20 years ago today - Jul 29, 2005

Yahoo webpage news story states: "The Mormon faith looks set to lose its 150-year-old dominance over US state of Utah by the year 2030 as more people leave the church than can be recruited, figures showed."

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

50 years ago today - Jul 29, 1975-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]

I was talking with someone the other day about Church newspapers and periodicals. Apparently Brother [Boyd K.] Packer has been an advisor to these people for the past two or three years. That is probably how he got involved in the J. Golden Kimball episode and perhaps the reason he was especially interested in making comments about our Brigham Young book. At any rate this person said he and his group had had many experiences with Elder Packer. It was his judgment-and the judgment of his associates-that Elder Packer was so constituted that if anyone goes to him to ask about the advisability of doing something, he will automatically say no because he thinks this means they have a doubt about it and not a clear go-ahead from the spirit.

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

65 years ago today - Jul 29, 1960

Hugh Nibley writes in a letter, "The two greatest nuisances in the Church are (a) those who think they know enough to disprove the claims of Joseph Smith, and (b) those who think they know enough to prove them."

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

85 years ago today - Jul 29, 1940

[President Heber J. Grant]

Spent the day at home in bed most of the time reading from the News and the Era. I had the pleasure of reading an editorial from the Deseret News which was considered too strong to be published. I wish we could publish it. It attacks President Roosevelt very strongly on running for a third term. I do not know how many Latter-day Saints would want to stop the News if we should publish it, but I almost feel like having it published even if we should lose a hundred or five hundred subscribers. I think we have almost got to the point where the Deseret News ought to take a strong stand against Roosevelt running for a third term, no matter how many people might be almost ready to apostatize.

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

90 years ago today - Jul 29, 1935

The attention of President Clark was called to a newspaper statement that Senator King had given notice that he intends to submit a resolution in the Senate for the purpose of investigating conditions in Germany relative to the German government's attitude toward the Jews and Catholics in that country and that a private inquiry might be made by German representatives and if they find that he is a member of the Church and representing the State of Utah in the Senate, there might be some reprisals on the part of the present German government against the Latter-day Saints in Germany and it might result in the expulsion of the elders from Germany. President Clark asked that a letter incorporating these ideas be sent to him at the Foreign Bondholders'.

[First Presidency, Meeting with Presiding Bishopric, Minutes, 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]

100 years ago today - Jul 29, 1925

[George F. Richards]

I read Wm Jennings Bryans speech prepared to deliver in court at Dayton, Tenn. in defense of Religion and Christianity and denouncing Evolution. I mailed the paper to my son Oliver in Germany. It was of about 9 or 10 columns length and was in this mornings Tribune. I indorse the article fully and think it should be published in pamphlet form as Mr. Bryans dying testimony. He died suddenly on the 26th inst. and before the speech was delivered.

[George F. Richards 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]

110 years ago today - Jul 29, 1915

Bruce Redd McConkie, later a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

140 years ago today - Wednesday, Jul 29, 1885

[John Henry Smith]

I spent five hours today at Mr. Warnacks talking with my Cousin Joseph Smith of the Reorganized Church. We canvassed a number of points but could not agree.

[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]

180 years ago today - Jul 29, 1845

[William Clayton]

We played till near 1 o clock chiefly with the violin. There was a first rate supper provided with plenty of wine and good things.

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

180 years ago today - Jul 29, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel Swanner given by William Smith ... yet some foul and evil Spirit has watched thy path and laid a snare for thy Soul and endeavored to bring thee down into captivity and so destroy and bind thy Spirit that all of thy future usefulness might be hindered, but the days of thy captivity shall not be all the days of thy life for when the Saints receive thine [their] enduement [endowment] the Elders of Israel their anointings then shall the opening glories of this latter dispensation beam with greater effulgence upon thine understanding then Lo and behold thy deliverance shall come

and like the bird uncaged thy Soul shall be set free to flit itself in distant lands and amidst thy starry heavens the trackless skies thy Spirit shall rove ungovernable in the far off distance until lost in the contemplation of heaven the knowledge of God ...

[Patriarchal Blessings, Marquardt Papers]

180 years ago today - Jul 29, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel B. Merrill given by William Smith ... it shall be given unto thee to be an avenger of the Blood of the Prophets & patriarchs to stand in the fierce conflict & contend for the rights of thy Brethren still it shall not be given unto thee to have a spirit of war for peace and union is uritten [written] on the tablets of thy heart but to defend the innocent and the cause of Zion thy soul shall rise up in Mighty strength and a Mighty spirit whose power is unknown so shall not thy strength be comprehended for in the day of battle thine arm shall be vexed with the power of Laban[']s sword and unto conquest shall thou be borne off Victorious ...

[Patriarchal Blessings, Marquardt Papers]

35 years ago today - Jul 28, 1990

The Church News feature article: "Church Brings Hope to Prison Inmates."

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

125 years ago today - Jul 28, 1900

Advertisement in THE LOGAN NATION for "all wool Garments," with illustration of two men and woman in one-piece underwear from neck to wrist and ankle.

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

125 years ago today - Jul 28, 1900

Advertisement in The Logan Nation for "all wool Garments," with an illustration of two men and women in one-piece underwear from neck to wrist to ankle.

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

125 years ago today - Jul 28, 1900; Saturday

This morning Elders Heber J. Grant and Horace G. Whitney came to the office for the purpose of conferring with President [Lorenzo] Snow on the business [McCune expenses keeping the Herald solvent with is own funds]. President Snow came in the office from his room in the Beehive House and in connection with President [George Q.] Cannon heard what these brethren had to say in relation to the proposition to turn the Herald over to the Church and have some one appointed to run it as a Democratic paper as it has always been. President Snow told these brethren that there was but one answer to give, and that was that the Church could not undertake to do any such thing as this, and Brother Whitney was to coney this answer to Mr. [Alfred W.] McCune. With this decision President Cannon fully agreed. After this short interview President Snow again returned to this room as he was not feeling so well this morning.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

130 years ago today - 1895. July 28

Moses Thatcher dedicated the [Matthew] Cowley home in Preston, "That herein might be born prophets, seers, and revelators to honor God."

[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

135 years ago today - Jul 28, 1890 (Monday)

The Utah Supreme Court, in the matter of the estate of George Handley, deceased, rendered a decision to the effect that polygamous children could not inherit from the father.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

150 years ago today - Jul 28, 1875

DESERET NEWS reports one of meetings where apostles preach United Order: "The vote to renew their covenants by baptism was very general by the people."

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

150 years ago today - Jul 28, 1875

Deseret News reports one of the meetings where the apostles preach the United Order: "The vote to renew their covenants by baptism was very general by the people."

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

155 years ago today - Jul 28, 1870

DESERET NEWS reports that on his return to Salt Lake City yesterday, Milando Pratt says that he and Thomas Rich saw Bear Lake Monster from shore: "The portion of the body out of the water was about ten feet long," with head like a walrus.

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

155 years ago today - Jul 28, 1870

Deseret News reports that on his return to Salt Lake City yesterday, Milando Pratt says that he and Thomas Rich (sons of apostles) saw the Bear Lake Monster from shore: "The portion of the body out of the water was about ten feet long," with a head like a walrus.

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

165 years ago today - Jul 28, 1860

[Wilford Woodruff]

A Quorum of /70/ Apostles when united are Equal in authority to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles or traveling Council are to be special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world. They are Equal in authority in there decissions to the Presidency of the Church. They are to preside in all the world whare the three first Presidency are not.

The three first Presidency Preside over the whole Church & administer in all the ordinances of the Church which Consists of a Presidet & his two Councellors.

The President of the Church holds the keys of the sealing powers & his Council act in Concert with him [in] all things.

Should the Presidency die The Twelve Could organize another Presidency & should the Presidency & Twelve all be slain the Seventies being Equal in power & Authority to the Twelve or first Presidency Could organize both Quorums.

A Bishop has two Councellors. There is no difference in the authority of his Councillors. The 2d has as much authority as the first. A Bishop should have his Councilers with him on the trial of a case in order to make it Legal as it takes three to make a Quorum.

The High Priest Could organize the Church in all its parts if all other Authorities were dead for they have the Melchezedek Priesthood out of which grow all of the Higher offices of the Church.

An Apostle is the highest office in the Church & kingdom of God. Joseph Smith was a Prophet Seer & Revelator before he was baptized or ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood or had any Authority to administer one of the ordinances of the house of the Lord. He was afterwords ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood then to the Melchezedek Priesthood & Apostleship which is the highest office in the Church & kingdom of God on Earth. When a man is ordained to the Apostleship & keys thereoff if he dies in faith He will hold those keys to all Eternity. All the Prophets Patriarchs & Apostles who ever did or ever will hold the keys of the Apostleship if faithful unto death will hold them forever.

Presidet Young was an Elder when he was ordained to be one of the Twelve Apostles. Some asked the Question how He could officiate as an High Priest not having previously been ordained a High Priest. Joseph Said the Apostleship covered all the offices of the High Priesthood the same as a private member ordained a High Priest Could officiate as a Deacon Teacher Priest or Elder.

Presidet Young said "I ordained most of the two or three first Quorums of the Seventies and Joseph gave me vary particular instructions to ordain them all High Priests which I did. When a man is ordained an High Priest Seventy or one of the Twelve He Can officiate in all the lesser offices of the Church whether He has been ordained to that office or not.

When I met with the Saints in Nauvoo at the first meeting after Josephs death in defending the true organization against Sidney Rigdon I had it in my mind all the time that there would have to be a Presidency of three Appointed but I knew the people Could not bear it at the time and on our return as the pioneers from the valley I Broached the subject first to Brother Woodruff and afterwords to the rest of the Quorum. They received it & finally sustained it.

[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 - 1845 28 Jul.

Jonathan Dunham, despondent about disobeying Joseph Smith's orders to rescue him from jail, commits suicide. Later disclosures indicate that Dunham, who was a captain of Nauvoo's police, major-general of the Nauvoo Legion, and a Council of Fifty member, accomplished the suicide by asking a native American friend (Lewis Dana, fellow member of the Fifty) to "kill and bury him."

[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]

180 years ago today - Jul 28, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Rachael Sirrine given by William Smith ... I now seal upon thy head that is after the power of an endless life; a glorious immortality and a name written even golden letters in the archives of heaven enrolled upon sacred records deposited in the temple of God in the holiest of all, for it shall be given unto thee to live to see the prosperity and glory of Zion until her perfection and beauty shall go forth as a Lamp that burneth the Saints receive their enduement [endowment] and then shalt thou explore every apartment of the house of the Lord ... and him who has been appointed as thy companion here on earth shall prove thy Savior and thy Deliverer on Mount Zion and he shall preside over thee and great shall be his reward in the kingdom of heaven ... thou shalt shine forth as one of the Stars of the firmament, and none shall outshine thee in all their glory for with Angels thy voice shall be heard and that too with praises and Hossannas [Hosannas] to the most
high God ...

[Patriarchal Blessings]

185 years ago today - Jul 28, 1840

"There is a tradition among some of the descendants of Levi Hancock that Mrs. Hancock was sealed to Joseph Smith in Nauvoo and that one of her sons may have been his child. Since there seems to be no printed or manuscript evidence to support this story, however, it must be taken with considerable reserve."

[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]

10 years ago today - 2015 July 27

The LDS Church is "deeply troubled" and re-evaluates its scouting program, as the Boy Scouts of America permits openly gay scout leaders.

[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]

110 years ago today - Jul 27, 1915

Revolutionary followers of Emiliano Zapata execute Mexican branch president Rafael Monroy and Vincente Morales, also LDS, after each tells Zapatistas: "I cannot renounce my religion."

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

110 years ago today - Jul 27, 1915

The revolutionary followers of Emiliano Zapata execute Mexican branch president Rafael Monroy and Vincente Morales, also LDS, after each tells the Zapatistas: "I cannot renounce my religion."

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

125 years ago today - Jul 27, 1900; Friday

Mr. McCune sent for Brother Whitney this morning and informed him that during the last fourteen months he had paid out of his private purse $56,000. to meet the expenses incurred in running the Salt Lake Herald; that his experience in politics has brought anything but pleasure to himself and family, but he had now concluded to withdraw from them (i.e. politics and the newspaper business) and to cease paying out any more money to keep the Herald alive; in fact, he had decided to cease entirely after meeting this week's payroll, which would amount to about $1,000. He fully realized that the downfall of the Herald would be a great triumph for the Salt Lake Tribune, and he asked Brother Horace G. Whitney to wait upon the First Presidency and inform them in confidence of what he proposed to do, and to say to them that if they could see their way clear to continue the publication of the Herald in connection with the News, he would turn it over to anybody among the loyal democrats who
would be willing to form themselves into a company for the purpose of continuing its publication with the understanding however, that its expenses be met by them.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

165 years ago today - Jul 27, 1860

Presidet Young read me a letter from Bishop Maughn Stating that there had been a fracus with the Indian. The Brethren had taken a one eyed Indian prisioner for Stealing and several Indians Came down to liberate him. The Indian started to run & the guard shot him dead. The other Indians shot at the guard & killed a Brother Reed & mortally wounded Samuel Cousins through the lungs. The Indians then took to the mountains & found two Merrils getting wood. They shot Ira Merrill dead & his Brother badly wounded. They took some Indians prisioners. The rest gathered their forces & Came down to liberate them & they met 100 rifles. They then held a Council. The Indians then agreed to go & get those who had shot the white men & bring them in & put them to death & make pease.

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

20 years ago today - Jul 26, 2005

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article "Keeping members a challenge for LDS church" opens with, "The claim that Mormonism is the fastest-growing faith in the world has been repeated so routinely by sociologists, anthropologists, journalists and proud Latter-day Saints as to be perceived as unassailable fact. The trouble is, it isn't true."

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

125 years ago today - Thursday, Jul 26, 1900

Pres. Cannon also stated that Pres. J. F. Smith had been appointed by Pres. Snow to visit Mexico and investigate matters pertaining to the B. Y. Academy Scientific Expedition to South America, the expedition now being somewhere in the neighborhood of Nogales, Mexico..

[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 - Jul 26, 1870

Apostle Joseph F. Smith performs proxy sealing of Scotland's Queen Maude (or Matilda. b. 1104) as eternal wife to martyred prophet Joseph Smith. Similar ordinances are performed by Apostle Wilford Woodruff on Sept 5, for eight political heroines or female rulers including Charlotte Corday (who murdered the radical Marat during the French Revolution) and Empress Josephine (wife of Napoleon). On Sept. 15 second counselor Daniel H. Wells seals two Catholic saints as wives to founding Mormon prophet: Saint Helena (mother of Roman emperor Constantine) and Saint Theresa (b. 1515 in Spain). These are first women of international prominence sealed as wives to Joseph Smith, but during fifty years after his death hundreds of deceased women are similarly joined to him, even though many had husbands during their lifetimes.

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

155 years ago today - Jul 26, 1870

Apostle Joseph F. Smith performs the proxy sealing of Scotland's Queen Maud (or Matilda, b. 1104) as an eternal wife to the martyred prophet Joseph Smith. Similar ordinances are performed by the Apostle Wilford Woodruff on 5 Sept. for eight political heroines or female rulers including Charlotte Corday (who murdered the radical Marat during the French Revolution) and Empress Josephine (wife of Napoleon). On 15 Sept. second counselor Daniel H. Wells seals two Catholic saints as wives to founding Mormon prophet: Saint Helena (mother of the Roman emperor Constantine) and Saint Theresa (b. 1515 in Spain). These are the first women of international prominence sealed as wives to Joseph Smith, but during fifty years after his death hundreds of deceased women are similarly joined to him, even though many had husbands during their lifetimes.

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

160 years ago today - Jul 26, 1865 (Wednesday)

The Indians attacked Glenwood, Sevier Co., Utah, wounded a man and drove off nearly all the stock belonging to the settlement.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

75 years ago today - Jul 25, 1950

[David O. McKay]

At 3 p.m. Pres. Smith, Pres. Clark, and I met with Ernest L. Wilkinson on the proposition of his being appointed president of the Brigham Young Univ. There is no doubt but that Ernest Wilkinson has the right viewpoint of the mission of the Brigham Young University, especially with regard to its mission and the preaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. He senses clearly the fact that every department in the school should, as he stated, "be impregnated" with the spirit of the gospel, and that the teachings of the principles of the gospel should not be confined to a Theological Department with other departments feeling that they are estranged therefor. Brother Wilkinson is a clear thinker; he makes no pretense to having had any experience in school management; he possesses outstanding ability, which I believe he can direct towards a good organization. On the whole I was favorably impressed with him and earnestly hope and pray that he will succeed.

[McKay, David O., Office Journal]

85 years ago today - Jul 25, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

We met Reed Smoot and his wife ... Reed is so thoroughly forgotten now. It is a case of 'gratitude is a lively sense of favors to come.' When Reed was a Senator working for everyone he was one of the most popular Senators in the United States. Today there is very little attention given to him.

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

100 years ago today - Jul 25, 1925

[Heber J. Grant presidency]

.... Whenever possible brethren should be ordained Elders before coming to the temple for endowments. ... Sisters married to non-members should not be recommended to the temple to receive endowments. ...

[Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and Charles W. Nibley to B. H. Roberts, July 25, 1925, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

155 years ago today - Jul 25, 1870

[Brigham Young]

While I am making my remarks I sincerely request the attention of the congregation; I desire them to keep silence, let there be no whispering, nor talking to each other, nor moving of feet; and if the babies can outnoise me, why it will be because my lungs have grown weak. ... . While on our way to the Missouri river some kind of a spirit; whether it was intuitive knowledge, prescience or promptness of intellect, no matter. Something told me, that the government of the United States would make a demand on the camp of Israel for troops to go into the Mexican war. If the God of Heaven did not reveal it to me I should like to know who did. ... if the Government of the United States hunt us here and afflict our families while we are gone to find an asylum for them, I will hunt them all the rest of my life, so help me God.'" (Applause.) ... [The Mormon Battalion] fought no battles in all their career. But they were the first ones that ever raised the American flag on Mexican territory
and preserved it there. (Applause.) ... I will say right here that of all men who ever did live upon the earth lawyers are the worst. Doctors and priests are bad enough, but lawyers will ruin everybody and send all to hell. They are the worst and the most unfit for human society of any beings that live... could we not live as other men do? Is it not my privilege to lead about a wife or a sister, a neighbor's wife or any female as much as any other man's? Certainly; but when I do it, I do it legally and lawfully, not clandestinely. This is the curse that is upon this nation, and one of the greatest curses in the sight of heaven and justice that now rests on the United States. It is their abuse of females; millions of them are wasted. According to their own showing thousands of females have perished in the streets of New York since we have been in these valleys, proba- bly double and almost treble the entire number of females we have in this Territory...

[Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young. 7 Vols. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1979-84. 6:30-35, 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]

165 years ago today - Jul 25, 1860

One of Presidents Youngs waggons was turned over into the Big Cotton wood. It turned twice over with two women & several Children. One woman was hurt in the sholder. One Child Came near drowning.

[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 25, 1845

[Patriarchal Blessings]

Patriarchal Blessing of Vienna Jacques Shearer Smith(?) given by William Smith ... in peace thou shalt sit down in Zion & walk her streets unmolested and with Joseph[']s remnants thy Salvation shall be greatly extolled for as one of the seed of Joseph thou shall be numbered with the 144,000 partaking of the power and glory of the Priesthood of those who are called the honored ones of the earth ... & thy Soul shall enter into perfect rest and with loud Hossannas [Hosannas] to God & the Lamb exclaim it is enough my Soul is full and thou shalt be rewarded and thy reward is great and all thy past afflictions and scenes of sorrow and grief shall be forgotten ...

[Patriarchal Blessings]

180 years ago today - Jul 25, 1845

July 25 1845 Friday Joseph Woodruffs [b.18 Jul 1845 - d.12 Nov 1846] Blessing received under the Hands of his Father Wilford Woodruff ... I seal thee against the power of Death sickness & the destroyer untill thy work is finished ... Thou shalt lay thy hands upon the heads of thy Father and Mother in their old age and bless them & thou shalt be a Comfort unto them. Thou shalt be Baptized the day thou art eight years of age ...

I ordain the to be a High Priest after the order of Melchisedic ... when thou shalt arive to years of accountability & discretion thou shalt have power to administer in the ordinances thereof..

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

185 years ago today - Jul 25, 1840

A Dr. John C. Bennett writes to the Saints stating his intention to move to Nauvoo and join the Saints. He will later become an influential member of the Church. He has the reputation of being both a genius and an imposter. In addition to being a professor, a preacher, a doctor, and a military leader, he is also claimed to be an abortionist, a wife deserter, and a traitor. When he gains Joseph's confidence, he helps draft the Nauvoo charter and push its passage through legislature, shows him how to drain the Nauvoo swamps, and administers quinine to the sick of Nauvoo, thus saving many lives. He later writes one of the most famous exposes against the Saints. In writing to Joseph a second time he states that "wealth is no material object with me. I desire to be happy."

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 4:169-70.]

190 years ago today - Late July, 1835

[Joseph Smith]

"The remainder of this month, I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet of the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language as practiced by the ancients."

[Joseph Smith's Diary Statements Regarding Translation of His Egyptian Papyri and the Book of Abraham, Instutite for Religious Research]

195 years ago today - Jul 25, 1830

Joseph Smith receives a revelation instructing missionaries to curse those who will not listen to them: "And in whatsoever place ye shall enter, and they receive you not, in my name, ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony, and cleansing your feet by the wayside"

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

50 years ago today - Jul 24, 1975

President Spencer W. Kimball dedicates the new twenty-eight-story Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.

55 years ago today - Jul 24, 1970

LDS headquarters invites only prominent Republicans to Salt Lake City airport to greet U.S. president Richard M. Nixon who has asked to meet with First Presidency. This excludes Utah's Democratic governor Calvin M. Rampton who "almost had to force his way into the receiving line." First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons latter acknowledges that this is "a snafu in protocol." DESERET NEWS reports that Nixon addresses crowd of 15,000 from steps of Church Office Building at 47 East South Temple Street, but Nixons cancel their scheduled tour of Temple Square because of what Utah's Congressional representative Laurence J. Burton describes as "stupid, crazy, threatening" posters of "dissident groups." Presidency secretary Gibbons later describes these as "militant blacks" and antiwar protesters.

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

55 years ago today - Jul 24, 1970

The LDS headquarters invites only prominent Republicans to the Salt Lake City airport to greet U.S. president Richard M. Nixon who has asked to meet with the First Presidency. This excludes Utah's Democratic governor Calvin M. Rampton who "almost had to force his way into the receiving line." First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons later acknowledges that this is "a snafu in protocol." The Deseret News reports that Nixon addresses a crowd of 15,000 from the steps of the Church Office Building at 47 East South Temple Street, but the Nixons cancel their scheduled tour of Temple Square because of what Utah's Congressional representative Laurence J. Burton describes as "stupid, crazy, threatening" posters of "dissident groups." Presidency secretary Gibbons later describes these as "militant blacks" and antiwar protestors.

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

125 years ago today - Tuesday, Jul 24, 1900

[Rudger Clawson]

Pioneer Day. The ceremonies connected with the unveiling of the Brigham Young Statue at the head of Main Street took place at 10 a.m. The statue and pedestal were draped with American flags and a platform was built around them for the accommodation of the speakers and prominent people. ...

I have often said that if I were a wealthy man, I would set aside a portion of my means to be used in the temple for the salvation of the dead. There are many good people in the church who can be employed to work for the dead, and I have ascertained that it will cost from 75c to $1.00 for each dead person who is baptized for and endowed, which work, if accepted by them, means salvation to their souls; and Pres. Lorenzo Snow says that in nine cases out of ten the work will be accepted, so that, it might be said, there is very little risk connected with an investment of this kind.... Now, I am not a man of means, but to show forth the sincerity of my desire, I have decided to set aside a small part of my monthly income for the purpose above explained and shall start the fund with $4.00. I hope in the future to accomplish much good, under the blessing of the Lord, from this very small beginning.

[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 - Jul 24, 1885

[Wilford Woodruff]

This is the Aniversary of the Arival of the Pioneers into Salt Lake Valley. I Carried President Brigham Young in my Carriag through Emigration Canyon into the valley of the Great Salt Lake 38 years ago this day. And this is the day Appointed By the Presidet of the United States, The General of the Armey, & Gov Murry to send An Armey unto Salt Lake to Destroy the Mormons if they Put the flag at half mast. And yet in the Providence of God President Clearland was under the necessity of Commanding all the People of the United States to place the flag at half mast on that particular day and Gov Murry Commanded the People of Salt [Lake City] to do the same for Gen [Ulysses] Grant was Dead [had died the day before] and the Lord had prepared him as a scape Goat to bear of the Sins of the Mormons.

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

155 years ago today - Jul 24, 1870

[Brigham Young]

It has been observed here this morning that we are called fanatics. Bless me! That is nothing. Who has not been called a fanatic who has discovered anything new in philosophy or science? We have all read of Galileo the astronomer who, contrary to the system of astronomy that had been received for ages before his day, taught that the sun, and not the earth, was the centre of our planetary system? For this the learned astronomer was called "fanatic," and subjected to persecution and imprisonment of the most rigorous character. So it has been with others who have discovered and explained new truths in science and philosophy which have been in opposition to long-established theories; and the opposition they have encountered has endured until the truth of their discoveries has been demonstrated by time. The term "fanatic" is not applied to professors of religion only...I will tell you who the real fanatics are: they are they who adopt false principles and ideas as facts, and

... Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? When we view its face we may see what is termed '"the man in the moon,'" and what some philosophers declare are the shadows of mountains. But these sayings are very vague, and amount to nothing; and when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and so will this earth when it is celestialized. Every planet in its first rude, organic state receives not the glory of God upon it, but is opaque; but when celestialized, every planet that God brings into existence is a body of light, but not till then. ...

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 13:267-274, 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 - Jul 24, 1855

[Wilford Woodruff]

On the 24 & 25 of July I attended the Polosophical society in the social Hall & Herd till midnight the most thrilling soul stiring speeches, essays, Addresses, songs, music &c &c that I ever herd. It was truly interesting to enjoy such a feast of the production of the strongest talent in the world. We also was addressed on saturday evening at the Universal Scientific Society by [ ] On the subject of Phrenology followed by O. Pratt & W Woodruff.

[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, 1845

Thursday, "the Holly order" met at 4 p.m. at Willard Richards's "office" , and "the Quorum agreed to take no more snuff & tobacco for 6 weeks" .

[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]

50 years ago today - Jul 23, 1975

First Presidency circular letter authorizes stake presidents to ordain bishops. Previously this was restricted to general authorities.

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

50 years ago today - Jul 23, 1975

A First Presidency circular letter authorizes stake presidents to ordain bishops. Previously this was restricted to general authorities.

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

150 years ago today - Jul 23, 1875

[Mountain Meadows]

The trial of John Lee opens in the courtroom of Judge Jacob Boreman. Payment for Lee's defense is arranged by Brigham Young. The prosecution's star witness is Philip Klingensmith.

[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]

155 years ago today - Jul 23, 1870

[Brigham Young]

There never was an earth without an Adam. There never was a time when earths were not coming into existence and going out. There never was a time when there was no Savior upon an earth, but man in his finite being cannot comprehend eternity. God the Father came and begotten a Son of the Virgin Mary, just the same as we beget out children; and consequently Jesus partook of his fathers divine nature, and was therefore competent in offering a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice. -- Salt Lake City

[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, 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]

160 years ago today - Jul 23, 1865

The First Presidency and Twelve issue a statement condemning Biographical Sketches "for its inaccuracy."

[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]

170 years ago today - Jul 23, 1855

The foundation of the Salt Lake Temple was finished.

[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]

190 years ago today - Jul 23, 1835

[Wilford Woodruff]

Rode in company for the last time with Elder Warren Parrish to the mouth of Sandy. ... The time had now arived however painful it might be for me [to] take the parting hand with Br PARRISH. I Know not that we shall ever meet again untill we meet in Eternity. May the blessings of God crown his days & prepare him for the Celestial Kingdom. O worthy Brother farewell but not forever.

I am now left alone without human aid to asist me in preaching the gospel. My circuit is about 100 miles in extent besides the care of all the Churches within the limits of the same. Who is weack & I not weack? Who is offended & I burn not? O may the LORD give me strength as my day & many souls as seals of my ministry. O GOD prepare me for the battle.

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