90 years ago today - Oct 31,1936

First Presidency publishes unsigned editorial in Deseret News, which argues against re-election of Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Editorial, written by J. Reuben Clark, accuses F.D.R. of unconstitutional and Communist activities. In response one thousand Mormons angrily cancel their subscriptions to the News. Three days later, 69.3 percent of Utah's voters help re-elect Roosevelt. Utah's electorate re-elects F.D.R. again (1940,1944), despite First Presidency's opposition.

[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]

105 years ago today - Oct 31, 1921

The position we take in regard to the Bible you I have no doubt feebly understand; that is that the bible is (or contains) the word of God so far as it is translated correctly. That does not positively make the book as a whole an inspired presentation of the Word of God. There are matters in it that are historical and some of se may be of the character set forth by the 'higher criticisms'. That Moses is the accredited author of the Pentateuch is sustained by the Book of Mormon, and is the view held by our Church [which is questioned by some higher criticism scholarship]. It is evident that the five books passed through other hands than Moses, after his day and time. The closing chapter of Deuteronomy proves that, and there are some other things also in other parts of the Pentateuch which indicate that they have been revised at a later date than the days of Moses, but taking them as a whole Moses is considered by the Church as the author of those five books. It is generally understood that Jonah was a real individual. However it is barely possible that the story is one of those parables common in the writing of the time in which Jonah lived. It does not matter whether that is actually the case or not, the purpose and intent of the book are excellent and have several very grand lessons. These constitute the value of the work. It is of little significance as to whether Jonah was a real individual or one chosen by the writer of the book to write what is set forth therein. It is held by the Church that Job was a real character. It is barely possible that the book was one of the kind prevailing in olden times, setting forth certain principles in the form of a parable, as it was with the parables of Jesus Christ when in the flesh. That is not of very great importance so long as the doctrines contained in the work are correct. It is understood by the church that the Book of Isaiah is one book [questioned by higher criticism]; that is, that the writer of the first part and the latter part is one individual prophet, not two. The answer yes or no positively to such questions is unwise and should not be undertaken by one representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ... 'Higher criticism' has lost ground as time goes on. The conclusions it conveys are matters of opinion, and diligent inquiry and the conclusions of the best opinions do not sustain notions entertained by the advocates of that 'criticism.' It is certainly not sustained by the authorities of the Church.

[Charles W. Penrose, for the First Presidency, Letter to Joseph W. McMurrin, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

105 years ago today - Oct 31, 1921

[Charles W. Penrose for the First Presidency]

In the absence of President Grant I am replying to your letter dated October 26th, with the support of Prest. Ivins, who is united with me in the views I herein express. The position we take in regard to the Bible you I have no doubt feebly understand; that is that the bible is (or contains) the word of God so far as it is translated correctly. That does not positively make the book as a whole an inspired presentation of the Word of God. There are matters in it that are historical and some of se may be of the character set forth by the 'higher criticisms'. That Moses is the accredited author of the Pentateuch is sustained by the Book of Mormon, and is the view held by our Church. It is evident that the five books passed through other hands than Moses, after his day and time. The closing chapter of Deuteronomy proves that, and there are some other things also in other parts of the Pentateuch which indicate that they have been revised at a later date than the days of Moses, but taking them as a whole Moses is considered by the Church as the author of those five books. It is generally understood that Jonah was a real individual. However it is barely possible that the story is one of those parables common in the writing of the time in which Jonah lived. It does not matter whether that is actually the case or not, the purpose and intent of the book are excellent and have several very grand lessons. These constitute the value of the work. It is of little significance as to whether Jonah was a real individual or one chosen by the writer of the book to write what is set forth therein. It is held by the Church that Job was a real character. It is barely possible that the book was one of the kind prevailing in olden times, setting forth certain principles in the form of a parable, as it was with the parables of Jesus Christ when in the flesh. That is not of very great importance so long as the doctrines contained in the work are correct. It is understood by the church that the Book of Isaiah is one book; that is, that the writer of the first part and the latter part is one individual prophet, not two. The answer yes or no positively to such questions is unwise and should not be undertaken by one representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ... 'Higher criticism' has lost ground as time goes on. The conclusions it conveys are matters of opinion, and diligent inquiry and the conclusions of the best opinions do not sustain notions entertained by the advocates of that 'criticism.' It is certainly not sustained by the authorities of the Church.

[Charles W. Penrose, for the First Presidency, Letter to Joseph W. McMurrin, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

115 years ago today - Oct 30, 1911

[Joseph F. Smith & Anthon H. Lund]

The custom has developed in some of the temples of selling consecrated oil, books and records, and of renting temple clothing, the object being to accommodate persons who come to do work in the House of the Lord. Trafficking in these commodities is hardly in keeping with the sacredness of the temple, and we would, therefore, like you to discontinue this practice after December 31, 1911. In the meantime, arrange with the Bishops to sell consecrated oil and records and to rent temple clothing, all profits (if any) over and above expenses to be turned in as temple donations once a month. In view of the sacredness of temple work the Latter-day Saints should be encouraged to prepare temple garments, the workmanship of their own hands, and every effort should be made to discourage the practice of renting such clothing.

[Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund to Temple Presidents, Oct. 30, 1911, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

170 years ago today - Oct 30, 1856

[Brigham Young Letter]

Orson Pratt, -- Listen! There is a groat reformation needed in England Scotland, and Wales. The Saints are dead, and do not drink at the living fountain the fire of the Almighty is not in them, and we make the same observation in regard to the elders who are sent to preach.

[Letters of Brigham Young--Excerpts, 1856-1866, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

195 years ago today - Oct 30, 1831

Orson Hyde, a clerk in the Gilbert and Whitney store and a former Campbellite preacher under Sidney Rigdon, is baptized in Kirtland.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

90 years ago today - Oct 29, 1936

Letter read from President W. Francis Bailey of the Hawaiian Mission, stating that Brother William Pakale, a priest, and Brother John L. Pea, who have recently been discovered to be one-eighth negro, have heretofore officiated in performing some baptisms and other ordinances. President Bailey asks for a ruling as to what should be done in such cases.

After some discussion of the matter, Elder Stephen L. Richards moved that the matter be referred to Elder George Albert Smith, who will attend the approaching Oahu Stake Conference, with instructions that in the event he should find that a considerable number of people are involved, we assuming the authority was given to those brethren to officiate in these ordinances, that ratification of their acts be authorized. In the event he should discover that there are only one or two affected, and that the matter can be readily taken care of, it may be advisable to have re-baptism performed.

Motion seconded by Brother [Melvin J.] Ballard and unanimously approved.

[Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, inAdam S. Bennion Papers, posted at Marquardt, H. Michael, Mormon Central: Excerpts From Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg2.htm]

150 years ago today - Oct 29, 1876

The Presidency and Twelve met for Prayer. We then spent an hour in president Youngs office Conversing with him upon various subjets among which was the Priesthood and the decision was as follows:

The first Presidency Preside over the whole Church in all the world. The Twelve Apostles hold the same keys and authority to preside over the whole Church in all the world in the Absens of the first Presidency. The seventies are special Messengers to preach the Gospel & build up the kingdom of God in all the world under the direction of the Twelve & to preside in the Abscens of the first Presidency & Twelve. A Patriarch may also be ordained to be A Patriarch to the whole Church. A Presiding Bishop may also be ordained to preside over the lesser Priesthood & Bishopprick in all the world. But all other Presidencies are Local and belong to the several Stakes of Zion. A Presiding High Priest Presides over the High Priests of that stake of Zion in which He resides. An Elder Presides over 96 Elders, A Priest over 48 Priests A Teacher over 24 Teachers, A Deacon over 12 Deacons and all are local officers.

[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 - Oct 29, 1831

D&C 66 to William E. McLellin: blessed for receiving the gospel, take a mission east with Samuel H. Smith, lay hands on the sick; has been tempted with adultery; descendant of Joseph "through the loins of Ephraim his Son."

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

40 years ago today - Oct 28, 1986

Jerald Tanner publishes Tracking the White Salamander: The Story of Mark Hofmann, Murder and Forged Mormon Documents.

[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]

65 years ago today - Oct 28, 1961

Mark E. Petersen (unsigned editorial writer for the Deseret News) ... criticized the ultra-conservative Birch Society without actually naming it.

Some groups and persons have attacked certain Americans . . . by casting doubt on their loyalty . . . they have set themselves up as judges of who is loyal and who is "un- American." They [i.e., Robert Welch] have accused certain men [i.e., Dwight D. Eisenhower] of being `unconscious agents of communism' . . . they have attributed national blunders not to errors in judgment but to evil motives. . . . by blaming our problems on certain scapegoats, they can keep us from manfully recognizing the real problems-- internal as well as external . . ."

["What Americanism Must Mean," Deseret News, 28 Oct. 1961, A-10. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

130 years ago today - Oct 28, 1896; Wednesday

Gov[ernor]. [William J.] McConnell of Idaho called on the Presidency with a form of ballot for use at the approaching election, which had evidently been prepared for the purpose of misleading voters. It contained the names of both Democrats and Republicans, so arranged as to deceive the unwary. After examining the ticket, a letter was written to the Presidents of Stakes in those parts of Idaho where the bogus ballot had been circulated, asking them to inform the people through their Bishops of this piece of political trickery, in order that they might not be duped.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

65 years ago today - Oct 27, 1961

First Presidency counselor Hugh B. Brown tells a church member Frederick S. Buchanan that a Mormon "can be a Democrat or a Socialist and still be a good church member." Brown adds that "he had just had a talk with Bro Benson" who was "on the carpet in regard to his political sallies of late." Benson had stated in the Oct general conference that "No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction- and "the internal threat to the American way of life is in the secret alliance which exists between the more advanced Social Democrats and the hard-core Communist conspiracy." Buchanan notes in his diary that Benson was leaving Brown-s office as he, Buchanan, was going in. A month later BYU president Ernest Wilkinson writes that Benson was privately criticizing "the socialistic tendencies" of Counselor Brown. And that that the two general authorities were already in "a vigorous dispute" about anti-Communism.

140 years ago today - Oct 27, 1886 (Wednesday)

Five "Mormon" emigrants, who were sent back to England by the bigoted action of the emigrating commissioners at New York, arrived at Salt Lake City. Having arrived at Liverpool they were placed on another steamer bound for New York, and their religious belief not being suspected, they were landed in New York without further trouble.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

170 years ago today - Oct 27, 1856

[Wilford Woodruff]

27th I spent most of the day preparing my waggon & team to go into the mountain to assist the poor saints who are in the snow & on the road with hand Carts. ...

The Church at Grantsvill on the 4th of July lifted up an independant flag organized themselves & appointed a president which was Brother Coolley. He Came to me to know if he should except it. I told him I would not & If he wanted to get into a scrape He might do it. Otherwise He had better let it alone. I told them to go back & preach the gospel to them & tell them to Clean up &c.

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

40 years ago today - Oct 26, 1986-Sunday

[Leonard Arrington]

My Experiences as Church Historian

1. Biggest disappointment. Not being consulted on historical matters. Blame that on Elder [Mark E.] Petersen, who was always suspicious of educated people, especially historians.

2. Greatest satisfaction. The way Elder [Alvin R.] Dyer worked to support us and help us. But then he has a stroke. Elder [Harold B.] Lee's and Elder [Spencer W.] Kimball's love.

3. Another disappointment. Elder [G. Homer] Durham, who was determined to put us down.

4. Moments of pleasure and happiness: Getting Davis [Bitton] and Jim Allen approved as assistant historians. Revelation on blacks [in 1978]. Change in rules permitting Maureen [Beecher] to continue working despite having her baby. Coming out of Dean Jessee's book, Brigham Young's Letters to His Sons. Article in Ensign with correct [nineteenth-century] spelling; article in Ensign mentioning polygamy.

5. Most embarrassing experience. Organization of Friends of Church History, and the subsequent suspension and discontinuance.

6. An aspect. Many people came in to tell me stories that had never been recorded. I put them in my diary. Still there.

7. Most satisfying. During 15 years we had published 15 books, 300 articles and papers. Vignettes in Church News. Articles in Ensign. Articles in professional journals. Encyclopedias. Started the 16-volume history of the church. Biographies-real biographies: J. Reuben Clark, Brigham Young, Edwin D. Woolley, shorter: Eliza Snow, Emmeline B. Wells, Susa Young Gates, Sister Saints.

Helping younger scholars. Mike Quinn, Gene Sessions, Jill Derr, Linda Newell, and Val Avery. Helping non-Mormon scholars. We gave the Dept a kind of warmth.

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

115 years ago today - Oct 26, 1911

The first stake mission is organized when sixty-one seventies in the Granite Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah, are called to serve.

130 years ago today - Oct 26, 1896

[Anthon H. Lund]

"I went to the city and met with the Presidency who were all well. They felt concerned about the political outlook and Bro[ther] Woodruff told me that the time had come for the fulfilment of prophecy that the nation would call upon us to save them I was appointed a mission to go and see the Sevier and Panguitch stake and work with the leading I men for at vi kom faiae Pres[iden]t Geo[rge] Q. [Cannon] for vor neote Senator." [nb. "to get Pres[ident] Geo[rge] Q. elected for senator."]

[Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

195 years ago today - Oct 25, 1831

Section 66. A ... note in the "Kirtland Revelation Book" states that section 66 is, "a Revelation given to William E. McLelin a true decendent from Joseph that was sold in Egypt down through the loins of Ephraim his son.".

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

195 years ago today - Oct 25, 1831

The office of deacon is first introduced. Although deacon is referred to in a published revelation of 6 Apr. 1830, the earliest manuscript does not seem to date before 1831.

[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 - Oct 25, 1831 (Sunday)

... Br. Joseph Smith jr. said that the order of the Highpriesthood [sic] is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints to eternal life. And said it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the Highpriesthood [i.e., a high priest].

Brother Hyrum Smith said that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the book of Mormon be related by Joseph himself to the Elders present that all might know for themselves.

Br. Joseph Smith jr. said that it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon, & also said that it was not expedient for him to relate these things &c.

Br. Joseph Smith Jr said ... that the promises of God was that the greatest blessings which God had to bestow should be given to those who contributed to the support of his family while translating the fulness of the Scriptures, ...

[Oliver Cowdery Record Copied into the Far West Record -Far West Record, 20-21, 23]