belongs in Brother Brigham's family, and he would like it first rate to get one of Father's [Hyrum Smith] daughters into his family and leave Father without any kingdom .... I do not believe that Bill married Jerusha because he loved her... it was the name more than anything else."

Jan 31, 1858 - At prayer circle meeting Brigham Young asks Orson Pratt to report on how "traveling Elders were supported in England and about tithing &c." Pratt reports that Franklin D. Richards has "established a tithing system throughout England so that all pay one tenth of all the receive and this stops the constant dunning for money. This money is then used for supporting the Elders to pay their expense to foreign contries & home and to pay rent of chapels . . ." Pratt mentions that he has made enough money from his pamphlets that he has "not used any tithing."

Jan 31, 1859 - First Presidency Councelor Daniel H. Wells urges "the adopting of the Deseret Alphabet into our schools as soon as possible." Brigham Young adds, "I would put the books into the hands of children in this territory printed in the Deseret Alphabet." Daniel H. Wells says he is "satisfied that the Lord had inspired the mind of President Young in this matter."

Jan 31, 1861 - At the funeral of Charles Little, a child who had drowned the day before, Brigham Young says, "The question has often been asked how is it with little children? Will they grow or not after death? Joseph once said they would, and then he said they would not. He never had any revelation upon the subject, and I have no doctrine to give upon the subject. . . . Some have thought that it was ordained that children should die. But this is not true doctrine. It is not ordained of God that children should die, but it is the will of God that all children should live and grow up to manhood and fill up the measure of their days, . . ."

Jan 31, 1868 - At The School of the Prophets in Salt Lake City the Brigham Young teaches "a woman should not go [to get her endowments] for a week after her menses were upon her, a man should not have intercourse with his wife for several days, but should be clean in body and exercised in spirit previous thereto; his clothing should be changed once or twice before going there."

Jan 31, 1869 - Brigham Young "nominated Abram O. Smoot to go to Provo as President Mayor and Bishop of that place and John Taylor as Judge and a number of others as city counselors."

Jan 31, 1879 - In the Saint George Temple Wilford Woodruff "had 5 persons adopted to him."

Jan 31, 1887 - Published reward of $300 for John Taylor.

Jan 31, 1890 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon writes: "The question arose this morning as to whether the face of a woman who has had her endowments should be veiled or not when her coffin is closed on her dead body. Pres. Woodruff did not decide in absence of any written law on the subject, but Bro. Joseph F. [Smith] thought the face should be covered as this was the course pursued in the early days of the Church, and it was doubtless done in accordance with some instructions of the Prophet."

Jan 31, 1895 - First Presidency and apostles meet at temple and discuss "the question of allowing men to marry other than their plural wives under the law when the first wife dies." They decide "to advise against it."

Jan 31, 1898 - At a conference in Thatcher, Arizona Apostle John W. Taylor "made a ringing address on our duties to our families and on the sacredness of the doctrine of the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant, including the Plurality of Wives. He told the brethren to do their full duty to their wives but that man could not take any more wives in the plural order." Wilford Woodruff has already declared publicly that the 1890 manifesto forbade continued cohabitation with plural wives. John W. Taylor himself would perform plural marriages after this conference statement and would eventually be excommunicated for it as a sign to the federal government that the church was serious about stopping polygamy.

Jan 31, 1904 - Apostle Anthony W. Ivins performs his last plural marriage in Mexico for a visiting U.S. resident, John A. Silver, a business associate of Church President Joseph F. Smith. Silver takes Nell Clawson as his second wife.

Jan 31, 1957 - At temple meeting with apostles, First Presidency decides to make universal the previous recommendation of Twelve for priesthood ordinations to first confer priesthood before ordaining to office of deacon or elder. President McKay says that Presidency will give this instruction to temple presidents at their upcoming meeting on April 7 and that all general authorities should announce this policy "when they attend quarterly conferences, and that they should set the example when performing ordinations themselves."

Jan 31, 1960 - LDS Vernon Law receives Cy Young Award for best pitcher in baseball from Baseball Writers Association of America, and he wins Lou Gherig award (1965). Harmon Killebrew is voted Most Valuable Player of American League (1969), and Dale Murphy is MVP of National League (1982, 1983).

Jan 31, 1964 - By request of Lyndon B. Johnson, LDS president David O. McKay meets with U.S. president in White House. Johnson "said that sometimes he felt as he did when he was a little boy when he had more problems than he could handle and would go to his mother and put his head on her breast and get a little sympathy. He mentioned that we have the Panama problem, the matter of the plane that was shot down over East Germany, Vietnam etc., and he said he felt the same way now that he did when he was a boy.
"After they went into the dining room, President Johnson turned to President McKay and said 'I feel that the spiritual and moral fiber of this country need strengthening and we need it badly. I would like to ask you, President McKay, if you can tell me how we can get it.' He said, 'I have been out to see you [in Utah] on two or three occasions before and each time I left you I came away inspired and I feel I would like to have your advice on this.'"

Jan 31, 1984 - Masonic Grand Lodge of Utah rescinds policy of prohibiting LDS membership.
Lecture by Brigham Young University sociology professor, Howard M. Bahr, "Why People Leave the LDS Church". Bahr states that In Utah during 1980-81, for every five converts to Mormonism, there were two who left the LDS church. Bahr identifies three processes of disaffiliation: intellectual disaffection, emotional alienation and social disinvolvement. He also cited four categories of people, their personal beliefs and their activity in the Church: "The fervent believer, the ritualist (actively participates but is not a believer), the outsider (believes but stops being active), and the apostate (who disavows former beliefs and severs ties with the group)."

Feb 1, 1835 - Oliver Cowdery writes in a history of the Church in the MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE, "You will recollect that I mentioned the time of a religious excitement, in Palmyra and vicinity to have been in the 15th year of our brother J. Smith Jr's, age that was an error in the type -- it should have been in the 17th. -- You will please remember this correction, as it will be necessary for the full understanding of what will follow in time. This would bring the date down to the year 1823. . . . [Joseph] was urged forward and strengthened in the determination to know for himself of the certainty and reality of pure and holy religion. And it is only necessary for me to say, that while this excitement continued, he continued to call upon the Lord in secret for a full manifestation of divine approbation, and for, to him, the all important information, if a Supreme being did exist, to have an assurance that he was accepted of him. . . . On the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, previous to retiring to rest, our brother's mind was unusually wrought up on the subject which had so long agitated his mind -- his heart was drawn out in fervent prayer, . . . and in a moment a personage stood before him. . . . The stature of this personage was a little above the common size of men in this age; his garment was perfectly white, and had the appearance of being without seam. . . . he heard him declare himself to be a messenger sent by commandment of the Lord, to deliver a special message, and to witness to him that his sins were forgiven, and that his prayers were heard . . . He then proceeded and gave a general account of the promises made to the fathers, and also gave a history of the aborigines of this country, and said they were literal descendants of Abraham. He represented them as once being an enlightened and intelligent people, possessing a correct knowledge of the gospel, and the plan of restoration and redemption. He said this history was written and deposited not far from that place, and that it was our brother's privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain, and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record."

Feb 1, 1842 - The Federal Bankruptcy Act, passed the preceding August, goes into effect. Six and one-half weeks later, on April 18, Joseph Smith and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel declare themselves insolvent before the county commissioner's court and file petitions to be certified bankrupt by the United States District Court for Illinois.

Feb 1, 1844 – Joseph and Hyrum Smith publicly announce excommunication of an elder for teaching polygamy in Michigan: "As we have lately been credibly informed that an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching polygamy and other false and corrupt doctrines in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan, this is to notify him and the church in general that he has been cut of from the church for his iniquity."
Heber C. Kimball records in his journal, “My self and wife Vilate was announted Preast and Preastest [Priestess] unto our God under the Hands of B[righam]. Young and by the voys [voice] of the Holy Order.”

Feb 1, 1849 - First counselor Heber C. Kimball tells Sunday meeting that plural marriage "would end he said when the Church had gon[e] to the Devil or the Priesthood taken from this people - then God would give it to another people."

Feb 1, 1857 - During Sunday meeting at the Tabernacle Brigham Young creates "a great Sensation among" an "overflowing" congregation by coming into the meeting. "For it was the first time he had been seen in the Tabernacle since the day that J[edediah] M. Grant was buried." Grant had died two months previously. Young addresses the congregation for an hour and a half. Young preaches, "If you want to know what you should do, when you hear a man blaspheme the name of God, and you feel that there are ten thousand million devils around you to see whether you will be for your religion, knock down the man that blasphemes, and say, 'If I cannot pray, I can fight for my religion and my God.'"

Feb 1, 1859 – A nine-year-old Indian boy, Samuel, is indentured to John Beal for ten years.

Feb 1, 1860 – DESERET NEWS reports that Orrin Porter Rockwell shoots Martin Oats to death after Oats accuses him of stealing cattle. Rockwell reports incident to Lehi authorities who dismiss him without further action.

Feb 1, 1875 – Emily D. Partridge Young, Brigham Young’s plural wife of thirty years, confides to her diary: “I feel rather dispirited and a good cry might do me good. I feel quite ashamed to be known as a wife of the richest man in the territory, and yet we are so poor. I do not know why he is so loth to provide for me. My children are his children. He provides sumptuously for some of his family….He manifests a desire to cast me off, and I cannot ask him for anything.” She is with him at his death two years later and writes: “I believe Pr. Young has done his whole duty towards Joseph Smith’s family. They have sometimes felt that their lot was hard, but no blame or censure rests upon him. And I feel grateful to him and bless his name forever.”

Feb 1, 1877 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his diary: "I spent the day in the [St. George] Temple. . . .W. Woodruff presided and Officiated as El[ohim]. I dressed in pure white Doe skin from head to foot to officiate in the Priest Office, white pants [and] vest . . . the first Example of any Temple of the Lord in this last dispensation. Sister Lucy B Young also dressed in white in officiating as Eve. President [Young] was present and deliver[e]d a lecture at the veil some 30 minutes." Earlier that day Woodruff was "washed and anointed . . . & set him apart for his labors in officiating in the Temple" by L. John Nuttall who "officiated as Recorder- as Michael & Adam- also at the Vail"

Feb 1, 1885 - Speaking of the recently passed Edmunds Anti-polygamy act President John Taylor preaches: "Yet by their action they are interfering with my rights, my liberty and my religion, and with those sacred principles that bind me to my God, to my family, to my wives and my children; and shall I be recreant to all these noble principles that ought to guide and govern men? No, Never! No, NEVER! NO, NEVER! I can endure more than I have done, and all that God will enable me to endure, I can die for the truth; but I cannot as an honorable man disobey my God at their behest, forsake my wives and my children, and trample these holy and eternal obligations under foot, that God has given me to keep, and which reach into the eternities that are to come. I won't do it, so help me, God." Taylor then "vigorously struck the book on the desk" to which the congregation responded with a loud "Amen." Taylor (along with First Counselor George Q. Cannon and First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall) then goes into hiding to escape arrest and remains in the "Mormon underground" until his death two and one-half years later.

Feb 1, 1891 - First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon preaches: "As you know, it is not our practice to prepare anything beforehand to say to the people. I never did it in my life. I have pondered in my heart the principles of the Gospel and of righteousness and have trusted to the Spirit of the Lord to suggest the things to be said. I know it is the proper way, . . ."

Feb 1, 1901 – First Presidency decides to suspend ten-year policy of allowing sale of alcohol at church’s Saltair amusement park and resort.

Feb 1, 1905 - Former U. S. Senator from Utah and son of a former First Counselor to four Church presidents, Frank J. Cannon publishes the second of two articles in which he declares that he no longer believes in the divinity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Six weeks later he is excommunicated.

Feb 1, 1976 – While speaking at a twelve-stake fireside at BYU about Mormonism and the arts, Apostle Boyd K. Packer says that some LDS musicians are “more temper than mental.”

Feb 1, 1977 - Utah Senator Jake Garn, a faithful Mormon, inserts an anti-ERA speech by Apostle Boyd K. Packer into the Congressional Record.

Feb 1, 1994 – First Presidency endorses appointment of 1994 as “International Year of the Family,” by United Nations, organization which currently disabled Ezra Taft Benson has repeatedly denounced as illegal infringement on U.S. sovereignty. This reinforces his grandson’s claim that counselors are making decisions without church president’s coherent consultation or approval.

Feb 2, 1833 - Joseph Smith finishes his "translation" of the New Testament.

Feb 2, 1840 - Brigham Young writes in his journal: "Passing from Brooklyn to New York, I jumped on to the ferry-boat with my left arm extended, meaning to catch hold of the stanchion, but I fell on a large iron ring on the deck, which put my shoulder out of joint. I asked brother Hedlock to roll me over on my back, which he did. I directed brothers Kimball and Hedlock to lay hold of my body, and brother Pratt to take hold of my hand and pull, putting his foot against my side, while I guided the bone with my right hand back to its place. The brethren would my handkerchief round my shoulder and helped me up. When I came to a fire I fainted."

Feb 2, 1844 – The first known polygamous child, George Omner Noble, is born to Joseph B. Noble and Sarah Alley who were married by Joseph Smith.
At Brigham Young's house in Nauvoo William W. Phelps and his wife Sally receive their second anointings.

Feb 2, 1846 - Brigham Young counsels the "captains of hundreds and fifties" to have all families in Nauvoo ready to move out of town on four hours' notice.
Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith, pregnant with the second son of Henry Jacobs, is resealed by proxy to the murdered Joseph Smith and in the same session is "sealed for time" to Brigham Young. Her legal husband, Henry B. Jacobs, stands by as an official witness to both ceremonies. After the ceremony she and her children live with Young and Zina bears him a daughter. Jacobs, years later, writes to her of his sadness over losing his wife and children.

Feb 2, 1847 - Heber C. Kimball's legal wife Vilate gives birth to a son. She memorializes the occasion by writing a poem: "The Lord has blessed us with another Son which is / the seventh I have born. / May he be the father of many lives. / But not the Husband of many Wives."

Feb 2, 1848 - The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed. This ends the Mexican War and transfers the Great Basin to the United States. The Mormons find themselves again under U.S. jurisdiction after less than a year away from it.

Feb 2, 1850 - Brigham Young explains to the General Assembly of the State of Deseret that an extermination campaign would be carried out against the Utah Valley Indians and ordered that all Indian men are to be killed but that women and children are to be saved if they behave. Six days later, a voluntary force of militia from both Salt Lake and Utah Valley lay siege to about seventy Indians on the Provo River. After two days of fighting the Indians withdraw, leaving eight dead, including one woman whose legs had been severed by cannon shot. The wounded and sick retreat up Rock Canyon, but the main body reportedly flees to the Spanish Fork River. Daniel Wells then joined the militia with orders from Young "not to leave the valley until every Indian was out." A relentless pursuit ensues. One party enters Rock Canyon and finds eight or ten Indians, including Big Elk, dead from wounds or illness. Another group pursues the main body of Indians to the south of Utah Lake where they kill five and take the rest prisoner. The following morning, 15 February, all seventeen prisoners escape to the frozen lake. One by one they are overtaken and killed. Then their heads are cut off by a U.S. Army surgeon, aided by two of the Mormon militia men, ostensibly for scientific or medical research.

Feb 2, 1851 - At the Bowery in Salt Lake City Brigham Young preaches: "I want to speak a little upon natural philosophy. We sow the grain. It dies, rots in the ground, and then it brings forth a hundred fold. The elements which surrounded us produce these effects. If we had a correct knowledge of the elements and knew how to control and separate them we could make bread as well out of the elements as Jesus did when he fed the multitude. The day will come when we can go on a journey without taking any food with them. [They] would have power to make it as they went along."
Amasa Lyman follows him and preaches: "if a man was wise in eating and drinking and they would begin to learn wisdom in work and walking [they] would walk and not be weary, run and not faint for they would have wisdom enough to stop before they got weary." After the meeting the First Presidency and Twelve feasted on the first turkey killed in the Salt Lake Valley.

Feb 2, 1890 - Apostle Abraham H. Cannon states that Jared and the barges left Asia and landed "on the western coast of North America."

Feb 2, 1899 - First Presidency and apostles decide that "inasmuch as dancing in moderation was a healthful and grace-giving exercise, and that the style of round-dancing [waltzing] had so changed of late years as to do away with its most objectionable features, and since to prohibit it altogether would be to drive many of our young people to Gentile dancing halls, outside the control of the Priesthood, that it was not wise to attempt to abolish it entirely, but to restrict it as much as possible, and instruct Bishops and Stake Presidents accordingly."

Feb 2, 1922 - B. H. Roberts begins the first of three private meetings with Apostles Anthony W. Ivins, James E. Talmage, and John A. Widtsoe to discuss his study of "Book of Mormon difficulties" These meetings with the more scientifically-trained and scholarly of the apostles is in addition to the three day-long meetings that Roberts has held with the entire Twelve the previous month.

Feb 2, 1963 - DESERET NEWS recommends official biography of Hyrum Smith, which describes his family artifacts as including "Emblematic parchments" and steel dagger with "Masonic symbols on blade." Photographs of these artifacts published in 1982 demonstrate that the parchments are "lamens" or parchments of ceremonial magic: one to summon a good spirit, another to ward of evil spirits and witches, and a third against thieves. Instead of "Masonic symbols," the Smith family's dagger is inscribed with astrological sign of Mars, the magic sigil or leas for the Intelligence of Mars, and the zodiac sign for Scorpio. In astrology Mars is the governing planet for Joseph Smith, Sr., whose non-Mormon neighbors claim he dug for treasure by drawing magic circles and using books of ceremonial magic.

Feb 2, 1979 - President Spencer W. Kimball, in an interview with D. Michael Quinn refers to the "Youth Baptism Program." of previous decades as "the kiddie baptism program."

Feb 3, 1841 - The Nauvoo City Council passes "An ordinance organizing the Nauvoo Legion." The next day Joseph Smith is duly elected lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion, and John C. Bennett, major-general. The Nauvoo Legion soon becomes the largest standing army in the United States.

Feb 3, 1842 - The petition of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon for membership in the Masonic order is reported favorably by an investigative committee of the Grand Lodge in Quincy, Illinois. Masons in Nauvoo, including long-time Mason Hyrum Smith, had recently began organization of the Nauvoo Lodge which is installed March 15.

Feb 3, 1844 - William Clayton, Joseph Smith's personal secretary, and Joseph Young, brother of Brigham, together with their wives receive their second anointings in the room over Joseph Smith's Store in Nauvoo. Clayton writes, "was permitted to the ordinance of washing and anointing, and was received into the Quorum of Priesthood. This is one of the greatest favors ever conferred on me and for which I feel grateful." Two and a half months previously Clayton had written that he thought Emma Smith "had power to prevent my being admitted to Joseph's Lodge" in the mean time had asked Joseph, in writing, for admittance.

Feb 3, 1846 - Notwithstanding that Brigham Young had announced that "we would not attend to the administration of the ordinances," the Nauvoo temple is surrounded by a crowd of Mormons wanting to receive endowments. Young relents and "two hundred and ninety-five persons received ordinances." This includes sixty-two-year-old Alpheus Cutler, Council-of-Fifty member, who takes five new wives increasing his total to seven.

Feb 3, 1852 - Much-married Heber C. Kimball writes in a private memorandum book, "The Spirit said I should devote my time to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and I should not be under the Law of Lawless women any more in time as I have fulfilled the Law and am now free from such Spirits...."

Feb 3, 1854 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff blesses his 13-year-old son Wilford Jr. upon the occasion of his beginning "to officiate in the priests office by going through the ward to visit the homes of each member . . ." His blessing states: "Thy body shall not be laid in the grave but thou shalt live till the coming of Christ. Then shall thy body be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality, and Shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to meet with the saints on the earth." Woodruff writes that "during the evening Sisters [Elizabeth] Whitney & Eliza Snow called upon us and spent the evening. . . . Before they left Sister Whitney sung in tongues in the pure language which Adam & Eve made use of in the garden of Eden. This gift was obtained while in Kirtland through the promise of Joseph. He told her if she would rise upon her feet (while in a meeting) she would have the pure Language. She done so and immediately commenced singing in that language. It was as near heavenly music as any thing I ever he[a]rd."

Feb 3, 1855 - In Salt Lake City the Universal Scientific Society adopts a constitution and elects Wilford Woodruff president. The USS eventually included eighty men and one woman. Beginning with the April 14, 1855, meeting, lectures included: George D. Watt and Woodruff on the Deseret alphabet; John Hyde on natural philosophy; George A. Smith on chopping wood and Saracen history; William W. Phelps on the ten tribes of Israel; John Lyon on poetry; Thomas Hawkins on conserving natural resources; David Candland on public opinion, determining personal character through various methods including phrenology, and the Crimean War; Jonathan Grimshaw on music; Darwin Richardson and William France on genetics; Gilbert Clements on disciplining the mind; Orson Pratt on the planets; Almon W. Babbitt on American government; Woodruff on home manufacture and horticulture; and William Paul and Brigham Young on architecture. After a year the USS disbanded.

Feb 3, 1856 - In the Salt Lake Tabernacle Heber C. Kimball preaches, "I believe men in their resurrected bodies eat or they would die. I believe they eat as well as men in their mortal bodies. . . . It will not take away from my glory for my wives to leave me. If I do my Duty & do not have women that will obey me I will go to heaven & the Lord will give me all that I want."

Feb 3, 1867 - Brigham Young begins a sermon, "In addressing the Saints, whether by the word of exhortation, admonition, correction or in doctrine, it requires good attention for a person to retain even a small portion of that which they hear This is why it is so necessary for us to be talked to and preached to so much."

Feb 3, 1868 - Brigham Young tells Salt Lake City School of Prophets that "there were witches in the midst of these people, by whose influence suffering and distress were wrought among the people." He reaffirms this to School of Prophets on Dec. 11, 1869: "Witch Craft is true but not of the Lord but is of the evil one." His remarks lead some faithful Mormons to use well-known magical remedies, such as parchment house-amulets and counter-charm incantations against witchcraft.

Feb 3, 1872 - Two women are on LDS People's Party "Committee of Seven" which selects nominees for upcoming election.

Feb 3, 1875 - On a ferry across the Mersey river in Liverpool, England Apostles Joseph Fielding Smith, John Henry Smith and secretary L. John Nuttall "got a joke on one another." They find seats in a cabin that they did not realize was marked for ladies only. As the cabin fills with women and no men they gradually realize their error John Henry Smith "sneaked out & J[oseph] F[ielding] S[mith] and L. J[ohn] N[uttall] followed all feeling as if we had been in some mischief."

Feb 3, 1885 - Enactment of "Idaho Test Oath" which prohibits all Mormons from voting.

Feb 3, 1888 - Apostle John Henry Smith and one of his two wives "attended a party at which a number of underground people [polygamists in hiding] met and had a nice party."
Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, plural wife of stake president Angus Cannon, writes to her husband from Europe, that the trials of polygamy would be unendurable without "a thorough knowledge from God, that the principle for which we are battling and striving to maintain in purity upon the earth is ordained by Him, and that we are chosen instruments in His hands to engage in so great a calling." She adds that "even with this assurance grounded in one's heart, we do not escape trials and temptations, grievious at times in their nature."

Feb 3, 1890 - U.S. Supreme Court rules in DAVIS VS. BEASON that it is constitutional for Idaho to disenfranchise all Mormons. The decision is written by Justice Stephen J. Field who had previously been on the list of federal officials receiving bribes from the Church.

Feb 3. 1891 - Rank-and-file Mormon writes: "Some say and have written that great things are to happen this year….Some even declare that Christ will come and the Millenial Reign be inaugurated. I think some of these things will not happen as stated, but God holds all these things in his hands and at the close of 91 we shall tell more than now."

Feb 3, 1895 - Emmeline B. Wells cancels her appointment to speak at Bethel Church in Atlanta because it is "a colored people's church [and] the Southern people consider it unwise."
Apostle Francis M. Lyman writes in his jounal: "Pres[ident] Larson's first wife just died. He gave me account of his wives sudden death. I answered his questions about his family affairs. Counseled him to take home his next wife Annie and not to marry her by the law to give her advantage over his other two wives. If he were pressed by the law till he was arrested then could relieve himself by marrying at any moment. He accepted my advice in proper spirit."

Feb 3, 1911 - In Salt Lake City Apostle John Henry Smith writes "The school board met and heard some reports from Supt. H. H. Cummings. Some wild ideas [regarding organic evolution and higher biblical criticism] are getting into Brigham Young University at Provo. Three of the Professors are belittling the Bible." At the General Church Board of Education meeting to discuss Cummings's reports, Cummings finds students themselves quite comfortable with the "new light" which the teachers had imparted. Nevertheless, board members are disturbed and appointed a committee to meet with the three professors to see if they would stop teaching these ideas--namely organic evolution and higher criticism.

Feb 3, 1959 - President David O. McKay writes Dr. A. Kent Christensen: "The Church has issued no official statement on the subject of the theory of evolution. Neither 'Man, His Origin and Destiny' by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith nor 'Mormon Doctrine' by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, is an official publication of the Church. . . . While scientific people themselves differ in their interpretations and views of the theory, any conflicts which may seem to exist between the theory and revealed religion can well be dealt with by suspending judgment as long as may be necessary to arrive at facts and at a complete understanding of the truth" McKay’s secretary Clare Middlemiss restates first sentence in letter of May 8, 1964

Feb 3,1962 - CHURCH NEWS Headlines, "MIA Bans The Twist," popular dance among teenagers and young adults. This prohibition is widely ignored by youth and even by adult leaders in some wards and stakes, especially in Britain and Europe.

Feb 3, 1972 - Church's first agricultural missionaries depart (initially to South America).

Feb 4, 1825 - Jabez B. Hyde, in Eden, N.Y., writes to Ethan Smith: "I have been in the sentiment of your book, [VIEW OF THE HEBREWS, 1823 edition] that the natives of our country are the outcasts of Israel. It cannot well be doubted by any one, who has become acquainted with the religious ceremonies of the Indians, but that they have a manifest shadow of the Mosaic rituals."

Feb 4, 1831 - Edward Partridge is ordained to the office of bishop without high priest ordination. Although he is traditionally regarded as presiding bishop over the entire church, LDS president John Taylor and church historian Orson Pratt explained that Partridge was the "General Bishop" over Missouri while Newel K. Whitney (ordained in December 1831) was General Bishop over Ohio.

Feb 4, 1836 - At the Kirtland Hebrew School, Joseph Smith writes that he "assisted in forming a class of 22 to read at 3 o'clock P.M. The other 23 read at 11 o'clock. The first class recit[e]s at a quarter before 10 A.M. & the second at a quarter before 2-P.M. . . . We have a great want of books, but are determined to do the best we can. May the Lord help us to obtain this language, that we may read the Scriptures in the language in which they were given."

Feb 4, 1838 - Oliver Cowdery writes to his brothers Warren and Lyman: "The radical principles taught by Messrs. Smith and Rigdon here [are] subversion of the liberties of the whole church.… I told them if I had property, while I live and was sane, I would not be dictated, influenced, or controlled by any man or set of men, by no tribunal of ecclesiastical pretenses whatsoever.… My soul is sick of such scrambling for power and self-aggrandisement.… I came to this country to enjoy peace. If I cannot I shall go where I can."

Feb 4, 1840 - In England William Clayton writes, "Sarah Crooks gave me a pint of porter [porter's ale, a dark brown beer]" While Clayton has left his wife and family to go on a mission to England both he and Sarah Crooks wish they could be married to each other.

Feb 4, 1841 - The Nauvoo Legion is organized by authorization of the city charter and city council ordinance of Feb. 3. The governor appoints Joseph Smith lieutenant-general of the Legion on Feb 5. Under Smith's leadership, the Nauvoo Legion becomes the largest militia in the U.S.

Feb 4, 1842 - Joseph Smith records: "closed a contract with Ebenezer Robinson for the printing office…also the paper fixtures, bookbindery, and stereotype foundry, by proxy, namely, Willard Richards, cost between 7,000 and 8,000 dollars." Robinson, who was ordered to sell his printing business to the Church by a revelation, records that he got $6,600 of which he consecrated $4,561.91 to the building of the Nauvoo Temple. Brigham Young called the price paid Robinson "exorbitant." "The reason I paid such a price, was [because] the Prophet directed the Twelve to pay him whatever he asked." The difference between "7,000 and 8,000 dollars" that was paid and $6,600 that Robinson received was, evidently, commission given to the sales agent.

Feb 4, 1843 - Joseph Smith tells Amasa Lyman that he will be taken out of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and placed into the First Presidency. This is done to make room in the Quorum for Orson Pratt who Joseph had restored "to his former standing."

Feb 4, 1845 - Brigham Young reconvenes the Council of Fifty which votes him as its "standing chairman." This is the council's first meeting since the death of Joseph Smith. The council releases all non-LDS members and Mormons who reject Young's leadership. This leaves the council with only 40 members; they vote to "fill up the Council at some future time."

Feb 4, 1846 - The first companies of Mormons leave Nauvoo and cross the Mississippi River. Thomas L. Kane recalls, "The people of Iowa have told me that from morning to night they passed westward like an endless procession. They did not seem greatly out of heart, they said; but at the top of every hill, before they disappeared they were to be seen looking back, like banished Moors, on their abandoned homes and far-seen temple and its glittering spires." The first companies had to ford the river until Feb 24 when it froze and they were able to cross over the ice. Brigham Young remains in Nauvoo until Feb 15.

Feb 4, 1847 - Hosea Stout writes in his journal: "the subject of the beef committee was taken up on the complaint of Father John Smith who was not satisfied with some things about it. The thing was talked out of 'countenance' and finally Prest Brigham Young moved to have the whole matter laid over till the first resurrection & them [sic] burn the papers the day before."

Feb 4, 1849 - Wilford Woodruff ordains his eight-year-old-son Wilford Jr. "to the office of A Priest to officiate in that office in his Fathers household until He shall Arive At a suitable Age to officiate in the Church. . . Wilford Woodruff Jr. Now ordained A Priest can bless the bread And wine And Administer it to the family who Are members of the church . . ."

Feb 4, 1851 - Incorporation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Brigham Young declares before the Territorial Legislature, "I have more wives than one. I have many and I am not ashamed to have it known. Some Deny in the States that we have more wives than one. I never Deny it. I am perfectly willing that the people at Washington Should know that I have more than one wife & they are pure before the Lord and are approved of in his sight. I have been commanded of God to persue this Course. . . ." This is more than a year before the Church officially admitted to practicing polygamy.

Feb 4, 1854 - Lucy Mack Smith writes to Orson Pratt concerning her manuscript of the early history of Joseph Smith: "I have studied over the matter and have finally concluded that you may make use of [the manuscript] in any way you see proper." The permission was, evidently, retroactive since Pratt had published the book the previous year.

Feb 4, 1855 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff describes "some of the strongest preaching ever delivered to the Saints." First rebaptisms of Utah Reformation occur in wards (like Payson) as early as April 14, 1855.

Feb 4, 1856 - Wilford Woodruff is appointed to a committee to get "a first & 2d Readers for our Children in this Territory" to teach the Deseret Alphabet.

Feb 4, 1858 - Brigham Young writes to missionaries in Hawaii, "You are all, without regard as to when you were sent, counselled to start for home as speedily as you can wind up your affairs and obtain passage money, not even leaving one Elder who has been sent there . . . Try to inform br Alvares Hanks and the Elders in Australia . . . that they are all recalled". He warns of the mounting threat of Johnston's Army, who, according to Young, intended to kill "every man, woman, and child" who would not renounce the religion.

Feb 4, 1864 - Brigham Young ordains his son, Brigham Jr., an apostle but does not have him set apart as a member of the Quorum until October 9, 1868.

Feb 4, 1865 - Orson Pratt publishes an installment of his autobiography in the MILLENNIAL STAR: "Towards the last of autumn [1836] I commenced the study of Algebra without a teacher, occupying leisure hrs in the evening. I soon went through Day's Algebra. . . . From 1836 to 1844, I occupied much of my leisure time in study, and made myself thoroughly acquainted with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, conic sections, differential and integral calculus, astronomy, and most of the physical sciences. These studies I pursued without the assistance of a teacher." In May of 1866, in London, Pratt published his 151-page treatise, PRATT'S CUBIC AND BIQUADRATIC EQUATIONS: "New and easy method of solution of the cubic and biquadratic equations, embracing several new formulas, greatly simplifying this department of mathematical science."

Feb 4, 1867 - The constitution of the State of Deseret is amended to eliminate the words "free, white, male" from voting requirements by a vote of "14,000 for, & 30 against."

Feb 4, 1868 - DESERET NEWS editorializes that "it is a pity" LDS father did not succeed in killing his daughter's lover when the father "drew a revolver and shot him down in the court room."

Feb 4, 1885 - Nine apostles and two other members of the Council of Fifty anoint and ordain John Taylor as "King, Priest, and Ruler over Israel on earth." SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports this event.

Feb 4, 1885 - In a secret meeting of two members of the First Presidency, seven apostles, and two clerks at the Salt Lake City Endowment House, "President Taylor . . . directed Br Nuttall to read a Revelation which he said he received more than a year ago requiring him to be anointed & set apart as King Priest and Ruler over Israel on the Earth--over Zion & the Kingdom of Christ our King of Kings." First Counselor George Q. Cannon ordains Taylor. The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports the event three months later.

Feb 4, 1887 - About thirty riveters at Z.C.M.I. Shoe Shop go on strike over change in work assignments. While not first collective bargaining strike in Utah, it is first against church business. DESERET NEWS says: "The movement savors too much of the dictatorial style of some of the labor organizations, and should not exist among our people."

Feb 4, 1901 - The First Presidency, after a long talk, decides "on passing a law that in the future Wives must be the complainants in cases of adultery. Bro. Richards was instructed to draw up such a law."

Feb 4, 1902 - First Presidency announces that full-time missionaries need not pay tithing.

Feb 4, 1904 - The First Presidency and most of the Twelve meet and discuss the church's financial situation. "The annual statement of the Church was read by Rudger Clawson[:] The Live Assetts are $2,819,728.80[.] The Silent Assetts are $673,485.40[.] $,493,214.2 Total. This does cover the Tabernacle and grounds and other church edifices."

Feb 4, 1961 - CHURCH NEWS headlines, "First Presidency Urges Sunday Home Evenings." Like previously unsuccessful efforts, this announcement limits its encouragement to monthly "Home Evenings" on Fast Sunday.

Feb 4, 1967 - CHURCH NEWS honors Max W. Woodbury for fifty years service as branch president.

Feb 4, 1991 - Richard N. Miller, Mormon, is sentenced to twenty years in prison for committing espionage. It requires three trials to convict Miller, first FBI agent arrested as a spy.

Feb, 5, 1831 - The EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND GOSPEL ADVOCATE publishes a letter from "A. W. B" [Abraham W. Benton] titled "Mormonites" which states in part: I saw a notice of a sect of people called Mormonites; and thinking that a fuller history of their founder, Joseph Smith, jr., might be interesting . . . For several years preceding the appearance of his book, he was about the country in the character of a glass-looker: pretending, by means of a certain stone, or glass, which he put in a hat, to be able to discover lost goods, hidden treasures, mines of gold and silver, &c. Although he constantly failed in his pretensions, still he had his dupes who put implicit confidence in all his words. In this town, a wealthy farmer, named Josiah Stowell, together with others, spent large sums of money in digging for hidden money, which this Smith pretended he could see, and told them where to dig; but they never found their treasure. At length the public . . . had him arrested as a disorderly person, tried and condemned before a court of Justice. But considering his youth, (he being then a minor,) and thinking he might reform his conduct, he was designedly allowed to escape. This was four or five years ago." This is the earliest mention, in public print, of Joseph Smiths 1826 Bainbridge trial.

Feb 5, 1838 - A Far West meeting of the "whole Church in Zion" votes to remove David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps from their positions as "Presidents of the Church" in Missouri. David Whitmer was accused of persisting "in the use of tea, coffee, and tobacco." All three men allegedly encouraged the sale of Jackson County lands, a transgression which Joseph Smith had earlier declared "a denial of our faith, as that is the place where the Zion of God shall stand, according to our faith and belief in the revelations of God." Thirteen months later Joseph Smith advises the Saints to "sell all the land in Jackson, and all other lands in the State [of Missouri]"

Feb 5, 1840 - While on a mission in England, William Clayton writes in his diary, "Sister Perkins gave me a tea cup full of red wine;"

Feb 5, 1842 - Joseph Smith's disaffected private secretary accuses him of trying to create "a system of hereditary tyranny." By his death Joseph Smith had made general authorities of his father, his brothers Hyrum and William, his uncle John Smith, and his first cousin George A. Smith.

Feb 5, 1846 - The NEW YORK HERALD praises "Those hardy, bold pioneers--who (quitting their home, and leaving the pleasant associations which cling around the scenes of their childhood) hew down forests and build up cities, and make the wilderness bud and blossom--deserve our sympathies and most heart felt wishes of success" The ship BROOKLYN left New York with 230 Mormon pioneers who left the same day (bound for California) as the start of the exodus from Nauvoo.

Feb 5, 1847 - Patriarch "Father John Smith" sends an invitation to the Twelve to attend the "Silver Gray Picnic." The Silver Grays "consisted of all the old men in the Camp of Israel over 50 years of age. . . . The quorum of the Twelve met with them at the opening of the meeting. Remarks were made by President [Brigham} Young. A Hymn was sung after which they feasted together and then they went forth in the dance praising God in their hearts." Brigham Young writes of this in his journal, "dance all night, if you desire to do so, for there is no harm in it. . . .The center of the floor was then cleared for the dance when the 'Silver Grays' and spectacled dames enjoyed themselves in the dance, it was indeed an interesting and novel sight, to behold the old men and women, some nearly an hundred years old, dancing like ancient Israel."
John D. Lee records in his journal "About 9 I was washed in salaratus and water from head to foot, afterward in spirits, then anointed in like manner by Louisa [Wife No. 3] and Rachel [Wife No. 6] (as I told them) preparatory to my burial. They both were very kind and attentive to me."

Feb 5, 1852 - Brigham Young announces policy of denying priesthood to all those black African ancestry: "The Lord said I will not kill Cane But I will put a mark upon him and it is seen in the face of every Negro on the Earth And it is the decree of God that that mark shall remain upon the seed of Cane & the Curse untill all the seed of Abel should be redeemed and Cane will not receive the priesthood untill or salvation untill all the seed of Abel are Redeemed. Any man having one drop of the seed of Cane in him Cannot hold the priesthood & if no other Prophet ever spake it Before I will say it now in the name of Jesus Christ. I know it is true & they know it. The Negro cannot hold one particle of Government But the day will Come when all the seed of Cane will be Redeemed & have all the Blessings we have now & a great deal more. But the seed of Abel will be ahead of the seed of Cane to all Eternity. Let me consent to day to mingle my seed with the seed of Cane. It would Bring the same curse upon me And it would upon any man. And if any man mingles his seed with the seed of Cane the ownly way he Could get rid of it or have salvation would be to Come forward & have his head Cut off & spill his Blood upon the ground. It would also take the life of his Children." Contrary to Joseph Smith's example in authorizing the ordination of Elijah Abel, denial of priesthood to Blacks is LDS policy for the next 126 years.
Young announces this policy in connection with Utah legislature's legalization of African-American slavery. The law provides for only one interference with property rights of slave-owners: "if any master or mistress shall have sexual or carnal intercourse with his or her servant or servants of the African race, he or she shall forfeit all claim to said servant or servants to the commonwealth; and if any white person shall be guilty of sexual intercourse with any of the African race, they shall be subject, on conviction thereof, to a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars, nor less than five hundred, to the use of the Territory, and imprisonment not exceeding three years."

Feb 5, 1857 - Brigham Young preaches: "should the people follow a Bishop? Yes if he is a righteous man & does right but if he teaches wrong things & does wrong the people should not follow Him. But when this is the Case let the people thunder out the truth as it is. Then the bishop will see it. But unless the people Can point some better way let them follow the bishop."

Feb 5, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres[ident] Young addressed the third Quorum of Seventies; most of his remarks were confined to the subject of drunkenness. He regretted very much its prevalence. He remarked it was not the drink that influenced men to wicked actions, but the drink weakened the body so that Evil Spirits had power over it."

Feb 5, 1862 - Brigham Young writes to the Mormon representative in Washington D. C. "…there was not a particle of authority given Congress by the Constitution to organize Territorial government…Such being the real fact on that point, what good reason can Congress urge against our admission to the family of States, our Constitution being strictly republican in form, and we having long ago proved our capability to sustain self government. Aside from the justness of our being relieved from our illegal colonial position, which we have borne so long and patiently, it most certainly is to their pecuniary interest to admit us, a view of so slight moment at present. You can inform the President that he need not appoint a Governor, Judges, etc., for Utah, or if he appoints them, that he can pay them their salaries there, and advise them to remain at home, for we have no use for them here." Young's letter doesn't mention the main obstacle to Utah statehood: polygamy.

Feb 5, 1871 - At a Sunday morning meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle "The Rev John C. Kimball A Unitarian Minister both Prayed & Preached 56 minutes upon the principles of their faith."

Feb 5, 1872 - While in prison, William A. Hickman publishes "Brigham Young's Destroying Angel,"First Mormon expose by confessed murderer. He is again excommunicated, this time by church court, on Jan 12, 1878. On Mar. 21, 1934, First Presidency approves Hickman's rebaptism and "his former blessings restored," which occur by proxy on May 5, 1934.

Feb 5, 1878 - At a High Priest's meeting in Spanish Fork, Utah, Zebedee Coltrin [baptized Jan. 9, 1831]recalls: "[I] First saw the Prophet Joseph at a prayer meeting at the house of father Morley. He was then a beardless young man. During the meeting the powers of darkeness were made manifest in a remarkable degree, causing some to make horrid noises, and others to throw themselves violently around, One man by the name of Lemon Copley, standing at the back side of the house was taken by a supernatural power, and thrown into the window. Then Joseph said to Lyman `Go and cast the devil out of Lemon'. He did so, and the devil entered into a brother by the name of Harvey Green and threw him upon the floor in convulsions. Then Joseph laid hands upon him and rebuked the spirit from him and from the house, upon which the spirit left him, and went outside among a crowd of men standing near the door and made a swath among them several feet wide, throwing them violently to the ground. . . . At Kirtland . . . at one time when Joseph was in the translating room, myself and others were talking about the gift of tongues, when the spirit of tongues fell upon me and I spoke under its influence. joseph came into the room and said, 'God bless you Brother Zebedee, that is the spirit of God.' He told me to continue, and the gift of tongues and prophecy rested upon the greater part of the brethren present and we continued speaking in tongues and prophesying through that day and the greater part of the following night."

Feb 5, 1899 - In an interview with the NEW YORK HERALD, President George Q. Cannon explains if a man's wife was barren, he might "go to Canada and marry another wife. He would not be violating our laws, and would not be in danger of prosecution unless the first wife should follow him there from Utah and prefer a charge of bigamy against him. He might go to Mexico and have a religious ceremony uniting him to another that would not violate our law." This is the first public admission that the Manifesto is not strictly adhered to.

Feb 5, 1942 - LDS teenager, Helmuth Heubner, Rudi Wobbe, and Karl-Heinze Schnibbe is arrested in Hamburg for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. Ten days later Heubner's branch president (who had once put a sign saying "Jews not allowed to enter" over the chapel door and also allowed broadcasts of Hitler to be part of church services) writes "Excommunicated" on Heubner's records. Seventeen-year-old Heubner, the "ringleader" is beheaded by the Nazis on October 27. His membership is later reinstated and his excommunication is termed a "mistake." Two teenage co-conspirators of Heubner, Rudi Wobbe and Karl-Heinze Schnibbe are both sent to labor camps. They both emigrate to the United States after the war. On January 8, 1985, Heubner's sixtieth birthday, they return to Hamburg where they, are treated as heros by the government of Hamburg. They place a wreath at the site of Heubner's execution. Says Wobbe, "After forty years, to come back to a city that had actually put us away in concentration camps and prisons ... now to be honored and taken around as guests of the city with the members of the government . . . it was surprising-even a bit uncomfortable."

Feb 5, 1949 - First Counselor J. Reuben Clark recommends anti-semitic PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION to Ernest L. Wilkinson, soon to be president of Brigham Young University. In Dec. 1957 Clark makes similar recommendation to Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. This may be reason Benson organizes secret surveillance of employees (especially Jews) in U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Feb 5, 1955 - First headline reference in CHURCH NEWS since 1931 to living LDS president as the "Prophet." Apparently due to Counselor J. Reuben Clark's criticism of adulation implied by using this title for the living president, "the Prophet" is associated with founder Joseph Smith in Church News headlines until after Clark's Death in 1961.

Feb 5, 1970 - BYU basketball game is disrupted by protest against LDS church's policy of denying priesthood ordination to African-Americans. While 150 Colorado State University student demonstrators scuffle with campus police and twenty Fort Collins policemen during half-time, someone throws Molotov cocktail on playing floor. When game resumes spectators throw raw eggs at BYU's players.

Feb 5, 1971 - Alvin R. Dyer, a Counselor in the First Presidency, writes to LDS sociologist Harold T. Christensen concerning a news story quoting Christensen: "Christensen said the percentages of college women who had premarital coitus increased from 10 percent in 1958 to 32 percent in 1968 at a western university "which represents the highly restrictive Mormon culture." Dyer says, "It would be helpful to us to have further information of this alarming condition; . . . How and by whom was the survey made which produced these percentages?" Christensen responds: ". . . much as I would like to comply with your present request, I am unable to do so because of my responsibility as a researcher to protect the anonymity of the individuals and institutions studied; and indeed my commitment to do so in the case of the Intermountain sample. To do otherwise would violate my sense of integrity, and so I must ask that you respect my commitment and responsibility as a scientist. One would not ask the physician to betray the confidences of his patients nor the marriage counselor, to give another example, to reveal the secrets of his clients. The researcher has a similar responsibility to his subject…"

Feb 6, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes in his journal: "Called the anointed together to receive the seal of all their blessings. The High Priests and Elders [met] in the council room as usual. The Seventy [met] with the Twelve in the second room and the Bishop in the 3[rd]. I laboured with each of these quorums for some time to bring [them] to the order which God had shown to me which is as follows: [The] first part to be spent in solemn prayer before God without any talking or confusion and the conclusion with a sealing prayer by Pres Sidney Rigdon when all the quorums are to shout with one accord a solemn hosannah to God and the Lamb with an Amen, Amen, and Amen. Then all take [their] seats and lift up their hearts in silent prayer to God and if any obtain a prophecy or vision to rise and speak that all may be edified and rejoice together. . . .Pres Wm Smith, one of the Twelve, saw a vision of the Twelve and Seven[ties] in council together in old England. Pres Z[ebedee] Coltrin, one of the seven [Presidents of the Seventy], saw a vision of the Lord's Host. Others were filled with the spirit and spoke in tongues and prophecied. This was a time of rejoicing long to be remembered! Praise the Lord."

Feb 6, 1841 - Joseph Smith tells the Nauvoo high council not to excommunicate Theodore Turley for "sleeping with two females," requiring him only to confess "that he had acted unwisely, unjustly, imprudently, and unbecoming."

Feb 6, 1844 - At a dinner party at John Taylor's house Joseph Smith "prophesied at the table that 5 years would not roll round before the company would all be able to live without cooking." The official HISTORY OF THE CHURCH deletes this entry from Joseph Smith's manuscript diary.
Patriarch John Smith gives a blessing to Mehitabel Duty that "the Priesthood in its fullness shall be conferred upon thee in due time thou shalt have power over they relatives & friends & thy husband & children to lead them wethersoever thou wilt in as much as you seek faithfully & truly to preserve them in the bonds of the new & everlasting covenant."

Feb 6, 1846 - The end of a 31-day period during which Brigham Young marries nineteen women and has his sealings to all of his living wives reconfirmed in the Nauvoo Temple. Fourteen of his nineteen new wives had been married before.

Feb 6, 1853 - Brigham Young exhorts the Saints to "observe the Mormon Creed. Let everyone mind their own business." This "Mormon Creed" was first published by Joseph Smith in the June 11, 1842 edition of THE WASP: "Mormon Creed -- To mind their own business and let everyone else DO LIKEWISE." When the Logan temple was dedicated in 1884 it contained an ornate, backpainted, glass fixture with the words: "Mormon Creed/Mind/Your Own Business/Saints/Will/Observe This/All Others Ought To." This piece is currently in the Museum of Church History and Art.

Feb 6, 1859 - Orson Hyde tells fellow apostles Orson Pratt, Charles C. Rich, and WIlford Woodruff that "He had often wished that He Could get faith enough to enjoy the Blessings of the ancient Apostles Enjoyed. He said Joseph taught that unless the Apostles and the Elders of this Church did fast & pray until they Could get the Heavens opened unto them so they could see the face of the Lord their testimonies would not be worth much to this generation." At Hyde's suggestion they unanimously agree to ask "the privilege of Preside[n]t Young to fast and pray as a Quorum in the Endowment House for one week."

Feb 6, 1889 - First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall writes: "Bro. C. H. Wilcken called last night & said he was going to move Bro. Jos. F. Smiths families so that the Grand Jury could not find them."

Feb 6, 1892 - LDS magazine THE YOUNG WOMEN'S JOURNAL publishes article by Oliver B. Huntington: "As far back as 1837, I know that [Joseph Smith] said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do - that they live generally to near the age of a 1000 years. He described the men as averaging near six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style. In my Patriarchal blessing, given by the father of Joseph the Prophet, in Kirtland, 1837, I was told that I should preach the gospel before I was 21 years of age; that I should preach the gospel to the inhabitants upon the islands of the sea, and - to the inhabitants of the moon, even the planet you can now behold with your eyes. The first two promises have been fulfilled, and the latter may be verified."

Feb 6, 1900 - Joseph F. Smith writes to Anthony W. Ivins concerning a post-manifesto plural marriage: "the less I know about some things the better for me at least and perhaps for others concerned.... my motto is and always has been to protect to the uttermost in my power the rights and the secrets, if secrets there may be, of my friends and the friends of the kingdom of God." He adds that he believes in "all the revelations" of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a phrase that becomes a code for polygamy after the Manifesto.

Feb 6, 1907 - B. H. Roberts meets with the First Presidency and six Apostles to discuss a passage in his forthcoming book NEW WITNESS FOR GOD. Roberts's views are that the elements of man became a spirit--a child to God--through pre-mortal birth. Following the discussion, the brethren agree to incorporate the passage essentially as written, and they also include this view in the First Presidency's 1909 statement on the origin of man.

Feb 6, 1922 - B. H. Roberts, assisted by Second Counselor Anthony Ivins, and Apostles John A. Widtsoe and James E. Talmage, writes an optimistic response to William E. Riter, a Mormon who had passed on five questions of an investigator "Mr. Couch [Later determined to be chemist James Fitton Couch of the USDA] of Washington" concerning the Book of Mormon. The questions are of a scientific nature, rather than scriptural. Roberts does not respond to Couch's question about the lack of fossil evidence for such Book of Mormon animals as the horse. Riter's letter led to Robert's study of "Book of Mormon difficulties," the most in-depth, in-house, critical examination of Mormon scripture by an LDS general authority ever undertaken. Roberts's answers to Couch's questions are folleowd by another question from Riter: "Why can not the Negro hold the Priesthood?"

Feb 6, 1928 - First Presidency approves $50,000 purchase of Hill Cumorah and farms, Palmyra, N.Y.

Feb 6, 1958 - French-Mission President Milton Christensen writes in his journal of his selection of missionary William Tucker as his second counselor. "The Lord truly blessed me in the selection of This Elder, who is very strong in the Gospel and who is loved by all the missionaries. I feel that together we will be able to accomplish a great deal in the French Mission." Unknown to President Christensen, William Tucker is the leader of what becomes the French Mission Apostasy resulting in the excommunication of nine missionaries including Tucker.

Feb 6, 1959 - Apostle Mark E. Petersen writes, "We do not associate ourselves with any Protestant organization, We are just 'ploughing our own field' and doing the best we can with it."

Feb 6, 1967 - U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson confers National Medal of Science on LDS Henry Eyring. Prize-winning chemist since 1932, Eyring authored Absolute Rate Theory and has been among finalists for Swedish Academy's Nobel Prize in chemistry since 1949. He receives Elliot Cresson Medal from Franklin Institute in 1969. Since 1875 Franklin Institute has awarded this prize for inventions and theoretical break-throughs by such notables as Nikola Tesla, Wilhelm C. Roentgen, Madame Curie, Ernest Rutherford, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles P. Steinmetz, Orville Wright and Henry Ford.

Feb 6, 1971 - CHURCH NEWS reports promotion of Larry M. Killpack as brigadier-general in U.S. Air Force, with comment: "He has flown 165 [combat] missions during the 10 months he has been in Southeast Asia."

Feb 6, 1993 - At a meeting of the B. H. Roberts Society, David P. Wright, assistant professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Brandeis University and former professor at Brigham Young University until his dismissal, gives a talk "Do What is Right, Let the Consequence Follow: Telling the Truth about Our Scriptures." He describes his researches and concludes "A critical study of the Book of Mormon, as I have indicated, shows that Joseph Smith was its author, . . ." He concludes, "The spirit will generate in us commitment to our community, a sense of the relevance of our developing religious tradition, and a perception of the divine in our own and our spiritual ancestors' history But reasoned critical study must be allowed to guide us in our search for historical understanding and matters related thereto." Wright is excommunicated the next year for publishing such results of his research.

Feb 6, 1993 - CHURCH NEWS, "Barriers Crumble: Interfaith Activities Build Bridges of Friendship."

Feb 7, 1831 - The MILLENIAL HARBINGER publishes Alexander Campbell's critique of the Book of Mormon: "There never was a book more evidently written by one set of fingers, nor more certainly conceived in one cranium since the first book appeared in human language, than this same book." "It is as certainly Smith's fabrication as Satan is the father of lies. . . ." Campbell finds signs of Joseph's culture scattered through the book including Masonry and republican government, characteristic Yankee phrases, and opinions on many of the theological controversies of the time: "infant baptism, ordination, the trinity, regeneration, repentance, justification, the fall of man, the atonement, transubstantiation, fasting, penance, church government, religious experience, the call to the ministry, the general resurrection, eternal punishment. . . .every error and almost every truth discussed in N. York for the last ten years." Still more revealing to Campbell were the grammatical errors, which he called "Smithisms."

Feb 7, 1840 - In England British Mission President Joseph Fielding and John Taylor take turns blessing each other. John Taylor "afterwards gave an address in tongues and
interpreted."

Feb 7, 1844 - Presidential candidate Lieutenant-General Joseph Smith's "Views on the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States" is given its first public reading. He peppers his presentation with phrases from Latin, French, Italian, Hebrew, "Chaldean", and German.
The NAUVOO NEIGHBOR asks "Who shall be our next President?" and answers: "General Joseph Smith. A man of sterling worth and integrity, and of enlarged views; a man who has raised himself from the humblest walks of life…"
Joseph Smith writes in his diary: "A piece of doggerel appears in the Warsaw Message of this date, entitled 'Buckeye's Lamentations for the Want of More Wives,' evidently the production of Wilson Law, and breathing a very foul and malicious spirit."

Feb 7, 1846 - The last meeting of the Nauvoo Lodge of Masons.
Heber C. Kimball marries 6 wives in the Nauvoo Temple. Then Brigham Young officially closes the temple in preparation for the trek west. In the previous two months 5,200 living endowments and 591 second anointings has been performed in the temple.

Feb 7, 1848 - William A. Hickman's affidavit in first issue of church's FRONTIER GUARDIAN: "I do hereby solemnly declare that Mr. [Orson] Hyde never induced me to commit violence on the person of any man, either white or red." Apostle Hyde is editor.

Feb 7, 1852 - Utah's legislature legalizes voluntary indentured servitude, and authorizes county selectmen or probate courts to put into indentured servitude "any idle, vicious or vagrant minor child without his or her consent, or the consent of the parent or guardian of such minor child, if such parent or guardian neglects, refuses or otherwise fails in properly controlling the actions and education of such minor, and does not train him or her up in some useful avocation."

Feb 7, 1853 - Orson Spencer writes from Berlin that "upon obtaining an interview, or an investigation before the President of the King's Police, he and Elder Houtz were required to leave the Kingdom of Prussia the next morning at 8 o'clock under penalty of Banishment. Upon asking permission to remain 1 or 2 days as visitors and close a little business it was denied them; not one moment was granted past the hour of eight o'clock; . . ."

Feb 7, 1857 - Brigham Young writes to the bishop at Farmington: "Feb. 7, 1857 Farmington. I am willing you should administer comfort to bro. Wells Smith of whom you spoke here this day. Let him be rebaptized with the rest of you, and give him such portion of Authority -- Priesthood as you think he will honor in this[.] [B]ro Wells Smith has learned a valuable lesson, he might have had both Sisters to wife if he would have listened to counsel."

Feb 7, 1877 - Brigham Young gives his last Adam-God sermon as a final "Lecture at the Veil" of the endowment ceremony for St. George temple. This "lecture at the veil" remains for many years. L. John Nuttall, First Presidency secretary records the lecture in his journal: "[Adam] was made of the dust of the earth, but not of this earth. He was made just the same way you and I are made but on another earth. Adam was an immortal being when he came on this earth; he had lived on an earth similar to ours, he had received the Priesthood and the keys thereof, and had been faithful in all things and gained his resurrection and his exaltation, and was crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives, and was numbered with the Gods, for such he became through his faithfulness; and had begotten all the spirits that were to come to this earth, and Eve, our common mother, who is the mother of all living, bore those spirits in the celestial world; . . . Father Adam's oldest son (Jesus the Savior), who is the heir of the family, is Father Adam's first begotten in the spirit world. Who, according to the flesh, is the only begotten as it is written. In his divinity he having gone back into the spirit world, and come in the spirit to Mary and she conceived, for when Adam and Eve got through with their work in this earth, they did not lay their bodies down in the dust, but returned to the spirit world from whence they came."

Feb 7. 1879 - Wilford Wooruff writes in his journal, "For the first time in my life I have had to flee away from my Enemies for the gospels sake or from any other Cause. They are now trying to arrest me on Poligamy And as I had to leave St George at 7 oclock I got into a wagon from the Temple with David H Cannon and drove all night."

Feb 7, 1884 - Elizabeth Stephens is "set apart as a midwife and Doctress" by Wilford Woodruff.

Feb 7, 1887 - U.S. Supreme Court reverses decisions of Utah courts that define as separately punishable crimes each instance of unlawful cohabitation with one wife. This declares "segregation policy" illegal, and therefore allows only one conviction for "continuous crime" of unlawful cohabitation with each plural wife. This overturns the conviction of Lorenzo Snow for "unlawful cohabitation" which leads to Snow's release from prison after eleven months.

Feb 7,1901 - Apostle Brigham Young, Jr writes that proposal to provide Utah's school children with smallpox vaccinations is "Gentile doctors trying to force Babylon into the people and some of them are willing to disease the blood of our children if they can do so, and they think they are doing God's service." Presiding Bishopric counselor had written on Dec. 9, 1900: "Small pox is spreading most all over the State," yet on Feb. 22, 1901 Utah's legislature overrides governor's veto and passes law ending compulsory vaccination of school children. In June 1904 Apostle Abraham Owen Woodruff and his first wife Helen die of small pox, after declining counsel of LDS president Joseph F. Smith to be vaccinated before young couple goes to Mexico City.

Feb 7, 1934 - At a meeting of a joint committee appointed by the Church to study the attitudes of youth toward religion the chairman reports, "It is generally conceded that there is a strong tendency for our young people, many of them, to take an attitude against our orthodox beliefs." He cites a prayer published in the Delta Phi [an LDS fraternity] Bulletin: "Dear God, our Father, we remember before thee this Sabbath morning the great free souls who have been crowded from Thy Church-noble men and women whose spiritual freedom was greater to them than life. Bring them back, Father, into our communion again. Touch their hearts with understanding. Help them to forgive us. And we pray Thee, Father, touch also our hearts, for we have become hard and cold with our own self-righteousness. Our hearts are now filled with sorrow and remorse for our sins. "We have crucified many and driven them out of Thy Church, thinking we did Thee service. And now before our eyes this morning this vast procession marches, made lonely through our exclusiveness, crushed by our ignorance. Help us to make our Church inclusive-not exclusive; creative -not preservative. Help us to be tolerant with intolerance. May Thy Church, through us, be a light unto the world, a light of freedom and peace, love and good will, where personal character and social justice may not die out."

Feb 7, 1980 - Dallin H Oaks, president of BYU, is chair of board for television's Public Broadcasting Service. He continues as PBS Chair after his appointment to Twelve in April 1984.

Feb 7, 1982 - NEWSWEEK article on the rift between LDS historians and Church leaders: "A major conflict is brewing between professional Mormon historians and a group of church elders who insist that LDS scholars write only `faith promoting' accounts of the church. . . . [Apostles Boyd K. Packer and Ezra Taft Benson] "have been harshly critical of the methods and motives of LDS scholars who attempt `objective' histories of the church. What particularly exercises Benson is the effort made by scholars to place what are supposed to be divinely inspired church doctrines in a relevant social and historical context. . . . According to the dicta of Benson and Packer, Mormon history should be presented as a sacred saga so that students can-in Packer's words-'see the hand of the Lord in every hour and every moment of the Church from its beginning till now.'" The article further quoted a lecture distributed to all Mormon educators in which Elder Packer denounced professional scholars who " write history as they were taught in graduate school, rather than as Mormons" and enjoined LDS historians to write selectively about "the faults and contradictions of church."

Feb 7, 1985 - First Presidency letter to all presiding officers "on the subject of rape," includes following: "Persons who consciously invite sexual advances also have a share of responsibility for the behavior that follows. But persons who are truly forced into sexual relations are victims and are not guilty of any sexual sin….The extent of resistance required to establish that the victim has not willingly consented is left to the judgment of the victim, who is best acquainted with the total circumstances and their effect on his or her will."

Feb 7, 1993 - Cody Robert Judy holds Apostle Howard W. Hunter hostage for ten minutes in front of 17,000 students at BYU as president of Twelve starts to give Sunday evening sermon at Marriott Center. Judy claims to hold a bomb but is physically attacked and subdued by male students and BYU security personnel.
Salt Lake stake president Paul A. Hanks writes a letter to historian D. Michael Quinn requesting Quinn to explain his "personal feelings about the church" in an apostasy investigation. Quinn, who recently moved to Salt Lake from Louisiana, notes that this is the first contact from the Church he had received: "No home teachers, no invitations to attend ward meetings, just a summons to defend myself." Specifically, Quinn is charged with apostasy in connection with his recent writings suggesting that Joseph Smith taught that women receive the priesthood as part of the sacred temple ritual, and for an article "150 Years of Truth and Consequences About Mormon History" in which Quinn chronicled the punitive actions taken through history against those who write about controversial topics of Mormon history."

Feb 8, 1842 - Joseph Smith marries Sylvia Sessions Lyon. She has been legally married to Windsor P. Lyon since 1838 and Windsor is in full fellowship with the Church when the polyandrous marriage takes place. Exactly two years later a child, fathered by Joseph Smith, is born to Sylvia.

Feb 8, 1843 - Joseph Smith "talked with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that 'a prophet is always a prophet;' but I told them that a prophet was a prophet only when he was acting as such." Joseph Smith also writes: "One Gentleman said he understood it was very fruitful at Nauvoo. Two women from his neighborhood who had no children went to Nauvoo and since have families."

Feb 8, 1844 - Joseph Smith's only acknowledged polygamous child Josephine is born. Her mother Sylvia Sessions Lyon is legally married to Windsor P. Lyon with whom she is living, and so this is the first acknowledged polyandrous child.
As chief justice of Nauvoo, Smith fines two African-Americans $25 and $5 for "trying to marry white women."

Feb 8, 1846 - Brigham Young and other apostles meet in Nauvoo Temple for the last time: "We knelt around the altar and dedicated the building to the Most High. We asked his blessing upon our intended move to the west; also asked him to enable us one day to finish the Temple, and dedicated it to him and we would leave it in his hands to do as he pleased; and to preserve the building as a monument to Joseph Smith." Later that day Young "addressed the saints in the grove and informed them that the company going to the west would start this week across the river."

Feb 8, 1857 - Brigham Young asks congregation, "Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? . . . I could refer you to plenty of instances where men, have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ raises them up—conquers death, hell, and the grave. I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind." Blood atonement sermons are the most publicized feature of the Reformation. Heber C. Kimball preaches, "My God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured being."

Feb 8, 1886 - U.S. marshal publishes $500 reward for arrest of first counselor George Q. Cannon. A week later Cannon is arrested in Nevada after unsuccessfully trying to bribe arresting officers and then jumping form moving train to escape. He denies attempted bribery and claims that he accidentally fell from train.
Wilford Woodruff escapes through a crowd of federal marshalls by putting on his glasses and walking between them with another Mormon. The marshalls were mainly looking for John Taylor and George Q. Cannon but Woodruff was also wanted.

Feb 8, 1887 - Lorenzo Snow is released from prison after the U.S. Supreme court overturns his conviction on polygamy charges due to a technicality. He had been given permission to keep his long hair and beard during his incarceration due to a letter from two physicians.

Feb 8, 1898 - Utah's Senator Frank J. Cannon, son of the first counselor of the LDS presidency, introduces a resolution in the U.S. Senate in which he states that, if Spain refuses to grant the independence of Cuba on or before March 4, "the Government of the United States will on that date recognize the belligerency of the Cuban patriots and will within ninety days thereafter assert the independence of the Republic of Cuba." The MAINE battleship explodes a week later and the Spanish-American War begins over two months later.

Feb 8, 1910 - At a special meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve with thirty-eight of the Church's sixty-two stake presidents, President Joseph F. Smith reiterates that the church must keep its pledge to the federal government. "No one has the authority to solemnize plural marriages," President Smith says, adding that if marriages were performed, he would be held responsible. There is some dissension in the meeting, but President Smith stands firm

Feb 8, 1937 - Apostle George F. Richards and Seventy's president Antoine R. Ivins begin seven days of meetings with disaffected LDS Mexicans who demand ethnic Mexican mission president. These nationalist Mexican Mormons hold first meeting of their "Third Convention" on April 26, 1936. After failure of this general authority effort at reconciliation, church leaders on May 6 begin excommunicating dissidents. Third Conventionists foster successful schismatic movement until 1946, when visit of LDS president George Albert Smith to Mexico begins process of reconciliation. Third Convention is first schismatic LDS movement based primarily on ethnic and national pride.

Feb 8, 1944 - War correspondent reports during invasion of Kwajalein by U.S.Marines that one LDS marine refuses medical attention until medics help his wounded LDS buddy. Then correspondent records that young man raises his right arm and says: "In the name of Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood which I hold, I command you to remain alive until the necessary help can be obtained to secure the preservation of your life."

Feb 8, 1971 - Arsonists damage stake center of Mill Creek, Utah.

Feb 8, 1982 - G. Homer Durham, of the First Quorum of Seventy is set apart as Church Historian in a private ceremony returning the position to a general authority. Previous Church Historian, Leonard Arrington, is notified by mail of his "release". There is no mention of the change in either the CHURCH NEWS or in the next general conference.

Feb 9, 1831 - The revelation on the economic "Law of Consecration" is recorded.

Feb 9, 1834 - In Kirtland "The council proceeded to investigate certain charges presented by Elder Rigdon against Martin Harris; one was, that he told A. C. Russell, Esq., that Joseph drank too much liquor when he was translating the Book of Mormon; and that he wrestled with many men and threw them; and that he (Harris) exalted himself above Joseph, in that he said, "Brother Joseph knew not the contents of the Book of Mormon, until it was translated, but that he himself knew all about it before it was translated. Brother Harris did not tell Esq. Russell that Brother Joseph drank too much liquor while translating the Book of Mormon, but this thing occurred previous to the translating of the Book;"

Feb 9, 1843 - Joseph Smith teaches, "There are 3 administrater[s]: Angels, Spirits {and] Devils. . . .Angels [are] the spirits of Just men made perfect. . . .[If] an Angel appears to you how will you prove him? Ask him to shake hands. IF he has flesh and bones he is an angel. 'Spirit hath not flesh and bones.' Spirit of a Just man made perfect. Person[age] in its tabernacle could not hide its glory. If David Patten or the Devil come how ould you determine? Should you take hold of his hand you would not feel it. If it were a false administrater he would not do it. True spirit will not give his hand. The Devil will. 3 keys. A man came to me in Kirtland and told me he had seen an angel dressed so and so. I told him he had seen no angel. There was no such dress in heaven."

Feb 9, 1846 - The Twelve drop John E. Page for accepting the succession claim of James J. Strang.
While some Mormons are crossing the Mississippi River on flatboats (in preparation for the trek westward) a fire breaks out on the top floor of the Nauvoo temple. A bucket brigade is organized and takes about a half hour to put the fire out. It is discovered that the fire "was caused by [a] stovepipe being overheated." Brigham Young, upon seeing the flames from a distance says to himself: "if it is the will of the Lord that the Temple be burned, instead of being defiled by the Gentiles, Amen to it."
Meanwhile on one of the flatboats a wagon and team of oxen go off into the river after "a filthy wicked man squirted some tobacco juice into the eyes of one of the oxen." This unbalances the flatboat which takes on water and sinks.
Mormon Samuel W. Richards writes: "In the eve. met at the Temple with a select party for a Dance, several of the twelve being present, and all the Brass band. Commenced a little before Eight with preyer by Bro. Hyde, and continued the merriment with a plenty of wine untill 10 minutes to 3 morn. Continued work at the Temple as usual and on"

Feb 9, 1862 - Brigham Young preaches, "to hang a man for such a deed would not begin to satisfy my feelings." He speaks of discovery that Jean Baptiste has been robbing Mormon graves in Salt Lake City for four years, stripping clothes and valuables from corpses. Young also says, "it did not injure the dead in the morning of the resurrection but it is a diabolical act in the man. All of the dead will be Cloathed in the morning of the resurrection No matter how they are Burried. Judge Elias Smith writes that "the people would have torn him in pieces," and without a trial (or even formal charges being filed) the sentence Young recommends is carried out--banishment of Baptiste to a deserted island in the Great Salt Lake. On Aug. 4, Church Historian's Office Journal notes that punishment included cutting off his ears and branding his forehead with words "Grave robber," (Young's recommendation) but that he has disappeared from island. Thirty-two years later skeleton is found with ball-and-chain attached to its leg bone and with the decapitated skull lying several feet away. SALT LAKE HERALD claims this is the grave-robber's remains, which DESERET NEWS denies. Young's nephew later writes that Ephraim Hanks killed Baptiste.
Brigham Young also speaks on "Attention paid to Females:" "Some Females complain that there is not attention Enough paid to them in this Community. But I will say that there is no Community on Earth where as much respect & attention is paid to Females as in this Church. Every old woman thinks she must go to Every party and Many a first wife thinks she should be Queen of the rest of the wives surfs. But this I do not believe in."
Heber C. Kimball preaches: "Some of you have got an idea that wool will not do; but let me inform you that when Peter came and sat in the Temple in Kirtland, he had on a neat woollen garment, nicely adjusted round the neck"

Feb 9, 1870 - Formation of anti-Mormon "Liberal Party" which opposes LDS church's "People's Party" at every Utah election for more than twenty years. Presiding Bishopric counselor Jesse C. Little helps lead group of Mormons who disrupt first meeting.

Feb 9, 1875 - First Counselor Joseph F. Smith, L. John Nuttall and John Henry Smith in London "went to Victoria hall and heard Mr. Moody preach for about 40 minutes. It was in my [John Henry Smith] opinion a miserable effort, consisting of little storys that were calculated to operate upon the feelings of the weak minded."

Feb 9, 1885 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "Brother Teasdale was indicted By the Grand Jury on Poligamy and Cohabitation. So we like scores of others must make for the City of refuge. There is hardly a leading Man in Utah that can Walk the Streets of Salt Lake in safety. Marshals are after him because he had obeyed the Patriarchal Law of Marriage."

Feb 9, 1886 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "I arose this morning rejoicing in the victory & deliverance we received yesterday." The day before Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow found themselves in a house surrounded by 20 federal marshals. They escaped by putting on glasses and boldly walking through the marshals as if they were not the men the marshals wanted.

Feb 9, 1892 - First Presidency sends its secretary "to go quietly to Logan and work to make the Republican ticket successful in the approaching city election." Democratic leaders complain of church influence, Presidency issues carefully worded statement on Mar. 25 which does not deny that Presidency sent its secretary to influence Mormons to vote Republican but denies authorization "to use our names."

Feb 9, 1919 - Thomas C. Neibaur, Mormon from Idaho, is "the first private in the United States Army to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor." Other Mormons who receive America's highest military medal for heroism are Mervyn Bennion (1942, posthumously), William E. Hall (1943), Nathan K. Van Noy, Jr. (1944, posthumously), George E Wahlen (1944), Leonard C. Bronstrom (1945), David B. Bleak (1953), Bernard F. Fisher (1967).

Feb 9, 1922 - Zion's Securities Corporation to own and manage church real estate properties.

Feb 9, 1931 - Sterling Talmage, professor of geology at the New Mexico School of Mines writes to his father, Apostle James E. Talmage: "You ask 'how Price is held in the opinion of geologists in general.' As far as I can tell (and it seems to be the unanimous opinion of those who know his book, at least so far as I have talked with them), he is considered as a theological fanatic, who has gone off on a tangent that most geologists seem to find funny. I never heard his book discussed…without the element of comedy being dragged in. All of Price's arguments, in principle at least, were advanced and refuted from fifty to a hundred years ago. They are not 'new.' His ideas certainly are not 'Geology.' WITH THESE TWO CORRECTIONS, the title remains the best part of the book." In a discussion on evolution before the Quorum of Apostles, Joseph Fielding Smith had used George McCready Price's book THE NEW GEOLOGY and presented Price (professor of geology at a small parochial college in the Midwest and author of early science-bashing, creationist books) as an authority on geology. Talmage, a supporter of evolution, wrote to his son for 'ammunition' to use in the debates with Joseph Fielding Smith.

Feb 9, 1941 - Apostle Reed Smoot dies, and another apostle comments: "I knew he had been afflicted in his mind for some time." President Grant noted this on Nov 13, 1938.

Feb 9, 1972 - Joseph Fielding Smith dedicates temple at Provo, Utah. General authority Alvin R. Dyer reports that he "clearly saw [deceased] President David O. McKay in vision."

Feb 9, 1976 - Thomas Stuart Ferguson, former "Book of Mormon archaeology" organizer and defender of the faith writes to friends that individuals need to believe in something, for "otherwise we face the abyss of death and extinction.... Joseph Smith tried so hard he put himself out on a limb with the Book of Abraham, and also with the Book of Mormon. He can be refuted--but why bother when all religion is based on myth, and when man must have them, and his is one of the very best." He compares the refuting of religious myths to abolishing medical placebos then says: "Why not say the right things and keep your membership in the great fraternity, enjoying the good things you like and discarding the ones you can't swallow (and keeping your mouths shut)? Hypocritical? Maybe. But perhaps a realistic way of dealing with a very difficult problem. There is lots left in the Church to enjoy--and thousands of members have done, and are doing, what I suggest you consider doing"

Feb 10, 1834 - Brigham Young marries legally for the second and last time during his life. He marries Mary Ann Angel two years after the death of his first wife Miriam Works. He marries at least 53 more times before his death in 1877.

Feb 10, 1840 - Taking advantage of crowds out celebrating the wedding of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert in London, Wilford Woodruff and three companions "walked out into the Market place . . . & we began to Sing praises unto God & call upon his name & a congregation flocked around us, & we preached the gospel unto them & I bore testimony unto them of the great work that God had set his hand to accomplish.."

Feb 10, 1856 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal: "Elder Orson Pratt . . . said that Allan Huntington [who] was appointed a missionary to the Indians had been guilty or swareing a great deal. He had herd him. It was then Moved & carried that He be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was carried unanimously. . . .Brother P. P. Pratt said to me that He thought the three Nephites could not vary well visit the Lamanites yet & tell them to believe what the Mormon Missionaries told them lest there might be occasionally a bad man among them who would sware as Huntington did or would take advantage of them in some way so that it would cause the Lamanites to loose Confidence even in the Holy Messengers."
Orson Pratt preaches: "How many hundred years have been spent by numerous individuals, in order to discover perpetual motion, whereas fifteen minutes labor, with a knowledge of the science of mathematics, would enable a man to demonstrate that it is an impossibility for us to form a machine that when set in motion will supply its own motive power, and not stop until it is worn out. Mathematics would have shown those persons that they were in search of theories and principles which could not be found out."

Feb 10, 1858 - The DESERET NEWS publishes the ""History of Brigham Young," and quotes Joseph Smith as saying " . . . the time will come when bro. Brigham Young will preside over this church." However, the first handwritten version of the "History of Brigham Young" makes no reference to the prophecy.

Feb 10, 1861 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Prest Young attended Tabernacle morning and afternoon. In the afternoon the President preached subject the disrupted State of the Union- The necessity of being subject here that we might learn how to govern in the world to come."

Feb 10, 1867 - Brigham Young preaches that polygamy is practice "of Jesus and his Apostles." He also says, "Men who know nothing of the Priesthood receive revelation and prophecy."

Feb 10, 1890 - Anti-Mormon Liberal party wins municipal election and takes control of Salt Lake City's government on Feb. 18. Apostle John Henry Smith writes: "The Liberals carried the election by fraud, having 795 more votes than the people [People's Party]." Heber J. Grant writes in his journal, " It makes me sick at heart to think of Salt Lake being in the hands of the Liberals."

Feb 10, 1902 - In Japan, nineteen-year-old missionary Alma O. Taylor delivers the first LDS speech in Japanese, a testimony laboriously prepared the previous night. He also translates a few hymns into Japanese.

Feb 10, 1911 - A committee consisting of Francis M. Lyman, Hyrum M. Smith, Charles W. Penrose, Anthony W. Ivins, George H. Brimhall, Horace H. Cummings, Heber J. Grant, George F. Richards, and Joseph Keeler meets with three BYU professors, Henry and Joseph Peterson and Ralph Chamberlin. The session lasts nearly five hours, and the three are frank in explaining their belief in evolution and their reservations about some parts of the Bible. According to Heber J. Grant, they manifest "a very good spirit." The next day the committee formulates its report, which it presented to the Twelve. They agree unanimously to ask the three to leave BYU.

Feb 10, 1973 - Boy Scouts of America's director for Mormon relations reports that one of every twenty Scouts in U.S. is LDS.

Feb 10, 1875 - For the second night in a row First Counselor Joseph F. Smith, L. John Nuttall and John Henry Smith in London go to hear "Mr. Moody" speak at Victoria Hall. "We came away feeling disgusted to think mankind could be taken in by such nonsense."

Feb 10, 1978 - ARIZONA REPUBLIC article, " "Mormon Therapists Report: Religious Beliefs Often Intensify Emotional Conflicts."

Feb 10, 1979 - CHURCH NEWS reports that George Orton has won World Champion Skateboard competition.

Feb 10, 1994 - Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley withdraws church's financial support from Salt Lake City's Pioneer Memorial Theater (PMT) because of "increasing profanity and vulgarity in its productions." Subsequent explanations in DESERET NEWS cite profanity in production of "Conversations with my Father" several months ago. Timing of Hinckley's announcement is unfortunate--day after PMT's premier of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," which presents its "star-crossed lovers" as black-white interracial couple.

Feb 11, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes in his journal (through a scribe) "attended the School and read Hebrew with the morning Class - spent the afternoon in reading, and exhibiting the Egy[p]tian records to those who called to see me and heavens blessings have attended me."

Feb 11, 1843 - Recently elected Nauvoo mayor Joseph Smith "made his Inaugural Address in which he urged the necessity of the city council acting upon the principle of liberality and of relieving the city from all unnecessary expences and burthens [burdens]. Not to attempt to improve the city but enact such laws as will promote peace and good order and the people will improve the city. Capitalist[s] will come in from all quarters and Mills, factories, and machinery of all kind and buildings will arise on every hand [and] this will become a great city. [Joseph] prophecied that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich."

Feb 11, 1845 -The Nauvoo city council "Passed an ordinance authorizing and licensing Brigham Young to run a ferry across the Mississippi at Nauvoo in place of Joseph Smith, martyred."

Feb 11, 1856 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "President Brigham Young has had his mind deeply exercised upon the getting up of the Deserett Alphabet & carrying it into the practical use. He has laboured hard from the beginning upon this subject & we are now making Books under his direction to be published in this Alphabet."

Feb 11, 1857 - Heber C. Kimball preaches: "In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there are millions of them, if I am faithful all the time, and continue
right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and say, 'Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not even the rings on our fingers?' He will say to us, 'Come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes. Where are your wives?' 'They are back yonder; they would not follow us.' 'Never mind,' says Joseph, 'here are thousands, have all you want.'"

Feb 11, 1861 - The day after appointing a High Council in Ogden Apostles John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff go to South Weber where "The Bishop was in apostacy & was leading away others. They got a New Prophet to slide out of the Church upon." The "New Prophet" was Joseph Morris. Bishop Richard Cook in South Weber was asked "his feelings if he believed in Joseph Morris as a prophet . . . and to tell us what his feelings were in relation to the Presidency of the Church. . . . He then said, yes I do Believe in Joseph Morris as a Prophet whom God has raised up to lead this Church & kingdom agreeable to the Revelation in the Doctrins & Covenants which says I will raise up unto you a Prophet like unto Mosses &c. I do not Believe that Brigham Young is a prophet or has ever had any revelation or inspiration . . . " Taylor and Woodruff call for Morris himself. Morris speaks "about half an hour. He said Brigham Young was not a prophet & Joseph Smith did not hold the Keys of the Priesthood & was ordained of man while He Joseph Morris was ordained of the Father, . . ." Woodruff takes "Names of the persons who profess to believe in Joseph Morris as the prophet of God raised up to lead the Church. There was 16 names given. . . . John Taylor then moved that those sixteen named persons be Cut off from the Church . . ." Woodruff "seconded the motion & they were Cut off from the Church without a disscenting voice." Morris founds his church on April 6, 1861 and builds a following of over a thousand former Mormons. On June 15, 1862 a territorial posse attacked the Morrisite compound. Morris, his first counselor John Banks and two women were killed. The remaining Morrisites were pacified after facing the posse's cannon.

Feb 11, 1869 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "The Committee of the Regency spent the evening with President Young writing Hebrew in the deseret Alphabet on the black board for exercise. I spent the evening at home teaching my Family the Deseret Alphabet."

Feb 11, 1872 - Orson Pratt preaches on the Book of Mormon "After landing on the western coast of South America, they divided into two colonies, one colony called Lamanites, the other called Nephites. . . . Being so severely persecuted by the Lamanites, the Nephites were commanded of the Lord to depart from their midst, . . . . the Nephites formed a colony not far from the head waters of the river Amazon, and they dwelt there some four centuries, increasing and spreading forth in the land. The Lamanites, in the South and in the middle portions of South America, also spread forth and multiplied, and became a very strong and powerful nation. . . . . under the guidance of prophets and revelators, [they] came still further northward, emigrating from the head waters of what we now term the river Amazon, upon the western coast, or not far from the western coast, until they came on the waters of the river which we call the Magdalena. On this river, not a great distance from the mouth thereof, in what is now termed the United States of Columbia, they built their great capital city."

Feb 11, 1888 - Frank J. Cannon takes the manuscript for his book "History of Joseph Smith the Prophet" to his father First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon. The elder Cannon approves it with a few alterations and gives permission "to get the manuscript into type." The book is later published under George Q. Cannon's name. Frank later becomes a U.S. Senator, an apostate and an anti-Mormon publisher.

Feb 11, 1897 - John M. Whitaker, secretary to the First Quorum of Seventy writes: "Brother Richards talked with me and told me that when Joseph Smith was about to receive the plates there was a certain man who had been following him and was determined to be there with him when he got the plates and would not leave him, and finally when the time arrived for him to get the plates, Jos Smith told this man, "If I see you once between now and tomorrow night, I will whip the stumps of trees with your body." It is said that the man became so scared that he disappeared for some time and never bothered the Prophet any more."

Feb 11, 1901 - Apostle Rudger Clawson records in his dairy: "Bp. Thomas, informed that a peculiar and somewhat serious condition prevailed in the ward, and he wanted counsel regarding it. He said that one of the sisters had been speaking in tongues at their fast meetings, and he feared that it was not done by the Spirit of the Lord. A very unpleasant and unsatisfactory feeling prevailed in the meeting whenever she spoke or sang in tongues. As further evidence that the tongue was not from the Lord one of the sisters in the congregation immediately upon hearing the tongue was visibly affected and went into spasms. The bishop took occasion to point out to the saints the evil resulting from the exercise of this strange tongue, and warned them against it. This greatly angered a young man, who was related to the sister who had spoken in tongues, and who had just returned from a mission to the world, and he arose in the meeting and cursed the bishop in the name of the Lord."

Feb 11, 1911 - NEW YORK TIMES gives its first theater review of actress Hazel Dawn. With her debut on London stage in 1910, she is first nationally recognized star of twentieth century who publicly acknowledges Mormonism (e.g. Who's Who entry).

Feb 11, 1953 - First Presidency purchases $5,000 in bonds of State of Israel.

Feb 11, 1980 - PEOPLE magazine article "Sonia Johnson's Excommunication by the Mormons Cut 'Big String' that Held Her Marriage Together."

Feb 11, 1983 - SEVENTH EAST PRESS, unofficial BYU student newspaper, is banned from distribution on campus due to its interview with LDS philosopher Sterling M. McMurrin in which he expressed disbelief about the First Vision and ancient origins for the Book of Mormon.. It ceases publication two months later. BYU's action is widely criticized in media and by president of national journalism society.

Feb 11, 1985 - In a vote taken by residents of Carriage Cove Apartments in Provo, Utah, 221 tenants said "yes" to MTV. Only 167 voted "no," 188 didn't vote, and 4 said they didn't care. Four bishops had banded together to stop MTV availability in various off-campus BYU-approved housing complexes. Before the vote Bishop Leo Wiedner (also Carriage Cove's part-owner and manager), confident that BYU students will vote MTV down, says, "I think I pretty well know how it's going to turn out." At nearby Raintree Apartments a non-secret poll is taken at the bishop's request by manager Hyde Taylor. 27% return the polling letter with 13% against MTV and 14% in favor. Taylor concludes this is insufficient to restore MTV. The story is picked up by the national media and Weidner and Raintree Apartment bishop Jack Christensen appear on "Take Two" TV program from Salt Lake City to defend their actions. Christianson is the author of MUSIC: APPLES OR ONIONS?, a book that defends the LDS church position that hard or "acid" rock music is harmful. Part of the research for this book involved listening to such rock groups as "Black Sabbath," and, he claims, such listening adversely affected him. "I was not as happy as I used to be," he recalls. "I was ornery and disagreeable." However, he adds, "Just because people don't have the same high standards I'm trying to uphold, I don't think less of them."

Feb 11, 1987 - Interviews with forger/murderer Mark Hofmann begin at the Utah State Prison. Pursuant to a plea agreement Hofmann agrees to give details about his forgeries and two bomb murders. Before questioning begins Hoffman is given a NEW YORK TIMES story in which document expert Charles Hamilton proclaims Hofmann the "World's Greatest Forger" for having duped him and others. Hofmann scans the article then asks, "Don't you think he's just saying that, trying not to look so stupid?"

Feb 11, 1996 - In official editorial against allowing Utah's high schools to have clubs for gay and lesbian students, DESERET NEWS comments: "It is still appalling that more than half the identified hate crimes in Utah are aimed at homosexuals." Editorial concludes by affirming attitude on which such hate crimes are based: "homosexual activities and practices are an abomination, not just some 'alternative lifestyle' no better or worse than others." Within days Salt Lake City's school board prohibits all extracurricular clubs as only way to stop students from forming homosexually oriented clubs and still comply with federal laws against discrimination in public schools. These events are reported by major national newspapers and network television news programs.

Feb 12, 1834 - Kirtland Council meets at Joseph Smith's house. Joseph "went on to give us a relation of his situation at the time he obtained the record, the persecution he met with &c. He also told us of his transgression at the time he was translating the Book of Mormon." Council minutes go on to say "the case of Bro. Martin Harris, against whom certain charges were preferred by bro. Sidney Rigdon, [was presented]. One was that he told Edqr. A. C. Russel that Joseph drank too much liquor when he was translating the Book of Mormon and that he wrestled with many men and threw them &c. . . . Bro. Martin said he did not tell Edqr Russell that bro. Joseph drank too much liquor while translating the Book of Mormon, but this thing took place before the Book of Mormon was translated."
Joseph Smith gives instruction to the council: -"In ancient days, Councils were conducted with strict propriety, that no one was allowed to whisper, be weary, leave the room, or get uneasy, in the least, until the voice of the Lord, by revelation, or the voice of the Council by the Spirit was obtained, which has not been observed in this Church to the present. It was understood in ancient days, that if one man could stay in Council, another could; and if the President could spend his time, the members could also; but in our Councils, generally, one will be uneasy, another asleep; one praying, another not; one's mind on the business of the Council, and another thinking on something else, etc."

Feb 12, 1843 - George J. Adams is charged with adultery after returning to Nauvoo from his mission with a wife in addition to his Nauvoo wife. He is restored to full fellowship three months later, and a TIMES AND SEASONS announcement says he has been "honorably acquitted of all charges."

Feb 12, 1849 - Twelve ordain new men as apostles to fill administrative vacancies in quorum caused by service of three apostles in First Presidency, Lorenzo Snow is first apostle who has attended college (at Oberlin College). Charles C. Rich is first apostle to be a slave-owner and apostle at the same time.
Heber C. Kimball writes to his first wife Vilate: "Your duty is to look after your children and teach your sisters [his plural wives]…to mind thare own business and to treet thare husband with respect and let my business alone and hold thare toungs when they want to speak evil to me...."

Feb 12, 1860 - At the Sunday meeting in the tabernacle. "O[rson] Hyde preached upon the Concentration of the mind followed by O. Pratt upon the same subject. He spoke of the great acheivments of Sir Isaac Newton upon this principle and many others had accomplished great things by the great Concentration of the mind which Could be not accomplished upon any other Principle. This principle should be applyied in all our spiritual devotions. Mathimatics was an excellent subject to discipline the mind upon."

Feb 12, 1862 - Wilford Woodruff gives a lecture on "History and Journalizing" at the Seventies Hall. "The Hall was Crouded to overflowing and Hundreds Had to leave who Could not get into the House."

Feb 12, 1868 - DESERET NEWS editorial "Marry and Be Happy" says that if men continue to refuse to marry, "we would be inclined to favor the revival of the Spartan custom of treating bachelors [by flogging]."

Feb 12, 1870 - Utah enfranchises women, who are among first in nation on 14 Feb., when Miss Seraph Young votes. Wyoming adopted woman's suffrage in 1869. Mormon legislature passes bill knowing this doubles Mormon vote. Non-LDS governor signs bill in mistaken assumption that Utah's women will vote against polygamist power of People's Party. This 1870 law does not allow women to hold elective office, and Utah's governor vetoes bill in 1880 that would give full civil rights to women.
At the School of the Prophets in Salt Lake City Brigham young "said there would be men saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God with one wife with Many wives & with No wife at all."

Feb 12, 1875 - DESERET NEWS editorial comment: "As to unity of Church and State, or, in other words, a blending of spiritual and temporal matters, what has Congress to do with that?"

Feb 12, 1878 - DESERET NEWS reports interview of George Q. Cannon on Feb. 6, in which he tells WASHINGTON POST: "The Mormons generally on national issues are inclined to be Democrats, and all other things being equal, in the respective candidates of the parties, would vote the Democratic ticket."

Feb 12, 1893 - Edmund Ellsworth says "he heard Joseph Smith say in Nauvoo that the outsiders would not let the Saints stay there. Said they would remove to the Rocky Mountain . . . and they will finally cast us out from the United States. . . .We shall pass down through Mexico and back up through Texas to build up the center Stake of Zion [at Independence, Missouri]. He marked the profile of the journey in the sand. Bro. Averett [Everett] in speaking of the matter afterward said the route of the journey was shaped like a horseshoe. He having seen Joseph mark it out before." The published diary of Jesse N. Smith deletes this reference to Horse Shoe Prophecy.

Feb 12, 1905 - Carl A. Badger, secretary to Apostle and U.S. Senator Reed Smoot writes in his diary that Theodore Roosevelt-"told Senator Smoot to have the temple ceremonies abolished, they were 'foolishness.' Being a mason," Badger adds, "He most likely knows something about them." Badger also writes, "from all I can learn, if anything is done with Cowley and Taylor, by the leaders of the Church, it will be because they are forced to do something." The government had learned that Apostles Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor have performed and contracted plural marriages well after the manifesto. They are later dropped from the quorum amid government pressure.
That same day Badger writes to his wife, Rose, concerning government accusations of post-manifesto polygamy "This is a contemptible attitude for us to be in, we have said that certain things do not exist, they are proved to exist; we say that if they are proved to exist that the guilty will be punished, and now they are going to wait to see if we mean what we say.... We are occupying a cowardly, hypocritical attitude in this matter, and cannot but reap a harvest of humiliation and shame. There is no use quibbling about whether we made a 'compact' or a 'covenant,' no one doubts but what the country, which had been fighting us on this issue for a quarter of a century, understood that polygamy had gone, and we allowed them to have such an impression,-encouraged them in it for our own ends, and we are now estopped to say that we made no agreement. Where is our honor on this matter It makes me angry."

Feb 12, 1906 - The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE expose of the endowment ceremony: "Mysteries of the Endowment House". It is later published and distributed as a pamphlet "Mysteries of the endowment house and oath of vengeance of the Mormon church."

Feb 12, 1911 - BYU professor Ralph V. Chamberlin's "Darwin Centennial Speech" ignites controversy. General authorities (as school's trustees) fire him and professor Henry Peterson. BYU students protest dismissals with petitions and demonstrations.

Feb 12, 1950 - First singles ward created at University of Utah.

Feb 12, 1964 - First Presidency letter that all prospective missionaries "found guilty of fornication, of sex perversion, of heavy petting, or of comparable transgressions should not be recommended until the case has been discussed with the bishop and stake president and the visiting [General] Authority."

Feb 12, 1968 - Former Alabama Governor George Wallace formally writes LDS President David O. McKay for his "permission and blessings" and "a leave of absence" for Apostle Ezra Taft Benson to be Wallace's vice-presidential candidate. Benson had negotiated with Wallace to be his running mate on Wallace's third-party ticket. Two days later McKay sends a "confidential" letter to Wallace denying Benson's request and pointedly tells Wallace that "you no doubt have received word from Ezra Taft Benson as to my decision . . ."

Feb 12, 1978 - BURLEY SOUTH IDAHO PRESS article: "BYU Conference Panel Says Mormon Women Should Think for Themselves."

Feb 12, 1979 - BYU student John David Neumann, working as an "undercover homosexual" for college credit, meets a 24-year-old Provo man in the BYU Wilkinson Center. Neumann rides with him toward Heber, and tells him about homosexuals at BYU. BYU student newspaper, THE DAILY UNIVERSE reports, "He said it was possible to pick them up in the Wilkinson Center and at the Richards P.E. Building".. Neumann claims that when the Provo man made sexual advances, he "grabbed him by the wrist" and signaled BYU Security officers, who cite the Provo man for reckless driving. Two days later a warrant is issued, and the man is later apprehended and charged in Fourth District Court with forcible sexual abuse.

Feb 13, 1836 - The Twelve Apostles unanimously agree "That none be ordained to any office in the branches of the church abroad to which they belong to a general conference, appointed by those, or under the direction of those who are designated in the Book of Covenants as having authority to ordain and sit in order all the Officers of the church abroad & from that conference receive their ordination."

Feb 13, 1843 - At Orson Hyde's house Joseph Smith says that those who come to Nauvoo but don't buy their land through the church "must be cut off." At this time Joseph Smith is chief land agent for the Church but is getting competition from William Law.

Feb 13, 1844 - Joseph Smith writes, in a letter declining a requested visit to nearby Quincy, Illinois: "Moreover, wisdom and prudence seem to forbid my coming, on account of the bitter feeling which manifests itself in various places between this and Quincy,--not that I have any apprehensions for my personal safety; for the same kind hand which hath hitherto been my shield and support would save me from the power of my wicked persecutors; . . ." He is assassinated in Carthage four months later.

Feb 13, 1847 - At Kirtland, former apostle William E. McLellin organizes a church on behalf of BOOK OF MORMON witness David Whitmer, in fulfillment of Whimer's 1834 ordination as successor.

Feb 13, 1848 - Senior president of the of the Seventy Joseph Young and Apostle Wilford Woodruff chastise the First Quorum of Seventy for spending too much time "fiddleing and dancing."

Feb 13, 1849 - Brigham Young, when asked what "chance of redemption there was for the Africans," answers that "the curse remained upon them because Cain cut off the lives of Abel.… The Lord had cursed Cain's seed with blackness and prohibited them the Priesthood." This is the earliest official record of the policy of denial of priesthood to Blacks.

Feb 13, 1853 - Jedediah M. Grant preaches, "Some wonder why we don't have revelation now in our day as well as in the days of Joseph. In his day the brethren would not build a log cabin till they went to Joseph to ask counsel how they should set it where they should put the door etc. But at the present day men have learned to do something themselves without troubling the president or the Lord about it." Lack of "thus sayeth the Lord" revelations since the death of Joseph Smith lead to over a thousand Mormons breaking away and following Joseph Morris who receives such revelations eight years later.

Feb 13, 1859 - Brigham Young decides to form a committee to revise Lucy Mack Smith's biography of her son Joseph Smith and his progenitors. He is upset that "that book makes out William Smith according to Mother Smith's statement to be full of the Holy Ghost & the power of God . . . William Smith is the most wicket man I ever saw in my life." Copies of the book are gather up and burned and a new, altered edition is published."

Feb 13, 1861 - At a testimony meeting with Apostles John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff presiding Isaac Laney tells of being shot 17 times at Hauns Mill. He tells that the night before the Haun's Mill massacre (17 Mormons were killed by a Missouri mob) he had "dreamed a shower of serpents was all around him in the air rattle snakes & that many of them bit him all over his body but he was told that if he would not fall down but keep running that they would not hurt him. . . .Brother Laney testified that when he was shot this dream was fulfilled. When the Balls pierced his body through & through it did not hurt him more than the scratch of a pin although he bled at the mouth like an ox with his throat Cut."

Feb 13, 1863 - U.S. Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio submits to the Senate a report from the Committee on Territories concerning Utah: "Polygamy of the most unlimited character, sanctioning the cohabitation of a man with the mother and her daughters indiscriminately, is not the only un-American thing among them. . . . Contrary to the usages of the whole country, the affairs of this Territory are managed through church instrumentalities, and no measure is permitted to succeed in the Territory which will, for one moment, conflict with the interests of the church; in other words, we have here the first exhibition within the limits of the United States of a church ruling the State…Another opinion--the subject of both public and private teaching--is that the government of the United States will not and ought not to stand. They make a difference between the Constitution and the government of the United States; to the Constitution they claim to be very loyal, but to the government they owe no particular allegiance."

Feb 13, 1871 - Federal Justice James B. McKean writes to President Ulysses S. Grant: "For near twenty years the Mormon leaders packed the Grand and Petit juries of the United States Courts with their tools and instruments. But within a few months past we have decided against this system . . . to recognize only the U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Marshal as the proper officers of our courts. One of the consequences is that we have already indicted for capital offenses ten or twelve Mormons—some of them bishops and other influential men in the Mormon establishment."

Feb 13, 1877 - Joseph Smith III, president of RLDS church, respondeds by letter to an inquiry from Texan J. L. Traughber: "So far as polygamy or spiritual wifery is concerned, the Reorganization denies its correctness without reference to whether he [Joseph Smith, Jr.] did or did not practice it"

Feb 13, 1888 - John W. Young (Brigham's son and the Church's representative in Washington, D.C.) telegraphs church headquarters that he needs $15,000 "for [senators Shelby M.] Cullom and [Ezra] Davis," bribe money to secure their cooperation in a favorable committee report on Utah Statehood. He adds that he needs another $10,000 "to make sure of the majority of the committee." Although they have sent Young bribe money before, church leaders reply that he should do nothing until he has consulted with other brethren, including Joseph F. Smith, who is already enroute to replace Young as head of the Mormon lobby

Feb 13, 1896 - Apostle Heber J. Grant writes in his diary: "attended a meeting of the apostles in the Temple. . . . The object of the meeting of the apostles and the Presidents of The Seventies was to learn from Brother B.H. Roberts as to his position on a number of matters of importance, and to ask him with reference to some of his public remarks which were felt were not in keeping with what should be said by a leading Church official. Our meeting lasted until 7:45 and was the most painful meeting of my life as Brother Roberts refused to harmonize with his brethren and seemed willing sooner than to bow to the wishes of his brethren to have his position taken away from him I was unable to speak when I first got on my feet on account of the emotions which chocked me in thinking of the position that Brother Roberts was in. Apostles Lyman, Young and others of the brethren were moved to tears. Brother Roberts was firm in his position and none of us seemed to be able in the slightest degree to move him. He felt that he had acted in all fairness and honesty and had nothing what ever to take back. . . . I have felt more like death in the meeting today than at any funeral I have ever attended. feel that unless brother Roberts shall see the error of his way that his soul is lost and this is eternal death, which in comparison to simply passing to our eternal reward by passing from this life to the next is nothing." Roberts had balked at a rule requiring all general authorities to get permission from the First Presidency before engaging in political activities. Roberts, a democrat, felt that this allowed the First Presidency to favor one party over another by allowing Republican general authorities to run for office while forbidding democrats.

Feb 13, 1898 - While visiting Mesa, Arizona for stake conference Apostle John Henry Smith "met with the presidency and high Council in the Circle room and made an examination of the brethren and found three that were using tobacco."

Feb 13, 1899 - Heber J. Grant, upset with First Counselor George Q. Cannon Sunday sermon on charity the day before (which Grant "could not help feeling that it was a plea for his son to be forgiven & made a US Senator.") writes: I explained to Prest Snow that I felt very deeply wounded at the sermon which Pres Cannon had preached Sunday in view of the Attack of his son in his speech last Thursday evening. I told him I felt I could not feel well to be obligated to him for the present made me a little over a month ago.[Cannon gave Grant a gift of $1500 on Jan 6] The President agree with me that I would feel better if refunded the amount. I wrote a note to Bro. Cannon and enclosed my check for $1500. . . .I told Prest Snow of my intention to return the 1500 to Bro. Cannon and said he could not blame me for the desire to do so. I am glad he felt this way." George Q. Cannon's son Frank had given a speech "Senatorial Candidates and Pharisees" in which, according to Grant, "He made a vile attack on Apostle John H[enr]y Smith, the Church, Mr. McCune and myself. He had more to say about me than any one else."

Feb 13, 1937 - CHURCH SECTION photograph of LDS missionaries in Tahiti, with all males wearing white suit-and-pants, the custom in Tahiti. Issues of July 23 and July 30, 1938 have similar photographs of missionaries and their mission president in Tonga and Samoa.

Feb 13, 1945 - "Saturation-bombing" of Dresden, Germany, non-military cultural target with no heavy industry and no bomb shelters, but with P.O.W. camp of Americans. Planned by the England in revenge of similar Nazi raid on Coventry five years earlier, waves of British and U.S. bombers create hurricane-like "firestorms." Inner city is completely incinerated, including LDS branch house which is "destroyed right down to the cellar," while air raid kills 250,000 people. Most are women and children refugees who double Dresden's population due to its being safe-haven during years of Allied bombings elsewhere. Survivor is Dorthea Speth, wife of Spencer J. Condie, current General authority.

Feb 13, 1968 - Paul H. Dunn, in a speech at BYU, says of Baseball great Ted Williams, "He was no slouch. I know; I have pitched to him a time or two." Dunn also says "When I was eighteen, a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals, I reported to spring training." However when Dunn graduated from High School in 1942, at age 18, spring training camps had already been over for a month. Later a spokesman for the Cardinals says that no Paul Dunn played for that club or for any of its farm clubs.

Feb 13, 1970 - CHRISTIANITY TODAY article: "Mormons Stand Pat; Forbid Black Males to Become Priests".

Feb 13, 1973 - Twenty-one-year-old Almir S. Dutra is ordained bishop in Porto Allegre, Brazil as one of the youngest (if not the youngest) bishops in twentieth-century Mormonism.

Feb 14, 1829 - Eliza R. Snow publishes a poem in the Ravenna, Ohio WESTERN COURIER containing the stanzas: "But lo! a shining Seraph comes!/Hark! 'tis the voice of sacred Truth;/He smiles, and on his visage blooms,/Eternal youth.//He speaks of things before untold,/ Reveals what men nor angels knew,/The secret pages now unfold/To human view." Eliza, a future plural wife of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, has not yet heard of Mormonism (The Book of Mormon is over a year away from being published). Later, after accepting Mormonism, she changes the words "secret pages" to "long seal'd pages," to make more explicit the reference to the coming of the "Seraph," as the angel Moroni who brings the "long-sealed" plates of the Book of Mormon.

Feb 14, 1831 - THE PALMYRA REFLECTOR publishes an account from "our Painesville correspondent" of Mormon missionaries, saying that "they then proclaimed that there had been no religion in the world for 1500 years,--that no one had been authorized to preach and for that period,--that Joseph Smith had now received a commission from God for that purpose . . . . Smith (they affirmed) had seen God frequently and personally--Cowdery and his friends had frequent interviews with angels . . .commissions and papers were exhibited, said to be signed by Christ himself!!! . . ."

Feb 14, 1835 - Joseph Smith tells a meeting of Zion's Camp veterans and others about "The coming of the Lord, which was nigh--even fifty-six years should wind up the scene [in the year 1891]." The newly organized Quorum of Twelve Apostles includes astrologer John F. Boynton, rodsman Heber C. Kimball, amulet-wearer Brigham Young, and treasure-quest enthusiasts Luke S. Johnson and Orson Hyde. They are ordained apostles by the BOOK OF MORMON's three witnesses, rodsman Oliver Cowdery, seer stone enthusiast David Whitmer, and treasure-quest participant Martin Harris. 41 years later Wilford Woodruff notes in his Journal that six of the original Twelve apostatized.
The three witnesses bless Lyman Johnson "that he shall live until the gathering was accomplished according to the Holy Prophets. And that he should be like unto Enoch. And your faith shall be like unto his, and he shall be called great among all the living and Satan shall tremble before thee, and that he shall see the Saviour come and stand on the Earth with power and great glory."
They bless Brigham Young "that he may do wonders in the name of Jesus, that he may cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, open the eyes of the blind, go forth from land to land and from sea to sea, and that heathen nations shall even call him God himself, if he did not rebuke them."
Heber C. Kimball is blessed "That many millions may be converted by his instrumentality. That Angels may waft him from place to place and that he may stand unto the coming of our Lord and receive a crown in the kingdom of our Lord, that he be made acquainted with the day when Christ shall come, . . ."
William McLellin is blessed "He shall be mighty in the hands of God, and shall convince thousands that God has sent him; and his days may be prolonged until the coming of the Son of Man. He shall be wafted as on eagles' wings, from country to country, and from people to people; and be able to do wonders in the midst of this generation."

Feb 14, 1835 - Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal: "was suddenly Called to a house of mourning which was Mr. Alexander Akeman's. He had walked out of his house and droped dead upon the ground. In a few moments all his Sons and daughters were present." Later in his autobiography Woodruff amplifies the incident: " I was warned three times by the Lord, to go to Mr. Akeman, and bear testimony unto him of the truth of 'Mormonism,' and the wickedness of his course in opposing it; and the last time I called upon him, he was filled with wrath against me, and when I left his house, he followed me in a rage, apparently with some evil intent. When I had got a few rods from his door, he was nearly treading on my heels, and fell dead at my feet, as though he had been struck with lightning; he swelled, and immediately turned black. This created a great wailing and mourning among his family."

Feb 14, 1843 - Wilford Wodruff writes: "At about half past Seven oclock in the evening the sword which had made its appearance for several evenings past moved up near the moon & formed itself into a large ring around the moon. Two Balls immediately appeared in the ring opposite of each other sumthing in the form of sundogs. Another half ring is hung from those Balls sumthing in the shape of a horse shoe extending outside of the first ring with one line running through the center of the moon." He draws a picture in his journal of the phenomenon. Four days earlier he had written, "I Wilford Woodruff testify that about 7 oclock PM I discovered a stream of light in the south west quarter of the heavens. The rays of Light were in the form of a Broadsword with the hilt downward . . .The following is the declaration of Joseph the Seer conserning the foregoing sign: As sure as there is a God who sits enthroned in the heavens & as sure as he ever spoke to me So sure there will be a spe[e]dy & Bloody war & the broad sword seen last evening is the sure sign thereof."

Feb 14, 1845 - John M. Bernhisel is appointed as a "Traveling Bishop" to visit and regulate wards.
Hosea Stout, Nauvoo chief of police and head of Temple Guard, records in his diary, "Today Lucretia Fisher came to live with me." They are married a little over two months later.

Feb 14, 1853 - Ground is broken for the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. Brigham Young says, "If you ask if I have received a revelation or vision upon the subject [of building the temple] I would answer yes I have been in vision much of the time upon the subject. . . . If the people needed it I would give them a written Revelation upon the subject but do you not know that it is your duty to build up Houses for your own benefit?" Heber C. Kimball "dedicated the ground unto God. . . .The ground being frozen President Heber C Kimball comm.[ence]d breaking the ground with a pick" followed by the counselors and the Twelve. "Then the ground was broke & President Young took out the first turf. While taking it out [a] silver Dollar was flung from some one in the congregation which stru[c]k in the hole. Brother Kimball said that was an Omen that we should have plenty of mon[e]y to build the temple with." The temple would take forty years to construct--twice the time to construct the Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt.
"After leaving the Temple ground . . . .the Presidency and Twelve [went] to see the New sugar works operate . . . It was a splendid establishment . . . $50,000 to purchase the machinery & apparatus & get it to the valley."

Feb 14, 1886 - The Quorum of Twelve and First Presidency counselors meet "and we decided to get rid of the Church property." Church property was put into newly-formed corporations to avoid seizure by the federal government.
First Counselor George Q. Cannon is arrested for polygamy in Nevada. He is injured when he tries to escape by jumping from the train transporting him back to Utah.

Feb 14, 1896 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. writes in his journal: "Our conversation during the entire day was of the most interesting character. He [Heber J. Grant] said I & Lyman & J[ohn] H[enry] S[mith] have decided in our own minds that Jos[eph] F. S[smith] should be placed ahead of you in the Quorum. He thinks that, tho' a man may be ordained an apostle he takes rank when he comes into the Quorum" Brigham Jr. had been secretly ordained an apostle by his father long before he became a member of the Quorum of Apostles. This re-ordering makes Joseph F. Smith president of the church upon the death of Lorenzo Snow instead of Brigham Young Jr.

Feb 14, 1900 - U.S. president William McKinley promises Apostle John Henry Smith to defeat proposed U.S. amendment against polygamy and polygamous cohabitation in exchange for Utah-s vote in the Nov. election. Smith "told him I would do all I could for him but that he must not overestimate my strength."

Feb 14, 1901 - At a meeting of the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple "Bro. H[eber} J. Grant talked against vac[c]ination." At 11 a.m. the first presidency joins them and Heber J Grant "was selected to go to Japan on a Mission."

Feb 14, 1906 - Probable date of first plural marriage performed without claiming authority from current First Presidency. Second and third such marriages are on June 13-14, 1906. This is early stage of what became Mormon Fundamentalist movement.
Former U.S. Senator Charles J. Faulkner (W.V.) tells Apostle John Henry Smith "we aut [ought] to drop J[ohn] W. Taylor and M[atthias] F. Cowley and . . . from their positions [in the Quorum of Twelve] but not cast them out of the Church. He says this is the view of a number of the Senators." The fact that Taylor and Cowley had performed post manifesto plural marriages but had not been disciplined indicated to the federal government that the church was not serious in its claim to be stopping polygamy. Three weeks later "The apostles met and had a long talk over the situation of John W. Taylor, M. F. Cowley. . . . We came to the conclusion to suspend the[m] rather than to accept their resignation."

Feb 14, 1911 - To counter accusations that his teaching of evolution will destroy faith, embattled BYU professor William Chamberlin publishes "The Theory of Evolution as an Aid in Faith in God and Belief in the Resurrection" in the BYU campus paper WHITE AND BLUE. He is dismissed anyway

Feb 14, 1970 - First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric launch first organized effort to "provide sufficient security for the Church headquarters building." Next day First counselor Lee meets with Salt Lake City officials "to discuss the coordination between Church security personnel and the city police in handling emergencies that might arise."

Feb 14, 1978 - Florida police arrest Ted Bundy. He is charged in the Chi Omega murders and in the sexual assault and murder of twelve-year-old Kimberly Diane Leach. Bundy attended the University of Utah for awhile, converted to Mormonism and was ordained to the priesthood. He is executed in Florida's electric chair eleven years later.

Feb 14, 1991 - Amy Baird is president of Brigham Young University's "Student Service Association." In remarks on campus next day, former U.S. president Ronald Reagan praises students for electing first female as president of BYU's student body.

Feb 14, 1992 - The BYU Department of Sociology writes a memo to university president Rex E. Lee: "We wish to express concern over the possibility that disciplinary action, whether through ecclesiastical or university channels, might be taken against BYU faculty members for scholarly discussion of Mormonism, . . . We wish to express concern over the possibility that disciplinary action, whether through ecclesiastical or university channels, might be taken against BYU faculty members for scholarly discussion of Mormonism, . . . For example, if one of us presents at the Sunstone Symposium next year and our bishop or stake president judges us unworthy of a temple recommend or as deserving disciplinary action, such action could affect our position at the University given current policies as we understand them. . . . A serious professional contribution to the scientific knowledge concerning the Church, even one that is highly supportive of Church positions, is viewed as having the potential of costing one his or her position at BYU."

Feb 15, 1831 - The Painesville, Ohio TELEGRAPH reports: "He [Sidney Rigdon] then spoke of the supernatural gifts with which he said [Jospeh] Smith was endowed; he said he could translate the scriptures from any language in which they were now extant, and could lay his finger on every interpolation in the sacred writings, adding, that he had proved him in all these things. But my friends knowing that Mr. Rigdon had no knowledge of any language but his own vernacular tongue, asked him how he knew these things, to which Mr. R[igdon] made no direct reply. Mr. Smith arrived at Kirtland the next day; and being examined concerning his supernatural gifts by a scholar, who was capable of testing his knowledge, he confessed he knew nothing of any language, save the king's English. Mr. R[igdon] asserted that our revelation came to us upon human testimony -- this we denied, and gave him reasons which he himself formerly urged against DEISTS. He then said the OLD revelation was confirmed by miracles, but the Book of Mormon would never be; it was not designed to be thus confirmed."

Feb 15, 1835 - In Kirtland Oliver Cowdery contintues ordinations and blessings of original Twelve Apostles chosen the previous day. Though he never spoke to his associates about his ethnic heritage, William E. McLellin, whose mother was Cherokee, is ordained an apostle to become the first general authority of native American extraction. McLellin is blessed: "his days may be prolonged until the coming of the Son of Man. He shall be wafted as on eagles wings from country to country and from people to people and be able to do wonders in the midst of this generation, . . ."
Twenty-three-year-old John F. Boynton is ordained to the apostleship as the first and only never-married bachelor in the hierarchy. He remains a bachelor eleven months. Boynton is blessed: "Thou shalt see the face of thy Redeemer in the flesh."
Orson Hyde is blessed: "He shall be equal with his brethren in holding the keys of the kingdom; that he may stand on the earth and bring souls till Christ comes."
David W. Patten is blessed: "May he have power to smite his enemies before him with utter destruction. May he continue until the Lord comes."
Luke Johnson is blessed: "The nations shall tremble before him. He shall hear the voice of God, he shall comfort the hearts of the saints always. The angels shall bear him up till he shall finish his ministry."
William Smith is blessed: "He shall be preserved and remain on earth until Christ shall come to take vengeance on the wicked."

Feb 15, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes in his diary: "attended the Hebrew School at the usual hour, - spent the afternoon in reading Hebrew, and in receiving and waiting upon visitors - on this day we commenced translating the Hebrew language, under the instruction of professor Seixas, and he acknowled[e]g's that we are the most forward of any class he ever taught, the same length of time."

Feb 15, 1838 - The PAINESVILLE REPUBLICAN prints a letter from Warren Parrish: "I have performed a pilgrimage with him [Joseph Smith], (not to Mecca,) but to Missouri, a distance of 1000 miles, for the redemption of Zion, in company with about two hundred others, called the camp of Israel. When we arrived in Clay County adjoining Jackson County, Mo., in which Zion was located by revelation, and from which our brethren had been driven, we were informed through the Prophet that God had revealed to us that we need not cross over and fight as we had expected, but that God had accepted our sacrifice as he did that of Abraham, ours being equal to his when he offered up his Son. Therefore, we were sealed up unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ, as a reward for our suffering and obedience. I have set by his side and penned down the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks as he claimed to receive it by direct inspiration of Heaven. I have listened to him with feelings of no ordinary kind, when he declared that the audible voice of God, instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti Banking institution, which like Aaron's rod should swallow up all other Banks (the Bank of Monroe excepted,) and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins. I have been astonished to hear him declare that we had 60,000 Dollars in specie in our vaults, and $600,000 at our command, when we had not to exceed $6,000 and could not command any more; also that we had but about ten thousand Dollars of our bills in circulation, when he, as Cashier of the institution, knew that there was at least $150,000." The truth of the letter is attested to by two former apostles, Luke Johnson and John Boyington and two former Presidents of Seventy, Sylvester Smith and Leonard Rich.

Feb 15, 1841 - On a mission in England Heber C. Kimball receives a letter from his wife Vilate relaying a message from Joseph Smith "for the Twelve to come immediately home for our personal Safety, as great Judgments are nigh in this land even at the Door." Kimball, Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow are apostles on missionary assignments to England at this time.

Feb 15, 1845 - Sidney Rigdon asks, in the LDS newspaper MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE "Did the Lord ever tell any people that sleeping with their neighbor's wives and daughters had any thing to do with preparing the way of the Savior's coming[?]" Ridgon's daughter, Nancy, had been approached by Joseph Smith and asked to become a secret plural wife. This caused a rift between Rigdon and Smith.

Feb 15, 1846 - Brigham Young leaves Nauvoo with his family, reaching Sugar Creek, Iowa. in the evening.

Feb 15, 1847 - Wilford Woodruff "met with the quorum of the Twelve & others to learn to take the proper Steps in dancing."

Feb 15, 1857 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff offers his fourteen-year-old daughter Phebe to Brigham Young as a plural wife. Woodruff writes: "He [Young] did not wish to take any more young wives but would see that she was take[n] up in due time."

Feb 15, 1869 _ At a directors' meeting of Z. C M. I. Brigham Young "wished to have the merchants unite together under this head & be governed by the Priesthood. He thought the merchants were slow to carry out his council."

Feb 15, 1870 Oliver Cowdery's widow, Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery Johnson, a daughter of David Whitmer, made a statement regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon. "I cheerfully certify that I was familiar with the manner of Joseph Smith's translating the book of Mormon. He translated the most of it at my father's house. And I often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. He would place the director in his hat, and then place his face in his hat, so as to exclude the light, . . ."

Feb 15, 1875 - In TRUE L.D.S. HERALD, President Joseph Smith III writes: "We are pained to learn that some few Elders are making an unnecessary distinction between the white and colored races in regard to gospel ordinances and fellowship....It is unjust to the Church for one, two or more Elders to teach, preach, or advise a distinction and exclusion from church fellowship and communion upon the ground of race or color; while the 'articles and covenants of the Church' nowhere warrant such exclusion, and the practice of the Church has never sanctioned it....We think it derogatory to the teaching of Jesus, as found in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants to insist upon a separation of the races." The RLDS Church differs with The Utah Church on race relations.

Feb 15, 1876 - First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon publishes an editorial in the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR criticizing waltzing as "not conducive to health" and "considered improper by the servants of God who are placed to teach us."

Feb 15, 1877 - At the Saint George Temple two veils are used for "the first time in this generation."

Feb 15, 1885 The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE editorial: "The essential principle of Mormonism is not polygamy at all, but the ambition of an ecclesiastical hierarchy to wield sovereignty; to rule the souls and lives of its subjects with absolute authority, unrestrained by any civil power."

Feb 15, 1886 - Martha J. Cannon is brought into the third district court. Tthe grand jury complains that she will not answer certain questions, including: "Are you not now a pregnant woman?" .... "Are you not now with child by your husband, [First Counselor] George Q. Cannon?" On still declining to answer the court adjudges her guilty of contempt, and pending sentence she is placed under bonds of $2,500, which are subsequently raised to $5,000.

Feb 15, 1902 - President Joseph F. Smith says that evidence received through revelation "No member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should, for one moment, regard such testimony as admissible in a court of law, and to make the case perfectly clear it may be further stated that such evidence would not be permissible even in a Church court, where rules of evidence, though not so technical, are founded largely upon the same principles that govern the rules of evidence in a court of law. Any attempt, therefore, to make it appear that such evidence is in keeping with the tenets of the 'Mormon' faith is wholly unjustified."

Feb 15, 1911 - Former Apostle John W. Taylor is summoned by the Quorum of Apostles: "By these presents you are summoned to appear before the Council of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple at 10 A.M. on Wednesday February 22, 1911, to vindicate yourself of the claim entertained by your brethren that you have married a plural wife within the last six years contrary to the discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that you have aided and encouraged others to enter such a relationship. You will also be required to answer any and all questions that may be put to you by the Council upon these points, to tell us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Do not fail to appear as we shall be in session there and then to receive you."

Feb 15, 1927 - Apostle George F Richards notifies temples that it is decision of First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve to immediately omit from prayer circles "all references to avenging the blood of the Prophets. Omit from the ordinance and lecture all reference to retribution." Letter also instructs to "omit the kissing" at the end of the proxy sealings.

Feb 15, 1940 - HOLLYWOOD CITIZEN article about actress Laraine Day: "Wonders never cease and today we met in the center of Hollywood a movie actress, and a beautiful one, too, who never has tasted a cocktail nor smoked a cigarette. Her name is Laraine Day, and lips that touch liquor shall never touch hers, and if there is any other movie star with a record like that, we'll put it in our pipe and smoke it. We're not trying to spoof Miss Day, either. She is a member of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, she's engaged to a missionary, and we have the greatest of respect for her. Only we're a little surprised that a girl of her temperament and background is in the movies. . . .Miss Day, who is hazel-eyed, barely 20, and one of the brightest of M-G-M's younger stars, likes night clubs, where she drinks either soda pop or milk."

Feb 15, 1942 - In Hamburg, Germany, Branch President Arnold Zollner writes "Ex-communicated" on 17-year-old Helmuth Hubener's membership record. Hubener had been arrested 10 days previously for distributing anti-Nazi propaganda. Zollner had previously posted "JUDEN IST DER EINTRITT VERBOTEN!" (Jews not allowed to enter.) on the door of the branch meeting-house and would bring his radio to church whenever Hitler or Goebbels were scheduled to speak. Heubner is beheaded by the Nazis on October 27, 1942. On November 11, 1946, District President Otto Berndt,and the new mission president, Max Zimmer, write "excommunication done by mistake" on Hubener's membership record. Later, Zimmer's successor, Jean Wunderlich, notifies the Salt Lake leadership of the affair, and on 24 January 24, 1948, the First Presidency orderes a similar notation placed on the membership record.

Feb 15, 1957 - President David O. McKay writes: "On the subject of organic evolution the Church has officially taken no position. The book 'Man, His Origin and Destiny' was not published by the Church, and is not approved by the Church. The book contains expressions of the author's views for which he alone is responsible."

Feb 15,1978 - First Presidency letter: "The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius and the reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals."

Feb 15, 1979 - LIBRARY JOURNAL headline "Mormon Book Purges Not Endorsed by Church," regarding LDS missionaries who allegedly remove books they regard as anti-Mormon or non-faith-promoting from public libraries. LDS president Spencer W. Kimball also publicly instructs BYU students to stop cutting out pages from books in campus library even if they regard the content as objectionable.

Feb 15, 1985 - Don LeFevre, director of the LDS press relations, issues a statement warning that "privately arranged placement of any children without a licensed agency's sanction is frequently in violation of local or national law. Church officers or members should not be involved in such arrangements." Recently a baby-smuggling ring, which sold some infants to childless had been broken and Nelda Karen Cotwell of Layton, Utah, convicted for conspiring to illegally bring Mexican infants into the United States and sell them..

Feb 16, 1832 - Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon see and record a vision of three degrees of heavenly glory.

Feb 16, 1841 - Wilford Woodruf writes while in England of "the awful Judgments that await the Nations. WAR WAR is [at] the door between England & America. O Lord Deliver us."

Feb 16, 1847 - Brigham Young proclaims that "I am entitled to the Keys of the Priesthood according to lin[e]age and Blood, so is Brother H.C. Kimball & many others" Young also preaches: "There is another principle that has Caused considerable uneasiness and trouble ie the Idea of some mens having more wives than one. Such tremendious fears take hold of some that they hardly know how to live. Still they cant die. [They] begin to whisper and talk around [I] Am actually afraid to go on a mission for fear some man will be sealed to my wife, & when they return home some will be babbling about, you don't know but what you have got another mans wife, are afraid to speak to a young woman for fear that she belongs to somebody els[e] or for fear somebody els[e] wants her." And also "I know that the women generally rule there Husbands & the Children their Mothers. But when A woman under takes to rule me I want Her to be so secret about it that I Cannot Catch Her at it. Now I do not want the Brethren from my remarks to abuse there wives but treat them kindly: do there Heavy lug[g]ing but don't wash there dishes as some men do." Young also states: "The man is the head & God of the woman."

Feb 16, 1849 - Brigham Young writes to Lorenzo Snow: "as God was, so are we now; as he is now, so shall we be." This chiasmus is later attributed to Lorenzo Snow and still later termed "only a couplet" by President Gordon B. Hinckley

Feb 16, 1853 - First President of Seventy Joseph Young preaches, "Joseph Once said if we did not keep our arms in order An enemies might come upon us as unawares & destroy us but if we are prepared we need not fear. I was at the slaughter at Hauns mill. I don't want to see any more of it."

Feb 16, 1860 - Brigham Young tells Ezra T. Benson, "that [polygamy] was practiced now to give men an experience and prepare them for a time when polygamy will be more extensively practiced."

Feb 16, 1868 - Brigham Young preaches: "One of the first objections that was urged against Joseph Smith was that he was a money digger; and now the digging of gold is considered an honorable and praiseworthy employment. They are hunting for gold all over the country, doing the very thing which they condemned in him." Young also preaches on the necessity of building a temple: "It is absolutely necessary that the Saints should receive the further ordinances of the house of God before this short existence shall come to a close, that they may be prepared and fully able to pass all the sentinels leading into the celestial kingdom and into the presence." Young is not speaking of the endowment since it is already performed in the Endowment House but is speaking of other ordinances which require a temple.

Feb 16, 1874 - William Clayton recall in a sworn statement: "Hyrum said to Joseph, 'If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace.' Joseph smiled and remarked, 'You do not know Emma as well as I do.' Hyrum repeated his opinion, and further remarked, 'The doctrine is so plain, I can convince any reasonable man or woman of its truth, purity and heavenly origin,' or words to that effect. Joseph then said, 'Well, I will write the revelation and we will see.' He then requested me to get paper and prepare to write. Hyrum very urgently requested Joseph to write the revelation by means of the Urim and Thummim, but Joseph in reply, said he did not need to, for he knew the revelation perfectly from beginning to end. . . . "Hyrum then took the revelation to read to Emma. Joseph remained with me in the office until Hyrum returned. When he came back, Joseph asked him how he had succeeded. Hyrum replied that he had never received a more severe talking to in his life, that Emma was very bitter and full of resentment and anger. "Joseph quietly remarked, 'I told you you did not know Emma as well as I did.' Joseph then put the revelation in his pocket, and they both left the office." Clayton says that after the revelation was carefully copied Joseph allowed Emma "the privilege of destroying" the original. Clayton concludes his statement with "From him I learned that the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on the earth, and that without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the fulness of exaltation in celestial glory."

Feb 16, 1886 - The Brethren receive confirmation that George Q. Cannon has been arrested for polygamy. Of this Wilford Woodruff writes: "We are in the Midst of a National Persecution. The United States Government is making war upon the Latter Day Saints. Judgment is beginning at the House of God. But if the Saints Suffer for their Religion Our Persecuter's will suffer for their sins. Great things await this Generation. Behold the signs of the time. Watch for the Coming of the Son of Man."

Feb 16, 1909 - BYU's campus newspaper WHITE AND BLUE states: "Undoubtedly among the great men of the nineteenth century the foremost place should be given to the eminent scientist Charles Darwin"

Feb 16, 1965 - A student letter to the editor of BYU's DAILY UNIVERSE complains that the use of "racial slurs" by BYU students at sporting events is not just a few isolated incidents but "it has happened every time I have witnessed an athletic event where Negroes have participated at BYU"

Feb 16, 1970 - Provo DAILY HEARALD quotes BYU Football coach Tommy Hudspeth that BYU "discourage[d] the Negroes because [it was felt] they would not be happy in the social situation here. We have certain rules and regulations which we won't change; we will not allow inter-racial dating"

Feb 16, 1972 - The First Presidency writes: "For your information we may say that some years ago the First Presidency and the brethren of the Twelve authorized certain modifications in the style of the temple garment. These modifications consisted of the following changes: (1) collar eliminated, (2) closed crotch, (3) buttons instead of strings, (4) legs to knee, and (5) short sleeves. . . . However, in order that there may be uniformity in temple work and that expedition in the administration of the ordinances of the House of the Lord may not be impeded, the brethren have recommended that people doing temple work wear the old style garment."

Feb 16, 1986 - CHURCH NEWS announces Lee Roderick is chair of board of National Press Club.

Feb 16, 1991 - ARIZONA REPUBLIC publishes analysis of decades of talks by Seventy's president Paul H. Dunn who has misrepresented his military and baseball careers in order to tell "faith-promoting" stories to LDS youth and young adults. This is based on research of investigative reporter Lynn Packer, whose teaching employment is terminated at BYU after story's publication. In interview Dunn defends himself by saying that parables of Jesus are not literally true either. On Oct. 23 Dunn writes "Open Letter to the Members of the Church," confessing his "inaccurate" sermons and "other activities inconsistent with the high and sacred office which I have held." He acknowledges that general authorities "have censured me and placed a heavy penalty upon me." In addition to receiving emeritus status in 1989, five years before its normal implementation at age seventy, the unnamed "heavy penalty" allegedly now includes Dunn"s loss of LDS privileges. Without formal disfellowshipment this would be similar to 1911 decision concerning Matthias F. Cowley, who also had been previously released as general authority before his added punishment.

Feb 16, 1991 - Leftist rebels in Santiago, Chile, set a Mormon chapel afire and leave pamphlets protesting the U.S.-led war against Iraq. According to the Associated Press, the attack is one of a number of attacks against U.S. and European targets in South America after the war began.

Feb 16, 1994 - Pipe bomb blows out windows of LDS chapel in Sunland, California.

Feb 16, 2006 - L A Times front page story "Bedrock of a Faith is Jolted" on fact that DNA studies show no Hebrew ancestry to Native Americans.

Feb 17, 1834 - The first Stake High Council is organized in Kirtland, Ohio and rules are laid down for the procedures in disciplinary proceedings by the council. Two days later, the oldest members of the high council, Joseph Smith, Sr., and John Johnson give patriarchal blessings to their adult sons. Neither are ordained patriarchs.

Feb 17, 1834 - Professor Charles Anthon writes in a letter about his meeting with Martin Harris: "The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics is perfectly false. Some years ago, a plain, apparently simple-hearted farmer called on me with a note from Dr. Mitchell, of our city, now dead, requesting me to decipher, if possible, the paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick--perhaps a hoax. . . . The farmer added that he had been requested to contribute a sum of money toward the publication of the golden book, the contents of which would, as he was told, produce an entire change in the world, and save it from ruin. . . . He requested an opinion from me in writing, which, of course, I declined to give, and he then took his leave, taking his paper with him. This paper in question was, in fact, a singular scroll. It consisted of all kinds of singular characters disposed in columns, and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him at the time a book containing various alphabets, Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses and flourishes; Roman letters inverted or placed sideways were arranged and placed in perpendicular columns, and the whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various compartments, arched with various strange marks, and evidently copied after the Mexican calendar by Humboldt, but copied in such a way as not to betray the source whence it was derived. . . . Some time after, the farmer paid me a second visit. He brought with him the gold book in print, and offered it to me for sale. I declined purchasing. He then asked permission to leave the book with me for examination. I declined receiving it, although his manner was strangely urgent. I adverted once more to the roguery which, in my opinion, had been practiced upon him, and asked him what had become of the gold plates. He informed me they were in a trunk with the spectacles. I advised him to go to a magistrate and have the trunk examined. He said the curse of God would come upon him if he did. On my pressing him, however, to go to a magistrate, he told me he would open the trunk if I would take the curse of God upon myself. I replied that I would do so with the greatest willingness, and would incur every risk of that nature, provided I could only extricate him from the grasp of the rogues. . . . Yours respectfully, CHAS. ANTHON." This description of the paper is later used by Mark Hofmann in forging the "Anthon Transcript".

Feb 17, 1836 - Joseph Smith writes in his Journal, "My Soul delights in reading the word of the Lord in the original and I am determined to persue the study of languages until I shall become master of them . . ." Joseph has been reading the Bible in the original Hebrew.

Feb 17, 1841 - Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow visit the "DISSECTING ROOM" of an Bartholomew Hospital in London. "The Dissecting apartment consisted of three Rooms, which contained about twenty Subjects viz. Human Bodies which the Doctors were dissecting that lay upon tables. Some were just commenced upon while others were nearly finished. Our stay was short as their was a great stench in the room. Limbs & parts of the body were hung in all parts of the room."

Feb 17, 1846 - Among the rules for organizing the Saints after leaving Nauvoo and in preparation for the trek westward Brigham Young declares, "That all the dogs in the camp should be killed, if the owners did not tie them up."

Feb 17, 1847 - John D. Lee writes in his diary: "About 11 a vote of the house was taken and decided in favor of shucking off some of their traditions by dancing. I replied that I could not participate with them in the evening's recreation from the fact that I did not consider it a time to dance but a day with me of deep solemnity and prayer for the recovery of the health of my file leader and father [Brigham Young] who this day has been near yielding up the ghost. Having made those remarks I left the room and entered the place where the afflicted lay."

Feb 17, 1856 - Brigham Young "asked Elder Orson Pratt what He thought of his preaching that intelligent beings would continue to learn to all Eternity. O. Pratt said that He believed the Gods had a knowledge at the present time of every thing that ever did exist to the endless ages of all Eternity. He believed it as much as any truth that he had ever learned in or out of this Church. President Young remarked that he had never learned that principle in the church for it was not taught in the Church for it was not true. It was fals[e] doctrin[e] For the Gods and all intelligent Beings would never cease to learn except it was the Sons of perdition they would continue to decrease until they became dissolved back into their native Element & lost their Identity." This is only one point of doctrine over which Brigham Young and Orson Pratt differed throughout their lives. In 1980, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie calls Brigham Young's doctrine that God continues to learn a "deadly heresy" and says: "[t]his is false-utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it."

Feb 17, 1857 - Brigham Young writes in a letter: "The doctrine of adoption, the Patriarchal order, has not been taught of late, but will be attended to in its season as soon as we have another Temple built to the most High. You belong to the Kingdom of God, but may make your own choice, to whom you will be adopted, and when you have made this choice you may report it that it may be put on record, and in the event of death; because of this record the adoption would be attended to for the dead in the proper time and place. This is for the purpose of having an unbroken Chain of Priesthood from the present time back through Joseph, the apostles to the Jesus - -Jesus-even back to Adam."

Feb 17, 1859 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "At night while in the office some person spoke of the game of chess, Prest Young remarked he knew nothing of such games, and was ignorant of such practices of the world; after a pause he said I have had to play with the Kingdoms of the world living characters. On some one observing he had indeed to play a great game, he said, yes and I am not displeased with nor regret any move that I have made."

Feb 17, 1876 - Brigham Young writes to his son Willard, who is a cadet at West Point: "When we think of the vast amount of preaching our elders are doing far and wide out in the world, the spirit of reformation amongst gathered Israel, the work of the Father commenced amongst the degraded children of Lehi, and the spreading out and strengthening of the settlements of the Saints, we cannot come to any other conclusion than "Zion is growing", . . ."

Feb 17, 1883 - Alma Moroni Blanchard tells Apostle Wilford Woodruff that he has "found some plates Containing records in addition to the Book of Mormon. He had translated them by the Urim and Thummin and he wanted to Publish them." Woodruff adds, "I think it all fals[e]."

Feb 17, 1886 - George Q. Cannon, arrested for polygamy, is released on $45,000 bail. Apostles Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Franklin D. Richards and John Henry Smith visit him at his home and "found him badly bruised but feeling cheerful." Cannon was "badly bruised" from jumping from a moving train in an escape attempt after being arrested.

Feb 17, 1889 - Abinadi Pratt, son of deceased apostle Parley P. Pratt, prophesies to Salt Lake City congregation that within three weeks God will destroy San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York City, and Washington D.C. One Mormon writes: "None felt concerned about his prophecy."

Feb 17, 1890 - First Counselor George Q. Cannon meets with the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Senator Calvin S. Brice. He argues against Brice's recommendation that the Church make a public announcement of the cessation of plural marriages by saying that plural marriages have ceased in the church and that older polygamists will eventually die off. He does not mention that church-sanctioned plural marriages are being conducted in Mexico by Alexander McDonald. Later at home, he writes in his diary, "How could any man come out and say that it [polygamy] was not right or that it must be discontinued, and set themselves up in opposition to God."

Feb 17, 1891 - Apostle Lorenzo Snow, President of the Quorum of Apostles, confers with the First Presidency concerning his legal difficulties "in regard to his cases before the 3rd Dist. Court, one for adultery & 1 for U. C. [unlawful cohabitation] It has been arranged if he will plead guilty to U. C., the other case will be dismissed. This was thought the best case for him to pursue, & he left with that intuition. When his case was called this afternoon, he plead guilty to U. C. & the other case was dismissed to be sentenced on Saturday next."

Feb 17, 1899 - First Presidency and twelve apostles decide against traditional practice of conferring priesthood on dying sons who are infants or small children.

Feb 17, 1911 - John W. Taylor appeals to Joseph F. Smith to re-convene theocratic Council of Fifty to protect Taylor and other "co-religionists" from polygamy investigations by Twelve. Smith's notation on letter: "Not granted[--]I think the demand most absurd."

Feb 17, 1943 - First Presidency agrees to comply with "request of F.B.I. for missionary information regarding towns and cities in Axis countries, by giving them lists of missionaries and permitting them (FBI) to interview them to get such information as they could. We were to make clear there was to be no espionage in Axis countries by our missionaries." Axis countries are Hitler's Nazi Germany, Mussolini's Fascist Italy. Toho’s Imperial Japan and territories conquered by them.

Feb 17, 1945 - CHURCH SECTION article "Meager Report Indicates German Saints Carry On."

Feb 17, 1972 - Actor Vincent Price, who played Joseph Smith in the film "Brigham Young" tells of his role 32 years earlier "I greatly enjoyed the part of Joseph Smith, I read a great deal about him and with the help of the late Heber [J.] Grant kept on finding more material on the subject after the film was released. I have always had the utmost admiration for the Mormon Church which I's sure stems from my fascination with Joseph Smith--what an extraordinary man!. . . [President Heber J. Grant] wrote me several interesting letters; He felt that the picture might have been about Joseph Smith instead of Brigham but of course realized that the great appeal to the public (and of course to the producers) was the difficult trek and the miracle of the gulls, etc."

Feb 17, 1979 - KSL Television in Salt Lake City airs a one-hour documentary on depression and its effects on Mormon women. A roundtable discussion of ecclesiastical leaders (including General Relief Society President Barbara Smith) and mental health professionals is presented. Conclusions include "Women seem to get depressed more than men do. Two age groups are hit harder than others-early motherhood and ending motherhood. Mormon women are just as vulnerable to this, some would say more so, others would say just the same. Certain pressures that Mormon women must deal with are the pressures to be perfect, the pressure over raising a family, of church jobs, the pressure in finding an identity, and their role in society. But other pressures in other societies can do the same for other women. . . . One thing about Mormon depression, though, is the women seem more guilty about having this problem and therefore more reluctant to seek help."

Feb 17, 1959 - In effort to avoid suppression of his book, Elder Bruce R. McConkie drafts letters to IMPROVEMENT ERA and CHURCH NEWS stating that MORMON DOCTRINE "contains my personal views only, and I am solely responsible for all statements or opinions expressed in it." He submits these for review of First Presidency, who reply on Feb. 18 that "they do not conform to the ideas that we have that you cannot be disassociated from your official position in the publication of such a manuscript." Presidency concludes that "pending the final disposition of this problem no further edition of the book be printed."

Feb 17, 1992 - NEWSWEEK reports: "Now the [Central Intelligence] agency recruiters jump at the chance to snare a Mormon. Young Mormons tend to have squeaky-clean backgrounds and, thanks to their work as Third World missionaries, they often have a skill the CIA desperately needs these days: knowledge of a foreign language."

Feb 18, 1824 - Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton, is installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church in Palmyra, N.Y. In a history of Presbyterianism in New York it is stated: "copious shower of grace passed over this region in 1824, under the labors of Mr. Stockton, and a large number were gathered into the church, some of whom are now pillars in Christ's house."

Feb 18, 1825 - Rev. Alexander Proudfit, of Salem, N.Y. writes to Ethan Smith: "Reverend and esteemed Brother: I have examined with no inconsiderable interest your 'View of the Hebrews,' and have been highly entertained, and instructed. From the view given of their Language, and from the similarity of their customs and religious rites, with those of ancient Israel; from their belief in the existence of the one Great Spirit. as the Creator and Judge of the world; from their existing in tribes, during the lapse of so many ages; from the coincidence of their traditions with the events recorded in the inspired volume; we have in my opinion satisfactory evidence that the aborigines of our country are the remnant of the ten tribes of Israel."

Feb 18, 1841 - In England Wilford Woodruff receives a letter from his wife: "It was truly a feast to me to hear from my Dear wife [and] child . . . after being separated nearly two years from them."

Feb 18, 1843 - Joseph Smith teaches, "When the earth was sanctified and became like a sea of glass it would be one great Urim and Thummim [and] the Saints could look in it and see as they are seen."

Feb 18, 1844 - William Clayton's polygamous wife, Margaret Moon Clayton (sister of Clayton's first wife), bears a child Daniel Adelbert who dies six months later, and his father comments that "the tongue of slander has swung freely against him." Joseph Smith had performed this marriage.

Feb 18, 1846 - Brigham Young organizes the pioneer's camp across the river from Nauvoo: "if the brethren could not bring their minds to perfect order, they had better leave the camp and I would have no feelings against them; that after dark no man must leave camp without the countersign, nor approach the guard abruptly; that every family must call on the Lord night and morning at every tent or wagon and we shall have no confidence in the man who does not." A lost and found is set up and a system of colored flags is announced to call various leaders to come for instructions and two cannons are brought into camp. Afterwards Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and others "returned to Nauvoo . . . and met for prayer in the Temple."

Feb 18, 1846 - An article appears in the WARSAW SIGNAL concerning the endowment ceremony introduced in the Nauvoo Temple two months previously and says that participants in the endowment are "in a state of nudity throughout the ceremony, . . ." Two months later, in the April 15, 1846, issue, a woman who signs her name "Emeline" writes a response. Although "Emeline" admits that she is breaking oaths and covenants she has made in the temple by revealing the contents of the ritual, she feels justified because church authorities were "the most debased wretches" and the that endowment was "nothing less than fearful blasphemy." Nevertheless, she denies that the ceremony takes place in a state of nudity, except for an initial robing ceremony during which only women were present and states that no indecency took place between men and women since they are admitted separately. Although she admits that she did not remember many of the details of the ceremony, she describes the rooms, some of the characters, as well as the fact that there were oaths, obligations, and penalties.

February 18, 1850. While her husband, William Clayton plays with the band for a dancing party, his youngest wife Diantha, at her husband's suggestion, dances with a certain Mr. Grist, a gentile. The band, however, plays a waltz, and the sensibilities of some good Saints are shocked to see the wife of William Clayton waltzing with a gentile. News of this reaches top authorities and two days later, after Clayton has gone to work, an apostle and another elder arrive at his home and confront Diantha. They accuse her of three serious errors unbefitting a Latter-day Saint: (1) waltzing with a gentile, (2) "harboring and encouraging" gentiles in her home during the past winter," and (3) "slandering the authorities of the church to the Gentiles." That evening Clayton writes to Brigham Young: "The peace of my family is in a great degree destroyed," for the priesthood leaders had given his young wife a "very severe chastisement."

Feb 18, 1852 - Lorenzo Snow writes from Italy: "Nor can I express the delight which I experienced in gazing upon Mount Brigham, on whose rocky brow we had organized La Chiesa di Gesu Christo dei Santi degli Ultimi Gioni, in Italia." The peak which Snow had renamed Mount Brigham when dedicating the Italian Mission was known to the Italians as Monte Vandalino.

Feb 18, 1855 - Brigham Young preaches "The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven, in power and great glory, nor send His messengers panoplied with aught else than the truth of heaven, to communicate to the meek, the lowly, the youth of humble origin, the sincere enquirer after the knowlege of God. But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that He had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove faithful before Him." He also preaches: "when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it."

Feb 18, 1855 - Orson Pratt preaches: "I will tell you what I believe in regard to the Holy Ghost's being a person: but I know of no revelation that states that this is the fact."
Wilford Woodruff preaches: "I would far prefer to bury any wife or child I have than to have them live to dishonor my name & disgrace themselves by commiting sin with the gentiles."

Feb 18, 1857 - DESERET NEWS publishes a sermon by Brigham Young: "Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise when they have committed a sin that cannot be alerted for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? That is what Jesus Christ meant…I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance in the last resurrection if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the almighty…I have known a great many men who have left this church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation; but if their blood had been spilled it would have been better for them. This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation, and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it."

Feb 18, 1857 - Presiding Patriarch John Smith takes a plural wife. His legal wife, Helen, writes to her brother-in-law: "Well, John has got another wife, perhaps you know her, her name is Milisa Lemins. Dear Joseph it was a trial to me but thank the Lord it is over with .... I care not how many he gits now, the ice is broke as the old saing is, the more the greater glory.... All of the girls is a giting maried from 10 to 18. If there is any left till theyre are 18 they are on the oald maids list."

Feb 18, 1861 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "President Young, & Orson Hyde had discussed the treatment for the cure of the Croup in children. The President said his [sic] medicine for the cure of the Croup was lobelia Consecrated oil & molasses. He remarked it was in the nature of lobelia to draw the disease to the stomach, and then puke it off He remarked lobelia should be used carefully because it was a stimulant, and after using large doses people felt exhausted. If a man had a sore upon [h]is foot the lobelia would wither throw the desease out, or draw the disease to the stomach and then puke it out. Br[other] O. Hyde remarked that Spirits of Turpentine was very good for Croup."

Feb 18, 1873 - Mormon mob lynches Charles A. Benson for murder in Logan, Utah, under circumstances in which his LDS apostasy is contributing factor. He is son of former Cache Valley president, deceased apostle Ezra T. Benson, whose official biography states that "no further record of his life is available" after Charles's endowment date.

Feb 18, 1911 - Former apostle John W. Taylor comes into Apostle John Henry Smith's office "very much angered at president Francis M. Lyman and the Twelve. . . . He demanded an Interview with Pres[iden]t Joseph F. [Smith] and me. He was quite wild. He staid over two hours. . . . He demanded that President J. F. Smith call the Counsel of fifty to protect him from the Twelve in his violations of the law [for polygamy]." On March 28, 1911 John W. Taylor is excommunicated. At his excommunication trial (conducted by the Quorum of Twelve) he asks that President Joseph F. Smith be called on his behalf but the Quorum refuses.

Feb 18, 1966 - David O. McKay rescinds his permission for his picture to appear on the cover of AMERICAN OPINION, official magazine of the John Birch Society.

Feb 18, 1989 - Announcement that New York's Macmillan Publishing Company has contracted with BYU to publish multi-volume ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORMONISM. Under direct supervision of apostles Neal A. Maxwell and Dallin H. Oaks, church intends this to be public-relations publication. Published in 1992 encyclopedia's content is so heavily managed by apostles and four other general authorities with "special assignments" that its editor Daniel H. Ludlow (official of Church Correlation Committee) disclaims: "In no sense does the ENCYCLOPEDIA have the force and authority of scripture."

Feb 19, 1793 - Sidney Rigdon is born in Saint Clair Township, Pennsylvania.

Feb 19, 1823 - Article in PALMYRA HERALD AND CANAL ADVERTISER: "The Indians are reported the aborigines of North America; but I doubt the truth of this proposition. The fortifications and remains of antiquity in Ohio and elsewhere, clearly prove them to be the work of some other people than the Indians. Many of these fortifications were not forts, but religious temples, or places of public worship. . . . What wonderful catastrophe destroyed at once the first inhabitants, with the species of the mammoth, is beyond the researches of the best scholar and greatest antiquaran."

Feb 19, 1834 - The "High Council of the Church of Christ" completes its organization in Kirtland, Ohio. Their first order of business is to hear a charge against Curtis Hodges who is accused of "loud speaking and a want of clearness in articulation, which was calculated to do injury to the cause of God;"

Feb 19, 1836 - Joseph Smith "conversed with Mr. [Joshua] Seixas [the Hebrew teacher] upon the subject of religion, . . ." Joseph writes in his diary, "He listened with attention and appeared interested with my remarks. I believe the Lord is striving with him by his Holy Spirit and that he will eventually embrace the new and everlasting covenant, for he is a chosen vessel unto the Lord to do his people good. But I forbear lest I get to prophesying upon his head."

Feb 19, 1837 - Joseph Smith returns to Kirtland after business. While he was gone opposition to him builds based mostly on the Kirtland Bank fiasco. He takes the pulpit and preaches: "I am still the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Leader of the Church of Jesus Christ. God, and not man, has appointed and placed me in this position, and no man or set of men have power to remove me, or appoint another in my stead; and those who undertake this, if they do not speedily repent, will burn their fingers and go to hell."

Feb 19, 1840 - Wilford Woodruff, on a mission in England, "dreamed that I saw men & children killed to be eat[en] because of the soreness of a famine."
William Clayton writes in his diary: "Got a letter from Brother Heath. Sister Poole has been and says Susan is jealous of Thomas [Miller]. He wants her out of the way. If she was to die he would be married again in 3 months &c. Thomas wanted to know who he would be married to &c. She would not tell him. He says he will not go to his work untill she does tell him and she says she will not. Thomas is very much troubled &c. Thomas has practiced kissing all in the house before he goes to bed &c. Went to Bewshers to dinner. She gave me a pint of Porter."

Feb 19, 1842 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "The Lord is Blessing Joseph with Power to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God; to translate through the urim & Thummim ancient records & Hyeroglyphics as old as Abraham or Adam, which causes our hearts to burn within us . . . Joseph the Seer has presented us some of the Book of Abraham which was written by his own hand but hid from the knowledge of man for the last four thousand years . . . I have had the privilege this day of assisting in setting the TIPE FOR PRINTING the first peace of the BOOK OF ABRAHAM that is to be presented to the inhabitants of the EARTH in the LAST DAYS."

Feb 19, 1854 - Seventy's president Jedediah M. Grant preaches: "What would a man of God say, who felt aright, when Joseph asked him for his money? He would say, 'Yes, and I wish I had more to help to build up the kingdom of God.' Or if he came and said, 'I want your wife?' 'O Yes,' he would say, 'here she is, there are plenty more.' ... Did the Prophet Joseph want every man's wife he asked for? He did not"
Brigham Young preaches: "Who was the Saviour begotten by?…Who did beget him? His Father, and his father is our God, and the Father of our spirits, and he is the framer of the body, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who is he? He is Father Adam; Michael; the Ancient of Days." Wilford Woodruff records that Young "said that our GOD was Father Adam. He was the Father of the Savior Jesus Christ. Our God was nor more or less than ADAM, Michael the Arkangel."

Feb 18, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres[iden]t Young made a few remarks to the 3 Quorum of Seventies this evening; observed when the Spirit and power of the Office of a Seventy rest upon an Elder he will stand before the ruler of the Earth and they will feel like grasshoppers before him."

Feb 19, 1865 - First counselor Heber C. Kimball testifies of healing people with his special handkerchief, cane and cloak.

Feb 19, 1887 - The Edmunds-Tucker anti-polygamy bill passes the senate after having already passed the house. It becomes law on March 3rd without President Cleveland's signature.

Feb 19, 1891 - Delegation of Mormon young women and plural wives attends first meeting of National Council of Women, which accepts Relief Society as charter member.

Feb 19, 1903 - President Joseph F. Smith tells the weekly meeting of Apostles and First Presidency at the Salt Lake Temple that rumors expressed by Kanab Stake members that plural marriages were being solemnized under the sanction of the Presidency were "foundationless." At this time, the post-Manifesto plural wife of Kanab's stake counselor-patriarch Thomas Chamberlain is secluded in the house of President Smith's wife Julina, but the Church President tells the Quorum of Twelve that he was sending two apostles to Orderville to "endeavor to correct any wrong impression in the minds of the people." The two he sends are Matthias F. Cowley ( who had performed the Chamberlain plural marriage in Salt Lake City) and George Teasdale (whose own post-1890 polygamous marriage had been repeatedly described in the newspapers).

Feb 19 1907 - Apostle and U.S. Senator Abraham Smoot declares to the Senate that cases of "new" polygamy are rare; that they are not sanctioned by the Church; that every case since 1890 "has the express condemnation of the Church;" and that he himself had always opposed polygamy. The last two claims are false.

Feb 19, 1924 - First Presidency tells Apostle James E. Talmage that church does not want to instigate criminal prosecution of new polygamists but would be happy to see them jailed.

Feb 19, 1981 - Apostle Bruce R. McConkie writes to BYU professor Eugene England: "Yes, President [Brigham Young] did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to him. This, however, is not true [doctrine]. He expressed views that are out of harmony with the gospel." McConkie admonishes England: "It is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent."

Feb 19, 1990 - Government of Cook Islands issues postage stamp honoring Osborne J. P. Widsoe, first LDS missionary there in 1899.

Feb 19, 1991 - LDS publisher Bookcraft sends a memo to dealers who sell their books: "In view of the recent stories about Elder Paul H. Dunn and the accuracy of his books we thought it might be helpful if we provided you with some facts. We are enclosing with this letter a copy of Elder Dunn's official statement which was released after the initial story was printed. We believe this will help clarify the situation. We want to also remind you that just because something is printed in the newspaper or seen on television does not make it necessarily true. We believe that things Elder Dunn said to the Arizona Republic reporter were taken out of context and used in a way to change his original meanings. We know also that the original story and subsequent coverage have been deliberately slanted to hurt Elder Dunn and the Church. We want to call attention to the fact that after all the 'investigation,' these reports are dealing with stories that are a minuscule part of elder Dunn's writings. Bookcraft has been and is still proud to be associated with this fine man and outstanding teacher. We intend to continue publishing his books, and there is absolutely no question of any of his books being recalled."

Feb 19, 1994 - First Presidency issues statement encouraging church members to actively work against legalization of same-gender marriages. This inaugurates national campaign similar to centrally directed anti-ERA activities.

Feb 20, 1834 - At Kirtland the "High Council of the Church of Christ" trys a case. "At a church meeting held in Pennsylvania, Erie Co. and Springfield township by Orson Pratt & Lyman Johnson, High Priests, some of the members of the Church refused to partake of the Sacrament because the Elder administering it did not observe the Words of Wisdom to obey them. Lyman argued that they were justified in so doing because the Elder was in Transgression. Orson argued that the Church was bound to receive the supper under administration of an Elder so long as he retained his office or licence." It was "voted that six councilors should speak upon the subject or case. . . . After the councilors had spoken, the President [Joseph Smith] proceeded to give a decision: 'That no official member in this Church is worthy to hold an office after having the Words of Wisdom properly taught to him, and he, the official member, neglecting to comply with, or obey them'; after which the councilors voted according to the same."

Feb 20, 1841 - The court-martial of the Nauvoo Legion, by a unanimous vote, adopts a resolution: "That no person whatever, residing within the limits of the City of Nauvoo, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, excepting such as are exempted by the laws of the United States, shall be exempt from military duty, unless exempted by a special act of this court; and the fines for neglecting or refusing to appear on the days of general parade were fixed at the following rates: for generals, $25; colonels, $20; captains, $15; lieutenants, $10; and musicians and privates, $5; and for company parade at the following rates—for commissioned officers, $5; noncommissioned officers, $3; musicians and privates, $2. The 1st and 6th of April, and the 3rd of July, were fixed upon as days for general parade for this year."

Feb 20, 1843 - After stopping a fight between two boys in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith declares, "No body is allowed to fight in this city but me."
"About 70 of the brethren come together according to previous notice and drawed, sawed, chopped, split, moved, and piled a large lot of wood for the Prophet."

Feb 20, 1844 - Joseph Smith writes in his diary, "I instructed the 12 to send out a delegation and investigate the locations of California and Oregon and find a good location where we can remove after the Temple is completed and build a city in a day and have a government of our own in a healthy climate."

Feb 20, 1851 - Endowment ceremony is again administered on regular basis in such places as Brigham Young's office and upper room of Council House.

Feb 20, 1853 - Brigham Young preaches: These persons do not depend upon themselves for salvation, out upon another of their poor, weak, fellow mortals. . . . say they, . . . I depend upon you, brother Joseph, upon you, brother Brigham, upon you, brother Heber, or upon you, brother James; I believe your judgment is superior to mine, and consequently I let you judge for me. . . . Now those men or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influence of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own under standing, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate."
On a mission to England William Clayton writes in his diary: "Took Tea at Brother Wm Memmet's, then again went to meeting. I addressed the Congregation and proved to them, that even if we were deceived in regard to the administering of the angel &c. we were still better off than the sectarians in every sense of the word."

Feb 20, 1854 - Patriarch Elisha H. Groves gives William H. Dame a patriarchal blessing: "thou shalt be called to act at the head of a portion of thy brethren and of the Lamanites in the redemption of Zion and the avenging of the blood of the prophets. . . . The Angel of Vengeance shall be with thee." Three and a half years later Dame orders the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Feb 20, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres[iden]t Joseph Young had some conversation with his Bro[ther] Brigham about the feelings of a man of God. The Pres[iden]t observed he believed he had as little affection for money as any man that lived, but he valued it for its use. This evening the Chancellor & Board of Regents met at the office to consider the best plan for educating the people. The Deseret alphabet was then discussed. It was proposed that the Regents lecture in the Social Hall, and other places on such subjects which would be favorable to arousing a desire general improvement. Pres[ident] Young lectured on the importance of the Deseret alphabet."

Feb 20, 1861 - Mail arrives via Pony Express. At Brigham Young's office a letter is read "to many of the brethren who had assembled themselves at the Office. A remark of Abraham Lincolns that was read, in which he likened the Union to a Free love arrangement elicited a hearty laugh from the President and brethren." The next day "Pres. [Young] again remarked it was a pretty cute remark of Abraham Lincoln comparing the Union to a Free love arrangement."

Feb 20, 1870 - Brigham Young preaches, "Now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes every word of truth believed in by the holy Catholic Church."

Feb 20, 1872 - Unsuccessful statehood convention which drafts proposed constitution that allows Congress to add anti-polygamy clause. Of this, his non-Mormon friend Thomas L. Kane writes Brigham Young: "I will not probably be able o recommend the pretended acceptance by your citizens of a Constitution containing features repugnant to their principles. As regards the actual abandonment of polygamy, that is a question between you and your God. And I have naught to say on it. But Duplicity, I see, without a shadow, will not be good policy for you."

Feb 20, 1878 - Proxy endowments are performed in the St. George Temple for Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, and the wives of Sir Walter Scott, Horatio Nelson Thomas Moore, Robert Burns, Edmund Burke, Lord Byron, Goethe and other "eminent women of the world." Wilford Woodruff "officiated as El[oheim]" and also "took through the veil some 30 person[s]."

Feb 20, 1903 - Apostle John Henry Smith "visited the Penitentiary and had a chat with Tom Williams who killed one Hutchinson over 20 years ago. He is serving a life sentence. With others I am trying to get him paroled."

Feb 20, 1904 - First verified suicide of full time LDS missionary. He shoots himself as he is returning to Utah.

Feb 20, 1906 - In Washington D.C. Apostle John Henry Smith has "breakfast with [U.S] Vice President [Charles W.] Fairbanks. . . . Our meal consisted of Baked apples & cream, corn cake and butter, Hominy & Cream, Fried Eggs and French fried Potatoes and Coffee."

Feb 20, 1907 - Apostle Reed Smoot retains his seat in U.S. Senate, after three-year "trial."

Feb 20, 1911 - The BYU Board of Trustees meets. The board, presided over by LDS church president Joseph F. Smith, "agreed that the Presidency of the Faculty should Consider the Cases of the teacher[s] in the university Henry and Jos. Peterson and R. V. Chamberlain." The three professors, who refused to change their teaching on evolution, were either fired or resigned under pressure.

Feb 20, 1912 - First Presidency letter denies essentials of Brigham Young's Adam-God teachings, by focusing exclusively on his first 1952 sermon, and makes no reference to his Adam-God sermons during remaining twenty-five years of Young’s life.

Feb 20, 1961 - A staff member of the Church Historian's office writes to Presiding Patriarch Eldred G. Smith that patriarchal blessings had been given through ten of the twelve tribes of Israel, the two not mentioned being the tribes of Issachar and Asher. And fifteen other lineages had been named in blessings, including that of Cain.

Feb 20, 1976 - Thomas Stuart Ferguson writes "...you can't set Book of Mormon geography down anywhere -- because it is fictional and will never meet the requirements of the dirt-archeology." Ferguson was a founder of the New World Archaeological Foundation at BYU in 1952 and participated in many archaeological digs in Central America searching for archaeological evidence of Book of Mormon peoples.

Feb 20, 1977 - In Monterrey, Mexico President Spencer W. Kimball preaches: "I mentioned to your brothers and sisters in Mexico City last week that in 1947 I was in Arizona at the temple. As thought and prayed and studied, I had what I thought was a dream, maybe a vision. There were many Mexican people in the temple on that same day. As I looked into the future, I saw that the Lamanites were going to grow and develop. As my vision continued, I saw great numbers of Lamanites and Nephites now in beautiful homes with all the comforts that science can give. I see you Lamanite people grown to cover a thousand hills with your flocks and herds."

Feb 20, 1993 - Second counselor Thomas S. Monson speaks at rededication ceremony for Roman Catholic church's Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, also attended by Apostles James E. Faust and Neal A. Maxwell.
In response to LDS man and woman separately preparing simplified English versions of BOOK OF MORMON, First Presidency officially prohibits such a "translation" as undermining the ancient origins of scripture. Man withdraws but Lynn Matthews Anderson publishes her revision in 1994.

Feb 21, 1835 - The final three of the first Twelve Apostles of the church (Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt) are ordained and blessed. Joseph Smith then gives the Twelve their charge before sending them out as missionaries. He says, "Should you in the least degree come short of your duty, great will be your condemnation, for the greater the calling, the greater the transgression. . . .Never cease striving until you have seen God, face to face. Strengthen your faith, cast off your doubts, your sins and all your unbelief and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his hand upon you." Parley P. Pratt's blessing states " that nothing shall prevail against him, . . . Let sickness and death have no power over him; . . . No arm that is formed and lifted against thee shall prosper, . . ." Twenty-two years later Pratt is murdered by the legal husband of a woman he took as a plural wife.

Feb 21 1836 - Jonathan Crosby, receives his patriarchal blessing from Church Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr.: "Thou shalt see thy Redeemer in the flesh, and know that He lives. . . . Thou shalt stand upon the earth `till the Redeemer comes, See the end of this generation, and when the heavens rend, thou shalt rise and meet thy God in the air."

Feb 21, 1842 - Brigham Young writes "a letter calling upon the churches to forward their Tithings and donations to the Trustee-in-Trust [Joseph Smith], that the Temple may go on, and the new translation of the Bible."

Feb 21, 1843 - Joseph Smith preaches concerning a wife-beater in Palmyra, New York: "I whipped him till he cried enough." Speaking of the building of the Nauvoo House (a large hotel) Joseph preaches, "I want the Nauvoo House Built. It must be guilt. Our salvation depends on it. . . .Hang on to the Nauvoo House thus and you will build it and you will be on [Mount] Pishagah. The great men who come will pile their gold and silver till you are weary of receiving them . . . Those who have labored and cannot get you rpay be patient." Joseph also preaches, "There is a great deal of murmuring in the Church about me, but I don't care any thing about it. I like to hear it thunder to hear the Saints grumbling."

Feb 21, 1844 - Joseph Smith instructs the Quorum of Twelve "to select an exploring company to go to California to select a location for the settlement of the Saints: Jonathan Duhnam, David Fulmer, Phinehas H. Young and David D. Yearsly volunteered to go, and Alphonzo Young, James Emmett, George D. Watt and Daniel Spencer were selected to go."

Feb 21, 1859 - The Twelve Apostles meet "at the Prayer Closet in the Historians office for Prayer & fasting." Each apostle speaks and prays in turn. Orson Hyde says "he must confess that he was more stupid & dull than he wished to be. He thought it was in consequence of going without food & tobacco, which he had been in the habit of using."

Feb 21, 1860 - Brigham Young visits the Historian's office and requests five books be written including "Short Biography of the life of Brigham Young." Young also orders the DESERET NEWS to "take out Orson Pratt's sermon" from the front page and "put another sermon in instead and give a reason for so doing."

Feb 21, 1870 - "Gov Brigham Young" tells the "Legislature of the State of Deseret" that "All the United States as it were are at war with us trying to pass Bills through Congress to destroy us for our religion."

Feb 21, 1874 - During meeting of Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association in Assembly Hall on Salt Lake Temple Square, "Mother [Elizabeth A.] Whitney sung in tongues, and Carrie Carter in attempting an interpretation threw her bonnet and muff on the floor, & fell on her knees, remaining for some time in that position."

Feb 21, 1888 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes in his diary, "I was called out of bed in the night and consented to aid the Democratic national committee to the tune of $25,000.00."

Feb 21, 1895 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve meet "in council. . . .The question of the character and operation of the Holy Ghost was taken up, the matter being brought forward by Prest. G[eorge] Q. Cannon over a sermon by Prest. J[oseph] F. Smith on that subject." No decision was reached.

Feb 21, 1900 - George P. Frisby and George D. Cole of Church of Christ, Temple Lot ("Hedrickite"), meet with First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishopric. Elders Frisby and Cole propose that their church, LDS church , and RLDS church each send four delegates to jointly agree on construction of temple at Independence, Missouri. After discussion of pros and cons, President Lorenzo Snow decided against proposal because "he naturally feared some trick being played against us." However, he is willing to pay travel expenses of Hedrickite elders.

Feb 21, 1901 - Apostle Brigham Young Jr. writes, "Petition had some circulation asking my wife to resign Presidency of M.I.A. I advised her to resign, which she did.:

Feb 21, 1903 - The Utah Legislature selects Apostle Reed Smoot to be U.S. Senator from Utah. Smoot is not seated for three years as the U.S. Senate holds hearings on whether to seat a Mormon apostle as a senator.

Feb 21, 1906 - Joseph W. Summerhays performs ceremony marrying eighteen-year-old Athelia Voila Call to thirty-two-year-old William Galley Sears (whose first wife is unable to conceive) as his second living wife. When questioned by the Quorum of Twelve Summerhays insists that he had permission from President Joseph F. Smith. Smith denies this to Reed Smoot, Apostle and U.S. Senator. Summerhays is released from all church positions but is neither disfellowshipped nor excommunicated.
In Washington D.C. Senator Albert J. Hopkins of Illinois tells LDS Apostle John Henry Smith that "we [the church] should do something with our recalcitrant Elders." This refers to Apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley of whom it is known that they have performed post-manifesto plural marriages. Taylor and Cowley are dropped from the Quorum of Twelve two weeks later.

Feb 21, 1907 - Carl A. Badger, secretary to Apostle and U.S. Senator Reed Smoot writes home to his wife: "The Senator has just said that he intends to tell the brethren when he gets home that if they want to continue this polygamy business' they must leave the United States. I asked, if he meant unlawful cohabitation, and he said no. Well, I am dumbfounded that there should be the least suggestion of the possibility of the Church attempting to establish polygamy; that it should be thought of for a moment. . . . I cannot entertain the thought that such a thing is possible. To think of it as being possible is to make the Church out a hypocritical fraud; but here is the Senator talking about the calamity as though it were a possibility."

Feb 21, 1964 - Cleon Anderson, visits with President of the Quorum of the Twelve Joseph Fielding Smith: "I asked President Smith, 'Is it wrong to wear the string tie garments outside the temple?' President Smith looked at me for several moments and then unbuttoning the third button in his shirt, brought out one of the ties on a pair of old style temple garments and said, 'This is what we should be wearing--the Lord gave them to us, and so this is what I wear.'"

Feb 21, 1971 - Article in INTERMOUNTAIN OBSERVER: "Black, Female and a Mormon: Why I joined the Mormon Church."

Feb 21, 1989 - Church gives $25,000 to People's Republic of China for earthquake relief.

Feb 21, 1991 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article "Dunn Story Proves Costly for Veteran Journalist" tells of how Lynn Packer lost his teaching job at BYU after breaking the story about Paul H. Dunn's false baseball and war stories.

Feb 21, 1994 - LDS headquarters in Bogota, Columbia directs public statement to country's rebel forces denying that LDS chapels represent either U.S. government or American business interests in any way.

Feb 21, 1996 - DESERET NEWS (with follow-up on Feb 28) reports that LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley meets with Honolulu's Catholic bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo to coordinate "as part of a grass-roots coalition opposed to same-sex marriage" legalization.

Feb 22, 1837 - Willard Richards receives a blessing from Church Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr.: "Death shall have no power over thee, for thou shalt tarry and behold thy Redeemer coming in the clouds, and shall see him in the flesh; shall have power to bring thy kindred into the kingdom, who shall acknowledge thee as a man of God."

Feb 22, 1845 - Bishop George Miller and two Nauvoo police officers (former Danites, including Hosea Stout) discuss "the manner to pursue to rid ourselves of traitors who are in our midst seeking our lives."

Feb 22, 1846 - At a meeting in the recently-completed Nauvoo Temple "the room was crowded and a great weight caused the new truss floor to settle nearly to its proper position. While settling, an inch-board or some light timber underneath was caught and cracked, the sound of which created great alarm in the congregation and some jumped out of the windows, smashing the glass and all before them. Philo Farnsworth smashed the northeast window while others ran out of the doors and many or those who remained jumped up and down with all their might crying Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! As though they could not settle the floor fast enough, but at the same time so agitated that they knew now what they did. . . .One man who jumped out of the window broke his arm and mashed his face, another broke his leg."
Wilford Woodruff records: "I dreamed last night that there was a great Storm that killed thousands of Birds that were floating upon the water. I saw many that were not quite dead. I waided in 2 or three feet of water & picked out many of them & put them under a goose that was sitting & they were warmed brought to life & run about lively & well."

Feb 22, 1857 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff publicly prophesies that there are "women present who would assist in giving endowments to the Ten Tribes of Israel--for they have to receive their endowments in the New Jerusalem [at Independence Missouri]."

Feb 22, 1859 - At a prayer meeting of the Twelve Apostles "Erastus Snow spoke concerning the feelings of many of the people against seeing the Twelve prosper in temp[o]ral things. . . .[Orson Hyde] related a dream about B[ou]ll[i]on & gold &c. J[ohn] Taylor said I will prophesy that it shall be fulfilled. Lorenzo Snow said I will prophesy that the Moon is made under which it shall be fulfilled. O[rson] Hyde said I will Prophesy that the time will soon come when we shall have all that we want."

Feb 22, 1860 - DESERET NEWS article, "How to Impress Niggers."
The end of a talk by Orson Pratt appears on the second page of the DESERET NEWS. The talk, which was scheduled to run on the first page, was removed by order of Brigham Young but the second page had already been printed. The sermon had been a confession by Pratt of his errors in differing with Brigham Young. Young, however, was unsatisfied with it and called Pratt before the rest of the apostles for further confession. The main point of contention is Young's doctrine that God continues to increase in knowledge. In 1980 Apostle Bruce R. McConkie calls Brigham Young's doctrine on this "false-utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it," and lists it first among "seven deadly heresies."

Feb 22, 1861 - Brigham Young calls for the foundation stones of the Salt Lake Temple to be taken out and replaced in better alignment. His office journal records: "President Young attended a party at the Social Hall. Gov. Cumming & Judge Crosbie & kinney were there also. While there the President fell into conversation with the brethren about the three glories which are described in the vision given to Joseph Smith Jr which we find written in the book of Doctrine & Covenants. The President emphatically and distinctly said those who enter the glory of the Telestial World will have to dwell singly and separately apart; they will not marry there, they will be happy. It will be the same with the Terrestial Glory they will not marry although their glory will be infinitely greater. None but the Gods will be allowed to multiply and increase, In Celestial glory there will be many who will be single also."

Feb 22, 1861 - Apostle Orson Pratt submits to the MATHEMATICAL MONTHLY (Cambridge, Massachusetts) a series of problems concerning mathematical laws relating to the origin of the solar system. He later recalls: "I prepared a series of problems relating to this subject, and forwarded the same to the editor of the Mathematical Monthly, . . . But in the consequence of the war then pending, the paper ceased its publication, and I heard nothing further from the manuscript. But as it was hastily and somewhat imperfectly prepared, it is perhaps better that it remained unpublished," In a letter to the editor of the Mathematical Monthly accompanying the articles, Pratt notes that his work was done without the aid of "any mathematical works." Pratt publishes CUBIC AND BIQUARATIC EQUATIONS and writes texts on differential calculus and determinants which he doesn't publish.

Feb 22, 1865 - Brigham Young receives confirmation of the Church's purchase of 6,500 acres of land on the island of Oahu, Hawaii "thirty miles from Honolulu." The price is "$14,000 in gold" to be paid off in two years. "This purchase contains 600 head of cows, worth $8 per head, 500 head of sheep [at] $1.50 per head, 250 goats [at] 75 cts, 20 horses [at] $5, also hoags chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, & peacocks. Had 5 acres of cotton looking well. This is the best peace of ground on the island."

Feb 22, 1875 - First sealing of husband and wife who are both Native American Indians. Their Native-American name is "Oleito Comp" but are baptized and sealed by the names "James Laman" and his wife Minnie." They are sealed as man and wife for time and eternity at the altar in the Endowment House."

Feb 22, 1878 - Utah adopts election law which for first time since 1849 eliminates marked ballots that allow election officials to know how each person voted.

Feb 22, 1889 - President Wilford Woodruff tells a choir from Hawaii "they were of the seed of Israel of the tribe of Joseph, and they had a great work to do, for he had seen them in vision in the temples of God receiving their blessings."

Feb 22, 1889 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes: "H[eber] J. Grant and Wife and myself and Wife, John Morgan and Wife went out to the pen. We had a nice visit with [Apostle] F[rancis] M. Lyman and a number of other brethren."

Feb 22, 1897 - In Colonia Juarez, Mexico, Apostle Heber J. Grant seals Miles Park Romney polygamously to his 5th wife Emily Eyring Snow. In 1962 Miles Romney's grandson George W. Romney is elected governor of Michigan. In 2002 Miles Romney's great-grandson Willard "Mitt" Romney is elected governor of Massachusetts.

Feb 22, 1898 - Apostle John W. Taylor seals Charles Whipple, polygamously, to his 2nd wife Mary Louise Walker.

Feb 22, 1911 - Trial of John W. Taylor before the Quorum of Apostles for some of his post-manifesto plural marriage activities. In his defense Taylor has read aloud and entered into the minutes the Sept. 27, 1886 revelation given to his father, President John Taylor. The revelation is discussed. Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith states that a he, himself, as placed the original of the revelation in the church archives. However, Heber J. Grant, who is present and participated during the trial, later, as president of the church, publicly denies the existence of this revelation claiming there is no knowledge or record of it in the church. During the trial Taylor asks that President Joseph F. Smith be called in on his behalf but the council refuses to contact President Smith. The Apostles formally excommunicate Taylor on March 28.

Feb 22, 1912 - At a meeting in the St. George Temple, Temple President David H. Cannon describes the "law of retribution:" "To pray the Father to avenge the blood of the prophets and righteous men that has been shed, etc."

Feb 22, 1914 - Sugar House Ward Bishop John M. Whitaker records in his diary: "For a long time before this meeting, about ten years when it commenced, I had been called before the Stake Presidency a number of times for teaching that anyone who took a wife after the Manifest in 1890, had done contrary to the laws of the land and also the law of the church and were living in adultery, and this aroused President Taylor and John M. Cannon to such an extent they told me I was out of harmony with them, and I had more than once offered them my resignation as Bishop of Sugar House Ward, but they never took it and then they told me what they had done, married immediately after the manifesto, . . ."

Feb 22, 1970 - First Presidency writes: "We may say that there is no direct revelation upon the subject of when the spirit enters the body; it has always been a moot question. That there is life in the child before birth is an undoubted fact, but whether that life is the result of the affinity of the child in embryo with the life of its mother, or because the spirit has entered it remains an unsolved mystery."

Feb 22, 1974 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article, "Support for Candidate Possible Some Day, LDS Apostle Says," quotes Ezra Taft Benson as saying that a liberal Democrat could not be a good Mormon "if he was living the gospel and understood it."

Feb 22, 1978 - First Presidency letter to all stake and mission leaders: "The fact that there may be some question as to man's ancestry cannot be rightfully considered as evidence that he has Negro blood. . . . If there is no evidence to indicate that a man has Negro blood, you would not be justified in withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from him, if he is otherwise worthy." This stops denial of priesthood merely on the basis of black African appearance and is significant prelude to the end of the ban altogether less than four months later.

Feb 22, 1979 - BYU's DAILY UNIVERSE article "Black Mormon Student" quotes one Black BYU student: ""The way [some students still] glare, or just ignore and look right through you, you'd think there were 500 members of the Ku Klux Klan . . . on campus"

Feb 22, 1987 - President Ezra Taft Benson speaks at a televised "Fireside for Parents." In his talk (which is later published as a pamphlet, "To the Mothers in Zion") he states, "Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mothers calling is in the home, not in the marketplace." He quotes Spencer W. Kimball: "It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment."

Feb 23, 1838 - Missionary Wilford Woodruff and his companion "repaired to the sea shore and clensed our feet with pure water & bore testimony against eight housholds before God who had rejected us or turned us from their Doors the evening before."

Feb 23, 1844 - Presidency and Twelve meet "in relation to the Rocky Mountain Expedition, eight more volunteers gave their names." Joseph Smith "gave instructions in relation to the fit out needed. It was agreed that the company should number twenty-five." Joseph said, "Let that man go that can raise $500, a horse or mule, a double barrel gun, one rifle, one shot, saddle, bridle, [a] p[ai]r of 8 bore Pistols, Bowie knife, &c." The object of the expedition was to scout out places in Oregon for the Saints to relocate.

Feb 23, 1847 - Brigham Young relates a dream to the "brethren of the Twelve" of meeting Joseph Smith (dead over a year and a half). "He looked perfectly natural, sitting with his feet on the lower round of his chair. I took hold of his right hand and kissed him many times, and said to him: 'Why is it that we cannot be together as we used to be. You have been from us a long time, and we want your society and I do not like to be separated from you.' Joseph rising from his chair and looking at me with his usual, earnest expressive and pleasing countenance replied, 'It is all right.' I said, 'I do not like to ba away from you.' Joseph Said, 'it is all right; we cannot be together yet; we shal be by and by; but you will have to do without me a while, and then we shall be together again.'"

Feb 23, 1856 - Brigham Young exhibits brown seer stone obtained from Oliver Cowdery's widow. He explains that Joseph Smith used this stone to find gold plates of BOOK OF MORMON.

Feb 23, 1859 - First counselor Heber C. Kimball tells apostles "there are thousands of prophets among the Gentiles and spiritualists that have not repented or obeyed the gospel."

Feb 23, 1859 - Joseph Fisher Sr. (father of Jane Fisher) writes to twenty-year-old Joseph F. Smith, ". . . you have been keeping company with my Daughter ever since your return from your Mishion & from the testimony before me you solicited her to be your wife before you returnd whitch indirectly was granted. I will here state that before the Move south you could have had my consent & from that time untill two Months ago you Could have had it grudgeingley & since that time you could not have it at all. I told her at least two months ago to not have anything more to Doo with you for it was my opinion that she would lead a Miserable life. . . ." Joseph had proposed to Jane Fisher while he on a mission to Hawaii. Upon his return he kept time with Jane, but they broke up and he began courting sixteen-year-old Levira Clark Smith, his first cousin. Joseph and Levira were married by Brigham Young in his office on April 4, 1859.
At a prayer meeting of the Twelve Apostles Brigham Young's Second Counselor Daniel H. Wells says, "I never did have those great manifestations that some have. I have thought that I would like to have some of those manifestations if it was the will of God but not if it is agoing to do me any harm. I would not wish to see an Angel of hear the voice of God if it would make me apostatize or do me an injury."

Feb 23, 1862 - Brigham Young preaches "The idea that the Lord our God is not a personage of tabernacle is entirely a mistaken notion. He was once a man. Brother Kimball quoted a saying of Joseph the Prophet, that he would not worship a God who had not a Father; and I do not know that he would if he had not a mother; the one would be as absurd as the other. If he had a Father, he was made in his likeness. And if he is our Father we are made after his image and likeness. He once possessed a body, as we now do; and our bodies are as much to us, as his body to him."

Feb 23, 1868 - At a prayer meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles "We laid hands upon John Taylor, & Preside[n]t Young set him apart as Probate Judge for Utah County."

Feb 23, 1875 - In England missionary (and future apostle) John Henry Smith receives a letter from his wife. The letter contains a telegram from his father George A. Smith: "Prest. Young says the Turkish bath will cure John Henry of his cough."

Feb 23, 1877 - Wilford Woodruff, while in "meeting at the altar" in the St. George temple receives a revelation: "Let my servant Wilford Call upon the virgins Maidens, Daughters, & Mothers in Zion and let them Enter into my /Holy/ Temple on the 1 day of March the day that my servant Wilford has seen the time alloted to man, Three score years and Ten, and there let them received their washing and Anointing and Endowments for and behalf of the wives who are dead and have been sealed to my servant Wilford, or those who are to be Sealed to him, and this shall be acceptable unto me Saith the Lord, and the dead of my servant shall be redeemed in the spirit world and be prepared to meet my servant at the time of his Coming which shall be at the time appointed unto him, though not revealed to man in the flesh. Now go to and perform this work and all shall be accomplished according to the desire of your heart."

Feb 23, 1896 - Apostle Heber J. Grant ordains his dying seven-year-old son to office of elder, "and I blessed him with all the earnestness of my soul, and dedicated him to the Lord to live or die which ever was His will, and covenanted with the Lord if he would spare my only son, and give him life and strength that I would dedicate his time to the service of the Lord and do all in my power to teach him the ways of truth and righteousness." Heber Jr. dies four days later.

Feb 23, 1899 - The First Presidency and Twelve Apostles meet in the Salt Lake Temple for their regular Thursday meeting. "We . . . thought it would be best if Geo. Q. Cannon could go [to the Senate]. We are to work to this end." Cannon is chosen by the state legislature to be Utah's senator but the U.S. Senate refuses to seat a Mormon polygamist.

Feb 23, 1900 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "I went through the Temple for my 7th great uncle William Smith and, and my sister, Elizabeth Smith Cartwright for his wife and we had them sealed. Prest. Joseph F. Smith and his family acted for some of his children, and all were adopted to the Prophet Joseph Smith."

Feb 23, 1921 - Lola Smith of Centerville, is sealed to Vernon Cecil, her fiancee two weeks after his death due to a kidney infection acquired while on a mission to California. Her father stands as Vernon's proxy. Lola is a few months short of her twenty-fifth birthday. She keeps her cedar chest with cut embroidery and crocheted work intact until she dies almost sixty years later.

Feb 23, 1981 - Provo's Jiffy Lube auto service center offers a complete lube, a chance to meet Elder Paul H. Dunn, a member of the Presidency of the General Quorum of Seventy, and a free autographed book to the first 50 customers-all for just $14.95.

Feb 23, 1982 - Church archivist, Don Schmidt, announces to the Archives Search Room staff that nobody will see any papers of former apostles until further notice.

Feb 24, 1834 - Kirtland high council unanimously elects Joseph Smith as "Commander in-Chief of the Armies of Israel," after he announces that "he was going to Zion to assist in redeeming it." and he announces a revelation which commands God's "friends" to "avenge me of mine enemies." This document also commands that Mormon dissenters be "cast out and trodden under the foot of men" by "my friends."

Feb 24, 1840 - On a mission in Manchester, England William Clayton writes in his journal, "Have advised the Saints to give up the practice of kissing." Manchester Mormons, as well as some other English saints took seriously Paul's suggestion to the Romans that they "salute one another with an holy kiss," (Rom 16:16). Interestingly Joseph Smith in his "Inspired version" has changed this passage to read "salute one another with a holy salute."

Feb 24, 1844 - Presidential candidate Joseph Smith has 1500 copies of GENERAL SMITH'S VIEWS OF THE POWERS AND POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES printed. He writes "Prayed that Gen Smith's views of the power and policy of the U.S. United States might be spread far and wide and be the means of opening the hearts of the people." Copies of it were mailed to President John Tyler, members of his Cabinet, Supreme Court judges, members of Congress and many newspaper editors, postmasters, and other prominent persons.

Feb 24, 1845 - Brigham Young writes in his journal "in company with Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Amasa M. Lyman, George Miller, William Clayton, George D. Grant, E. D. Woolley, John Kay and John L. Smith; I went to Macedonia: we were armed with forty-six rounds, loaded pistols."

Feb 24, 1846 - An early thaw ends and the Mississippi river freezes over at Nauvoo. This considerably aids the Mormons in their exodus out of the city that has been going on for over two weeks. Wagons can now be driven across the ice instead of having to be carried across on ferry boats.

Feb 24, 1847 - Brigham Young "met with the brethren of the Twelve. . . .I swore by the Eternal Gods that if men in our midst would not stop this coused work of stealing and counterfeiting their throats should be cut."

Feb 24, 1856 - Wilford Woodruff writes of a sermon in the Tabernacle by Brigham Young: "He then took up the subject of the Courts as held in Great Salt Lake City and also the ungodly course of the Lawyers who carry on those Courts. He cursed them in the Name of the Lord with a great Curse & All Israel said Amen. He spoke in the spirit & power of God. He called Zerubabel Snow by name & he cursed him and all that he had. His serman is published in the Deseret News . . ."
Heber C. Kimball warns, "When a man is appointed to take a mission, unless he has a just and honorable reason for not going, if he does not go he will be severed from the Church"

Feb 24, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "President Young in the course of his remarks alluded to the zeal of Hyrum Smith Brother of the Prophet, in his views of the word of wisdom. who prophesied that every Saint who chewed tobacco would apostatize. President Young observed he prophecied by Hyrum Smith and not by the Spirit of the Lord. and that he (Hyrum) would eat about 3 lb. of fat pork in a day; and yet be so severe upon a tobacco chewer; upon other points observed the President Hyrum Smith was a man of knowledge. Once Joseph told his Brother Hyrum if he would suffer him to dictate [to] him he should lead the Church to Hell; and he would frequently sit and sneer at the remarks of Bro[ther] Hyrum, which were frequently delivered to the congregation when they were weary with the remarks of the preachers that had preceded him."

Feb 24, 1888 - Eliza I. Jones; of the Salt Lake City 10th Ward, writes to President Wilford Woodruff: "Will you please answer a few questions. I wish to ask. you I am the widow of Thomas. C Jones of your Circle he died soon after we came from Logan Temple working for our Dead and having our 2d Ontingins [anointings] where we told to attend to the Washing of Feet at home the baby was sick after we came home so I asked Bro Jones when we should attend to it and he said we had better wait till the baby is better but he was taken sick and Died before it was attended to can that be done by Proxy or not as I feel sorry about it for he was a good man and I gave him 2 living Wives and 3 Dead ones and worked hard to help him to keep them." Woodruff responds: "The ordinance of which you speak, and which you say you failed to attend to before the death of your husband, is one that should not be written about, and it cannot be attended to by proxy. Your husband is dead and, so far as the ordinances is concerned, it is all right."

Feb 24, 1898 - In the regular Thursday meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostle John Henry Smith "asked the brethren for the priveledge of working to make myself a United States Senator. Joseph F. Smith moved that I be allowed to make the effort. It was seconded by Lorenzo Snow and carried unanimously."

Feb 24, 1915 - In an affidavit to Church Historian Andrew Jenson Josephine Sessions describes how her mother, faithful Mormon and polyandrous wife of Joseph Smith, Sylvia Sessions (Lyon), on her deathbed told her daughter of her true parentage: "Just prior to my mothers death in 1882 she called me to her bedside and told me that her days on earth were about numbered and before she passed away from mortality she desired to tell me something which she had kept as an entire secret from me and all others but which she now desired to communicate to me. She then told me that I was the daughter of the Prophet Joseph Smith, she having been sealed to the Prophet at the time that her husband Mr. [Windsor P.] Lyon was out of fellowship with the Church." (Affidavit to Church Historian Andrew Jenson, 24 Feb. 1915)

Feb 24, 1945 - DESERET NEWS "CHURCH NEWS" prints letter concerning DLS captain Denmark C. Jensen of Idaho during U.S. invasion of Philippines: "The next day--Christmas Day--Mark issued the same order [to his men], that they were not to kill any Japs they found but to send for him. During the course of the day another Jap was located with his rifle by his side, bathing his feet in a small mountain stream. They called Mark and unobserved he crept up on the Jap, took his rifle away from him and led his captive down to his waiting men." Captain Jensen explains that "it just didn't seem right to kill even a Jap on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day--the time we have set aside to commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior."

Feb 24, 1960 - Counselor J. Reuben Clark tells BYU's president: "You have got some members of the faculty who are destroying the faith of our students. You ought to get rid of them"

Feb 24, 1962 - CHURCH NEWS reports that 3,500 teams and 50,000 players are involved in all-church basketball tournament. For final playoffs teams come to Salt Lake City from throughout United States, Canada, and Mexico. Basketball is most popular of all-church team sports which also includes softball and volleyball. However, from 1958 to 1971 more than thirty stakes have been organized outside North America, and their youth obviously cannot participate in such tournaments. Also many less affluent, outlying stakes in North America cannot. In 1971 church headquarters ends "all-Church" sports competitions.

Feb 24, 1971 - Meeting of 150 students on BYU's campus condemn U.S. participation in Vietnam War. Among them is Apostle Spencer W. Kimball's grandson, a registered conscientious objector and returned missionary. He and several members of group soon publish pamphlet, TO THE MEN OF BYU, which encourages them to consider conscientious objection against this war. Surveys of BYU sociologists find that about 10 percent of BYU students oppose Vietnam War.

Feb 24, 1980 - A full- page ad appears in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE describing Jerald and Sandra Tanner's THE CHANGING WORLD OF MORMONISM. The ad draws attention to changes in the Church's position on such matters as polygamy and the granting of the priesthood to blacks and thereby questioned the consistency of the prophetic leadership of the Church. Two days later Ezra Taft Benson gives a speech at BYU, in which he dismisses the issue of conflicting past and present policies by declaring that the words of living prophets supplant or make moot the directives of past prophets.

Feb 24, 1984 - Steven Christensen, who has purchased the "Salamander letter" from Mark Hofmann, jots a note to himself:: "President Gordon B. Hinckley - 1:30 p.m. 1. don't cave in. 2. will not embarrass the church." The scheduled meeting, however does not take place.

Feb 24, 1985 - SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article tells of Darla Tarrant's attempt to become excommunicated from LDS church. Tarrant, a teminally ill widow, wishes to sever any connections with LDS church before she dies. In writing, she asks three bishops three different times to be formally excommunicated. Her requests, however, are responded to with "vague excuses" and "the same patronizing response of having my wish ignored." Because of Tarrant case and case of Norman Hancock in Mesa, Arizona who sues the church to be allowed to resign his membership, procedures for membership resignation are put in the 1989 edition of the CHURCH HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS.

Feb 24, 2005 - Hugh Nibley, Mormon scholar, defender of the LDS faith, and sometimes critic of Mormon society, dies at his home in Provo, Utah at age 94. Coincidentally on the same day the New York Times runs an article about a book by his daughter, Martha Nibley Beck, titled LEAVING THE SAINTS: HOW I LOST THE MORMONS AND FOUND MY FAITH. In the book the daughter, who had resigned from the Church, accuses her father of ritual sexual abuse of her when she was a child. The accusations are based upon "recovered memories" that Beck had (some while undergoing therapy involving hypnosis) over a decade previously. The article states "Dr. Beck's seven siblings have condemned her assertions and have hired a psychologist and lawyer who has worked on lawsuits against therapists practicing recovered-memory therapy."

Feb 25, 1843 - After describing unusual atmospheric phenomena Wilford Woodruff writes, "Thus it appears that the signs that Joel and Jesus spoke of are making their appearance."
After denouncing the state law of Illinois making property a legal tender for the payment of debts; Joseph Smith states to the Nauvoo City Council: "Shall we be such fools as to be governed by their [Illinois] laws which are unconstitutional? No. We will make a law for gold and silver; then their law ceases, and we can collect our debts. Powers not delegated to the states, or reserved from the states, are constitutional. The constitution acknowledges that the people have all power not reserved to itself. I am a lawyer. I am a big lawyer, and comprehend heaven, earth and hell, to bring forth knowledge that shall cover up all lawyers, doctors and other big bodies."

Feb 25, 1844 - The regular prayer meeting of the Anointed Quorum's men and women approve Smith's political platform and its distribution, Joseph prophesies "within five years we should be rid of our old enemies whether they were Apostates or of the world."
Joseph Smith baptizes James J. Strang.

Feb 25. 1847 - Mary Ellen Woodward, divorced plural wife of Brigham Young who has returned to her first husband writes Young: "If I do all I can and after this he treats me bad, will you let me leave him and live with my children?"

Feb 25, 1856 - Brigham Young displays the seer stone to the regents at the University of the State of Deseret (Later re-named University of Utah), one of the regents, Hosea Stout, describes it that night in his journal: "a silecious granite dark color almost black with light colored stripes some what resembling petrified poplar or cotton wood bark…about the size but not the shape of a hen's egg."

Feb 25, 1858 - "A messenger dire[c]t from Washington [D.C.] arrives in Salt Lake City. Thomas Kane "come[s] as an ambassador from the Chief Executive of our Nation and am fully prepared and duly authorized to lay before you most fully and definitely the feelings and views of the Citizens of our Common Country and the feelings of the executive towards you . . ." He asks "to enlist your sympathies in behalf of the poor soldiers who are now suffering in the cold & snows of the mountains and request you to render them aid and comfort and to assist them to Come here and to bid them a hearty welcome to your hospitable valley." Of the United States Government Brigham Young says, "I suppose they are united in putting down Utah." Kane answers, "I think not."

Feb 25, 1862 - During the Civil war Brigham Young writes: "The South at this time is being worsted. The sympathies of our brethren are divided some for the Union and some for the South, but the South gets the greatest share. The wise among us read the programme of the war in the revelations of Joseph and the escapes and reverses of our common foe never leads us to the conclusion that peace will again be restored among the enemies of truth and workers of unrighteousness whether belonging to the North or South."

Feb 25, 1875 - Brigham Young is ordered to pay disgruntled plural wife Ann Eliza Webb Young $3000 for counsel fees and $500 a month alimony. When he fails to obey, he is sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and to one day's imprisonment. Young is driven to his own residence by the deputy marshal for dinner, and, after taking what clothing he required, is conducted to the penitentiary, where he is locked up in a cell for a short time, and then placed in a room in the warden's office for the night. When the divorce case comes to trial in April, 1877, A different Judge accepts Young's argument that the marriage was not a legal marriage but an "ecclesiastical" arrangement. He decrees that the polygamous marriage is void, annuls all orders for alimony, and assesses the costs against Ann Eliza.

Feb 25, 1881 - DESERET NEWS reports that first counselor Joseph F. Smith and Apostle Wilford Woodruff set apart seven recent graduates of Dr. Romania B. Pratt's course in midwifery.
Oliver B. Huntington records in his journal: "I went to Provo to a quarterly Stake Conference. Heard Joseph F. Smith describe the manner of translating the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer, which was as follows as near as I can recollect the substance of his description. Joseph did not render the writing on the gold plates into the English language in his own style of language as many people believe. But every word and every letter was given him by the gift and power of God. So it is the work of God and not of Joseph Smith, and it was done in this way … The Lord caused each word spelled as it is in the book to appear on the stones in short sentences or words, and when Joseph had uttered the sentence or word before him and the scribe had written it properly, that sentence would disappear and another appear. And if there was a word wrongly written or even a letter incorrect the writing on the stone would remain there."

Feb 25, 1891 - St. George Temple President John D. T. McAllister writes to President Wilford Woodruff: "so far as the buttoning of the garment is concerned, I read now and again to the people, this letter of instruction, as a great share of them from all parts come unprepared. Some wear drawers, and quite a number do not. The garment is left open only so far as the strings are used to fasten them in the front. The navel mark is opposite that part of the body, But when the garment is closed lapped over to button, or tied, My feelings are, it should be in sight opposite that part of the body. Now our instructions are that the mark should be on one side of the opening. But we have not been instructed as to which side. Have you any word in relation to this?"

Feb 25, 1900 - Returned missionary from Southern States Mission speaks in tongues at Salt Lake tabernacle and gives "the interpretation which was very beautiful" This may not be first time, but is probably the last, that someone speaks in "unknown tongue" (glossolalia) in Tabernacle.

Feb 25, 1904 - President Joseph F. Smith receives a summons to testify before a U.S. Senate subcommitee investigating whether Apostle Reed Smoot should be seated as a U.S. Senator. He testifies in Washington D.C. a week later.

Feb 25, 1949 - In discussion of African-American segregation, second counselor David O. McKay says, "the South knows how to handle them and they do not have any trouble, and the colored people are better off down there."

Feb 25, 1961 - During the baseball-baptism era a speech by First Presidency Counselor Henry D. Moyle is published in the CHURCH NEWS: "We need these young men [baptized teenagers]. How are we going to get this [labor] missionary building program carried out without them? The answer is, we could not. . . . You elders need have no concern, no matter from what source the criticism comes, as to whether your baptisms are too fast. . . . If you think that President McKay does not know what is going on and that Brother Moyle and Brother Woodbury, and Brother Brockbank are "pulling a fast one," so to speak, why you are mistaken about that. . . . I have noted a little apologetic tone in some of your voices about baptizing too many young people. Well don't put on the brakes."

Feb 25, 1966 - Doroteo Arango (Pancho Villa) is baptized by proxy in the Arizona Temple. James Elbert Whetton does the endowment work for General Villa a few days later.

Feb 25, 1978 - CHURCH NEWS reports that twenty-three-year-old Lynda McIntosh, fluent in three languages, is Britain's Receptionist of the Year.

Feb 26, 1844 - Joseph Smith writes in his journal: "Held court at the Mansion. City of Nauvoo vs. O. F. Bostwick on complaint of Hyrum Smith for slanderous language concerning Hyrum and certain females of Nauvoo. Fined Bostwick $50 and costs." Hyrum Smith had two secret plural wives at this time in addition to his legal wife.

Feb 26, 1859 - Brigham Young tells church historian that "there had not been a Judge in Utah, that had been so completely taken up and set down on his arse in the mud, and had his ears pissed into as Judge [Charles E.] Sinclair had been."

Feb 26, 1862 - Wilford Woodruff records "Joseph A Young had made a Complaint to hie Father [Brigham Young] that He was in the Historians office & took a Book upon sealings & Brother Bullock told him He should not Examine it, as he had orders that no one should see it, and that it had been under his Care ever since it was delivered to him. This was the cause of the order to deliver [various] books into the hands of Preside[n]t Young. They of Course belong to him, as do all Historical Church records documents & papers to dispose of & Controll as his pleasure."

Feb 26, 1867 - Brigham Young revises the procedure for Second Anointings: "We should not anoint ownly one man & his family at one meeting. if any other women are to be anointed to another man it must be a separate meeting, there may [be] two meetings in a day at one place." Eight weeks previously Young had decided to "only anoint one man & his wives in one day at one place."

Feb 26, 1887 - Utah Supreme Court rules that legal wife is required to testify against her polygamous husband. As result several legal wives are imprisoned for refusing to testify against their polygamous husbands. U.S. Supreme Court waits to reverse this decision until Dec. 22, 1890, after LDS church has publicly abandoned polygamy.

Feb 26, 1889 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes in his diary, "H[eber]J. Grant and I went out to the Pen and had a long visit with Br. F[rancis] M. Lyman"

Feb 26, 1894 - LDS periodical the MILLENIAL STAR reprints an interview with William Smith, brother of Joseph Smith and former Apostle. When asked if he'd seen the plates he replies, "I did not see them uncovered, but I handled them and hefted them while wrapped in a tow frock and judged them to have weighed about sixty pounds. I could tell they were plates of some kind and that they were fastened together by rings running through the back. Their size was as described in mother's history." When asked , "Did any others of the family see them?" he replies, "Yes, Father and my brother Samuel saw them as I did while in the frock. So did Hyrum and others of the family." When asked, ""Din't you want to remove the cloth and see the bare plates?" Smith responds,
"No, for father had just asked if he might not be permitted to do so, and Joseph, putting his hand on them said; 'No, I am instructed not to show them to any one. If I do, I will transgress and lose them again.' Besides we did not care to have him break the commandment and suffer as he did before."

Feb 26, 1901 - Apostle Rudger Clawson writes: "There is a law now pending before the Utah legislature making it unlawful for anyone to bring a charge of adultery against a married man except the legal wife, she being the aggrieved party. The design of this measure is to curtail the power of our enemies, who seek to bring trouble upon the Latter-day Saints by prosecuting polygamists for unlawful cohabitation." The law is discusses by the First Presidency and Apostles and then "A vote was taken and was unanimous in favor of the measure."

Feb 26, 1966 - A temple-square talk by Apostle Ezra Taft Benson is printed in the DESERET NEWS. However references to the John Birch Society are deleted without Apostle Benson's permission. In the talk he said that he had read the Birch Society's Blue Book, Robert Welch's The Politician, and recommended that the audience subscribe to the Birch Society's official magazine American Opinion. His talk even included the mailing address."

Feb 26, 1969 - BYU's president instructs all bishops and stake presidents of BYU's student stakes to report to campus authorities any students who confess unacceptable conduct. This is way of "eliminating students who do not fit into the culture of BYU so that those [who] would fit into it might be admitted to the institution." This also ends confidentiality of confessions to LDS leaders.

Feb 26, 1980 - Apostle Ezra Taft Benson instructs BYU students in televised address "Fourteen Fundamentals In Following the Prophets," including: "1. The Prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. 2. The living Prophet is more vital to us than the standard works [of scripture]. 3. The living Prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. 4. The Prophet will never lead the Church astray. 5. The Prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or to give us scripture. . . . 11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich." In the national publicity resulting from this talk some Mormon academics interpret this as Benson's way of preparing for his own presidency of the LDS church. Benson had prepared a different topic but changed abruptly when a full-page ad appeared in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE two days previously for THE CHANGING WORLD OF MORMONISM by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. The ad emphasized supposed contradictions between different LDS prophets.
First Presidency's spokesman publicly counters that is "simply not true" that LDS president's "word is law on all issues--including politics." Privately, church president Spencer W. Kimball is "concerned" about Elder Benson's talk and wants "to protect the Church against being misunderstood as espousing ultraconservative politics, or--in this case--espousing an unthinking 'follow the leader' mentality." However, those concerns have neither the circulation nor publicity of Benson's original talk. Next week Kimball requires Benson to explain himself and his motives to private meeting of all general authorities.

Feb 26, 1985 - Steve Christensen writes to Gordon B. Hinckley asking if he would like him to donate the "Salamander Letter" to the LDS Church. Hinckley responds with a phone call saying that the Church wanted the letter. On Apr. 12 Christensen gives the letter to the Church

Feb 26, 1992 - A BYU DAILY UNIVERSE editorial criticizes a recent memo from the sociology department to University president Rex E. Lee. The editorial upholds the concept of a ban on BYU faculty speaking at unauthorized symposia such as the Sunstone Symposium. "In this case, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said where it doesn't want research being presented. Is it a case of limited academic freedom? Yes, but any university or organization can limit expression to accomplish its institutional purpose." Professors Edward Kimball (son of Spencer W. Kimball) and Eugene England write a response rebutting the three major points of the editorial.

Feb 26, 1996 - More than half of LDS church's population resides outside U.S. A. as of this date.

Feb 27, 1833 - The "Word of Wisdom" discourages use of tobacco, wine, and "strong drink" but encourages the use of "mild drinks" made from barley (beer).

Feb 27, 1840 - William Clayton, on a mission in England writes: "Sarah [Crooks] appeared rather tempted to get married. I felt to sorrow on this account. I don't want Sarah to be married. I was much [] and tempted on her account and felt to pray that the Lord would preserve me from impure affections. She gave me an orange. I certainly feel my love towards her to increase but shall strive against it. I feel too much to covet her and afraid lest her troubles should cause her to get married. The Lord keep me pure and preserve me from doing wrong." Clayton has a wife in Nauvoo but is falling in love with Sarah Crooks. Later in Nauvoo, when Joseph explains plural marriage to Clayton he sends for Sarah but the two never do marry each other.

Feb 27, 1844 - Presidential Candidate Joseph Smith mails copies of his pamphlet GENERAL SMITH'S VIEWS OF THE POWERS AND POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES to"President and Cabinet, Supreme [Court] Judges, Senators, Representatives, principal papers in the U.S. all the Governors, and many postmasters and individuals. In all about 200."
Joseph Smith calls a meeting of the Twelve and others "for the purpose of selecting a company to survey [explore] Oregon and California — and select a site for a new city for the saints,"

Feb 27, 1845 - At a meeting of apostles with several Council of Fifty members, W. W. Phelps says, "B. Young has found out that we are in Eternity, the Millenium has now commenced." In the "evening some person or persons took Washington Peck and bedaubed him all over with privy dirt. . . . This is one of those mean traitors who lurks about continually in our midst communicating with our enemies & seeking to have the twelve destroyed. He is marked as a mean conspirator." Apostle John Taylor, in the NAUVOO NEIGHBOR, soon writes "But one person [Washington Peck] has been introduced to 'Queen Peggy's privy cabinet.' and so every man minds his own business." William Marks hurriedly leaves Nauvoo to avoid similar treatment.

Feb 27, 1853 - Brigham Young preaches, "when the Saints were taken up with the spirit of the fiddle & dancing & had not the spirit of God they were wrong & in the wrong road. . . .some Elders would threaten to curse their wives if they did not obey him because he had the priesthood. . . . the Curses of such men wer[e] of no force & the women need have no fears of it. . . .Who should have women sealed to them? Those men who have proved to God, Angels & man that they are willing to do anything that God requires of them . . . The difference between Christ & the devil is Christ will increase & the devil will decrease until Christ will have power to destroy death & him that hath power of death which is the devil. Yes the devil will finally be destroyed & disorganized & will cease to exist as a devil & the elements of which he is composed will go back to its mother Element & the devil will cease to be & so will his Angels . . . there were many who had a tabernacle on Earth that would never have a resurrection."

Feb 27, 1858 - Mormon Judge Hosea Stout describes with no disapproval how Mormons "disguised as Indians" drag a man "out of bed with a whore and castrated him by a square and close amputation."

Feb 27, 1870 - Thomas C. Griggs, faithful Mormon, writes in his diary: "in the afternoon we had a lengthy if not interesting discourse from Elder Erastus Snow."

Feb 27, 1872 - LDS MILLENIAL STAR editorial, "Motherhood of God," repeats a child's question: "Why don't you tell me about the Heavenly Mother? Don't SHE give us anything?" Editorial speaks of those who "yearn to adore her" and expresses approval of praying to "Father and Mother God." Editorial conclusion: "When we draw nearer the Divine Man, lo! we shall find a Divine Woman smiling upon us...In the Father's many mansions, we shall find her and be satisfied."

Feb 27, 1873 - Apostle Joseph F. Smith dreams of anti-Mormon who uses bottle of "concentrated essence of S--t" to attack plural marriage. He thinks dream refers to Congress.

Feb 27, 1875 - DESERET NEWS reports Orson Pratt sermon: "Little did we suppose when we were driven out from Jackson County, the place where God has promised to give his Saints their inheritances, and in the regions round about, that nearly half a century would pass over our heads before we would be restored back to that land." He adds that a few who were in the church at the time they were driven from Jackson County "will live to behold the day, and will return and receive their inheritances."

Feb 27, 1884 - John H. Gilbert, who was the typesetter for the first edition of the Book of Mormon, answers questions: "I. [There was] not a punctuation mark of any kind from beginning to end of [the] manuscript. II. Sentences were not commenced with capitals: If they had been there would not have been so much difficulty in punctuation [Gilbert supplied all the punctuation for the first edition]. III. The spelling was good. . . .[Oliver] Cowdery looked over the manuscript when the proof was read. IV. We were not allowed to correct any grammatical errors."

Feb 27, 1888 - James A. Briggs writes the editor of the NEW YORK TIMES, "[I] heard Jo Smith in a justice court, where he was before it on a charge of assault and battery, testify as to his finding the 'Golden Plates' of the 'Mormon Bible,' and how he was kicked out of the hole in the earth where he was digging, when he struck the plates, by an unseen power"

Feb 27, 1889 - LDS political newspaper SALT LAKE HERALD's article titled, "FAILED MARRIAGES," regarding "the report of the Labor Commissioner Wright, presented last week, on the statistics of marriage and divorce in the United States from 1867 to 1886 inclusive," with following: In 1870 Utah had highest rate of divorce out of all states and territories. In 1870 Utah's rate was one divorce per 185 marriages. National averages was 1:664. States with lowest divorce rates are South Carolina at 1:4,938, Delaware at 1:123,672, New Mexico at 1:16,077, North Carolina at 1:4,938, and Louisiana at 1:4,579. In 1880 Utah had tenth highest rate of divorce out of all states and territories. In 1880 Utah's rate was one divorce per 219 marriages, which was more than twice the national average of 1:479. In twentieth century, divorce rates for LDS temple marriages starts out three times higher than this "divorce mill" rate for early Utah civil marriages.

Feb 27, 1889 - Wilford Woodruff tells his secretary "he would about as soon attend a funeral as one of our council meetings." Several apostles have opposed each of his efforts to organize First Presidency.

Feb 27, 1896 - Court dismisses long-standing indictment against John M. Higbee. Other participants say privately that he was most blood-thirsty man at Mountain Meaows Massacre.

Feb 27, 1902 - Joseph F. Smith rules that stake president has authority to ordain bishops, but only if authorized by First Presidency. He instructs apostle to re-ordain man who has been ordained bishop by his stake president.
President Joseph F. Smith replies to a letter asking about the Adam-God doctrine: "As to the personality and position of each God, as to which of all is the greater, these are matters immaterial at the present time, and are at best but an unprofitable speculation. . . . to us there is but one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"

Feb 27, 1941 - Leigh A. Harline receives two "Oscars" from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (music score of PINOCCHIO and best song, "When You Wish Upon a Star").

Feb 27, 1954 - CHURCH NEWS article by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Where Is the Hill Cumorah? Book of Mormon Establishes Location of Historic Region." Apostle Smith argues that the Hill Cumorah of the Book of Mormon is the same Hill Cumorah that was near Joseph Smith's farm in New York: "Within recent years there has arisen among certain students of the Book of Mormon a theory to the effect that within the period covered by the Book of Mormon, the Nephites and Lamanites were confined almost within the borders of the territory comprising Central America and the southern portion of Mexico; the Isthmus of Tehuantepec probably being the `narrow neck' of land spoken of in the Book of Mormon rather than the Isthmus of Panama. . . . This modernistic theory of necessity, in order to be consistent, must place the waters of Ripliancum and the Hill Cumorah someplace within the restricted territory of Central America, notwithstanding the teachings of the Church to the contrary for upwards of 100 years."

Feb 27, 1960 - Lifelong Mormon Jerald Tanner writes to a Book-of-Mormon believing friend: "Actually I would like to believe the Book of Mormon is true. My prejudice leans toward it instead of away from it. I pray about it all the time, but as yet I have received no answer. I hope God will give me a positive answer soon." Tanner later becomes a leading critic of the LDS Church and of claims of authenticity of the Book of Mormon.

Feb 27, 1974 - After writing a requested article on changes in the church since the 1870s for the NEW ERA, having the article accepted and being paid $75 for it LDS historian James B. Allen is told the article will not be printed. he receives "a call from the editor who said that the correlation committee had turned down the article, and there seemed to be two basic reasons: (1) the committee could not see any value in talking about change as such, and (2) it was fearful that in discussing so many changes we would leave the impression that everything was changing, and therefore raise questions in the minds of the New Era readers about whether gospel doctrines were changing and whether or not the Church was true."

Feb 27, 1981 - First Presidency authorizes stake presidents to ordain partiarchs. Previously, the Twelve maintained that as exclusive right, even denying it to church's patriarch.

Feb 27, 1987 - Forger/murderer Mark Hofmann meets with prosecutors to be interviewed as per his plea agreement. He describes his feelings in April 1980 when he took the forged "Anthon transcript" to President Spencer W. Kimball and other Mormon officials: "I believed it would pass their inspection as far as being in Joseph Smith's handwriting. And, as far as how I felt, probably a combination of emotions. There was, of course, a little bit of fear involved since, of course, it was a forged document. There was some excitement involved, a feeling of duping them, I guess. . . . I wasn't fearful of the church inspiration detecting the forgery, . . ."

Feb 28, 1831 - The Palmyra REFLECTOR states: "It is well known that Jo Smith never pretended to have any communion with angels, until a long period after the PRETENDED finding of his book, and that the juggling of himself or father, went no further than the pretended faculty of seeing wonders in a 'peep stone,' and the occasional interview with the spirit, supposed to have the custody of hidden treasures; and it is also equally well known, that a vagabond fortune-teller by the name of Walters, who then resided in the town of Sodus, and was once committed to the jail of this country for JUGGLING, was the constant companion and bosom friend of these money digging imposters."

Feb 28, 1835 - The Council of Seventy and First Quorum of Seventy are organized.

Feb 28, 1846 - Brigham Young notes that the Camp of Israel formed west of Nauvoo across the Mississippi River "consisted of nearly four hundred wagons all very heavily loaded" and "several thousand persons [who] left their homes in midwinter and exposed themselves without shelter, except that afforded by scanty supply of tents and wagon covers, to a cold which effectually made an ice bridge over the Mississippi river . . ." Young records: "Colonel Hosea Stout with about one hundred men acted as a police for the encampment; they were generally armed with rifles."

Feb 28, 1847 - Brigham Young relates to the high council his vision of Joseph Smith in the spirit world and the prophet's statements about the law of adoption and the need for Mormons to obtain individual revelation.

Feb 28, 1850 - Incorporation of the University of Deseret (later Utah).

Feb 28, 1853 - Millard Fillmore writes Utah's congressional delegate John M. Bernhisel (a member of Council of Fifty), "my thanks for the beautiful copy of the 'Book of Mormon.'" Fillmore is apparently first U.S. president to accept copy of BOOK OF MORMON but may not have even opened it. He appoints Brigham Young as Utah's first governor who gratefully names Fillmore, Utah, as territorial capital from 1851 to 1858.

Feb 28, 1888 - The First Presidency (without President John Taylor who is in hiding) and the Twelve Apostles meet and "Bro. F[rankling] D. Richards was made a committee of one to consider and examine into the indemnity bond given to A[lbert] Carrington, G[eorge] Q. Cannon and B[righam] Young [Jr.] over settlement of church interes in B[righam] Young S[enio]r Estate."

Feb 28, 1894 - On her seventieth birthday Joseph F. Smith, refers to Emily Dow Partridge Young as "aunt." This is a reference to the fact that she became a plural wife of Joseph Smith (Joseph F. Smith's uncle) in 1843 when she was 19.

Feb 28, 1897 - Lecture held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle: "Latter-Day Saints As Modern Children of Israel" by Madame Lydia Mamreoff Von Finkelstein Mountford in honor of President Wilford Woodruff s Ninetieth Birthday. Woodruff and Madame Mountford are so close that later historians suspect that they were secretly married. Madame Mountford is sealed by proxy to Wilford Woodruff on November 23, 1920 in the Salt Lake Temple. In conjunction with President Woodruff's 90th birthday celebration his chronological chart is done and the results published in the PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

Feb 28, 1902 - David H. Cannon records in St. George Temple Minute Book, "persons, who have had endowments and afterwards wish to be married for time only must go to a temple to be married or they will violate the law of chastity and the children born to such parents will not be in the covenant."

Feb 28, 1919 - Over opposition of Apostle David O. McKay, First Presidency and Twelve vote to "summon" recent plural wives to tell who performed their polygamous marriages. Apostles excommunicate their husbands this day for refusing to answer that question.

Feb 28, 1967 - Brigham Young University student Ronald Hankin publicly admits that under direction of BYU's president, he and ten other undergraduates committed classroom "espionage" on eight professors to document their liberal "political convictions." All student-spies are members of John Birch Society and of BYU's on-campus Young Americans for Freedom. After immediate, official denial by BYU's administration, two weeks later President Ernest L. Wilkinson tells faculty meeting, "I must accept responsibility," but claims "there is misinformation in the charges." Political science professor Edwin B. Morrell resigns as department chair in protest, remains on faculty, and later becomes First Presidency's representative in helping to establish missions in Communist eastern Europe.

Feb 28, 1978 - Leonard Arrington's title is officially changed from "Church Historian" to "Director of History Division of Historical Department." Arrington continues to fill his ecclesiastical calling by giving talks, sitting on committees, and representing the Church in historical matters. When people, including President Kimball, refer to him as "Church Historian," he does not correct them.
The U.S. justice Department charges that BYU off-campus housing practices violate the Fair Housing Act, and give the university one month to conform. The threatened suit grew out of an incident in which a BYU female applied for an apartment in a building approved for male student housing. BYU's policy is that unmarried male and female students may not live in the same building, even if they live in separate apartments, and all students must live in university-approved housing. The suit is resolved when BYU-approved, off-campus housing becomes limited to BYU students only.

Feb 28, 1984 - At a BYU devotional speech Paul H. Dunn tells the audience, "I pitched against Willie Mays as he broke into baseball and I was leaving the scene." He also tells of his WWII experiences landing on Iwo Jima: "We jump in the water, the water's chest high. You gotta hold your rifle over your head. If the muzzle drops in the water-that's salt water-it would blow up when you fire. Did you ever try to run in water up to your chest, loaded down? You don't move very fast. And the enemy starts to pick you up. You're pushing with the butt of your rifle the dead bodies and wounded bodies of your friends and associates you've been training with. The coral is so sharp it cuts the boots off your feet and your feet are starting to bleed like mincemeat, and you're trying to get ashore. I was one of the first ashore that morning. And I dug my first foxhole with my fingernails and I crawled in it. And just as I crawled into that mucky hole an ambu gun opens up that shoots about 700 rounds a minute and it went down my right arm and took off my identification bracelet." The official history of his battalion says there was no combat action when they landed and that Dunn's boat was caught on a coral reef and didn't land until the next day, after the beach had been secured.

Feb 29, 1836 - Two non-Mormons visit the Kirtland Temple. One refuses to remove his hat "nor bow to Jo Smith, but [said] that he had made Jo bow to him at a certain time." The temple doorkeeper, George Morey puts him out because "if a man imposed upon me he imposed upon himself [Morey]," writes Joseph Smith.

Feb 29, 1860 - Brigham Young reports that he "had now forty living children 23 girls 17 boys. He had born unto him 23 Boys and 24 girls and had lost 7 children."

Feb 29,1964 - After forty one years teaching in Church Education System, George S. Tanner writes that "a large majority" of CES teachers "are so narrow and ignorant that it is a shame to have them indoctrinating our young people. I would much rather my sons and daughters go to other schools in the state than have them led by these religious fanatics."


Mar 1, 1841 - Nauvoo city ordinance that "the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-day Saints, Quakers, Episcopals, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects and denominations, whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges." This law provided for a $300 fine and 6-month imprisonment for anyone convicted of ridiculing a person's religious beliefs. At this time, several states of the U.S.A. prohibited Jews and other non-Christians from voting or holding public office.

Mar 1, 1842 - For the first time an account of Joseph Smith's first vision is published, appearing in the TIMES AND SEASONS which publishes his official account April 1. This account is in a letter to John Wentworth: "I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord, while fervently engaged in supplication my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features, and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, . . ." Joseph later tells of the September 21, 1823 visit of "a personage [who] stood before me surrounded with a glory . . .I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation. I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country and shown who they were, and from whence they came, a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people was made known unto me . . ." In spite of this some LDS apologists dealing with Native American DNA studies later claim that all of Joseph Smith's statements concerning the origin and ancestry of Native Americans are only his "opinion."

Mar 1, 1845 - Lewis Dana of the Oneida tribe is admitted to full membership in the Council of Fifty. A group of eight men are chosen "to fill Josephs measures originally adopted by this Council by going West to seek out a location and a home . . . the Council finally agreed to send out a company with Brother Dana . . . These brethren are expected to start immediately after Conference and proceed from tribe to tribe, to unite the Lamanites and find a home for the saints." John D. Lee is also among those admitted to the Council of Fifty on this day

Mar 1, 1845 - Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith's mother, signs a published statement in support of the succession claim of James J. Strang.
On his 38th birthday Apostle Wilford Woodruff learns of a plan by apostate John Greenhow to make printing plates for the Doctrine and Covenants "to bring the plates to England to Print the work here [England] & get the copyright secured so that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints could not Print them."

Mar 1, 1846 - Speaking for an ailing Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball tells the "Camp of Israel" to "remove to some other location, because we are so near Nauvoo the brethren are continually going back and neglecting their teams and families, and running to me for counsel about a little property they have here or there or somewhere. . . . He called upon all who meant to go ahead to say, I, which was responded to most heartily by the brethren present. . . .About noon, the Camp began to move and at 4 o'clock nearly five hundred wagons were on the way traveling in a Northwesterly direction."

Mar 1, 1857 - First Presidency Counselor Daniel H. Wells preaches: "I say to the sisters, seek to have confidence in your husbands, and believe that they are capable of leading you; and when you seek instruction, believe them capable of giving it to you; and be faithful, humble, and obedient to them. Their feelings should not be concentrated in you, but your feelings should be in them, and their's should be in those who lead them in the Priesthood."

Mar 1, 1859 - Brigham Young "called the clerks into one office, and wished some of them to read some farces and Comic stories, which served as relaxation and amusement."

Mar 1, 1862 - Joseph F. Smith writes, while on a mission in England, to his wife Levira (who has suffered a nervous breakdown in his absence), "I am very sensitive and rather melancholy inclined besides I scarcely ever have time to sit down, quiet and unquestioned long enough to follow out a link or two of thought, say nothing of a 'chain of thought.'" twenty-one-year-old Joseph F. Smith left for his mission in after barely a year of marriage finally returns to Levira in Utah on Oct. 4, 1863 after an absence of three years and five months.

Mar 1, 1869 - Opening of Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI).

Mar 1, 1877 - Wilford Woodruff describes his 70th birthday celebrations: "I was there Surrounded with one hundred and fifty four virgins, Maidens Daughters and Mothers in Zion from the age of fourteen to the Aged Mother leaning upon her Staff. All had assembled for the purpose of Entering into the Temple of the Lord to make me a birth day Present by being washed And Anointed and receiving their Endowments for and behalf of One hundred and Thirty of my wives who were dead and in the spirit world . . ." After the temple ceremonies are completed Woodruff attends a party in his honor where "their was presented before me a present of a birth day Bridal Cake three Stories high . . ." A poem composed and read for the occasion includes the lines "We meet to day with Joy to act A proxy for thy dead,/ And Give thee scores of wives who'll be Like Crowns upon thy head" On Woodruff's next two birthdays women go to the St. George Temple and act as proxies in sealing plural wives to him. In 1879 he writes that it "makes 267 in all of the dead single women who have been sealed to me in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, and in the St George Temple."

Mar 1, 1885 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "I went to the Methodist or rather the Baptist prayer meeting and had a very pleasant time. A very good spirit prevailed."

Mar 1,1895 - Some non-Mormons are given full tour of dedicated Salt Lake Temple interior.

Mar 1, 1902 - President Joseph Fielding Smith publishes an article on the Patriarchal Order: "THE FATHER [IS THE] THE PRESIDING AUTHORITY OF THE FAMILY. There is no higher authority in matters relating to the family organization, and especially when that organization is presided over by one holding the higher Priesthood, than that of the father. The authority is time honored, and among the people of God in all dispensations it has been highly respected and often emphasized by the teachings of the prophets who were inspired of God. The patriarchal order is of divine origin and will continue throughout time and eternity."

Mar 1, 1980 - Mark Hofmann, student at Utah State University, writes: "Today I just found out the story of Grandpa's and Grandma's wedding." His grandfather, William Gailey Sears had taken his grandmother, Alethia Call as a post-manifesto, plural wife on February 21, 1906. The wedding was performed by stake president Joseph Summerhays with permission from President Joseph F. Smith.


Mar 2, 1825 - The WAYNE SENTINEL reports: "More than two hundred souls have become hopeful subjects of divine grace in Palmyra, Macedon, Manchester, Phelps, Lyons, and Ontario since the late revival commenced. This is a powerful work; it is among old and young, but mostly among young people.... The cry is yet from various parts, 'come over and help us.' There are large and attentive congregations in every part, who hear as for their lives."

Mar 2, 1833 - Rev. Richmond Taggart writes to Rev. Jonathan Goings: "The following Curious occurrance occurred last week in Newburg [Ohio] about 6 miles from this Place [Cleveland]. Joe Smith the great Mormonosity was there and held forth, and among other things he told them he had seen Jesus Christ and the Apostles and conversed with them, and that he could perform Miracles"

Mar 2, 1841 - At Joseph Smith's request, Bishop George Miller reported from John C. Bennett's former residence that "his wife left him under satisfactory evidence of his adulterous connections."

Mar 2, 1843 - Joseph Smith is the judge in a medical malpractice case in Nauvoo.

Mar 2. 1848 - Mary Parker Richards challenges her father's (First Presidency Counselor Willard Richards) assertion that "Adam never transgressed," that Eve alone "was under transgression"

Mar 2, 1854 - Wilford Woodruff writes, "I addressed the Saints. Many spoke prayed & sung. One spoke in tongues & Brother Covington interpreted it."

Mar 2, 1856 - First Presidency Counselor Jedediah M. Grant preaches: "I want the Gentiles to understand that we know all about their whoredoms and other abominations here. If we have not invariably killed such corrupt scoundrels, those who will seek to corrupt and pollute our community, I swear to you that we mean to, and to accomplish more in a few hours, towards clearing the atmosphere, than all your grand and traverse juries can in a year."

Mar 2, 1857 - Mary Ellen Kimball, plural wife of Heber C. Kimball, writes in her diary: "But after I returned home I thought of the instructions I had received from time to time that the priesthood was not bestowed upon woman. I accordingly asked Mr. [Heber C.] Kimball if women had a right to wash and anoint the sick for the recovery of their health or is it mockery in them to do so. He replied inasmuch as they are obedient to their husbands, they have a right to administer in that way in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ but not by authority of the priesthood invested in them for that authority is not given to woman. He also said they might administer by the authority given to their husbands in as much as they were one with their husband."

Mar 2, 1860 - Brigham Young's office journal records: "Howard Egan called upon me in relation to Bro[ther] H. S. Sherman discontinuing his services on the western line with him. I told him Bro[ther] Shermans state of health required him to discontinue traveling that he might bestow more attention upon himself and use remedies to entirely cure himself of the piles and tumor he was afflicted with. Howard then left. I told Bro[ther] S. & S. Sherman yesterday that I had been obliged to use a syringe since my sickness in Nauvoo, and now I could not live months without using it; I believe the the [sic] frequent use of it has considerably benefitted my health as I am much better now than I have been for years. I enjoy my food much better that [sic] I used years ago. The use of the syringe strengthens my bowels I am persuaded that in nine cases out of ten the bowels become deranged before the stomach does, and the bowels being deranged soon affect the stomach. I charge the syringe frequently with composition sometimes I mix consecrated oil with it. I have sent for some good olive oil if it can be procured; for the oil the merchants import here is so unpleasant I cannot take it. Another good remedy for the piles is the grease that is attacked to the pizzle [sic] of pig that fat lying near the anus of the animal, this fat is particularly efficacious in the cure of the piles. I gave this remedy with the injections; or rather told my clerk David A. Calder to use these remedies, and he has not been sick since (48) and he was frequently away a few days sick with biliousness and piles. I have my own composition powder prepared it consist of Kyan [sic] pepper, ground ginger, cloves, barberry &c. I will here remark for the benefit of those who may read, that I feel it the duty of all men to take care of their health and use such medicinal remedies as are known to be good, I do not ask the Lord to do for me what I would not do for myself"

Mar 2, 1864 - DESERET NEWS headline: "GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!…GOLD IN THE MOUNTAINS! GOLD IN THE ROCKS!! GOLD IN THE SANDS!!! GOLD IN THE STREAMS!!!! GOLD IN THE CELLARS!!!!! GOLD IN THE STREETS!!!!!! GOLD IN THE GUTTER!!!!!!! GOLD EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!" However the accompanying story says: "But stop, we wish the public to know things as they are. In sober earnest and truth, where is all this Gold? We presume, from what we hear, that it is still tolerably plenty in California, very plenty in Washington, Idaho, and Arizona Territories, and there is some in Colorado and Nevada Territories. But so far as Utah is concerned, after sifting all reports up to present date, it is only in the hands of Madam Rumor, who is lavishing her blandishments and loudly blowing her trumpet to deceive the thoughtless into a waste of time and means. "

Mar 2, 1873 - In Jerusalem two apostles, George A. Smith and Lorenzo Snow, as well as a number of other Saints including Eliza R. Snow, Lorenzo Snow's sister, "rode to the Mount of Olives," pitched a tent, and assembled for a prayer meeting. With a "watchman outside" posted at the door, the small group robed themselves and "united in service in the order of the Holy Priesthood." After an opening prayer by Apostle Snow "in which the … dedicatory sentiments were contained," George A. Smith "dedicated" the land: "I was mouth, remembering the general interests of Zion, and dedicating this land, praying that it might become fertile … and the prophecies and promises unto Abraham and the prophets be fulfilled in the own due time of the Lord."

Mar 2, 1879 - John Taylor preaches: "I think full, free talk is frequently of great use; we want nothing secret nor underhanded, and I for one want no associations with things that cannot be talked about and will not bear investigation."

Mar 2, 1881 - Apostle John Henry Smith writes of Kingston, Utah: "The people here live in the United Order but they are in an unpleasant situation, as some of their members are drawing off, and the best feeling does not exist. We had a long talk with four of the King brothers in relation to the affairs of the order and found that they were in doubt in regard to the final wind up of matters."

Mar 2, 1886 - Quorum of Twelve accepts John Taylor's statement that it is "the mind of the Lord" for George Q. Cannon to forfeit $25,000 bond and for that to be paid from church mining revenues. This may be date of second revelation on Bullion, Beck, and Champion Mining Company, which George Q. cannon describes to apostles on Apr. 27, 1899. Text is unavailable. Cannon skips trial on Mar. 17 and forfeits bond.

Mar 2, 1887 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "I had Adopted to me the following Persons in the Temple: Calvin Stratton, 2 Gabrilla Stratton, 3 Martin Stratton, 4 Great Grand Mother in Law Stratton his wife, 5 Timothy Stratton Adopted to Wilford Woodruff & family."

Mar 2, 1889 - Grover Cleveland pardons Charles W. Penrose from arrest for unlawful cohabitation. Penrose is democrat and special emissary of First Presidency to Washington, D.C. John W. Young, fellow Democrat and Twelve's counselor arranges this.

Mar 2, 1899 - Apostle Rudger Clawson records: "Pres. Snow reported at length what had been done respecting the matter of securing Pres. Cannon's election to Congress. A number of the legislators had been seen, and, while they were not asked to vote for Brother Cannon, the advantages that would arise from doing so were clearly explained to them. Everything, he said, seemed favorable at the present time. There were many difficulties in the way, but the Lord was helping him. He felt that the move was right for the reason, among other things, that our enemies are working for a constitutional amendment against polygamy, and if Pres. Cannon were in Congress, he would doubtless be able to exercise a powerful influence to defeat any such movement." First Counselor Cannon is elected by the state legislature but the U.S. Senate does not allow the polygamist to be seated.

Mar 2,1904 - Before committee of U.S. Senate, President Joseph F. Smith testifies under oath: "I have never pretended to nor do I profess to have received revelations. I never said that I had a revelation except so far as God has shown me that so-called Mormonism is God's divine truth, that is all." Smith also testifies that he is cohabitating with his plural wives and acknowledges that he is in violation of laws of both the church and of the state. Although he is truthful about his own illegal post-manifesto cohabitation he lies under oath about official church involvement in post-manifesto plural marriages. He is following advice he had given to others: "We should consider the interests of the Church rather than our own." He is the first LDS president to testify before congress.

Mar 2, 1952 - David O. McKay dedicates church's new Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, with half its cost raised in "penny drive" by children. It began in 1922 as remodeled residence. After Primary Hospital moves near University of Utah, the penny-build hospital is sold to developers in 1995 to be razed so land can be used for condominiums.

Mar 2, 1959 - First Presidency letter: "A few years ago we authorized a few inter-stake missions to be set up on an experimental basis to carry the Gospel to the Jews." Letter explains that these "specially prepared missionaries" should not "confine their proselyting effort to searching out the Jews only."

Mar 2, 1971 - First Presidency letter asking "ALL GENERAL AUTHORITIES" to stop "utilizing Church employees and equipment for personal purposes without reimbursement to the Church." Letter specifically refers to maintenance of heirarchy's homes.

Mar 2,1980 - introduction of "Consolidated Meeting Schedule" of three-hours on Sundays. This eliminates week-day meetings of auxiliaries, as well as traditional twice daily Sunday meetings. This eases transportation and weekly scheduling but erodes fellowshipping opportunities and diminishes tightly knit social environment of LDS Wards. By 1996, this has severely diminished emotional ties of North American Mormon youth to LDS community, eroding what is called "Mormon ethnic identity." Most dramatic manifestation of this trend is fact that for first time in Mormon history, young women cease LDS participation at greater percentages than young men (according to general authority Jack H. Goaslind's statement in BYU Daily Universe, 31 Aug 1992). Likewise, despite absolute increase in missionary numbers, proportion of Mormon males who accept full time missions has decreased significantly in North America.

Mar 2, 1982 - In a televised sermon at BYU Apostle Bruce R McConkie denounces "spiritually immature: students and other Mormons who devote themselves to gaining a special personal relationship with Christ." He criticizes "a current and unwise book which advocates gaining a special relationship with Jesus." The book's author, popular BYU religion professor George W. Pace, is in the congregation. Pace writes public letter of apology within days and is released as stake president shortly thereafter.


Mar 3, 1830 - The leaders of the Presbyterian Church in Palmyra meet and and, decide "that the Reverend A. E. Campbell and H. Jessup be a committee to visit Hiram Smith, Lucy Smith, and Samuel Harrison Smith and report at the next meeting of session."

Mar 3, 1836 - Joseph Smith authorizes the ordination of African-American Elijah Abel to the office of elder. On Dec. 20 Abel is ordained to the office of Seventy. A skilled carpenter, Abel worked on the Salt Lake Temple but was never allowed to receive his endowments or have his family sealed together because of his race.

Mar 3, 1840 - In England William Clayton writes, "Went to see Brother Burgess wife and child. She has been disobedient. She seems very penitent. She has a cow dung plaster on her breast. We promised her in the name of the Lord that if she felt to repent and begin to live faithful she should receive a blessing. . . . Sarah Crooks bath my forehead with rum and gave me some mint drops."

Mar 3, 1844 - The Annointed Quorum approves Joseph Smith's first choice as his vice-presidential running-mate, recently-baptized Mormon James Arlington Bennet of New York. However five days later Bennet, who is not elegible due to his foreign birth, is dropped form the ticket.

Mar 3, 1846 - At the "Camp of Israel" Brigham Young meets "Dr. Jewett, "Dr. Jewett gave a long history of experiments on animal magnetism, and said it had nearly cured him of infidelity, and he thought the Mormons would understand the principle. I told him I did perfectly, that we believed in the Lord's magnetizing, that he magnetized Beltheshazar so that he saw the handwriting on the wall."

Mar 3, 1847 - In reply to his brother, Joseph Young's doubts that "one hundred pounds of provisions" were enough for each pioneer, Brigham Young says, "I did not want any to go who had not faith to start with that amount." This optimistic viewpoint is borne out on the initial trek west but later leads to disaster with the Martin Handcart Company.

Mar 3, 1849 - At council of Fifty meeting, Brigham Young speaks concerning thieves, murderers, and sexually licentious: "I want their cursed heads to be cut off that they may atone for their crimes." Next day, the council agrees that man has "forfeited his head," and decides it would be best "to dispose of him privately." Instead, they allow him to live.

Mar 3, 1850 - At Richmond, Missouri, while visiting fellow Book-of-Mormon witness David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery is taken ill and dies at age forty-three.

Mar 3, 1856 - Brigham Young gives Wilford Woodruff the "mission . . . to prepare and go East in the spring to get the Deseret Alphabet type made & some books printed in it."

Mar 3, 1865 - Brigham Young's first counselor Heber C. Kimball says to Caleb W. West, George Q. Cannon, and Wilford Woodruff that "President Young ordained his sons alone. He did not have his 2 councellors with him so that it is not legal and it will not stand. It will be broken up and come to naught. They have not the power of the First presidency because the 2 counsellors did not lay hands upon their heads and I can say in the name of Christ it will not stand and I know it by revelation and God has given it to me. Why did not President Young call upon his 2 counsellors? Because he was selfish in it" Brigham Young had, on his own, ordained two of his sons as apostles.

Mar 3, 1878 - Apostle Erastus Snow preaches: "'What,' says one, 'do you mean we should understand that Deity consists of man and woman?' Most certainly I do. If I believe anything that God has ever said about himself, and anything pertaining to the creation and organization of man upon the earth, I must believe that Deity consists of man and woman . . . there can be no God except he is composed of the man and woman united, and there is not in all the eternities that exist, nor ever will be, a God in any other way . . . There never was a God, and there never will be in all eternities, except they are made of these two component parts; a man and a woman; the male and the female."

Mar 3, 1887 - Edmunds-Tucker Act disincorporates LDS church, provides for confiscation of its assets and properties, dissolves Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, disfranchises all Utah's women, and dissolves Utah's militia ("Nauvoo Legion").

Mar 3, 1893 - First Presidency secretary L. John Nuttall writes in his diary, "Went through the Temple, think the Celestial room is too gaudy. The Font is too small."

Mar 3, 1901 - Lorenzo Snow promises Salt Lake temple workers that "some of us would go back to Jackson County, Missouri."

Mar 3, 1928 - The DESERET NEWS publishes an article by B. H. Roberts which shows that the "Hill Cumorah" and the "Hill Ramah" of the Book of Mormon are the same hill. A month later in General Conference Anthony W. Ivins quotes the article and concludes: "We know positively that it was in this hill that Moroni deposited the abridgment made by his father, and his own abridgment of the record of the Jaredites, and that it was from this hill that Joseph Smith obtained possession of them."

Mar 3, 1953 - First Presidency secretary answers Mormon's inquiry about receiving blood transfusions from African Americans: "The LDS Hospital here in Salt Lake City has a blood bank which does not contain any colored blood." This represents five year effort to keep LDS Hospital's blood bank separate from American Red Cross system in order "to protect the purity of the blood streams of the people of this Church" (Counselor J. Reuben Clark's phrase.)

Mar 3, 1961 - BYU paper DAILY UNIVERSE article, "Archaeologists Explore Probable City Bountiful," claims that BYU expeditions into Central America from 1947 to 1956 have "discovered important evidence bearing on the location of the Book of Mormon city of Bountiful in the Xicalango jungle of western Campeche [as well as] the location of the major Book of Mormon city of Zarahemla in the middle Usumacinta valley"

Mar 3, 1965 - Apostle Harold B Lee is "protesting vigorously over our having given a scholarship at the BYU to a negro student from Africa. Brother Lee holds the traditional belief as revealed in the Old Testament that the races ought to be kept together and that there is danger in trying to integrate them on the BYU campus."

Mar 3, 1971 - Demolition begins of old tabernacle at Coalville, Utah, formerly on national register. Mormons and non-Mormons (primarily non-residents of Coalville) waged court battle and petitioned First Presidency not to destroy this meeting house now regarded as obsolete by church authorities. First Presidency publishes statement in defense of demolition, which attracts enough attention to merit feature story in NEW YORK TIMES.

Mar 3, 1983 - Gordon B. Hinckley, on behalf of the LDS church, purchases a contract between Joseph Smith and E.B. Grandin to print the Book of Mormon from Mark Hofmann for $25,000. The document later is later discovered to have been forged by Hofmann.

Mar 3, 1995 - Death of Howard W. Hunter, whose presidency is briefest in Mormon history--less than nine months. This is half of previously shortest tenure served by any LDS president: Harold B. Lee's seventeen months and nineteen days.


Mar 4, 1842 - Joseph Smith gives final approval for the second "fac-simile" illustration from the Book of Abraham, with references to "grand key words of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden." The facsimile, copied from an Egyptian funerary document, contains two pictorial images of erect human penises and becomes part of official LDS scripture in 1878.

Mar 4, 1843 - Joseph Smith gives his plans for increasing Mormon control over the area surrounding Nauvoo, "There is a wheel. This is the Hub. We will drive the first spoke in Rome [Ramus], 2d Laharpe, 3rd Shokokon [and] 4[th] Lima; that is 1/2 of the wheel. The other half is over the river. We will let that alone at present. We will call the Saints from Iowa to these spokes then send Elders over and convert the whole. It is like a bank they will not discount because they have plenty of specie. We will draw this specie. Then they will discount our paper. (Call for our address)." Joseph also comments on execution of condemned murderers saying he was "opposed to hanging. If a man kill another shoot him or cut his throat spilling his blood on the ground and let the smoke thereof ascent up to God. If I ever have the privilege of making a law on this point I will have it so." This is later expanded by Brigham Young and called "blood atonement."

Mar 4, 1844 - Joseph Smith orders that the building of the Nauvoo House be suspended "and we will put all our forces on the Temple . . . When the Temple is completed, no man shall pass the threshold till he has paid $5.00 and every stranger shall pay $5.00. I will not have the house dirtied."

Mar 4, 1860 - Brigham Young: "it floods my heart with sorrow to see so many Elders of Israel who wish everybody to come to their standard and be measured by their measure. Every man must be just so long, to fit their iron bedstead, or be cut off to the right length."
Brigham Young says, when visiting with his counselors and three apostles: "I did not say to [Orson Pratt] that God would increase to all Eternity. But I said that the moment that we say that God knows all things Comprehends all things and has a fulness of all that He ever will obtain that moment Eternity ceases you put bounds to Eternity & space & matter and you make an end and stoping place to it.... No man can understand the things of Eternity And Brother Pratt and all men should let the matter of the gods alone I do not understand these things Neither does any man in the flesh and we should let them