Look magazine publishes Gordon B. Hinckley's response to an article, "The Mormons: We Are a Peculiar People," one of his earliest exposures in the national media.
Today In Mormon History
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
110 years ago today - Jun 19, 1916
[First Presidency letter]
To Bishoprics of Wards, Dear Brethren:
At the Stake Clerks' meeting, held during the late general conference, definite instructions were sought for in regard to making a record of cases of transgression of young people who make public confession of their wrongdoing and are forgiven.
No record should be made of this class of cases, nor of cases of the same character of a strictly private nature considered by a Bishop or Bishopric, but a record should be made and kept of cases of fornication or adultery tried in the regular way by the Bishop's court.
This question has also been asked:
At which of the meetings should persons guilty of unchastity be required to make confession, at the general meeting of the members of the ward, at the fast meeting, or at the monthly priesthood meeting?
Answer: The regulation of confessions should be left to the Bishopric of the ward in which the wrongdoing occurs, each case considered by them on its own merits, and disposed of according to the publicity already given to it. For instance, where people guilty of adultery or fornication confess their sin, and their transgression is known to themselves only, their confession should not be made public. But where publicity has been given to it their confession should be made before the priesthood of the ward at the regular monthly meeting; or, if it be deemed advisable that a still more public confession be made, such a confession should be made at the monthly fast meeting, and not at the regular Sunday services. ...
As a rule therefore where the transgression is known to but few, the confession (if required at all) should be made at the priesthood meeting, and only in cases where the offense has become a public scandal and reproach to the Church, should the more public confession be required. Your Brethren, JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.
[1916-June 19-Original letter. Church Historian's Library, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
120 years ago today - Jun 19, 1906; Tuesday
$250. was paid to Fred W. Clemons in payment of the old hand press on which the first edition of the Book of Mormon was printed; said press having been received and set up in the press room of the Deseret News building.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
185 years ago today - Jun 19, 1841
James Murdock writes to the CONGREGATIONAL OBSERVER of his interview with William Smith, LDS Apostle and brother of Joseph Smith: "About the year 1823, there was a revival of religion in that region, and Joseph was one of several hopeful converts. The others were joining, some one church, and some another in that vicinity, but Joseph hesitated between the different denominations. While his mind was perplexed with this subject, he prayed for divine direction; and afterwards was awaked one night by an extraordinary vision. The glory of the Lord filled the chamber with a dazzling light, and a glorious angel appeared to him, conversed with him, and told him that he was a chosen vessel unto the Lord to make known true religion."
190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836
Lorenzo Snow is baptized in the Chagrin River near Kirtland, Ohio. (He is twenty-two years and two months old.)
190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836
Wilford Woodruff writes that "A state's warrant was issued against D[avid] W. Patten, Warren Parrish and Wilford Woodruff, . . . Elders Patten and Parrish were taken by an armed mob of about fifty, . . . I was in another county, and therefore not taken. We were accused of prophesying falsely, by saying that four persons who were baptized should receive the Holy Ghost in twenty-four hours, and that Christ should come the second time before this generation passed away." Three days later Patten and Parrish are "condemned . . . Without any cause of Guilt found in them & after condemning they let them go clear."
190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836
Book of Mormon witnesses Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Apostle Lyman E. Johnson, and Mormon editor William W. Phelps flee for their lives after receiving a written death-threat signed by Danite chief Sampson Avard, two members of the First Presidency, and eighty other Danites. This is two days after Sidney Rigdon announced that the church will now fulfill the commandment to treat dissenters as "salt" to be "trodden under the foot of men."
195 years ago today - Jun 19, 1831
[Joseph Smith]
Starts for Missouri to designate the -"land of Zion.-"
[Highlights in the Prophet's Life, Ensign, June 1994]
195 years ago today - Jun 19, 1831
Colesville saints inquire of Joseph being poor and without farmland. Section 54 of the D&C is revealed in response. Newel Knight is appointed the leader of this company and they moved from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. After this point, legal deeds of ownership were transferred as part of the Law of Consecration. Edward leaves family with measles and is so exhausted, he fell off his horse while travelling with the company.
[Exploring Mormonism: The Law of Consecration Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/the-law-of-consecration-timeline/]
170 years ago today - Jun 18, 1856
[Hosea Stout]
Law Suit before probate on an examination[.] People vs William Camp et al. for kidnapping a Negro Dan. The case commenced Monday evening and lasted yesterday & to day till noon
It appears that Camp was the owner of Dan who had ran away and C. had went with three others to bring him back. The court acquitted them[.] Carrington atty Genl for the people & Mr T. S. Williams & self for defts
There was a great excitement on on the occasion[.] The question naturally involving more or Less the Slavery question and I was surprised to see those latent feeling aroused in our midst which are making so much disturbance in the states.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Jun 18, 1851
Sarah Lawrence, polygamous widow of Joseph Smith, formally divorces Heber C. Kimball. Two years later she marries Joseph Mount who "had come from the gold mines of California where he made quite a fortune." On this same day Mary Ann Clark Powers, plural wife of Brigham Young since Jan 15, 1845, writes from Kanesville, Iowa: "I wish you to release me from all engagements with you for time and eternity." This request is granted.
30 years ago today - Jun 17, 1996
Time magazine publishes its list of the twenty-five most influential Americans. Among those noted is Steven R. Covey (a former BYU professor, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and founder of the Covey Leadership Center).
120 years ago today - Jun 17, 1906; Sunday
[George F. Richards]
"Talked with Bro[ther]. C[harles]. R. McBride after meeting about a matter of a private nature about which I had a dream some time ago. Left it with him."
[George F. Richards, Diary]
120 years ago today - Jun 17, 1906
[Anthony W. Ivins]
"Sunday 2 P. M. Jos, C. Bently. Present authorities. Bro. H. Pratt made short remarks. Said an effort was being made to eliminate from the Doctrine & Covenants the revelation of marriage."
[Diary Excerpts of Anthony W. Ivins, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Jun 17, 1901
A contingent headed by Apostle John Henry Smith and future apostle Anthony W. Ivins meets in Mexico City with Mexican President Porfirio Diaz. Ivins clasps his hand and says, in Spanish, "Mr. President I greatly appreciate this opportunity of grasping the hand of the Chief Magistrate of the Government which gave an asylum and protection to my people when they were in trouble."
130 years ago today - Jun 17, 1896
With approval from President Wilford Woodruff, Second Counselor Joseph F. Smith seals Lillian Hamlin by proxy to the deceased David H. Cannon. During the ceremony, in the Salt Lake Temple, Smith marries her to the proxy Apostle Abraham H. Cannon as a plural wife for time. The next day, the Smiths and Cannons leave Salt Lake City for California. Later Joseph F. Smith is accused of having performed the post-manifesto marriage off the coast of California which he (truthfully) denies.
135 years ago today - June 17, 1891
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage attends the Annual Meeting of the Microscopical Society of London. To his surprise, Talmage is called upon to address the assembly. In his biography John R. Talmage summarizes the event:
[Talmage Story, ch. 11] [Talmage] expected merely to be recognized as a new member, but found himself called upon to address the gathering. He did so, discussing "the scientific wealth yet unmined in the land of my home," with special emphasis on the Great Salt Lake. Professor Talmage's microscopic slides of the artemis fertilis (brine shrimp) and oolitic (spherical) sand were viewed with interest as were the live shrimp which had escaped the greedy gulping of the customs official. The horned lizards had their moment in the limelight, and later found a permanent home in the zoological gardens of Regent's Park and the South Kensington Natural History Museum, a branch of the British Museum. In his room that night after the Society's meeting was over, James reviewed in his mind the impressive event, and returned thanks to the Lord for the privilege he had been accorded in attending, "I regard the occurrences of this night as very significant," [Talmage] wrote in his journal, "not because I have gained recognition in so august a society, but because a representative of the Latter-day Saint Church-one of the despised 'Mormons'-has been so received."
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
145 years ago today - Jun 17, 1881
[James E. Talmage]
"[...] if I would give way to selfish feelings I would today almost register a vow that I would not serve in the B. Y. Academy again unless I were well paid. […] Then again I think and realize that the training I am receiving in teaching these higher branches benefits me as much, if not more than regular attendance at school would. Have been enabled to save nothing in the way of money during the year."
[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]
170 years ago today - Jun 17, 1856
The new Republican Party Platform brought polygamy into the national political debate regarding slavery. It argued that since the Constitution gives Congress sovereign power over the territories it was "right and imperative" that Congress prohibit both slavery and polygamy in the territories. This created a dilemma the Democrats. Virtually all were offended at Mormon polygamy. The Republican Platform put the Democrats in the awkward position of explaining why a territory could become a slave state by the determination of the people, but could not self-determine the legality of polygamy.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
190 years ago today - 1836: 17 June
Patriarchal blessing of Esther Smith Fuller given by Joseph Smith, Sen. ... "I seal the blessing of God on thy children: ... while young shall be in the Spirit and Prophesy, they shall be among the prophets and prophetesses. ..."
[typescript, private collection, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Jun 17, 1836
Patriarch Joseph Smith Senior gives blessings to Amos B. Fuller: "Thy years shall be many for thou shalt stand on the Earth and proclaim the Gospel to the Nations of the Gentiles, and the seed of Abraham, as long as the earth shall stand." And to Betsy Smith: " Thy children and thy children's children shall be saved and reign with thee in the kingdom of father and thou shall see the fourth generation and thou shall not see death but shall be grave thou must see tribulation but thou shalt have power to prevail over all thy enemies and shall see thy the Holy One of Israel while yet in the flesh"
15 years ago today - 2011 June 16
I'm A Mormon media campaign launches large-scale in New York City, after testing in regional markets.
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
125 years ago today - Sunday, Jun 16, 1901
[Rudger Clawson]
"Read a prophecy of Joseph Smith declaring that the saints would move to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people there."
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
130 years ago today - Jun 16, 1896; Tuesday
[Charles W. Penrose]
"Read to [Salt Lake Stake] High Council Bro[ther] F[rancis]. M Lyman's remarks at first meeting of Stake Conference June 6th. Council adopted a resolution which I wrote dissenting from the doctrine advanced by Bro[ther] Lyman that an Apostle had the right to change a regulation established in a regularly organized Stake of Zion, of his own volition, without instructions from the First Presidency. The Presidency of the Stake were requested to write the views of the Council and present them with the Resolution and the report of the remarks of Bro[ther] Lyman to the First Presidency."
[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]
155 years ago today - Jun 16, 1871
Apostle Joseph F. Smith writes of his divorced first wife "Levira [who] arrived from California in a state of insanity." Daughter of founder's brother Samuel H. Smith and first cousin-wife of Apostle Smith, Levira C. Smith is earliest example of mental illness in a prominent Mormon. In 1886 she is legally committed to the Utah Insane Asylum as its fifty-ninth patient, and remains there for three months.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
165 years ago today - Jun 16, 1861 (Afternoon)
[Brigham Young]
"Br. Kimball does pretty well in playing on the fiddle I think, so does br. Joseph Young. I will try my hand at my fiddle."
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Jun 16, 1856
Brigham Young's office journal records "Had an interview with Bro[ther]s Jesse Little & Robert Burton about Bro[ther] Kamp taking away his Negro." Thomas Bedford, a Beaver Island resident who had been publicly whipped on James J. Strang's direction, fatally shoots Strang. Strang had led a large portion of Mormons away from Brigham Young's rule after the death of Joseph Smith.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
185 years ago today - 1841 Jun 16
Warsaw Signal on Joseph Smith trial & Danites, points out that Mormons now have the greatest voting power in the county
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
190 years ago today - Jun 16, 1836
[Brigham Young]
"[Went] to Isac Brownnels had som conversation With him he rejected our testmoney and abused ous [ours] and turned me out adore [of doors] and I washed my feet aganst him"
[Brigham Young Journal, 1832 Apr. 9-1836, Sept. 9, typescript]
195 years ago today - Jun 16, 1831
Jared Carter writes in his diary: "there was one of our Sisters healed from blindness by his [Joseph Smith's] instrumentality,"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
75 years ago today - Jun 15, 1951
Patriarchal Blessing of Taylor Woodruff Turner by George E. Jorgensen ... "You were valiant in the Spirit World where you supported the Savior and fought diligently by His side against Lucifer."
[Patriarchal Blessings]
115 years ago today - Jun 15, 1911
[Joseph F. Smith]
"... I can only say that the charge [regarding new polygamous marriages] about Brother [Anthony W.] Ivins is one of those unproven allegations which, like others, has not been taken up by the church or its authorities, as it comes from a source which is not only entirely unreliable, but which at sight conveys the idea of falsity. It is not required of any accused person or society to prove a negative ..."
[Joseph F. Smith, Letter to Isaac Russell, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
170 years ago today - Jun 15, 1856
Brigham Young preaches: "I have proof ready to show that Bishops have taken in thousands of pounds of tithing which they have never reported to the general tithing office. We have documents to show that Bishops have taken in hundreds of bushels of wheat, and only a small portion of it has come into the general tithing office; they stole it to let their friends speculate upon. If anyone is doubtful about this, will you not call on me to produce my proof before a proper tribunal? I should take pleasure in doing so, but we pass over such things in mercy to the people."
175 years ago today - Jun 15, 1851
[Brigham Young]
"Let the wife rule the Husband & she will keep him tied to the dish cloth & kitchen all the days of his life & it proves A curse upon him...."
"Then let the Father Govern. I can govern my children when they are with me. I would rather one of my sons would stab me to the Heart & kill me dead than to conquer & master me in government."
"When any undertake to govern out of their place they do not prosper. As An ensample P[arley] P Pratt & John Taylor undertook to govern & controll & set right my affairs at winter Quarters while I was on a pioneer Journey to the Mountains & they liked to have destroyed many. But I said peace be still And I saved the people...."
"A Mormon Boy will whip out the priest. We will Advance untill we can stand in the society of the gods. ..."
[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 - Jun 15, 1851 (Morning)
[Brigham Young]
"I say to the Saints, kill every white man you see stealing and not kill the Indian for it, for the white men know better."
[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 - Jun 15, 1846
[Nauvoo Temple]
A newspaper reported that a man in Fort Madison, Iowa, expressed no hesitation in saying that the Temple must be destroyed, and he had powder ready for that purpose.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
185 years ago today - Jun 15, 1841
Letter, Orson Hyde to Joseph Smith Smith, London: "I retired to my bed one night ... the vision of the Lord, like clouds of light burst into my view. The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me; and the spirit said unto me, 'Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also, is the field of your labors. Take therefore proper credentials from my people, your brethren, ... and go ye forth to the cities which have been shown you, and declare these words unto Judah, and say. 'Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves and let us go into the defended cities. Set up the standard towards Zion ..."
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
185 years ago today - Jun 15, 1841
Joseph receives a letter from Orson Hyde recounting his travels on the way to Jerusalem. Hyrum Smith and William Law, on a mission in Pittsburgh, learn that John C. Bennett has an estranged wife and child (he had claimed to be unmarried). This is reported to Joseph. Soon afterward, Joseph confronts Bennett with these facts, and Bennett takes poison in an attempted suicide. However, many assume that because he is a doctor, he knows how much he can consume and stay alive. At any rate, he does survive the suicide attempt. Joseph accepts his dramatic show of repentance and allows him to remain in power in the Church and in the city.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
15 years ago today - Jun 14, 2011
Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware said Tuesday that former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker did not have to divulge whether he wanted to marry his own gay partner before he declared last year that voter-approved Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. The decision struck down a brief filed by those backing Prop 8 who argued Walker should have recused himself.
[Prop 8 Timeline, NBC San Diego, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Proposition-8-Timeline-History-California--138796454.html]
60 years ago today - Jun 14, 1966
[David O. McKay]
... In his letter, Elder Christiansen also states that two Temple Presidents have recently inquired regarding permitting couples to be married civilly before traveling from their home to the Temple within a few days to have the sealing solemnized in the Temple. We decided to send a letter to Presidents of Temples informing them that the First Presidency must be consulted in regard to any proposed civil marriage of couples desiring to go to the Temple to be sealed.
[David O. McKay diary, June 14, 1966, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
65 years ago today - Jun 14, 1961
President McKay rejects a proposal to merge the Assistants to the Twelve with the First Council of the Seventy, now that the latter are also high priests.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
120 years ago today - Jun 14, 1906; Thursday
[George F. Richards]
Attended Council meeting in the temple from 10 A.M. until 3 P.M. Question.
Was Moses Thatcher's Priesthood taken from him? Ans[wer]--
Pres[iden]t. Smith Jos[eph]. F. said his understanding is that the only way one's priesthood can be taken from him is by
excommunication from the Church. Parley P. Pratt held that in trying an elder in the Sandwitch [sic] islands who was charged with attempted rape. Pres[iden]t Geo[ge] Q. Cannon was present there and entertained a different view & contended later for same. Pres[iden]t. Smith's understanding is that a man may be silenced and prohibited from the exercise of his Priesthood and such is the Case of Moses Thatcher. Geo[rge] Albert Smith testified that that is the idea Moses has as he Geo[rge]. A[lbert]. had heard Moses express himself.
From the above I deduce the fol[lowing]--A man can be deprived of his priesthood only by excommunication from the Church.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
125 years ago today - Friday, Jun 14, 1901
[John Henry Smith]
Frank Marsh, youngest son of Thomas B. Marsh, called upon us. he claimed to be in the faith. he says that about one month before Emma Hale Smith died he called upon her. he asked her if the Prophet Joseph had more wives than one. She broke into tears and said my son has accepted the Presidency of the Reorganized Church.
He also said he had met with a body of Masons in London. A gentleman present by the name of Hamilton gave a wonderfull testimony of the character and Mission of the Prophet. Said He Joseph Smith Initiated me into the Secrets of Masonry and I esteem him among the great men of the World.
[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 - Jun 14, 1876
[Wilford Woodruff]
14 I spent the day at the Endowment House. We Baptized 634 for the dead. W Woodruff sealed 144 Couple for the dead the greatest Number I Ever sealed in one day in my life. Joseph F Smith sealed 28 Couple. Total 172 Couple. It made me nearly Sick.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Jun 14, 1856
The ship Thornton arrives in New York City with 764 Saints led by James G. Willie. Most in the company are those who later make up the ill-fated Martin and Willie handcart companies, which become stranded on their way to Utah later that year.
180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846
On the ship Brooklyn, filled with Latter-day Saints bound for California, a baby girl is born to Phebe and John Robbins and is named Georgiana Pacific Robbins. "Pacific" was used as part of the name because they were in the Pacific ocean, just as "Atlantic" had been used as part of the name of another baby born earlier in the voyage.
180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846
Several hundred men gathered at the temple with their firearms because a large mob had assembled at nearby Golden Point and were threatened to attack the temple. When the temple bell rang, the defenders met at the green near the temple. Stephen Markham led the troops into the temple and rallied them together. On this occasion the mob dispersed and did not dare approach the city. But these renewed threats prompted many families to quickly leave their homes and start their journey to the west.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
120 years ago today - Jun 13, 1906
[Charles Penrose to Reed Smoot]
Excitement over removals, etc. has died out, but would you believe it, there are still efforts put forth to obtain consent to forbidden marriages.
[Charles W. Penrose, Letter to Reed Smoot, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 13, 1901
[Rudger Clawson]
... I referred to the matter of non-tithe-payers and felt that some action should be taken relative to those who bear the priesthood, as by experience I had been led to believe that those who rejected the law of tithing, or failed to honor it, were indifferent, generally, to their duties in the church. The question was pretty fully discussed, and though no formal action was taken, it seemed to be the mind of the brethren that while it would be unwise and injudicious at present to relieve men of their priesthood, who failed to observe the law of tithing, it would certainly be proper to call for the resignation of non-tithe-payers, who were officiating in various prominent positions in the church.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Jun 13, 1901
[Marriner W. Merrill]
I attended meeting with the First Presidency and seven of the Apostles. It was decided to ordain High Councilmen as High Priests and set them apart as High Councilmen; also decided that it be the rule in the Church for those administering the sacrament, for only one to kneel when asking the blessing on the bread and water, as in our circumstances the whole congregation cannot kneel.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Jun 13, 1881
David Whitmer writes to the KANSAS CITY JOURNAL to correct some items in a recently-published interview: "I did not say that Smith used 'two small stones' as stated nor did I call the stone 'interpreters.' I stated that 'he used one stone (not two) and called it a sun stone.' . . .My statement was and is that in translating he put the stone in his hat and putting his face in the hat so as to exclude the light and that the light and characters appeared in the hat together with the interpretation which he uttered and was written by the scribe and which was tested at the time as stated." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
150 years ago today - Jun 13, 1876 (Tuesday)
The case of George Reynolds, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary under the anti-bigamy law, was argued before the Supreme Court of the Territory, on appeal. [Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
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