Today in Mormon History - Jun 19

[TodayInMormonHistory]

On this day in Mormon History
http://TodayInMormonHistory.com/

-- 195 years ago today - Jun 19, 1831 --

Colesville saints inquire of Joseph being poor and without farmland. Section 54 of the D&C is revealed in response. Newel Knight is appointed the leader of this company and they moved from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. After this point, legal deeds of ownership were transferred as part of the Law of Consecration. Edward leaves family with measles and is so exhausted, he fell off his horse while travelling with the company. (1)
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[Joseph Smith]
Starts for Missouri to designate the -"land of Zion.-" (2)
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-- 190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836 --

Book of Mormon witnesses Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Apostle Lyman E. Johnson, and Mormon editor William W. Phelps flee for their lives after receiving a written death-threat signed by Danite chief Sampson Avard, two members of the First Presidency, and eighty other Danites. This is two days after Sidney Rigdon announced that the church will now fulfill the commandment to treat dissenters as "salt" to be "trodden under the foot of men."
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Wilford Woodruff writes that "A state's warrant was issued against D[avid] W. Patten, Warren Parrish and Wilford Woodruff, . . . Elders Patten and Parrish were taken by an armed mob of about fifty, . . . I was in another county, and therefore not taken. We were accused of prophesying falsely, by saying that four persons who were baptized should receive the Holy Ghost in twenty-four hours, and that Christ should come the second time before this generation passed away." Three days later Patten and Parrish are "condemned . . . Without any cause of Guilt found in them & after condemning they let them go clear."
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Lorenzo Snow is baptized in the Chagrin River near Kirtland, Ohio. (He is twenty-two years and two months old.)
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-- 185 years ago today - Jun 19, 1841 --

James Murdock writes to the CONGREGATIONAL OBSERVER of his interview with William Smith, LDS Apostle and brother of Joseph Smith: "About the year 1823, there was a revival of religion in that region, and Joseph was one of several hopeful converts. The others were joining, some one church, and some another in that vicinity, but Joseph hesitated between the different denominations. While his mind was perplexed with this subject, he prayed for divine direction; and afterwards was awaked one night by an extraordinary vision. The glory of the Lord filled the chamber with a dazzling light, and a glorious angel appeared to him, conversed with him, and told him that he was a chosen vessel unto the Lord to make known true religion."
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-- 120 years ago today - Jun 19, 1906; Tuesday --

$250. was paid to Fred W. Clemons in payment of the old hand press on which the first edition of the Book of Mormon was printed; said press having been received and set up in the press room of the Deseret News building. (3)
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-- 110 years ago today - Jun 19, 1916 --
[First Presidency letter]
To Bishoprics of Wards, Dear Brethren:

At the Stake Clerks' meeting, held during the late general conference, definite instructions were sought for in regard to making a record of cases of transgression of young people who make public confession of their wrongdoing and are forgiven.

No record should be made of this class of cases, nor of cases of the same character of a strictly private nature considered by a Bishop or Bishopric, but a record should be made and kept of cases of fornication or adultery tried in the regular way by the Bishop's court.

This question has also been asked:

At which of the meetings should persons guilty of unchastity be required to make confession, at the general meeting of the members of the ward, at the fast meeting, or at the monthly priesthood meeting?

Answer: The regulation of confessions should be left to the Bishopric of the ward in which the wrongdoing occurs, each case considered by them on its own merits, and disposed of according to the publicity already given to it. For instance, where people guilty of adultery or fornication confess their sin, and their transgression is known to themselves only, their confession should not be made public. But where publicity has been given to it their confession should be made before the priesthood of the ward at the regular monthly meeting; or, if it be deemed advisable that a still more public confession be made, such a confession should be made at the monthly fast meeting, and not at the regular Sunday services. ...

As a rule therefore where the transgression is known to but few, the confession (if required at all) should be made at the priesthood meeting, and only in cases where the offense has become a public scandal and reproach to the Church, should the more public confession be required. Your Brethren, JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency. (4)
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-- 75 years ago today - Jun 19, 1951 --

Look magazine publishes Gordon B. Hinckley's response to an article, "The Mormons: We Are a Peculiar People," one of his earliest exposures in the national media.
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1 - Exploring Mormonism: The Law of Consecration Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/the-law-of-consecration-timeline/
2 - Highlights in the Prophet's Life, Ensign, June 1994
3 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
4 - 1916-June 19-Original letter. Church Historian's Library, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)