Today In Mormon History

15 years ago today - Jun 14, 2011

2026-06-14T06:06:05.835-06:00

Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware said Tuesday that former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker did not have to divulge whether he wanted to marry his own gay partner before he declared last year that voter-approved Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. The decision struck down a brief filed by those backing Prop 8 who argued Walker should have recused himself.

[Prop 8 Timeline, NBC San Diego, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Proposition-8-Timeline-History-California--138796454.html]

60 years ago today - Jun 14, 1966

2026-06-14T06:05:24.230-06:00

[David O. McKay]

... In his letter, Elder Christiansen also states that two Temple Presidents have recently inquired regarding permitting couples to be married civilly before traveling from their home to the Temple within a few days to have the sealing solemnized in the Temple. We decided to send a letter to Presidents of Temples informing them that the First Presidency must be consulted in regard to any proposed civil marriage of couples desiring to go to the Temple to be sealed.

[David O. McKay diary, June 14, 1966, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

65 years ago today - Jun 14, 1961

2026-06-14T06:04:42.539-06:00

President McKay rejects a proposal to merge the Assistants to the Twelve with the First Council of the Seventy, now that the latter are also high priests.

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

120 years ago today - Jun 14, 1906; Thursday

2026-06-14T06:04:00.930-06:00

[George F. Richards]

Attended Council meeting in the temple from 10 A.M. until 3 P.M. Question.

Was Moses Thatcher's Priesthood taken from him? Ans[wer]--

Pres[iden]t. Smith Jos[eph]. F. said his understanding is that the only way one's priesthood can be taken from him is by

excommunication from the Church. Parley P. Pratt held that in trying an elder in the Sandwitch [sic] islands who was charged with attempted rape. Pres[iden]t Geo[ge] Q. Cannon was present there and entertained a different view & contended later for same. Pres[iden]t. Smith's understanding is that a man may be silenced and prohibited from the exercise of his Priesthood and such is the Case of Moses Thatcher. Geo[rge] Albert Smith testified that that is the idea Moses has as he Geo[rge]. A[lbert]. had heard Moses express himself.

From the above I deduce the fol[lowing]--A man can be deprived of his priesthood only by excommunication from the Church.

[George F. Richards, Diary]

125 years ago today - Friday, Jun 14, 1901

2026-06-14T06:03:19.182-06:00

[John Henry Smith]

Frank Marsh, youngest son of Thomas B. Marsh, called upon us. he claimed to be in the faith. he says that about one month before Emma Hale Smith died he called upon her. he asked her if the Prophet Joseph had more wives than one. She broke into tears and said my son has accepted the Presidency of the Reorganized Church.

He also said he had met with a body of Masons in London. A gentleman present by the name of Hamilton gave a wonderfull testimony of the character and Mission of the Prophet. Said He Joseph Smith Initiated me into the Secrets of Masonry and I esteem him among the great men of the World.

[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 - Jun 14, 1876

2026-06-14T06:02:37.392-06:00

[Wilford Woodruff]

14 I spent the day at the Endowment House. We Baptized 634 for the dead. W Woodruff sealed 144 Couple for the dead the greatest Number I Ever sealed in one day in my life. Joseph F Smith sealed 28 Couple. Total 172 Couple. It made me nearly Sick.

[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 - Jun 14, 1856

2026-06-14T06:01:55.460-06:00

The ship Thornton arrives in New York City with 764 Saints led by James G. Willie. Most in the company are those who later make up the ill-fated Martin and Willie handcart companies, which become stranded on their way to Utah later that year.

180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846

2026-06-14T06:01:13.407-06:00

On the ship Brooklyn, filled with Latter-day Saints bound for California, a baby girl is born to Phebe and John Robbins and is named Georgiana Pacific Robbins. "Pacific" was used as part of the name because they were in the Pacific ocean, just as "Atlantic" had been used as part of the name of another baby born earlier in the voyage.

180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846

2026-06-14T06:00:31.623-06:00

Several hundred men gathered at the temple with their firearms because a large mob had assembled at nearby Golden Point and were threatened to attack the temple. When the temple bell rang, the defenders met at the green near the temple. Stephen Markham led the troops into the temple and rallied them together. On this occasion the mob dispersed and did not dare approach the city. But these renewed threats prompted many families to quickly leave their homes and start their journey to the west.

[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]

120 years ago today - Jun 13, 1906

2026-06-13T21:25:02.652-06:00

[Charles Penrose to Reed Smoot]

Excitement over removals, etc. has died out, but would you believe it, there are still efforts put forth to obtain consent to forbidden marriages.

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

125 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 13, 1901

2026-06-13T21:24:56.849-06:00

[Rudger Clawson]

... I referred to the matter of non-tithe-payers and felt that some action should be taken relative to those who bear the priesthood, as by experience I had been led to believe that those who rejected the law of tithing, or failed to honor it, were indifferent, generally, to their duties in the church. The question was pretty fully discussed, and though no formal action was taken, it seemed to be the mind of the brethren that while it would be unwise and injudicious at present to relieve men of their priesthood, who failed to observe the law of tithing, it would certainly be proper to call for the resignation of non-tithe-payers, who were officiating in various prominent positions in the church.

[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 - Jun 13, 1901

2026-06-13T21:24:50.933-06:00

[Marriner W. Merrill]

I attended meeting with the First Presidency and seven of the Apostles. It was decided to ordain High Councilmen as High Priests and set them apart as High Councilmen; also decided that it be the rule in the Church for those administering the sacrament, for only one to kneel when asking the blessing on the bread and water, as in our circumstances the whole congregation cannot kneel.

[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

145 years ago today - Jun 13, 1881

2026-06-13T06:01:12.871-06:00

David Whitmer writes to the KANSAS CITY JOURNAL to correct some items in a recently-published interview: "I did not say that Smith used 'two small stones' as stated nor did I call the stone 'interpreters.' I stated that 'he used one stone (not two) and called it a sun stone.' . . .My statement was and is that in translating he put the stone in his hat and putting his face in the hat so as to exclude the light and that the light and characters appeared in the hat together with the interpretation which he uttered and was written by the scribe and which was tested at the time as stated." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

150 years ago today - Jun 13, 1876 (Tuesday)

2026-06-13T06:00:32.303-06:00

The case of George Reynolds, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary under the anti-bigamy law, was argued before the Supreme Court of the Territory, on appeal. [Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

60 years ago today - Jun 11, 1966

2026-06-11T18:25:22.098-06:00

Mark E. Littman and Joel Izatt of the Hansen Planetarium assist artists Sydney E. King and V. Russell Capson in their efforts to place the stars in the heavens on a mural on the rotunda ceiling above where the Christus will be placed in the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square. The stars are painted to appear as they would have on April 6, 1830, the day the Church was organized.

130 years ago today - Jun 11, 1896; Thursday

2026-06-11T18:23:21.259-06:00

At 11 am attended prayer circle in the temple. ... I brought up the question of our people joining the third or Populist party, and when the brethren who spoke on the matter expressed themselves that it was a mistake for the brethren to join the Populist party, yet they did not feel that it would be wise to make a public declaration to this effect as it might be considered an interference by the church in political matters. [Heber J. Grant, Diary]

145 years ago today - Jun 11, 1881

2026-06-11T18:22:40.912-06:00

[Heber J. Grant] Bro [Lysander] Gee told me that he had known Oliver Cowdery personally & that to his knowledge Cowdrey had committed adultry before he lost his faith' It strengthens my faith to learn that even the leading men of the Church cannot commit sin & remain in the Church, unless they repent. [The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

150 years ago today - Jun 11, 1876

2026-06-11T18:22:00.376-06:00

Br Brigham spoke on a variety of subjects. Said that those who made the greatest howl against Polygamy were whores and whoremongers and those filled with lust and of unclean hearts. Said as to the Mountain Meadow Massacre, if he had not been foiled by Judge Cradlebaugh and other federal officials, He would have hung every guilty person concerned in the bloody deed. Spoke of the building of temples showing that a man would gain riches faster working for the Lord and trusting in him, than all the men could make who were hunting after, and working in mines. Urged the Brethren to labor diligently on the Temple to have it completed by the 15th of next Sept. -- St. George, Utah [Men in congregation are involved in the massaccre, and by arrangement several testify against John D. Lee.] [Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 427, 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 - Jun 11, 1846

2026-06-11T18:20:40.347-06:00

William Smith goes to Voree where his apostolic ordination is accepted and where he is ordained Patriarch of the church. He plans to build a house for Lucy on a contributed lot. He writes again, saying God has confirmed James Strang's position [as Joseph Smith's successor] by revelation. [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]

65 years ago today - Jun 10, 1961

2026-06-10T13:12:34.321-06:00

[J. Reuben Clark] Dictation'Ideas by J. R. C. I recall a very sage remark made by Dr. Brimhall, formerly President of the Brigham Young University: There are two occasions in a man's lifetime when it becometh a man to say little: One is at the beginning of his service when he is yet to prove himself, and the other is at the end of his service when he has made his record. Memo by J R C on above: At the beginning a man has little but hope and aspiration and what ability and determination as he may bring to his service; the other is that at the end of his service when his record is made, it speaks for itself. [The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]

185 years ago today - Jun 10, 1841

2026-06-10T13:10:34.751-06:00

Monmouth, Illinois. On a technicality, Judge Stephen A. Douglas ruled that that Joseph Smith's writ was illegal and discharged him from the arrest warrant. [BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

20 years ago today - Jun 9, 2006

2026-06-09T06:04:36.162-06:00

Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple: Ground was broken in a small ceremony on 12 September 2009 after a new site was selected. Previously ground had been broken on 9 June 2007 by Spencer V. Jones, excavation was halted because of opposition from Tegucigalpa city officials and citizens, who felt the temple would overshadow and block the view of the Catholic Our Lady of Suyapa Basilica on adjacent land. After negotioations failed to resolve the issue, the church announced on Wednesday, 28 January 2009, that out of respect for the city officials and citizens, the church would relocate the temple. [Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples]

115 years ago today - Jun 9, 1911

2026-06-09T06:03:15.726-06:00

The Hotel Utah was built as a cooperative effort by the business and ecclesiastical leaders of the Salt Lake community to bring everyone together. It succeeded. Shares in the venture were sold and the hotel's prominent location on the corner of South Temple and Main Street, previously the site of the Bishop's Tithing Office and the Deseret News, was donated by the LDS Church. After two years of construction and a $2 million price tag, the Hotel opened 9 June 1911 "in a blaze of splendor" with a grand party for 500 of Utah's notables. [Utah History Encyclopedia: Hotel Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

165 years ago today - Jun 9, 1861

2026-06-09T06:02:34.963-06:00

President Brigham Young gave a very interesting historical sketch of his late visit to the extreme southern settlements of the Territory and interspersed his remarks with suitable instructions on the practicability of the brethren producing their own sugar, tobacco, wine, cotton cloth, etc., in the south. -- SLC Bowery [Deseret News, 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 - Jun 9, 1841

2026-06-09T06:01:55.078-06:00

[A] trial is held to see if Illinois should send Joseph back to Missouri. The actions of the young prosecuting attorney are so outrageous that the judge is forced to silence him. By the time Joseph's attorney, Mr. Browning, finishes his sad tale of the Saints being driven from Missouri and walking on bloody bare feet across the snow to Illinois, Judge Douglas himself is in tears. [Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]