On 4/2 in New Mormon History...
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New Mormon History
Apr 2, 2026, 7:28:48 AM (9 days ago) Apr 2
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Historic events in New Mormon History on 4/2
1859: non-Mormon judge convicts three Mormons (two of them policemen) for conspiracy in Parrish familiy's murder. Under immunity two LDS men testify that Springville bishop ordered the killings because the Parrishes were leaving Utah with unpaid tithing. Shot to death, the bodies are left with slit throats as "blood atonement."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1881: in a meeting of stake presidents with the First Presidency and apostles: "Before parties can be recommended to the Temples or house of the Lord, they must be rebaptised & must be tithing payers."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1896: The First Presidency and Presiding Bishop resolve a decade of controversy over who controls church finances in practical terms. The Trustee-in-Trust resumes governance.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1899: Lorenzo Snow presides at the Salt Lake temple monthly fast meeting: "Sister Maria Y Dougall bore her testimony and wound up by speaking in tongues which struck me as the finest expression of that beautiful gift to which I had ever listened and when Aunt Zina [H. Young] interpreted it[,] it was sweet in deed."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1932: Heber J. Grant launches a campaign against the use of tobacco as part of his emphasis on observing the Word of Wisdom by total abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1947: George Albert Smith's announcement (later described as "a revelation") that mission presidents are to have counselors. Apostle Sepncer W. Kimball later says that the revelation's text exists but is not to be published.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1959: Apostle Spencer W. Kimball attends his first temple meeting since his return from touring missions in South America. He emphasizes to the First Presidency and the Twelve the special problem in Latin America's "Catholic countries [where] divorce could not be obtained" and "some set up new households without legal sanction... When such people wished to join the [LDS] Church the missionaries would not baptize them, since technically they lived in adultery." Kimball's authorized biography notes that he successfully persuades the First Presidency to adopt a policy that "such couples could be baptized if they showed that they had done what they could to legalize their relationship, had been faithful to one another, had met responsibility to their previous [and only legal] family, and had conformed to the expectations of custom." From 1959 onward it is the LDS church policy to baptize, ordain, and give temple ordinances to any Latin American man complying with the above requirements, even though he is living with a woman in a legally unmarried relationship defined as adulterous by "the law of the land" where they live.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1974: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives an "Oscar" to two Mormons: Kieth Merrill (director, documentary 'The Great American Cowboy') and James Payne (set design, 'The Sting'). They are the first Mormon winners in 33 years, but LDS nominees are Leigh Harline (music scores, 1943, 1944, 1963), Arnold Friberg (art work, 'The Ten Commandments,' 1956), Russ Tamblyn (supporting actor, 'Peyton Place,' 1957). Tamblyn also receives a Golden Globe award in 1956 as the "most promising newcomer," as does LDS Ruth Buzzi in 1973 for her supporting role in television's 'Laugh-In.' Within days, the Council on International Non-theatrical Events (CINE) gives its "Golden Eagle" award to Brigham Young University for "Cipher in the Snow," which receives international distribution among schools and various religious denominations. In 1989 the LDS church and Bonneville International also receive two Golden Eagle awards for their "Homefront" public-service advertisements. Individual Mormons who win a Golden Eagle include Curt Bestor (1988) and Martin L. Andersen (1994).
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1977: Richard G. Scott is sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is the first general authority with extensive experience in what U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower called "the military-industrial complex." Scott served as a nuclear engineer at a weapons research laboratory in Oakridge, Tennessee, and developed nuclear submarines for twelve years on the staff of Admiral Hyman Rickover. Scott becomes a member of the Twelve in 1988.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1982: The First Presidency announces two changes to lessen the financial burdens on church members. First, church headquarters henceforth pays for all the costs of meetinghouse construction. This relieves local members of the requirement to finance their construction in addition to paying tithing. Second, the service of male missionaries is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. "It is anticipated that this shortened term will make it possible for many to go who cannot go under present [financial circumstances]," counselor Gordon B. Hinckley explains. "This will extend the opportunity for missionary service to an enlarged body of our young men." Instead the annual number of new missionaries levels off. The annual convert baptisms decline more than 7 percent each year rather than increasing by the same proportion as before.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1986: BYU's administration prepares a document for its external accreditation review, including: "BYU administrators are advised not to publish in 'Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought,' nor to participate in 'Sunstone' symposia.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
To see the whole database in chronological order, Click here. Note that I'm not done entering all the information. While most of these facts come from Quinn's book, I'm seeking the primary sources for each, but this will take a long time.
1859: non-Mormon judge convicts three Mormons (two of them policemen) for conspiracy in Parrish familiy's murder. Under immunity two LDS men testify that Springville bishop ordered the killings because the Parrishes were leaving Utah with unpaid tithing. Shot to death, the bodies are left with slit throats as "blood atonement."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1881: in a meeting of stake presidents with the First Presidency and apostles: "Before parties can be recommended to the Temples or house of the Lord, they must be rebaptised & must be tithing payers."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1896: The First Presidency and Presiding Bishop resolve a decade of controversy over who controls church finances in practical terms. The Trustee-in-Trust resumes governance.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1899: Lorenzo Snow presides at the Salt Lake temple monthly fast meeting: "Sister Maria Y Dougall bore her testimony and wound up by speaking in tongues which struck me as the finest expression of that beautiful gift to which I had ever listened and when Aunt Zina [H. Young] interpreted it[,] it was sweet in deed."
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1932: Heber J. Grant launches a campaign against the use of tobacco as part of his emphasis on observing the Word of Wisdom by total abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1947: George Albert Smith's announcement (later described as "a revelation") that mission presidents are to have counselors. Apostle Sepncer W. Kimball later says that the revelation's text exists but is not to be published.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1959: Apostle Spencer W. Kimball attends his first temple meeting since his return from touring missions in South America. He emphasizes to the First Presidency and the Twelve the special problem in Latin America's "Catholic countries [where] divorce could not be obtained" and "some set up new households without legal sanction... When such people wished to join the [LDS] Church the missionaries would not baptize them, since technically they lived in adultery." Kimball's authorized biography notes that he successfully persuades the First Presidency to adopt a policy that "such couples could be baptized if they showed that they had done what they could to legalize their relationship, had been faithful to one another, had met responsibility to their previous [and only legal] family, and had conformed to the expectations of custom." From 1959 onward it is the LDS church policy to baptize, ordain, and give temple ordinances to any Latin American man complying with the above requirements, even though he is living with a woman in a legally unmarried relationship defined as adulterous by "the law of the land" where they live.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1974: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives an "Oscar" to two Mormons: Kieth Merrill (director, documentary 'The Great American Cowboy') and James Payne (set design, 'The Sting'). They are the first Mormon winners in 33 years, but LDS nominees are Leigh Harline (music scores, 1943, 1944, 1963), Arnold Friberg (art work, 'The Ten Commandments,' 1956), Russ Tamblyn (supporting actor, 'Peyton Place,' 1957). Tamblyn also receives a Golden Globe award in 1956 as the "most promising newcomer," as does LDS Ruth Buzzi in 1973 for her supporting role in television's 'Laugh-In.' Within days, the Council on International Non-theatrical Events (CINE) gives its "Golden Eagle" award to Brigham Young University for "Cipher in the Snow," which receives international distribution among schools and various religious denominations. In 1989 the LDS church and Bonneville International also receive two Golden Eagle awards for their "Homefront" public-service advertisements. Individual Mormons who win a Golden Eagle include Curt Bestor (1988) and Martin L. Andersen (1994).
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1977: Richard G. Scott is sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is the first general authority with extensive experience in what U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower called "the military-industrial complex." Scott served as a nuclear engineer at a weapons research laboratory in Oakridge, Tennessee, and developed nuclear submarines for twelve years on the staff of Admiral Hyman Rickover. Scott becomes a member of the Twelve in 1988.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1982: The First Presidency announces two changes to lessen the financial burdens on church members. First, church headquarters henceforth pays for all the costs of meetinghouse construction. This relieves local members of the requirement to finance their construction in addition to paying tithing. Second, the service of male missionaries is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. "It is anticipated that this shortened term will make it possible for many to go who cannot go under present [financial circumstances]," counselor Gordon B. Hinckley explains. "This will extend the opportunity for missionary service to an enlarged body of our young men." Instead the annual number of new missionaries levels off. The annual convert baptisms decline more than 7 percent each year rather than increasing by the same proportion as before.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
1986: BYU's administration prepares a document for its external accreditation review, including: "BYU administrators are advised not to publish in 'Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought,' nor to participate in 'Sunstone' symposia.
Source: See The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn
To see the whole database in chronological order, Click here. Note that I'm not done entering all the information. While most of these facts come from Quinn's book, I'm seeking the primary sources for each, but this will take a long time.
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