85 years ago today - Mar 29, 1940

First Presidency asks Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith to chair "Literature Censorship Committee authorized by Quorum of the Twelve last Thursday." Results of a poll conducted in BYU theology classes is published in the "Y NEWS." It finds, that, despite frequent warnings by the Honor Tradition Committee, at least 20 percent of the student body continued to cheat on graded homework.

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

85 years ago today - Mar 29, 1940

The First Presidency asks Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith to chair the "Literature Censorship Committee authorized by the Quorum last Thursday."

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

115 years ago today - Mar 29, 1910

[Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund to Don C. Walker and counselors Mar. 29, 1910]

All of the children who are of age have [the] right to express their own individual choice as to whom they desire to be sealed, while those who have not yet attained to their majority should wait before expressing their choice. In fact in such an important matter as this it would be well for all the younger children to wait until their judgment becomes mature before deciding to leave their father.

[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

125 years ago today - Thursday, Mar 29, 1900

Apostle J. H. Smith reported his visit to the Fremont Stake. Said the high council of the Fremont Stake was released and reorganized. The change was made necessary owing to the status of some of its members. A number of the council was in the habit of getting drunk; others neglected the law of tithing. Two of the old council were brought in again.

I called attention to the fact that the free-will offerings at the Salt Lake Temple for the year 1898 amounted to $5807.25, and for the year 1899, $6856.83; that the total membership of the church in the stakes of the temple district was 78,915. The amount contributed per capita was, therefore, between 8c and 9c per year. I thought this a poor showing and suggested that there were a great many who would contribute if the matter was properly brought to their attention. It seemed to be the mind of the brethren that it would be better to preach up tithing rather than to make an effort in the direction of the free-will offerings to the temple. Pres. Snow stated that there were 10,000 non-tithe-payers in 1899. The apostles should take up this matter in the stakes. It was reported that there were 30,000 non-tithe-payers in 1898. The number of tithe-payers in 1899 were 62,000.

[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 - Mar 29, 1900; Thursday

Elder Francis M. Lyman stated that he had had a conversation with President J[oseph]. T. Kingsbury of the University of Utah who complained that Dr. James E. Talmage, who is professor of geology in the State university was not performing the amount of labor for that institution that his salary warranted and that Dr. Talmage was not inclined to add more time to the interests of the institution ... The Council felt that Dr. Talmage ought to comply with this request and President Cannon was asked to see him and convey the mind of the Council to him in regard to the matter. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

130 years ago today - Friday, Mar 29, 1895

[President of the Quorum of Seventy] B. H. Roberts and A. C. Lund spoke against equal suffrage. C. S. Varian, C. C. Goodwin, J. R. Murdock in favor of it.

[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 - Mar 29, 1885

[Heber J. Grant]

Sunday the 22nd the Salt Lake Tribune published quite a lengthy articles [sic] claiming to be part of a sermon preached by me. It was quite laughable. Tuesday they published a second article which was quite a production in as much as it virtually admited [sic] that the Sunday's article was their own production. ...

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

170 years ago today - Mar 29, 1855

Church Historian, George A. Smith, under the direction of Brigham Young, while revising the History of the Church, alters Joseph Smiths statement at the founding of the Relief Society from "I now turn the key to you in the name of God and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time." to read "I now turn the key in your behalf in the name of the Lord. . . ."

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

175 years ago today - Mar 29, 1850

[Hosea Stout]

A law was passed prohibiting the selling any guns & ammunition to the Indians.

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

180 years ago today - Saturday, March 29, 1845

Location unknown On Saturday [March 29, 1845] Ruth [Moon Clayton] and Margaret [Moon Clayton] received their [[second]] anointing for which I [William Clayton] feel thankful. Margaret had some good instructions and she feels satisfied and reconciled. She says she will never leave me on any consideration. ' I still feel determined to do all I can and be as faithful as I know how for that is the desire of my heart, but my greatest desire is to so live that I may secure for myself and mine the highest degree of exaltation and glory which is possible for me to obtain, and to be with my friend Joseph Smith in the eternal world.

[William Clayton, Diary, entry dated March 31, 1845, as quoted in Joseph Smith's Quorum of the Anointed 1842-1845 A Documentary History edited by Devery S. Anderson and Gary James Bergera]

185 years ago today - Mar 29, 1840. Sunday.

[William Clayton]

.... Robert Crooks stood up previous to confirmation to shew why he suffered himself to be cut off and how he had felt since. He said he was sincere and believed it was false, through reading a tract against the Book of Mormon. He had prayed much that he might be right. But never could get peace not even as much as before he joined the church. He prayed that the Lord would let him die sooner than let him go astray &c. He was standing by the fire one night lately and was suddenly taken very ill almost lost the use of his limbs. He prayed and said if the Lord would raise him again he would go and be baptized. He found immediate relief and his former peace returned to him. He rejoiced and soon got better. He says if this church is not right there is none right in the world. ...

[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

185 years ago today - Mar 29, 1840

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]

.... Baptized 13 persons 2 of which were Preachers. ...

I am informed this day that the Ministers of the Church of England are holding meetings & councils to petition Parliment to Stop my preaching & to cause our religion to scease out of the land. But may the Lord order all things aright I pray.

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

190 years ago today - Mar 29, 1835

At 11 A.M. at the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and four counselors meet in "Most Holy Place in the Lord's House and sought for a revelation from Him to teach us concerning our going to Zion. . ." After uniting in prayer three times they "call the other Presidents, the two Bishops and their councils (each to stand in his place) and fast through the day and also the night." The "word of the Lord" comes through Joseph Smith "that those who had entered the Holy Place must not leave the House untill morning, . . .we must clens[e] our feet and partake of the sacrament . . . Accordingly we proceeded and cleansed our faces and our feet, and then proceeded to wash each other's feet." Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith's wash each other's feet after which Rigdon washes Joseph Smith Senrio's and Hyrum Smith's feet. Joseph Smith washes Frederick G. Williams's feet and then Hyrum Smith washes David Whitmer's and Oliver Cowdery's feet. David Whitmer and William W. Phelps wash each other's feet.
"The Bishops and their councils were then washed, after which we partook of the bread and wine." They stay in the temple all through the night.

195 years ago today - Mar 29, 1830

David Marks, a Free-will Baptist evangelist, stops at the Whitmers house in Fayette, New York. The eight witnesses "affirmed, that an angel had showed them certain plates of metal, having the appearance of gold that were dug out of the ground by one Joseph Smith." They explain to Marks certain basic points about the Book of Mormon and its contents but claim to have viewed the plates in vision only.

At the Palmyra Presbyterian Church it is "Resolved that Hiram Smith, Lucy Smith, and Samuel Harrison Smith be and they hereby are suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper." They are suspended for 18 months for "Neglect of public worship and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper" and for not appearing a the hearing concerning the matter despite having been issued two citations to appear.

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

45 years ago today - Mar 28, 1980

Bonneville Satellite Corporation formed in Salt Lake City.

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

90 years ago today - Mar 28, 1935

[Heber J. Grant letter]

Herewith we hand you President J. Robert Price's letter of March 21, recommending that former blessings be restored to John Thomas Lisonbee, who is dead, he having been excommunicated from the Church some years ago for teaching that the practice of plural marriage should continue. We also enclose a carbon copy of our letter of this date to President Price, from which you will note we have granted permission for the ordinance of baptism to be performed in behalf of John Thomas Lisonbee. Authorization is hereby given for one of the brethren of the Twelve, when visiting in the Maricopa Stake to officiate in restoring former blessings, by proxy, to this man.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Rudger Clawson, 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]

90 years ago today - Mar 28, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

My daughter Lucy called this morning and expressed surprise that we are going to have Heber M. Wells on the editorial staff of the News seeing that he is not a tithepayer nor a good Latter-day Saint, it being a Church organ. I told her I was in hopes of converting him, that I felt he was so much better than John Q. Cannon that there was no comparison.

[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

130 years ago today - Mar 28, 1895

Spencer Woolley Kimball,was born in Salt Lake City on 28 March 1895 to Andrew Kimball and Olive Woolley. His grandfathers were Heber C. Kimball and Edwin D. Woolley.

[Utah History Encyclopedia: Spencer W. Kimball, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

180 years ago today - Mar 28, 1845

[William Clayton]

Sister Whitney went to attend to anointing my wife and Magaret but was again prevented through Sarah Ann not being there in season.

[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

180 years ago today - Mar 28, 1845, Friday

[William Clayton]

He played with the band at a party at the mansion house, and he was accompanied by three wives. Margaret Moon and Diantha Farr were not publicly known to be his wives, but since they were all friends anyway this did not look peculiar and it was Clayton's way of making sure all his wives had as good a social life as possible.

[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]

185 years ago today - Mar 28, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff]

I spent the night at the Hill farm & Dreamd of being with several others in a small Boat in a storm on the River. We had to paddle ashore with our hands having no paddles. There was a serpent oralled into the Boat & I flung him out with my hands & reached the shore in safety.

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

190 years ago today - Mar 28, 1835 (and November 1831)

Section 107, known as the "Revelation on Priesthood," is a composite of two revelations, and verses 1-58 were received while the Prophet met with members of the Twelve on 28 March 1835. In the late afternoon of the day, members of the quorum confessed their sins, committed themselves to greater service, and received instruction from Joseph Smith. Knowing that they would soon depart for the East, members of the quorum requested that the Prophet "enquire of God for us and obtain a written revelation (if consistent) that we may look upon it when we are separated that our hearts may be comforted." ...

Organizationally, verses 21-37 were significant because they tempered the earlier supremacy of the presidency of the high priesthood by equally dispersing presiding priesthood authority among five quorums of church government. Verses 76 and 82 established the machinery of Church government by which a member of the presidency of the high priesthood could be tried for misconduct. The revelation specified that such a case must be heard by the "common council" (i.e., a bishop, his counselors, and twelve high priests).

[Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]

45 years ago today - Mar 27, 1980-Thursday

[Leonard Arrington]

I had a long meeting with Elder [G. Homer] Durham this morning. The following items were mentioned by Elder Durham.

He said that the Twelve and First Presidency have authorized payment of the first $5000 to the authors of the sesquicentennial volumes as soon as they are approved by Elder Durham and submitted to the Quorum of the Twelve advisers. [This series was cancelled by Boyd K. Packer]. ...

Elder Durham asked about the Wilford Woodruff diaries. Our policy up to now has been to give copies of the diaries to any direct descendant, and he said there is now a new policy. We're not going to give copies of diaries to anybody. I said that seems to me foolish, because the anti-Mormon crowd already have copies of these and they are apt to publish them in the antiMormon context; and to deny them to the families is to omit the possibility of their being published in a favorable context. He said to go ahead with the Wilford Woodruff project but not try to rush it, just simply cooperate with the family to the minimum extent necessary. [[The Woodruff family had asked for a microfilm copy in anticipation of the eventual publication by Scott G. Kenney, ed., Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 1833-1898: A Typescript, 9 vols. (Midvale, Utah: Signature Books, 1983-85).]] ...

Elder Durham said that he was in a meeting with the First Presidency yesterday and they are very, very tired. Elder [Marion G.] Romney seemed the most alert of the three. Elder [N. Eldon] Tanner looks very tired. "He looks like he could stand a good rubdown and shower and go to bed." Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley is extremely busy with many important assignmentsBonneville [International] and the media, the Sesquicentennial, public relations-many, many assignments. [[On July 23, 1981, Hinckley would be called as a third counselor in the First Presidency.]] ...

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

65 years ago today - Mar 27, 1960

The Sydney and Manchester Stakes, the first stakes in Australia and England, are organized.

65 years ago today - Mar 27, 1960

The first stake in Great Britain is organized (Manchester, England). Seventy's president Marion D. Hanks gives the keynote address at the opening session of the White House Conference on Children and Youth.

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

75 years ago today - Mar 27, 1950

[First Presidency letter]

"Merchandising of books or other materials should not be carried on in L.D.S. Church chapels or meetinghouses. Such operations are contrary to the spirit of worship and may make the buildings subject to taxation."

[1950-March 27-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church Archives, as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

90 years ago today - Mar 27, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

In your letter of March 19 you make inquiry regarding 'Mormon health tea.'

There is no such thing as 'Mormon tea.' Water with milk and sugar in it, has sometimes been christened as such, but this is the only drink that I have ever heard called by that nem.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mr. R.W. Talley, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

115 years ago today - Mar 27, 1910

Hugh W. Nibley, later a renowned educator, linguist, author, scriptorian, and social critic, is born in Portland, Oregon.

120 years ago today - Monday, Mar 27, 1905

[John Henry Smith]

[Mexico:] The Governor wanted to sell us a plantation.

I have seen no evidences of immorality or drunkenness although everybody drinks alcohol. Many both men and women, boys and girls are Smokers.

[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 - Fri. Mar. 27th, 1885

[General Authority Abraham H. Cannon]

Father [George Q. Cannon] explained the object of his recent visit to the east. He said he visited [U.S.] Pres. Cleveland three times and had lengthy conversations with him; he also presented him a letter concerning our question. The Pres. assured Father that he would endeavor to treat us with fairness. With each member of the Cabinet Father also had interviews and they seemed disposed to give us fair play. It was suggested that the businessmen hold meetings and use all their influence to put a stop to the unholy crusade against this people.

[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]

155 years ago today - Mar 27, 1870

[Emma Smith Bidamon]

Now the first that my <husband> translated, was translated by the use of the Urim, and Thummim, and that was the part that Martin Harris lost, after that he used a small stone, not exactly, black, but was rather a dark color ...

[Emma Smith Bidamon, Letter to Emma Pilgrim, 27 March 1870, Emma Smith Papers, RLDS Church Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri. Published in The Return 4 (15 July 1895): 2., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Emma Smith Bidamon To Emma Pilgrim]

180 years ago today - Mar 27, 1845

[William Clayton]

Afterwards at the Temple office recording records of the Kingdom. at 11 went to council ... The subject was as to whether we shall send a few faithful men to get in amongst the enemies and find out their secret movements and if possible harm all their plans. Pres-'n Young says we shall not be attacked by the mob this year and wants to urge the building of the Temple and Nauvoo House.

The subject of Loomis getting a License to sell Liquors also came up and it was decided that the prest. speak to the boys and have them get up a party and accommodate Loomis with a row and help his whiskey to spread itself, and probably improve his Accousers and glasses &c. ...

It was decided to let all old claims against the church go and not distress the church by paying them. ...

The last of the Trumptet was put on the wall about 3 o clock also one of the springers for the big arch on the West end. ...

[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

180 years ago today - Mar 27, 1845

[Hosea Stout]

.... and had a talk with Br Lee who gave me some light on some spiritual matters[.] I then went to Brother Willard Richards ... I went to the police and we all went to Leonard Schusslers Brewery and got what Beer we could drink ...

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

180 years ago today - Mar 27, 1845

[Heber C. Kimball]

In the Evning recieved the washing of my feet by Sarah N. [Noon, his first plural wife.]

[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]

185 years ago today - Mar 27, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff]

.... if their had been water convenient their would have been 20 Baptized. But as it was a great distance to the water most concluded to omit it untill another day.

Some however would not take no for an answer, & they followed me untill 2 oclock at night in search of water & we finally found a stream & Baptized 5 persons in a place whare we had to let them down 8 feet perpendicular by the Bank before we reached the water, & 3 of this number were Preachers, & one an aged woman who had followed us the whole time leaning upon her Staves.

... I Baptized 7 during the day 4 of which were preachers. Two females had a fit in the evening. I lade hands upon them & they soon recovered. ...

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

55 years ago today - Mar 26, 1970

Lee Bickmore, former chairman of the board of directors of the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) began a study on the coordination of the Church's public relations, communications, translations, and distribution systems. After a year's intensive study, he believed that a more in-depth analysis of the operation of the church in these areas was necessary before any meaningful recommendations could be made about organizational changes. He is suggested that the management consulting firm of Cresap, McCormick and Padget be employed to make a detailed study. This was approved on March 14, 1971.

[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]

80 years ago today - Mar 26, 1945

[J. Reuben Clark]

Hugh B. Brown'Quite a long talk with him. He says a very great deal of talk and dissatisfaction in the Church. I said I assumed, not wishing to overemphasize my importance, that it might be over my speeches etc. He said not so much as I might imagine. Dissatisfaction seemed to be over the fact that so many of us of the General Authorities were getting old.

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

165 years ago today - Mar 26, 1860

[Brigham Young]

(Bro. John Louring Nielson who has found a seer stone called in and reported he had discovered coal about 10 miles from here, was using a pump to draw off the water; he said he had seen gold in the stone.) The President said to him if you can find gold use it to bring out the poor saints from England, and then perhaps you might find more; The President observed there are but few men who are wise enough to have a stone just yet. Nielson further said he had seen in his stone many seer stones on the Bank of Missouri, and he would submit himself to counsel all the time as he only wanted to do good. -- Salt Lake City

[Brigham Young Office Journals 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 - Mar 26, 1845. Wednesday.

[William Clayton]

....I am a perfect slave to them all the while. I have as much work to receive the tithings for the Temple as an ordinary penman could keep up with, but more than this I spend about 3 and 4 days a week in council and recording records of the kingdom [Council of Fifty]. I have also spent day after day writing brother Kimball's journal for the press, besides writing letters and attending to a multitude of contingent business. I have two dollars a day for six days in the week and spend near every sabbath for no compensation. Other men who don't do half the work have a great deal more money and good property for their comfort than I have and they seem to be extolled to the skies. The church has given me a poor lot for an inheritance but they have also given other men better lots who work no harder than I do and have more money to sport in.

[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

180 years ago today - Mar 26, 1845

[Patriarchal Blessing of future apostle Matthias Cowley]

.... 'tis is thy privilege to enjoy every blessing which the Lord hath promised to his saints in the last days; and thou shall be clothed with the power of the Priesthood in due time, and thou shalt be a Mighty man in the House of Israel, and thou cause thine enemies to flee before thee, and thou shalt be able to put ten thousand of them to flight, thou shalt have the spirit of Prophecy, and Revelation, the gift of tongues, and be able to do many miracles in the name of [the] Lord - shalt live to see Israel gathered in fulness - the City of Zion built in Jackson County, Missouri, and the House of the Lord, and the cloud rest upon it, according to the Revelation. ...

[Patriarchal Blessings]

185 years ago today - Mar 26, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff]

26th I walked to Stokes Lane & preached at the House of Joseph Evins & spent the night at br. William Davis, & had the following Dream: I saw by night a River in which were many fish. I cast an hook & caught some of them & while fishing I saw some large ones near shore. I put the hook to their mouth. They bit it & I caught them, & one vary notable one exceding all other fish that I had caught.

And as I was taking care of them, I saw a still larger River. It appear like Farmington River in the U.S.A. at the Mill which my Father is tending, & on the other side of the River was a Boat to which was tied many fish lines. On one hook was a fish so large that the captain of the Boat Israel Dormon by name could not bring him into the Boat, & he sailed the Boat across the River whare I was, & the fish was taken out & a Bellman was called for to divide the fish & after the Bell was rung each man took a part, & while dividing the fish, one man said to another man I saw Baptizing last night. Was not you Baptized? I also saw a trunk representing to have Elder Turleys trunk & it ought to be taken care of for he is cast into prison.)

What this Dream means time will soon Determin. Their is to be much Baptizing done soon somewhare. Some of our Brethren will soon come from the U.S.A. & be divided among the people & I shall soon Baptize many & some noted persons. Distance of the Day 5 miles.

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

195 years ago today - Mar 26, 1830

The Book of Mormon is first advertised for sale. 5000 copies are printed and the WAYNE SENTINAL publishes the title page of the Book of Mormon with the announcement: "The above work, containing about 600 pages, large Deuodecimo, is now for sale, wholesale and retail, at the Palmyra Bookstore, by E. B. Grandin." A few days later Joseph Smith gives Oliver Cowdery the brown "seer stone" with which Smith discovered the gold plates (according to Brigham Young) and translated the Book of Mormon into English (according to Smith's wife Emma, Cowdery's wife Elizabeth, Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, and William Smith who witnessed the translation process). Smith had previously used this seer stone in his family's quest for enchanted treasure.

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

195 years ago today - 26-Mar 31, 1830

Smith receives a revelation (D&C 19) in Manchester (NY) for Martin Harris, commanding him to sell his property to finance the printing of the Book of Mormon . This revelation was probably received within a few days of Smith's arrival in Manchester.

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

195 years ago today - Mar 26, 1830

Within a few days [of the first printing of the Book of Mormon] Martin Harris is on the streets of Palmyra, trying to sell copies for $1.25. Harris is by now legally separated from his wife. As soon as the books are printed, Solomon Chamberlain takes eight or ten copies and goes on a preaching mission, selling one. On this mission he meets Brigham and Phinehas Young at a reformed Methodist conference.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

50 years ago today - Mar 25, 1975

BYU's DAILY UNIVERSE reports that at a Marriott Center concert of the rock band "Tower of Power" they played "with enough volume to shake the rafters," The article reports that the audience went "almost out of control," with people dancing in the aisles. Several fans had to be escorted out by BYU security officers. One group of students writes a letter to the editor calling the event "the finest and most enjoyable concert of the year" However BYU president Dallin Oaks responds by vowing "there will be no more 'rock concerts at BYU." For 1977 homecoming the featured performer is Andy Williams who fills less than half of the seats in the Marriott Center.

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

75 years ago today - Mar 25, 1950

President George Albert Smith writes, "I have not seen the Father or the Son, neither have I heard their voices in an audible way, but I have felt their presence and have enjoyed the whispering of the Still Small Voice that comes from them, the result of which has given me a testimony of the truth."

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

140 years ago today - Mar 25, 1885

[Caroline Rockwell (neighbor of the Smith's)]

.... I saw a large hole dug on Nathaniel Smith's farm, which was sandy. I saw Joshua Stafford's peep-stone which looked like white marble and had a hole through the center. Sallie Chase, a Methodist, had one and people would go for her to find lost and hidden or stolen things. My mother [Sarah Witt Rockwell] was one of the first Mormon converts. Father [Orin Rockwell] copied the "Book of Mormon" for the printer, or part of it. I heard Martin Harris say that the first part of the "Book of Mormon" was stolen and that he thought his wife took it and it was not printed in the "Book of Mormon." Father joined the Mormons after my parents went West. Catherine Smith, sister of the prophet, showed me in their house a chest with lock where the plates were kept, but they feared they would be stolen, and then she took up four bricks in the hearth and said they had been buried there. Jo Smith's mother doctored many persons in Palmyra. My sister, with whom mother died in California, was
opposed to her being a Mormon. I hope sometime it will be known whether Mormonism is true or not. My brother, Orrin Porter Rockwell, made me a visit in 1844 or '45. When ten years old he broke his leg and a young doctor in Palmyra set it so one leg was shorter than the other and it always troubled him so he could not work at farming.

[statement by Caroline Rockwell, sister of Orrin Porter Rockwell in Naked Truths About Mormonism (April 1888): 1., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Caroline Rockwell Smith Statement]

145 years ago today - Thurs. Mar 25, 1880

[Abraham H. Cannon]

"–". . . were talking for a while about rebaptism and Bro. Enz told me that he was rebaptized a short time after coming on his mission; as I felt it my duty, and felt I must also be rebaptized before I could receive a full measure of God's blessings, I requested the same at Bro. Enz's hands. . , . About 8 o'clock on this lovely moonlight evening, we went down on the banks of the Rhine, and after praying, Bro. Enz rebaptized and reconfirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; I will now try and live better than I have done in the past, and be the instrument in the Lord's hands of doing much good; may my Heavenly (Father) help me so to do. I have felt for some time that I should do this, and now it is done, a load seems to be taken from my shoulders."

[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]

165 years ago today - Mar 25, 1860

[Brigham Young]

Brother Hyde compared the departure of the spirit from the body to going into another room, and referred to a statement made by Andrew Jackson Davis. He placed himself in a clairvoyant state beside the bed of a sick person and observed the spirit of the lady leave her body. He saw the spirit ascend from the head of the mortal tenement'"saw it walk out into the open air in company with another spirit that came to escort her away. They appeared to him to ascend an inclined plane, and continued to walk away until they were out of his sight. Do you not believe that your spirit will be in existence after it leaves the body? I care not whether it goes out from the head or from some other portion. Mr. Davis says that, after the spirit was fully out of the body, he saw as it were an umbilical cord that yet retained the spirit to the body; and that when that was separated, the spirit was free, and the body was consigned to dissolution. Whether this be true or not, it is as certain that the
spirit leaves the body, it dwells in the spirit-world until the body is raised up by the power of God ...

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 8:27-31 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]

170 years ago today - Mar 25, 1855

In the P.M. Prest. B. Young spoke to the meeting in a very interesting manner referring to several points touched upon in the morning by Bro. Pratt. Did not seem fully to fancy Orson's idea about the '"Great Almighty God,'" referring so especially to his attributes. Priesthood was the Principle by which all beings have become Gods, or will become Gods, they must follow the principles of government as revealed in the Priesthood.

Adam and Eve were made of the dust of the earth from which they came, they brought their bodies with them. They had lived and died and been resurrected before they came here and they came with immortal bodies, and had to partake of the fruit of this earth in order to bring forth mortal bodies, or natural bodies, that their seed might be of the dust of the Earth as they were of the dust of the earth from which they came' ...

[Samual Richards diary, quoted in Sermons and Writings of the Restoration. 4 Vols. Ogden Kraut, ed. Pioneer Press, 1994.R 64 which is 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 - Mar 25, 1845

[Anointed Quorum]

Prayer circle meeting in evening; anointing and endowment for "E. B." . Could be Emmeline B. Woodward (plural wife of Newel Whitney), or Elizabeth Brotherton (plural wife of Parley P. Pratt who was in the eastern states at this time). William Clayton refers to "E. B." accepting Heber Kimball's polygamous "instructions" on 20 Sept. 1845.

[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

25 years ago today - Mar 24, 2000

Premier of the Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd, ea film replacing Legacy in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]

55 years ago today - Mar 24, 1970

First Presidency shortens "the standard term of service for lady missionaries" from 24 months to 18 months.

65 years ago today - Mar 24, 1960

First Presidency writes General Priesthood Committee about "very urgent need of a correlation of studies among the auxiliaries of the Church," which Apostle Harold B. Lee had unsuccessfully advocated to Presidency since 1948 and publicly announces on Sept 30, 1961. However, Lee expands "Correlation Program" beyond instruction manuals, and throughout 1960s and early 1970s, he revolutionizes church administratively by means of Correlation Program.

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

65 years ago today - Mar 24, 1960

The First Presidency writes the General Priesthood Committee about the "very urgent need of a correlation of studies among the auxiliaries of the Church," which Apostle Harold B. Lee had unsuccessfully advocated to the Presidency since 1948 and publicly announces on 30 Sept. 1961. However, Lee expands the "Correlation Program" beyond instruction manuals, and throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, he revolutionizes the church administratively by means of the Correlation Program.

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

125 years ago today - Saturday, Mar 24, 1900

[Rudger Clawson]

In going up [to Brigham City] I had a long and interesting talk with Elder B. H. Roberts, relative to his experience in Congress in fighting to maintain his rights there to secure the seat he was justly entitled to, but which, because of his being a polygamist, he failed to get.

[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]

140 years ago today - Mar 24, 1885 (Tuesday)

Parley P. Pratt was arrested in Salt Lake City on a charge of polygamy and u.c.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

175 years ago today - Mar 24, 1850

[Brigham Young]

To those who wish to be saints - be careful in the days of ease and plenty and comfort and health and fiddling and dancing ... a winter of frolicking, feasting and visiting has been spent ... in the name of Israel's God I say a few years will not pass over you but a heavier curse will fall on you ... - I ask my friends, don't ask me to any more of your parties - I don't want to hear another fiddle or see another dance - but prepare yourselves to preach salvation to the world.

[Thomas Bullock Minutes 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 - 1845 24 Mar.

A disaffected Mormon writes that Theodore Turley, of the Council of Fifty, has prepared a press in Nauvoo for counterfeiting, and that Turley gave the man a counterfeit $5.00 bill.

[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]

195 years ago today - Mar 24, 1830

Records of Presbyterian Church of Palmyra note: "Hiram Smith, Lucy Smith, and Samuel Harrison Smith not appearing pursuant to the citation served upon them by P[elatiah] West-Resolved that they be again cited to appear before his session on Monday the 29th inst. At this place at 2 o'clock P.M.- and that P[elatiah] West serve said citation." When they do not appear on the 29th they are "suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper."

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

70 years ago today - Mar 23, 1955

Professors Hugh Nibley of the Brigham Young University and Sterling M. McMurrin of the University of Utah read papers at the Great Issues Forum at the University of Utah under the general title "Do Religion and History Conflict?"

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

75 years ago today - Mar 23, 1950

[David O. McKay]

Called Doyle Green, upon receipt of a letter from him dated March 23, in which he stated that the Editorial Staff had decided against publishing an article on sugar which I had sent to them sometime ago with the request that they publish it in an early issue of the magazine. I told Brother Green that I wanted and had requested that the article be published, and that I should 'take all responsibility.' He answered that the reason for their decision was that it had not been proven scientifically sound, and I answered him. 'Neither was the other article you published against sugar scientifically sound.'

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

90 years ago today - Mar 23, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

In your letter of March 21 you ask if the use of coffee substitutes, such as fig-co, postum and cocoa is contrary to the advice given in the Word of Wisdom?

As I understand it these drinks do not create an appetite for themselves, and when not used to excess or taken too hot are not contrary to the Word of Wisdom, and so far as I know there is no stimulant in them such as is the case in ta and coffee. When I am traveling on the train, as I do not like the milk that is served on the diner, I drink postum. When I am at home one of my favorite drinks is made from roasted barley.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Francis M. Whitworth, 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]

140 years ago today - (23) March 1885

[Cornelius Stafford (neighbor of Joseph Smith)]

.... The Mormon Smith family lived near our house. I was well acquainted with them, and attended school with the younger children. There was much digging for money on our farm and about the neighborhood. I saw Uncle John and Cousin Joshua Stafford dig a hole twenty feet long, eight broad and seven deep. They claimed that they were digging for money but were not successful in finding any. Jo Smith kept it up after our neighbors had abandoned it. A year or two after Jo claimed to find the plates of the "Book of Mormon." He had men dig a tunnel near fifty feet long in a hill about two miles north of the hill where he claimed to find the plates. I tried to look into a peep-stone in my hat in a dark room; I saw nothing, some claimed they could. I saw old Jo Smith, his wife [Lucy Smith] and Mrs. [Sarah Witt] Rockwell baptized by prophet Jo Smith. I have seen Jo in drunken fights ; father and son were frequently drunk. I remember when a man (Hurlbut) came to our school house and
took statements about the bad character of the Mormon Smith family, and saw them swear to them.

Jo Smith, the prophet, told my uncle, William Stafford, he wanted a fat, black sheep. He said he wanted to cut its throat and make it walk in a circle three times around and it would prevent a pot of money from leaving. Jo's family ate the sheep; he duped many people in similar ways. He claimed to receive revelations from the Lord. The Smiths stole six hogs-heads from us; everything missing was claimed by our neighbors to be in possession of the Smiths. ...

[Cornelius R. Stafford statement, Naked Truths About Mormonism (January 1888): 3., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Cornelius R. Stafford Statement]

140 years ago today - Mar 23, 1885

[Christopher Stafford (neighbor of Joseph Smith)]

Jo got drunk while we were haying for my uncle, Wm. Stafford ; also at a husking at our house, and stayed overnight. I have often seen him drunk. ...

Jo claimed he could tell where money was buried, with a witch hazel consisting of a forked stick of hazel. He held it one fork in each hand and claimed the upper end was attracted by the money. I heard my stepfather, Robert Orr, say he had been digging for money one night. Some of my neighbors also said they were digging for money nights. My mother-in-law, Mrs. [Sarah Witt] Rockwell, said that Prophet Jo Smith told her there was money buried in the ground and she spent considerable time digging in various places for it. I never knew of her finding any. Jo Smith told me there was a peep-stone for me and many others if we could only find them. Jo claimed to have revelations and tell fortunes. He told mine by looking in the palm of my hand and said among other things that I would not live to be very old.

When he claimed to find gold plates of the Mormon Bible no attention was paid to them or him by his neighbors. Some time after Jo had men dig on a tunnel forty or fifty feet long on a hill about two miles north of where he claimed to find the plates. I have been in it. Some people surmised it was intended for counterfeiting. Jo was away much of the time summers. He claimed to have a revelation that Manchester, N.Y., was to be destroyed and all the Mormons must leave for Kirkland, ...

[Christopher M. Stafford statement, Naked Truths About Mormonism (April 1888): 1., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Christopher M. Stafford Statement]

145 years ago today - Mar 23, 1880

[Wilford Woodruff]

I had My Great Grand Father {Josiah Meded} & wife & 3 [Lougass?] adopted to me to day.

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

165 years ago today - Mar 23, 1860

[Brigham Young]

W[illia]m A. Hickman said he wanted to do right and to this day he did not know the cause of his present affliction; for what wrong he had done he was sorry and he was ready to take the thunder. He supposed Lot Huntington had feelings because he would not liberate Ferguson from his prison that was the only cause he could assign for their feelings towards him. President Young enquired of W[illia]m Hickman the hardest thing your brother told you I had said about you. W[illia]m A Hickman said drinking, swearing, and taking the name of the Lord in vain, and had lost my religion. President said the worst thing I said was that Lot Huntington and you had got to shooting each other, and you ought to stop it. Hickman said in regard to Lot's feelings I certainly took my knife out and brandished it in front of Lot but not with the intention of killing him, then Lot got mad and fired twice at me; and then I run and fired at Lot. Jas. Luce said he shot 11 times at Lot Huntington. -- Salt Lake
City

[Brigham Young Office Journals 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]

185 years ago today - Mar 23, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff]

Elder Richards wished me to enquire of the Lord his will concerning Brother & sister Richards for they ware in deep affliction.

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