80 years ago today - Jul 30, 1946

[J. Reuben Clark]

Mark Petersen'Lunc'Told me of conversation yesterday with Pres. Smith in re News'etc. I asked Bro Petersen to get names of Communist group from in this area, if he could. ...

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

130 years ago today - Jul 30, 1896

[Brigham Young Jr.]

[M]et in Council in T[emple]. Question sprung by Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff about Alonzo Hyde & John W. Young obtaining more money from Mrs Everend under false pretenses as her letter states. I felt that all men who go out from Zion do do business on their own account it must be understood, hereafter, that the church is not, nor the authorities are backing them. Pres[iden]t [George Q.] Cannon said Apostles have no right to enter into speculation to make money especially off the saints nor anywhere, but use their talent as directed for the good of Zion, not for personal agrandisement. ...

Met Bro[ther]. B[enjamin]. Cluff Jr., discussed employing gentile proffesor in B[righam]. Y[oung]. A[cademy]. Provo [Utah]. I opposed it; Presidency voted unanimously to employ him as Geology & civ[il] Eng[ineering]. were two most important studies, and we have no Latter day saint who can fill the position. I quoted from Deed of trust all beneficiaries of this reading must be children of L[atter]. D[ay]. S[aints]. and shall we employe gentiles to teach them. No matter. Bro[ther]. Jos[eph]. F. [Smith] said in consequence of Pres[iden]t. W[oodruff's]. Remarks I move that we employ this man, I did not vote. Bro[ther]. Jos[eph]. Moved to make the vote unanimous. I said I refrain from voting in principle, nothing against the man. Agreed with Bro[ther]. Cluff Jr. in his other recommendation and he went away satisfied. It is the first time I have failed to go with my leaders, I went my way sorrowfully. There is a growing disposition with the teachers to introduce into our 'Brigham Young Academy' the spirit of the world, the refined touches and whisperings of the 'Holy Spirit' are becoming less frequent and in my spirit I fear we are drifting further from God in that institution.

[Brigham Young Jr. 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]

140 years ago today - Jul 30, 1886 (Friday)

The rock work on the Manti Temple was completed.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

80 years ago today - Jul 29, 1946

Joseph Fielding Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve writes to Belle S. Spafford, the Relief Society General President, and her counselors: "While the authorities of the Church have ruled that it is permissible, under certain conditions and with the approval of the priesthood, for sisters to wash and anoint other sisters, yet they feel that it is far better for us to follow the plan the Lord has given us and send for the Elders of the Church to come and administer to the sick and afflicted." This ends the practice of "washings and anointings" for women (usually preparatory to childbirth). A previous Relief Society President wrote of this ordinance, "this beautiful ordinance has always been with the Relief Society, and it is our earnest hope that we may continue to have that privilege, and up to the present time the Presidents of the Church have always allowed it to us.'

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

110 years ago today - Jul 29, 1916; Saturday

[Apostle Anthony Ivins]

Conference Yellowstone Stake. St. Anthony. Arrived 10-45. First speaker after arrival repeatedly refered to the Church as Mormondom. Two lady missionaries spoke. Viola Davis & Viola Howard. These girls made good remarks. Solo. I made brief remarks & Bro. [J. Golden] Kimball followed. Bro. & Sister Thomas & Sister [Elizabeth] Wilcox were there for R[elief] S[ociety].76 1111 1111 1111 111177 2. P.M. Second Counselor [Charles] Lloyd, Bro. Thomas, H. C. Larson. I talked on Mexico. Prest. Pond. Wed. p.m. holiday. Outside merchants close stores. 296-476 present. Crops poor. Worm on beet root. Relief S[ocie]ty.

[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]

130 years ago today - Jul 29, 1896

The First Presidency today appropriated $300 for the Northern States Mission; $200 of which is to be expended in printing the Voice of Warning in cloth binding, 1600 copies, the stereo plates to be the property of the mission, and orders thereafter to be filled at five cents a copy, the balance of the appropriation,'$100 to be used by Elder Spencer for expenses in visiting the various Conferences.

[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

55 years ago today - Jul 28, 1971

Wesley Walters and Fred Poffarl find Justice Neely's bill for trying the case of "Joseph Smith The Glass Looker Mar 20. 1826" in Bainbridge, New York 1826. It is among dead-storage documents in the basement of the county jail in Norwich, New York. Mormons had claimed the trial never took place. This find established that it had.

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

165 years ago today - Jul 28, 1861 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young]

When will the Saviour make his appearance in the midst of his people? When will the vail be taken away, that we may behold the glory of God? Can any of you answer these questions? Yes, readily, when I tell you. The redemption of Zion is the first step preparatory to the two last-named events. Just as soon as the Latter-day Saints are ready and prepared to return to Independence, Jackson County, in the State of Missouri, North America, just so soon will the voice of the Lord be heard, '"Arise now, Israel, and make your way to the centre Stake of Zion.'"... If we are not very careful, the earth will be cleansed from wickedness before we are prepared to take possession of it. ... When Joseph first revealed the land where the Saints should gather, a woman in Canada asked if we thought that Jackson County would be large enough to gather all the people that would want to go to Zion. I will answer the question really as it is. Zion will extend, eventually, all over this earth. There will be no nook or corner upon the earth but what will be in Zion. ... Millions will come and live in Zion when the laws of Zion reign predominant over creation; ... Will there be Methodists there? Yes; and they will have the privilege to worship a God without body, parts, and passions, just as they do now, if they choose to. ... ... the fight [of the Civil War] will continue until the earth is empty. Will it be over in six months or in three years? No; it will take years and years, and will never cease until the work is accomplished. There may be seasons that the fire will appear to be extinguished, and the first you know it will break out in another portion, and all is on fire again, and it will spread and continue until the land is emptied. Will they all be killed? No. I shall see the day when thousands will seek succour at the hands of this people. If you say, '"Husband, I shall leave you, if you take another wife,'" you had better leave now when you may stand a chance of getting another husband. ... Young men, prepare yourselves; for a greater responsibility will come upon you than you have ever dreamed of. Millions [of women] will seek to you for salvation. ...

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 9:137-144, 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 - Tuesday, Jul 28, 1846.

Omaha Nation. About 9, the chief and some of the warriors of the Otoes came to the spring to see the Mormon chief. Wanted a beef. President Young shook hands with them and directed a beef to be given them and tears started in the Chief's eyes....

President Young asked Brother Martindale the cause of putting away his wife and taking another woman. Martindale said his trouble commenced from the time he began to investigate Mormonism. His wife began to oppose. She was not a believer and continued her opposition, etc., and spoke more than half an hour. President Young said however wrong Sister Martindale has been, it would not justify any man in taking another woman under color of the priesthood, and in opposition of the order the priesthood.

[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]

115 years ago today - Jul 27, 1911; Thursday

[Heber J. Grant]

I am going to try and get up to date with the several months I am behind and make an effort to stay up. There is nothing I dislike more than writing a record for my Journal. I like to work but do not like to sit down and write a record of what I have been doing no matter how brief it is.

[Heber J. Grant, Diary]

155 years ago today - Jul 27, 1871

Brigham Young: "The Garden of Eden was where Jackson Co. is now in Mo. & when Adam was driven out, he crossed the river into what is now Daviess Co. The City of Enoch stood where the Gulf of Mexico is now, but these things are not written."

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

175 years ago today - Jul 27, 1851

Brother [Heber C.] Kimball addressed the meeting a part of the day. Among other remarks He said Jesus Christ was the first Born of the Father & He was the candidate & Elected to redeem the world. Lucipher set up as a candidate to run against Jesus Christ But He was overcome & thrust down to Hell with all that followed him. And we will have no more division Henceforth & forever in Israel. We will have but one candidate for office but No opposition. All will be Elected & proven. If a person is qualifyed to fill a greater station than He holds He will have a chance. The Presidency & Twelve will fill in Eternity those stations Appointed them. So with all men. But I expect to remain on this Earth untill I am able to create a world of my own & people it. The lord Has given us rich portions of the Earth to inherit. We have been driven from time to time from th[ere?]. We now inherit a goodly land the best land on the Earth for vegitation & it will be good for fruit & the people of the Earth will yet Come to us for fruit.

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

130 years ago today - Jul 26, 1896

At the funeral of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, President Wilford Woodruff speaks upon the topic of "the plurality of wives and to the plurality of families that men possess in this Church. It is a subject I have left alone as a general thing in all my observations and instructions before the public. . . . We have had a plurality of wives and families. The principle was introduced to this people by the revelation of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith." Cannon had taken a secret post-manifesto plural wife, with Woodruff's permission, a few months before his death.

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

130 years ago today - Sunday, Jul 26, 1896

It was stated by Moses Thatcher [Jr.] that he was adicted to the Morphine habbit and part of the time insane and that they must do something for him. S. Jepson, who had been more with Moses St. than any one else, endorsed the statement. It was finally agreed to get him if possible to go of his own free will to a sanatarium in California, if he refused to do so then to insist on sending him any way.

[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 - Jul 26, 1876

[Wilford Woodruff]

I went to the Endowment House & had 40 dead persons sealed to me. Joseph F Smith sealed 11, & D H Wells sealed 29 persons to me also 22 to other person Total 51. W Woodruff sealed 10 persons.

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

80 years ago today - Jul 25, 1946

First counselor J. Reuben Clark speaks concerning embezzelment by a local bishop: "The Church could not use its funds for such a means as proposed to save any embarassment to the Church, and it could not and should not require the [local] brethren there to sacrifice unless their friendship for the [bishop's] family prompted them to do so on their own accord, and that he didn't worry about the resultant effect upon the Church if we did not attempt to cover up, but insisted upon justice."

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

185 years ago today - Jul 25, 1841 (Sunday)

Wm. Yokum lost his leg by amputation, as the result of a wound received in the massacre at Haun's Mill.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

190 years ago today - (Mon) Jul 25, 1836

Joseph Smith and several leading Mormons (Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, etc.) leave Kirtland to seek buried treasure in Salem, MA

[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

25 years ago today - Jul 24, 2001

On Pioneer Day, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules Utah's ban on alcohol advertisements "irrational," saying it might be causing irreparable harm to local liquor, brewing and publishing companies.

[Harward, Randy; Utah Brewing Timeline, Salt Lake City Weekly, Aug 24, 2011]

180 years ago today - Jul 24, 1846

[Wilford Woodruff]

Met in council with the Twelve in a tent on a High prairie ridge. Eleven of the quorum of the Twelve were present. We put on our robes And offered up our prayers to God. Conversed upon principle. Decided in council that no man has a right to Attend to the ordinance of sealing except the President of the Church or those who are directed by him so to do And that the ordinance should be confined to Zion or her stakes. This was the last Council we were expecting to hold Altogether before O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt & J Taylor took there departure for England.

[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 - Jul 24, 1846

Oliver Cowdery writes to his sister referring to polygamy as a "folly and "abomination.

[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]