30 years ago today - Apr 27, 1994

President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency represents the Church at the funeral of former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon in Yorba Linda, California.

40 years ago today - Apr 27, 1984

U.S. District Court Judge A. Sherman Christensen rules, "polygamy is not a fundamental right constitutionally protected by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment or any right of privacy or liberty." This is in response to a suit by Royston Potter over being fired from his position as a police officer for being a polygamist. The Supreme Court upholds Christensen's ruling.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

80 years ago today - Apr 27, 1944

[J. Reuben Clark]

D O M'I took up.' Mark Petersen's salary'We will see what he gets from News

Establishment of post graduate school in gospel at BYU. ...

[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]

125 years ago today - Thursday, Apr 27, 1899

[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]

We adjourned to the President's office to consider and took into consideration the tender of President Geo. Q. Cannon of his share of the dedicated stock in the Beck and Bullion & Champion Mining Co. to President Lorenzo Snow to be held by him for the purpose designed in the Revelation.

President Joseph F. Smith moved that the President accept the tender. I seconded the motion. After some talk by several of the brethren, the motion carried.

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

150 years ago today - Apr 27, 1874

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]

We then Organized the People of that Branch [Pleasant Grove] into the United Order of Zion & Elected their Officers.

We then rode to American Fork & held a meeting at 7 oclok. ... We also Organized that Branch into the United Order.

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

180 years ago today - Apr 27, 1844

Joseph Smith's scribe records in Joseph's Journal, "9 A.M. R[obert] D. Foster come up for trial. After much conversation with the Mayor in which he charged Joseph with many crimes [like] Daniteism in Nauvoo, and a great variety of vile and false Epithets and charges. Court adjourned to Monday 9 A.M. Foster agreed to meet Joseph on 2d Monday of May at the stand and have a settlement. Foster then said he would publish it [in the] Warsaw paper. Joseph told him if he did not agree to be quiet [and] not attempt to raise a mob and [threaten violence] he would not meet him. If he would be quiet he would publish it in Neighbor. Foster would not agree to be quiet and Joseph said he was free from his (Foster) blood had made the last overtures of peace, [and] delivered him into the hand of God and shook his garments against him."

Nauvoo Police Chief Hosea Stout reports that Nauvoo's "Whistling and Whittling Brigade" harassed "old" Austin Cowles and drove the former high councilman out of the city.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

180 years ago today - Apr 27, 1844

Wilson Law and Robert D. Foster claim that Joseph Smith kept a gang of robbers and plunderers about his house, with Smith receiving half of the spoils. Foster says Smith tried to get him to kill Boggs [per 2-May, 1844 affidavit of Aaron Johnson].

[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]

65 years ago today - Apr 26, 1959

While ordaining a local patriarch in a windowless room, "a shaft of bright light came onto the back and top of Elder [Harold B.] Lee's head."

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

65 years ago today - Apr 26, 1959

While ordaining local patriarch in windowless room, "a shaft of bright light came onto the back and top of Elder [Harold B.] Lee's head."

75 years ago today - Apr 26, 1949

First counselor J. Reuben Clark reports that Emily Smith Stewart is prompting her father and church president, George Albert Smith, in making administrative decisions. This is only known period in which a woman has such influence on LDS church administration.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

130 years ago today - Apr 26, 1894

Presidency and apostles decide that John D. Lee, Jr. ("a son of the Mountain Meadows murderer") can go on proselytizing mission but must "assume his mother's maiden name."

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

130 years ago today - Apr 26, 1894

The First Presidency and apostles decide that John D. Lee Jr. ("a son of the Mountain Meadows murderer") can go on a proselytizing mission but must "assume his mother's maiden name."

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

135 years ago today - Apr 26, 1889

[Franklin D. Richards]

Met with Presidency at Gardo [House] ... Interesting interview about Negroes receiving or not receiving Priesthood.

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

175 years ago today - Apr 26, 1849

[Brigham Young Sermon]

The President gave it as his opinion that the earth did not dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake. Also that he did not think the tides were by the influence of the moon, but as the beating of a man's heart, the earth being a living body.

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

180 years ago today - Apr 26, 1844

When Augustine Spencer assaults his brother Orson, Joseph, as mayor, orders Augustine arrested. Augustine refuses to go with Joseph, Orrin Porter Rockwell, and Marshal J. P. Greene. Joseph tells Greene to get some other citizens to help. Greene asks help from the first people he sees—Chauncey L. Higbee and Charles and Robert Foster. When they refuse, Joseph orders them arrested. A fight follows and Charles Foster pulls a gun on Joseph, swearing and threatening. Rockwell wrests the gun away, and several other policemen arrive to arrest the three. They are fined $100 each, which they appeal. Robert D. Foster accuses Willard Richards of trying to seduce his (Foster's) wife.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

185 years ago today - Apr 26, 1839

At the Far West temple site, in jeopardy if detected by anti-Mormons, apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Pratt, and John E. Page ordain Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith as apostles to fulfill one of Joseph Smith's earlier revelations. The "thus saith the Lord" revelation stated that on this day they were to lay the cornerstone for the Far West temple. Shortly after midnight they roll a large stone to the corner of the temple lot to fulfill the revelation. Eighteen other Mormons, including four women, also brave the mobs by attending this ceremony.

Note: Wilford Woodruff recorded the following in his journal:

... The events of this day are worthy of record for a Revelation of God & commandment is this day fulfilled & that to under Circumstances which to all human appearance could not have been done. The Lord had given a Commandment to the Twelve to assemble upon the building spot of the house of the Lord in far west Caldwell Co Mo on the 26th day of April & there take the parting hand with the Saints to go to the nations of the earth. But persecution had arisen to such an highth that about ten thousand souls of the Saints had been driven from the State, & the city far west almost made desolate & lade waste while at the same time the Presidency Joseph & his council with other Elders were in prision & they had been under the sentance of death several times because of their religion & they would have been put to death had not the Lord saved them for their lives were in his hands & notwithstanding the lives of those men were preserved yet there were about thirty five souls
martered & put to death. David W. Patten one of the Twelve Apostles were among the marterd. And not ownly so but the Missourians had sworn that the revelation above alluded to should not be fulfilled.

It was in the midst of these imbaressments that we mooved forward to the building spot of the house of the Lord in the City of far west & held a Council & fulfilled the revelation & Commandment & took our leave of the Saints & rode 32 miles & Camped. 32 miles.

... Resolved that the following persons should be no more fellowshiped ...

The Council then proceded to the building spot of the Lords house ... Willford Woodruff & George A. Smith ... to the office of the Twelve to fill the place of those who had fallen. ...

Elder Alpheus Cutler then placed the stone before alluded to in its regular position after which in consequence of the peculiar situation of the Saints he thought it wisdom to adjourn untill some future time when the Lord should open the way expressing his determination then to procede with the building. ...

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

125 years ago today - Apr 25, 1899; Tuesday

Brother Franklin S. Richards, one of the Church attorneys, had an interview with the First Presidency regarding the corporations existing in the various Stakes and Wards for the purpose of holding the properties thereof. The object of the interview was to ascertain the mind of the Presidency upon the multiplying of these corporations as new Stakes and Wards might be organized. Brother Richards represented how burdensome they appeared to many of the brethren, not only from the expense attending their creation, but from the keeping of them up in order to maintain their legal status; and he suggested a much cheaper and easier form of organization, namely, a trusteeship for the holding of the properties. After fully considering both sides of the question, and conceding the merit of Brother Richards' suggestion, the Presidency deemed it best, as a matter of precaution and in view of the hostile sentiment that was again rising and which might culminate in the passage of an anti-Mormon
amendment to the Constitution, to keep up the corporations already organized and form new ones as they might be required. Brother L. John Nuttall, whose business it is to see that these corporations are kept up, was called in and informed of this decision and given appropriate instructions.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

140 years ago today - Apr 25, 1884

[E. C. Briggs report to Joseph Smith III of interview with David Whitmer]

.... [Emma] remarked of her husband Joseph's limited education while he was translating the Book of Mormon, and she was scribe at the time, "He could not pronounce the word Sariah." And one time while translating, where it speaks of the walls of Jerusalem, he stopped and said, "Emma, did Jerusalem have walls surrounding it." When I informed him it had, he replied, "O, I thought I was deceived."

... "In June, 1829, I [David Whitmer] saw the angel by the power of God, Joseph, Oliver and I were alone, and a light from heaven shone round us, and solemnity pervaded our minds. The angel appeared in the light, as near as that young man. [Within five or six feet]. Between us and the angel there appeared a table, and there lay upon it the sword of Laban, the Ball of Directors, the Record, and Interpreters. The angel took the Record, and turned the leaves, and showed it to us by the power of God. They were taken away by the angel to a cave, which we saw by the power of God while we were yet in the Spirit. ...

"The boys, Joseph and Oliver, worked hard, early and late, while translating the plates. It was slow work, and they could write only a few pages a day."

Of Joseph he continued;

"He could not do a thing except he was humble, and just right before the Lord."

I said, "Why not?"

He replied:

"The Urim and Thummim would look dark; he could not see a thing in them."

"How did it appear in them?" we asked.

His answer was:

"The letters appeared on them in light, and would not go off until they were written correctly by Oliver. When Joseph could not pronounce the words he spelled them out letter by letter. ...

[E. C. Briggs to Joseph Smith III, 4 June 1884, Saints' Herald 31 (21 June 1884): 396-97., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Interview With E. C. Briggs And R. Etzenhouser]

175 years ago today - Apr 25, 1849

[Wilford Woodruff Journal]

I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.

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

175 years ago today - Apr 25, 1849

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]

25th I wrote Mrs Woodruff A letter And Preached at night to a full House. Solemnity rested upon all. A number were believeing. I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.

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

180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith told a reporter from the St. Louis Gazette that he had gained his power by the principles of truth and virtue.

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

180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844

The Council of Fifty adjourns to disperse throughout the United States to campaign for Joseph's presidency.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

180 years ago today - Letters from Orson Hyde - 25 and Apr 26, 1844

[Council of Fifty]

On 4 April 1844 Orson Hyde left Nauvoo on assignment from the council to carry its petitions to the U.S. Congress and President John Tyler asking that JS be made a member of the U.S. Army and be allowed to raise one hundred thousand volunteers to protect national interests in the West. Hyde wrote five letters to JS reporting on his activities in Washington DC, dated 25 April, 26 April, 30 April, 9 June, and 11 June. JS received the first two letters on 13 May 1844, and the council met that day to review them. On behalf of the council, Willard Richards wrote a letter in response, which was carried to Hyde by Lyman Wight and Heber C. Kimball, who arrived in Washington on 2 June.

[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]

180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844 - Thursday

[Council of Fifty]

Although in the previous meeting JS had declared the council full, two more members were admitted. In the morning session, council members discussed a proposal before the U.S. House of Representatives related to Oregon. ... JS also proposed that, instead of meeting, council members should travel and campaign for JS's presidency. ...

On motion Er Wm. Smith and Jedidiah M. Grant were then received for time and for all eternity, by the unanimous vote of the council, and took their seats in order. ...

The chairman then made some further remarks and advised that we let the constitution alone. He would tell us the whole matter about the constitution as follows—

Verily thus saith the Lord, yea are my constitution, and I am your God, and ye are my spokesmen. From henceforth do as I shall command you.

Saith the Lord.

Er Rigdon motioned that the constitution be received and the vote was unanimous, whereupon the council adjourned "sine die"

[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]

185 years ago today - Apr 25, 1839

Joseph travels toward the head of the Des Moines River rapids, where he determines that the land on both sides of the Mississippi—Commerce on the east and Montrose on the west—will be the future gathering sites for the Saints.

[He purchases two ajoining farms for $5,000 and $9,000]

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

85 years ago today - Apr 24, 1939

First Counselor J. Reuben Clark requests U.S. department of State to assist immigration of two Mormons: "She and her husband are Aryan natives and nationals of Switzerland." In contrast, Clark privately urges State Department not to help Jewish children to leave Nazi Germany if their parents are trying to send them to United States.

130 years ago today - Apr 24, 1894

[Franklin D. Richards]

Heard Sister Julia Samson's application to Pres[iden]t W[ilford]. W[oodruff]. to have her mother's marriage to Apostle Orson Pratt canceled & to have her sealed to her former husband also that herself & sisters be sealed to their parents'granted. Pres[iden]t. Woodruff granted her request & gave her a letter authorizing Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow to do it.

[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

160 years ago today - Apr 24, 1864

.... President Young said I have ordained my son Brigham unto all the Priesthood & Power that I hold myself and appointed him one of my Counsellors & now Brother Kimball you Bless him if you feel like it. Than Brother Kimball gave him a good Blessing.

[Brigham Young Jr. had been ordained an apostle two months earlier by his father but was not admitted to the Quorum of Twelve until four years later.]

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

180 years ago today - Apr 24, 1844

To help pay Joseph Smith's debts, apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and Lyman Johnson star in the play PIZZARO OR THE DEATH OF ROLLA at the Nauvoo Masonic Hall. The play tells the tragic fate of the Incas (led by Rolla) in defending their king, country, religion, and lives against the rapacious Spanish Conquistador, Pizarro. Kimball's sixteen-year-old daughter Helen, a secret plural wife of Joseph Smith, plays one of the chorus of virgins in the production.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

190 years ago today - Apr 24, 1834 (Thursday)

On this and the following six days the mob burned about one hundred and fifty houses belonging to the Saints in Jackson County, Mo.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

25 years ago today - Apr 23, 1999

The First Presidency announced that the Church would accept donations for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. Members could use the "Other" line on the donation receipt and enter the amount and the "Nauvoo Temple."

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

110 years ago today - Apr 23, 1914; Thursday

Telegram sent to President Joseph F. Smith regarding volitility in Mexico affecting Mormon colonies:

"El Paso, Texas, April 23rd, 1914. Pres[iden]t. Joseph F. Smith. Local situation has changed to a marked degree within the last twelve hours. Mexicans who until this morning have been very friendly are now outspoken in their threats towards Americans. Under the present conditions our colonists are in grave danger, threats having been made that certain families would be exterminated. Having been robbed of a great many of their teams and wagons and the railroad not being in operation, their condition is very serious. An overland trip would be dangerous as the country is infested with filibusterers. Have asked Senator Smoot if it would be possible to have troops give protection tot he colonists in case of hostilities. What steps can be taken? Advise at once.

(Signed) A. L. Pierce, Presiding Elder."

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

115 years ago today - Apr 23, 1909; Friday

Dr. James E. Talmage had had some conversation with the Presidency about making an effort to regain possession of the dies from which our Deseret gold coins are struck, he having learned some time ago that they were not in possession of Alfales Young, a son of President Brigham Young. It appears that these dies were among the personal belongings of President Brigham Young which were sold at auction to his heirs, no one else having been allowed to bid on his personal property, and Alfales bought them with some other things at a very low figure.

Dr. Talmage now represented to the Presidency in the presence of Brothers Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant and George F. Richards that he had waited on Alfales Young with the following result: Alfales claims that he could legally hold these dies, he having come rightfully by them, but offered to let the museum have them for five hundred dollars. Bro[ther]. Talmage now produced the dies, which he had procured from Alfales Young on certain binding conditions. They consisted of seven sets which covered all the coins issued. It was decided to regain possession of them for the Museum by paying Alfales Young his price, namely, five hundred dollars, although it is understood by the Presidency that he could be compelled to part with them as they were not personal property of President Brigham Young, but really belonged to the Church.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

145 years ago today - Apr 23, 1879

[Joseph and Hiel Lewis]

[Joseph Smith's] so-called "money digging," of which so little is said in his histories, was in Susquehanna Co. Pa. Smith declared that vast treasures were hidden on this spot, and interested men of money sufficiently to procure funds to bear the expense of searching for it. Mr. Ira Stevens of East Grove Township [Illinois], lately deceased, was in his employ as head workman, and had charge of the excavation. The project was abandoned only when the prophet declared the enchantment was so great he could see no farther, and to dispel it, a snow white dog must be slain and its warm blood sprinkled in the hole. His adherents sought far and wide for a white dog, but none were to be found. Smith then thought a white sheep would do--one was brought, its fleece thoroughly cleaned, the sheep was slain and its blood administered as directed; but the enchantment was as great as ever, and the pursuit of wealth in those diggings had to be abandoned.

["The Histories of Mormonism," Amboy (IL) Journal, 23 April 1879., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Amboy (Il) Journal]

190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834

A revelation ends the Kirtland United Order and distributes its real estate assets among Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Martin Harris, Newel K. Whitney, and John Johnson. Although the revelation says, "it is my will that you shall pay all your debts," Smith requires Whitney to absorb the $1,121.31 Whitney had loaned to him personally as well as $2.484.22 of other men's debts to Whitney. Ten days later the name of the church is officially changed from "The Church of Jesus Christ" to "The Church of the Latter Day Saints" possibly to avoid law suits.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834

The United Order would be "everlasting", and "immutable and unchangeable" to benefit the church until Jesus comes. D&C 104:1 -- Critics claim this prophecy was not fulfilled. Members of the LDS Church claim that the adjectives "everlasting ... immutable and unchageable" may refer to the divine source of the United Order rather than a prophecy that it will always be practiced. They also argue that the United Order is part of the eternal gospel and that its practice is simply in abeyance pending other events.

[Wikipedia, Prophesies of Joseph Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecies_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.]

190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834

The United Order would be "everlasting", and "immutable and unchangeable" to benefit the church until Jesus comes. D&C 104:1

[D&C 104]

190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834

Joseph Smith is referred to as "Enoch" in a revelation. [D&C 104]

[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]

60 years ago today - Apr 22, 1964

Opening of New York World's Fair which LDS church's first major exhibit hall at world's fair, the "Mormon Pavilion." Continues through 1965 season.

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

125 years ago today - Apr 22, 1899

[Patriarchal Blessing of Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]

.... thou shalt see the Riches of the Earth uncovered for thy good ...

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

135 years ago today - Monday, Apr 22, 1889

[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]

I was subpoenaed to go before the grand jury. Upon going to the jury room I was wanted in the Joseph F. Smith case. I gave my testimony in the case as follows:

Jos. F. Smith is my cousin. He had three wives to my knowledge. I did not know whether they had babies or not. I told them he had not taken any wives inside of three years.

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

140 years ago today - Apr 22, 1884

[Franklin D. Richards]

At Pres[iden]ts office read a letter from President W[illiam]. W. Cluff [politician / Stake President] feeling unable safely to carry out the counsel of the Lord through Presidency in regard to plural marriage, he offers his resignation to the President if he thinks it best to accept it in time to fill the vacancy at their next Quarterly conference. This seems a sad step'-must it be taken.

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

160 years ago today - Apr 22, 1864

[Brigham Young Sermon]

.... don't after you get through preaching go to the theatre, to the dram shop, or hug a sister because she wants hugging; don't do it, for you will tarnish your soul through all eternity; if you do it, the memory of it will always haunt you; ...

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

180 years ago today - Apr 22, 1844

[Joseph Smith]

This morning a man who had put up at my house told me he wanted to see me alone. I went into my room with him and he told me he was a prophet of God that he come from Vermont and he prophesied that this government was about to be overthrown and the Kingdom which Daniel spoke of was about to be established some where in the west and he thought in Illinois.

[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

185 years ago today - 1839 22 Apr.

Joseph Smith returns to his family (now in Illinois) and reportedly indicates his intention for his son Joseph III to be his successor as church president.

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

15 years ago today - 4/21/2009

Orson Scott Card officially named as replacement for Matthew Holland on the board of the National Organization for Marriage. Holland stepped down from the board to become president of Utah Valley University. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deserves credit, [Princeton professor and NOM leader, Robert] George said, for being "a leading force in the nation in defense of the institution of marriage and the family" despite efforts at intimidation. The LDS Church is not helping to fund the National Organization for Marriage, George said, but is represented on the board by author and Mormon Times columnist Orson Scott Card.

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

120 years ago today - Apr 21, 1904; Thursday

[Smoot Hearings]

I ... was not happy on account of F[ranklin]. S. Richards refusing to act as my Council [sic].

I only understood he purposed to do so conditioned I refused to state what my family relations consisted of [IE Plural marriage].

...I ate a dish of oysters with Richards and at his expense drank a cocktail with Van Cott. They with Senator [Reed] Smoot expressed themselves satisfied with my testimony which I did not as I felt like a donkey that had its ears cutt [sic] off.

[Angus M. Cannon, Diary]

185 years ago today - Apr 21, 1839

Lucy receives spiritual assurance that Joseph and Hyrum will reach Quincy the next day and prophesies as much to Edward Partridge. That night she sees them in a vision, sleeping on the prairie without blankets or food.

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

190 years ago today - Apr 21, 1834

At a conference in Norton, Ohio: "Bro. Joseph Smith Jun. then delivered a short prophecy, that if Zion was not delivered [in Jackson County, Missouri] the time was near when all of this Church, wherever they might be found, would be persecuted and distroyed [sic] in like manner."

At this conference, "President Smith then laid hands on certain children, and blessed them in the name of the Lord," which may have been the first time small children were blessed. Giving names and blessings to infants would become standard practice two decades later.

Joseph also preached, "It is very difficult for us to communicate to the Churches all that God has revealed to us, in consequence of tradition; for we are differently situated from any other people that ever existed upon this Earth. Consequently those former revelations cannot be suited to our condition, because they were given to other people who were before us. This statement of 'theocratic situation ethics' is further expounded in Smith's letter to Nancy Rigdon eight years later: "That which is wrong under one circumstance may be, and often is, right in another."

[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]

190 years ago today - Apr 21, 1834

Conference of elders in Norton, Medina County, Ohio. Joseph: history of obtaining and translating the Book of Mormon, the revelation of the Aaronic Priesthood, the organization of the church, the revelation of the High Priesthood, "and the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Church &c."

First mention of Aaronic, High Priesthood sequence?

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

190 years ago today - Apr 21, 1834

Norton, Ohio. At a conference of elders at the home of Brother Carpenter, Joseph Smith spoke the famous words: -"Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none.-",

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