25 years ago today - Oct 7, 2001

[Second Coming]

"I have just been handed a note that says that a U.S. missile attack is under way. I need not remind you that we live in perilous times. …Now, I do not wish to be an alarmist. I do not wish to be a prophet of doom. I am optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity will overtake us. …Are these perilous times? They are."

[the-times-in-which-we-live Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, October 7, 200, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]

60 years ago today - Oct 7, 1966

"When Pres. McKay dies Ezra Taft won't last a year," a bishop from Logan, Utah said. "Pres. Smith or Elder Lee will not hesitate to put him in his place if he continues his political preaching." "If this happens," the bishop predicted, "it may turn out that Benson will refuse to give up his Americanism campaign and will be dropped or resign from the Quorum."

[Quoted in Buchanan diary, 7 Oct. 1966. 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.]

110 years ago today - Oct 7, 1916

Apostle Hyrum M. Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith publicly attacked Catholicism claiming that it “is a great liability in any nation. It wields a power for evil... [Catholicism] does not promote civilization, it binds them in the thralldom of superstition.” Salt Lake Catholic Bishop Joseph F. Glass, responded, writing to Joseph F. Smith on Oct. 7, 1916 asking if “the sentiments expressed by Hyrum M. Smith represent the feelings of the Latter-Day Saints toward the Catholic Church?” Joseph F. Smith gave the letter to his son and Hyrum M. Smith who wrote a letter to Joseph S. Glass on October 11, 1916 in response:

“It would have been more consistent, in my judgment, had you submitted your questions to me rather than to the President of the Church, since I alone am responsible for the remarks to which you make reference."

[General Conference, October 1916]

170 years ago today - Oct 6, 1856

President Young then said I wish to Fullfill the promise which I made 2 weeks ago. I then told the people or the females that I would release them at Conference. I will do so on certain conditions & that is that you will appear forthwith at my office & give good & sufficient reasons & then marry men that will not have but one wife.

[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 - Oct 6, 1856

Pres. Brigham Young stated that the Semi-annual Conference was now open, and that the first business was to forthwith start assistance to those now on the plains [Willie & Martin companies]. Called upon those who were willing to go, or send teams, to come to the stand and report; saying that if there were not enough teams; teamsters etc., volunteered, he would close the conference, and, with Br. Kimball, start back to help those companies. [Pres. Kimball remarked, It is moved and seconded that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant go back to help the P.E. Fund Emigrants. Unanimously negative] Pres. B. Young spoke upon the necessity of a reformation among the Saints. -- SLC Bowery

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

175 years ago today - Oct 6, 1851

[Brigham Young]

The word of wisdom was given in kirtland 20 years ago for the benefit of all Saints. When we live 20 or 50 years longer we shall see that we do not understand much of the word of wisdom.... We are forbidden to use meat in hot weather. Hot drinks & tobaco is not good for man. You should not eat to overload your stomach. Their is a greater lack in my system of wisdom of tempering my food & Exercise than in Eating meat or tobaco... So with tea Coffee & sugar. You must raise & make it or go without it. .

[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 - Oct 5, 1861

[Brigham Young]

The Pres[ident] remarked he liked a woman to live with her husband as long as she could bear with him and if her life became too burdensome then leave and get a divorce. He observed with the exceptions of a little scripture upon the subject of divorces, he was not aware the Lord had given any special revelations upon the Subject of divorces. -- Salt Lake City

[Brigham Young Office Journals, 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 - Oct 5, 1856

[Wilford Woodruff]

At the Close of the meeting we repaired to the prayer Circle had prayers then we went unto the Font & President Brigham Young went down into the Font of water & baptized men women & children of his own family about 75 in number. Then President Heber C. Kimball went down into the water & baptized about 75 mostly of his family. Some were of my Family & others of the Twelve. Then Lorenzo Young went into the water & baptized about 25 persons making 175 persons all of which were confirmed under the Hands of H. C. Kimball J. M. Grant W. Woodruff Joseph Young J. Vancott & D. H. Wells Confirmed a few of the Last.

[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 - Oct 05, 1856

President Brigham Young organizes the effort to rescue the Martin and Willie handcart companies, both of which are still east of South Pass in Wyoming.

80 years ago today - Oct 4, 1946

[J. Reuben Clark]

Called Ivor Sharp and told him he had talked with Pres. Smith and told him that it cost KSL over $500 last time for running over and (he was sure that did not cover the over-head and operating expenses) and Pres. Smith said he did not see there was anything to do except cut it off the air on the hour. Bro. Sharp said he would cut it off unless someone was speaking that he thought should be left on, such as the First Presidency Sunday afternoon.

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

115 years ago today - Wednesday, Oct 4, 1911

[John Henry Smith]

We agreed to let the question of Prohibition alone for a while and try Local Option.

We were instructed to do no radical thing during Conference. All were to preach the Gospel.

[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]

130 years ago today - Oct 4, 1896

President Wilford Woodruff preaches in general conference: "The God of heaven knows what it will cost them for shedding the blood of the Prophet of God and his brother, and the Apostles and brethren who laid down their lives for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. It costs something to shed righteous blood. And the Gentiles have not got eighteen hundred years before them in which to pay the debt. The words of the Lord have got to be fulfilled upon them in the day and generation in which these holy men have been slain."

115 years ago today - Oct 2, 1911

The first anti-Mormon film, 'Victim of the Mormons' ("Mormonens Offer"), opens in Copenhagen, Denmark. The film goes into international distribution and is publicly condemned by Apostle David O. McKay at the next general conference. It is the target of the first censorship effort led by Utah governor (William Spry, LDS).

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

125 years ago today - Wednesday, Oct 2, 1901

Apostle Taylor moved that we recommend to the Presidency that a mission be established in South America. Carried by unanimous vote. As to planting a colony that matter would be determined by events following the establishment of a mission, which was of the first importance.

Some discussion was indulged in with reference to the necessity of providing some means, by the building of a temple or otherwise, for giving the blessings of the house of the Lord—at least in part—to the saints who live in the far distant Sandwich Islands [Hawaii], Mexico, and other places from which our people do not emigrate to Zion.

[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]

155 years ago today - Oct 2-3, 1871

Brigham Young and his counselor Daniel H. Wells are arrested for polygamous cohabitation and subsequently for murder, but charges are dismissed. He was guarded in his own house for some time afterwards.

130 years ago today - Oct 1, 1896

Wilford Woodruff writes in his journal, "I spent most of the day in the Temple with the Apostles & we partook of the sacrament together. We talked over the Debts of the Church & our individual Debts all of which are pressing us very Heavily now."

130 years ago today - Oct 1, 1896

[Brigham Young Jr.]

Met fasting had sacrament at 3 p.m. The time was occupied by discussing the financial affairs of the Church. Pres[iden]t [George Q.] Cannon said the C[hurch]. was solvent. I am sure he is mistaken in this or else most of the 12 are. However there were explanations made which threw much light upon money matters of which the 12 have been wo[e]fully ignorant.

[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]

135 years ago today - Oct 1, 1891

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles consider this question: "Shall the Priesthood nominate and the people accept, or shall the people nominate?" The decision of the meeting: "It is quite proper for the brethren before making appointments to consult with the local authorities and be sure to select men for position whom the people will be glad to sustain" to the offices of bishop, stake president, and patriarch.

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

45 years ago today - Sep 30, 1981.

Louis C. Midgley of BYU's political science department attacks the New Mormon History and historians for a lack of faith. Joined periodically by David Earle Bohn and Gary Novak, he continues his vigorous assault on "objective" history to the present.

[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]

140 years ago today - Sep 30, 1886 (Thursday)

The Home Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in Salt Lake City, with Heber J. Grant as president.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

185 years ago today - Sep 30, 1841

Joseph draws up a bill of expenses caused by his trial in Monmouth in June 1841 and sends it to the deputy sheriff of Adams County because he officiated in the arrest initiated by Gov. Boggs. Joseph includes a note asking that the $685 be refunded to him as soon as possible.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]