Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-199 6 pp746-898 1848 Jan 14 - Birgham Young instructs

Seventy's meeting: "For the first act of adulte ry you may forgive a man, but if a man beds with [a] woman & does it 10 times he [is] guilty." Jan 17 - bshop's court orders Salt Lake City marshal to give horse thief "39 las hes on the bare back." Jan 24 - Mormons discharged from Mormon Battalion and now working at John Sutter 's mill participate in discovery of gold there. This leads to Gold Rush of 1849 wish aids Salt Lake City's economy. Mar 11 girls ptized until - Benjamin Covey is excommunicated for having sexual intercourse with two "less than Twelve years of age" who are his foster daughters. He is reba and serves as bishop of Salt Lake City Twelfth Ward from 22 February 1849 1856.

Mar 17 - Hosea Stout tells Salt Lake high council: "It has been my duty to hunt out the rotten spots in this K[ingdom]. . . . even now I have a list [of] who wi ll deny the faith." Stout reassures the council that "I av tried not to handle a man's case until it was right." May 27 - "Today to our utter astonishment, the crickets came by millions, sweepi ng everything before them." Seagulls, no strangers to settlers in small numbers , arrive in dense flocks to devour crickets but not in time to save whole fields from destruction. Although plublished letter by First Presidency and LDS sermo ns refer to this even in non-miraculous terms for several years, anti-Mormon War saw Signal of 17 Nov. 1849 shows that Mormons soon describe this experience as d ivine intervention: "This year, as the story goes--the Lord sent immense numbers of gulls from the Lake, to devour the crickets." Seagulls descend during crick et infestations in 1849 and 1850, but apparently not until 1853 does general aut hority (Orson Hyde) publicly describe the 1848 seagull visitation as miraculous. The "Miracle of the Seagulls" is now memorialized by statue on Salt Lake Templ e Square and by adoption of seagull as Utah's state bird. Sept 20 - Birgham Young returns to Salt Lake City and never again leaves Great B asin. Oct 9 - arsonist burns Nauvoo temple. Its ruins are leveled by tornado on 27 Ma y 1850. Nov 12 - Book of Mormon witness Oliver Cowdery is baptized into LDS church. Dec 3 - Apostle Lyman Wight is excommunicated for his pamphlet against successio n leadership of Brigham Young over LDS church. 1849 Jan 1 - "Uncle John" Smith (b. 1781) is ordained as "Patriarch over the Church." He has served in that capacity since 1845. The newly organized First Presiden cy privately sustained him to that position on 6 Dec. 1847, and church conferenc e publicly did so on 27 Dec. Jan 2 - Brigham young and Heber C. Kimball of First Presidency and Presiding Bis hop Newel K. Whitney sign first paper bills of "Valley Currency." Second issue

three days later includes $1,331 worth of re-issued notes from failed Kirtland S afetly Society Bank. Jan 6 - high council at Kanesville, Iowa, excommunicates two Mormons for counter feiting coins. Investigations into Feb., but council takes no action against tw o members of theocratic Council of Fifty involved: John M. Bernhisel (who transp orts counterfeiting equipment to Iowa) and Theodore Turley (mechanic who works w ith the dies and press). Apostles George A. Smith and Ezra T. Benson allude to their involvement in letter to First Presidency on 27 Mar. Turley is Brigham You ng's father-in-law. Feb 1 - first counselor Heber C. Kimball tells Sunday meeting that plural marria ge "would end he said when the Church had gon[e] to the Devil or the Priesthood taken from this people [--] then God would give it to another people." Feb 7 - William A. Hickman's afidavit in first issue of church's Frontier Guardi an: "I do hereby solemnly declare that Mr. [Orson] Hyde never induced me to comm it violence on the person of any man, either white or red." Apostle Hyde is edi tor. Feb 12 - Twelve Ordain new men as apostles to fill administrative vacancies in q uorum caused by service of three apostles in First Presidency. Lorenzo Snow is first apostle who has attended college (at Oberlin College). At this meeting Br ighm Young refers to himself as "king & Prest." This shows that Council of Fift y has already ordained Young to theocratic office of King. Mar 3 - at Council of Fifty meeting, Brigham Young speaks concerning thieves, mu rderers, and sexually licentious: "I want their cursed heads to be cut off that they may atone for their crimes." Next day, Council agrees that man has "forfeit ed his Head," and decides it would be best "to dispose of him privately." Inste ad, they allow him to live. Mar 5 - organization of theocratic State of Deseret, which is denied statehood i n 1850. Mar 13 - Apostle George A. Smith writes sixteen-year-old Joseph Smith III, askin g him to come to Utah, with or without his mother. Mar 17 - Brigham young instructs Council of Fifty regarding two imprisoned men ( one of them referred to on 3 Mar.): "he would show them that he was not afraid t o take their Head but do as you please with them." Council allows them to live. Mar 27 - Apostles Orson Hyde, George A. Smith, and Ezra T. Benson write Young th at Council of Fifty member Peter Haws complains that "Twelve men had swallowed u p theirty eight." Council members George Miller, Lyman Wight, and Lucien Woodwo rth also claim that Quorum of Twelve usurped Fifty's theocratic prerogatives aft er 1844. Today Smith retorts that Council of Fifty is "nothing but a debating S chool." Mar 28 - at organization of Utah's Nauvoo Legion, Hosea Stout notes: "John Pack & John D. Lee were each put in nomination for Majors by regular authority & both most contemptuously hissed down. When any person is thus duly nominated I neve r b efore knew the people to reject it [--] But on this occasion it appears that they are both a perfect stink in every body's nose." Apr 29 - First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve make following decisions concerni ng sex in marriage: "not to unite with a woma in view of impregnation till 7 day s after the cessation of the menstrual discharge in order for the most healthy p rocreation. also that after childbirth if delivered of a son she should continue 40 days in her purification [without sexual intercourse with her husband]. If a

daughter she [the new mother] should be 70 days separated as unclean for a man. As to sexual connexion during pregnancy [,do] just as they please about that [ --] suit themselves." This is earliest known LDS discussion of what is appropria te in sexual relations of married couples. These rules are based on Book of Lev iticus, rather than on current medical writings. June 1 - Orson Hyde writes Brigham Young, "Brother Hickman . . . is sometimes a little rash and may shoot an innocent Indian, mistaking him for an Omaha horse t hief." July 8 - Birgham Young preaches, "if any one was catched stealing to shoot them dead on the spot and they should not be hurt for it." July 21 - Addison Pratt, departing missionary, receives endowment given on Ensig n Peak. July 24 - first mass celebration of Pioneer Day; first LDS historical even to be "ritualized." Sept 9 - James H. Mulholland writes anti-Mormon Thomas Sharp from Iowa to inform him that "I was present last fall when I seen a man hired with a promise of fiv e hundred dollars to go to your place [at Warsaw, Illinois] and take your life. . . . the man that hired Bill Hickman to come and murder you was [Apostle] Orson Hyde." Mulholland is already excommunicated, and Hyde publishes denial of his claim in Jan. 1850. Oct 3 - Frontier Guardian observes that "Mr. Jonathan Browning is manufacturing some of the most splendid revolving rifles that we ever saw." He invents one of "the earliest known American repeating rifles" when he moves to Nauvoo in 1842. Establishes gunsmith shop in Ogden, Utah where he continues making his unpaten ted "six-shot repeater." His son John M. Browning is "the father of modern fire arms." Oct 7 - Brigham Young instructs his special counselor, Presiding patriarch John Smith, to select men to go to California on "Gold Mission" for church. Among "F orty-Niners" who travel to California are about fifty gold-digging Mormon missio naries. Oct 17 - Frontier Guardian editorial "Dancing" observes: "Among the Saints, it i s regarded not only as a civil recreation, but a religious exercise when conduct ed by the sanction and under the government of the Church." Dec 9 - Richard Ballentyne begins teaching Sunday school as own activity in Salt Lake City. In 1867 Deseret Sunday School Union becomes churchwide, centrally d irected program with George Q. Cannon as first general superintendent. In 1934 LDS headquarters adopts junior Sunday school program which was independently est ablished in local wards. Like Sunday schools, churchwide programs for young men , primary children, high school seminary, adult Aaronic priesthood, Welfare Plan , and Indian Placement begin as local innovations without central church directi on. All LDS auxiliaries, except Religion Classes in 1890, are modeled on pre-ex isting programs of Protestant denominations. Only Relief Society, young women's program, and Religion Classes have direction of headquarters at outset. 1850 Feb 28 - incorporation of University of Deseret (later Utah). Mar 14 - Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri checks out Book of Mormon from Lib rary of Congress. He does not return it until 3 June 1851, first national leade r to voluntarily show interest in Mormon scriptures.

Apr 7 - Brigham Young is Trustee-in-Trust, first time for LDS president since 18 44. Jun 15 - first issue of church's Deseret News, which includes astrological alman acs. July 8 - James J. Strang is publicly crowned "King of Zion" at St. James, Beaver Island, Michigan. Ceremony is performed by George J. Adams, former member of J oseph Smith's Council of Fifty. Non-believers and apostates murder Strang in 18 56. Sept 9 - official establishment of Territory of Utah by federal government which also appoints Brigham young as Utah's first governor on 20 Sept. Sept 14 - incorporation of Perpetual Emigrating Company by General Assembly of S tate of Deseret. Before federal government forces its disincorporation in 1887, PEF assists more than third of all European immigrants to Utah. 1851 Jan 15 - first of Brigham Young's five formal divorces from plural wives. He is only one formally divorced while serving as church president. Joseph Smith inf ormally ended several plural marriages, and four LDS presidents are formally div orced as apostles (John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Sm ith). Jan 19 - Utah legislature enacts law against "Sodomy" by "any man or boy," but r emoves sodomy from criminal code on 6 Mar. 1852, without explanation. As govern or Birgham young signs both laws. Due to absence of sodomy statute, Utah judge drops charges against soldier for raping LDS boy in 1864. Young claims Utah's l egislators never criminalized sodomy and he declines to instruct them to do so f or next twelve years. Utah legislators criminalize sodomy in 1876 only because federally appointed governor asks them to adopt entire criminal code of Californ ia which has five-year imprisonment for sodomy. For next twenty years LDS judge s give 3-6 months of imprisonment to those convicted of homosexual rape, the sam e sentencing given to young males and females convicted of consensual fornicatio n. Mormons of this era give no known explanations for any of these legislative and judicial actions/inactions. Feb 4 - incorporation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Feb 20 - endowment ceremony is again administered on regular basis in such place s as Birgham Young's office and upper room of Council House. Mar 17 - Brigham Young speaks in favor of Madison D. Hambleton who is being trie d for shooting and killing man at LDS church services, immediately after closing prayer. The man "seduced" wife of hambleton who is "acquitted by the Court and also by the Voice of the people present." Hambleton later becomes sheriff in Ut ah. Mar 28 - General Assembly of State of Deseret dissolves itself to accept jurisdi ction of Territory of Utah. In most elections from 1851 to 1869, 99 percent of Utah's voters choose church-approved candidates. Ballots are marked to show how persons vote. Apr 7 - Brigham Young is sustained "prophet, seer, and revelator," first time si nce 1836. He presents himself this way at conferences until 1869 and again, 187 2 to his death.

Apr 20 - Alpheus Cutler is excommunicated for leading group opposed to Young. Aug 22 - at Council of Fifty meeting Phineas H. Young admits plotting with India ns to kill Apostle Orson Hyde in Iowa, because Hyde ordered someone to kill Phin eas. Hyde mentions William A. Hickman but doesn't admit responsibility for an a ttempt on Phineas' life. Brigham successfully reconciles these two members of t he Fifty. Sept 9 - Brigham Young has conference covenant to accept and obey Word of Wisdom as commandment and to accept excommunication for non-payment of tithing. Churc h leaders do not consistently enforce either practice until 20th century. Oct 4 - Brigham Young signs law legalizing all laws passed previously by State o f Deseret. He adjourns poorly attended meeting of Fifty, does not reconvene it for 15 years. Oct 18 - trial of confessed murderer (and newly returned LDS missionary) Howard Egan. His lawyer Apostle George A. Smith popularizes phrase "mountain common la w" and argues: "The man who seduces his neighbor's wife must die, and her neares t relative must kill him!" Fifteen minutes later jury finds Egan not guilty of murder. Church authorities print Smith's full closing argument in Deseret News, in two pamphlets, and later in Journal of Discourses 1:97. Egan is on of Brigh am Young's enforcers. Dec 15 - Baron von Gerolt, Prussia's minister to United States, checks out Book of Mormon from Library of Congress. He returns it 16 Feb. 1852. This Berlin di plomat is first representative of foreign government to show interest in Mormon scripture. Brigham Young reports to April 1852 conference that this ambassador requests copies of all LDS publications on behalf of Prussian monarch who "wishe d to investigate our doctrine." Dec 27 - Governor Brigham Young officially proclaims 1 January 1852 as "a day of Praise and Thanksgiving." In 1863 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln does likewise . 1852 Jan 23 - Brigham young instructs Utah Legislature to legalize slavery because "w e must believe in slavery." Feb 5 - Brigham Young announces policy of denying priesthood to all those of bla ck African ancestry, even "if there never was a prophet, or apostle of Jesus Chr ist spoke it before" because "negroes are the children of old Cain. . . .any man having one drop of the seed of Cain in him cannot hold the priesthood." Contra ry to Joseph Smith's example in authorizing the ordination of Elijah Abel, this is LDS policy for next 126 years. -Young announces this policy in connection wi th Utah legislature's legalization of African-American slavery. The law provide s for only one intereference with property rights of slave-owners: "if any maste r or mistress shall have sexual or carnal intercourse with his or her servant or servants of the African race, he or she shall forfeit all claim to said servant or servants to the commonwealth; and if any white person shall be guilty of sex ual intercourse with any of the African race, they shall be subject, on convicti o nthereof, to a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars, nor less than five hundred, to the use of the Territory, and imprisonment not exceeding three years ." Feb 7 - Utah's legislature legalizes voluntary indentured servitude, and authori zes county selectmen or probate courts to put into indentured servitude "any idl e, vicious or vagrant minor child without his or her consent, or the consent of the parent or guardian of such minor child, if such parent or guardian neglects,

refuses, or otherwise fails in properly controlling the actions and education o f such minor, and does not train him or her up in some useful avocation." Mar 7 - Utah law allows whites to "purchase" Native Americans from Indian or Mex ican slave-owners in order to prevent these captives from being killed. Purchas er must "immediately go" before county selectment or probate judge who will "bin d out the same, by indenture for the term of not exceeding twenty years." Mormo ns are prohibited from owning Indian slaves, butr can own African-American slave s. Apr 6-9 - at conference in England, Apostle Franklin D. Richards calls men to ne w office of "pastor." Officxe continues until 1860, when it is changed to "dist rict president." Apr 9 - Brigham Young's first published sermon that Adam "is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom We have to do." For the next twenty-five years, Young speaks about so-called "Adam-God doctrine"in numerous sermons, most of wh ich he publishes. In this same sermon Young says: "The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord, and issues forth from Himself. . . . The Lord fills the immensity of space." May 12 - William A. Hickman tells Mosiah Lyman Hancock, a loyal Mormon, that Bri gham Young instructs him to "kill Gentiles [non-Mormons] and take their property for the good of the Church," but Young denies this to Hancock on 3 July. Aug 29 - first public announcement of previous denied practice of plural marriag e. Contemporary reports show this causes extensive disaffection among British Mo rmons. Nov 12 - all LDS missionaries in Norway are in jail for preaching; released 5 Ma y 1853. Dec 16 - Brigham Young, as Utah governor, issues "free Pardon for Jerome Owens w ho had been condemned to die for murder in first degree by Judge of first Judici al District." -Thomas Ellerbeck writes that Young requests "the privilege of goi ng in and out of the House without being molested by their rising" in his honor. About 100 years later this practice reemerges among Mormons to honor LDS presi dent. 1853 Jan 19 - first theatrical performance in Social Hall, Salt Lake City. Soon ther e are full performances of such classic stage productions as Othello and She Sto ops to Conquer. Feb 20 - Brigham Young speaks concerning Mormons who say the judgment of living prophets "is superior to mine, and consequently I let you judge for me." He say s that such Latter-day Saints do not possess "the true independence of heaven," and consequently "will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming gods." Y oung says that Mormons should depend on "the influences of the Holy Spirit" and "their own understanding." Feb 28 - Millard Fillmore writes Utah's congressional delegate John M. Bernhisel (a member of Council of Fifty), "my thanks for the beautiful copy of the 'Book of Mormon.'" Fillmore is apparently first U.S. president to accept copy of Book of Mormon but may not ha ve even opened it. He appoints Brigham Young as Utah's first governor who grate fully names Fillmore, Utah, as territorial capital from 1851 to 1858.

Mar 11 - Church Historian's Office records death of Ike Hatch and notes that "Bi ll Hickman" ambushes him in "Big Field." HIckman later writes that LDS presiden t expresses satisfaction for his killing a man whom "Brigham wanted me to watch. " Apr 6 - cornerstone laying ceremony for Salt Lake temple. Brigham Young publish es this description of endowment: "Your endowment is, to receive all those ordin ances in the House of Lord, which are necessary to you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the si gns and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltat ion in spite of earth and hell." June 12 - John Taylor: "If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it." July 18 - beginning of Walker War between Mormons and Indians. Ends in May 1854 . July 24 - Brigham Young preaches, "The Father came down in his [bodily] tabernac le and begot Jesus." Aug 4 - Apostle Amasa M. Lyman begins acting as medium in spiritualistic seances in San Bernardino, California. After being dropped from Quorum of Twelve in 18 67 and excommunicated in 1870, in seances with such prominent Mormons or former Mormons as T.B.H. Stenhouse, E.L.T. Harrison, William S. Godbe, William H. Shear man, Henry W. Lawrence, Theodore turley, Sarah B. Pratt, Andrew F. Cahoon, Arthu r Stayner, John V. Long, Nathan Tanner, Sr., and Emma Brown Teasdale (wife of fu ture apostle George Teasdale). Founding prophet's son David H. Smith also joins some of these seances while visiting Utah. Sept 11 - Brigham Young says there will be temple in Scotland. Joseph Smith onc e made similar promise to Apostle Parley P. Pratt. Sept 20 - "Uncle John" Smith, Presiding Patriarch, confers upon his son, Apostle George A. Smith, "all the keys of the Patriarchal Priesthood that ever was seal ed upon any man on the earth." Despite Presiding Patriarch's dying request in 1 854 that his son be his successor, Brigham young instead chooses oldest son of m artyred Hyrum Smith. Oct 23 - Brigham young preaches, "Many received heavenly visions, revelations, t he ministering of holy angels, and the manifestations of the power of God . . . before the ordinances of the house of God were preached to the people." Nov 1 - first issue of British Mission's Journal of Discourses, most famous coll ection of Mormon sermons which had been published previously in Deseret News. Dec 22 - formation of phonetic Deseret Alphabet, which LDS leaders try to make s tandard written language of Mormon Utah. Formal announcement is on 19 Jan. 1854 . 1854 Jan 3 - Brigham Young invites Elijah Abel, free black and ordained Seventy, to p arty with 98 other men in Social Hall. Some of these parties are male-only danc es. Feb 19 - Seventy's president Jedediah m. Grant preaches: "Did the Prophet Joseph want every man's wife he asked for? He did not . . ."

Feb 20 - William H. Dame receives patriarchal blessing: "Thou shalt be called to act at the head of a portion of thy brethren and of the Lamanites in the redemp tion of Zion and the avenging of the blood of the Prophets." He orders Mountain Meadows Massacre. May 3 - month after Brigham young publicly condemns and excommunicates lawyer Je sse T. Hartley, he starts for eastern states, apparently without Young's safe-co nduct pass. William A. Hickman murders him during trip with Apostle Orson Hyde and Hosea Stout in canyon. Stout's diary verifies Hickman's later account of th is. June 8 - upon meeting non-Mormon friend, LDS convert of less than two years writ es: "He is on of my old Friends, on that I loved and in whose society I have spe nt many many hours, but now I have nothing to say." Such awkwardness around nonMormons is common response of many Mormons, whether converted or born into LDS c hurch. July 4 - Brigham Young preaches that U.S. Constitution is not complete, but "it is a progressive--a gradual work." July 16 - first counselor Heber C. Kimball recommends decapitation for adulterer s and preaches concerning "unclean" women: "we wipe them out of existence." July 21 - Salt Lake City court "release[s]" Thomas Burke from being "a bound boy " to Mormon man who mistreats him as "white" indentured servant. July 27 - Deseret News publishes 12 Mar. sermon of second counselor Jedediah M. Grant: "But if the Latter Day Saints should put to death the covenant breakers, it would try the faith of the very meek, just, and pious among them, and it woul d cause a great deal of whining in Israel . . . and it is also their right to ki ll a sinner to save him, when he commits those crimes that can only be atoned fo r by shedding his blood." Oct 6 - Orson Hyde preaches, "The world was peopled before the days of Adam, as much so as it was before the days of Noah." Oct 8 - in what Apostle Wilford Woodruff describes as "the greatest sermon that ever was delivered to the Latter day Saints since they have been a people," Brig ham Young announces: "I beleive [sic] in Sisters marrying brothers, and brothers haveing [sic] their sisters for Wives. Why? because we cannot do otherwise. There are none others for me to marry but my sisters. . . . Our spirits are all brothers and sisters, and so are our bodies; and the opposite idea has resulted from the ignorant, and foolish traditions of the nations of the earth." Young's secretary George D. Watt has already married his own half-sister as a plural wi fe. Her letter to Young shows that he was initially "unfavorable" toward allowi ng them to marry, but this sermon reveals theological basis for young's authoriz ing Watt's brother-sister marriag and the three children born of their union. Oct 26 - Bishop publishes notice in Deseret News that Enoch M. King is disfellow shipped "for repeatedly refusing to conform to the rules of said Church, in the law of Tithing." Oct 31 - public reading of written revelation to Brigham young "directing him to sell the Church property here and move south with the Church." Text unavailable . Dec 20 - Polysophical Society organizes with Apostle Lorenzo Snow as president. Women and men lecture and participate in discussions on equal basis. Brigham Y oung soon organizes male-dominated Deseret Theological Institute as competition.

1855 Feb 4 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff describes "some of the strongest preaching ever delivered to the Saints." First rebaptisms of Utah Reformation occur in wards (like Payson) as early as 14 April 1855. Feb 18 - Orson Pratt preaches: "I will tell you what I believe in regard to the Holy Ghost's being a person: but I know of no revelation that states that this i s the fact." Apr 7 - Brigham Young establishes Deseret Theological Institute which is open to women who comprise 37 percent of its membership. However, women do not lecture on same equality they experience in non-institutional Polysophical Society. Apr 27 - lieutenant in Colonel E. J. Steptoe's command at Salt Lake City writes friend about his romance and near seduction of wife of Brigham Young's son Josep h (who is on mission): "Mary [Ayers] Young I had to give up. Brigham sent me wo rd -- that if I took her away he would have me killed before I could get out of the Territory. He is a man of his word in little matters of this sort and I con cluded I had better not do it, although I went back to the city purposely to get her. We wrote each other affectionate notes." May 5 - dedication of Salt Lake Endowment House, and inauguration of first Thurs day of each month as day of fasting and prayer, with "testimony meeting" during day. June 26 - Indian Territory Mission established to proselytize among Cherokees an d Creeks in what is now Oklahoma. Directed almost exclusively toward Native Ame ricans, mission closes in 1877, reopens in 1883 with increasing efforts toward A nglos. Aug 5 - Brigham Young tells apostles that after final judgment those consigned t o terrestrial and telestial kingdoms will "eventually have the privilege of prov eing [sic] themselves worthy & advancing to a celestial kingdom but it would be a slow progress." Oct 8 - Young's counselors, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant are each sust ained as "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator." Not since 1841 have Presidency counsel ors been publicly announced in this manner. He has had this public title since April 1851. Nov 22 - Brigham Young secretly ordains his eleven-year-old son John W. an apost le in connection with receiving the endowment. He also ordains his eighteen-yea r-old son Brigham Jr as apostle, either this day or (more likely) at his namesak e's endowment a few days earlier. The Twelve doesn't learn of these ordinations for almost nine years. In later years he secretly ordains two other sons as ap ostles. 1856 Feb 23 - Brigham young exhibits brown seer stone obtained from Oliver Cowdery's widow. He explains that Smith used this stone to find gold plates of Book of Mo rmon. Mar 17 - unsuccessful convention seeking statehood. Apr 6 - Presiding Bishopric given permanent organization (first and second couns elors). Jun 9 - first handcart pioneers leave Iowa City, and arrive by foot in Salt ZLak

e City 26 Sept. Aug 31 - Brigham Young publicly prophesies that by 1882 "Elders of this Church w ill be as much thought of as the kings." Sept 21 - first counselor Heber C. Kimball preaches: "You cannot see God, you ca nnot behold Him and hold converse with Him." Sept 24 - due to report that Stephen A. Douglas has called Utah's Mormons "an ul cer on the body politic," Deseret News publishes Joseph Smith's 1843 prophecy: " Judge [Douglas], you will aspire to the Presidency of the United States," with h is warning of failure if he turns against Mormons. Douglas is defeated for pres idency in 1860; dies next year. Oct 1 - typical Deseret News report of Reformation meetings, Jedediah M. Grant p resides over three days of meetings at Farmington, utah, where he speaks seven t imes, prayer four times, and during which 450 are rebaptized. Oct 8 - second counselor Jedediah M. Grant declares that Polysophical Society is "a stink in his nostrils," Heber C. Kimball agrees. They regard its equality o f female participation as "an adulterous spirit." The society does not survive this general conference. Oct 9 - in midst of Utah Reformation's frenzy, Apostle Wilford Woodruff notes, " The spirit of God is like flame among the Leaders of this people & they are thro wing the arrows of the Almighty among the people." Nov 4 - at meeting with stake presidencies, ward bishoprics, and local quorum pr esidents, Brigham Young presents catechism for every Mormon to answer. Among qu estions: Have you ever committed murder, shed innocent blood, or given your cons ent thereto? Have you ever committed adultery? Have you ever spoken evil of th e church authorities or anointed ofo the Lord? Have you ever betrayed your bret hren? Have you ever stolen or taken anything that was not your own? Have you e ver taken the name of God in vain? Have you ever been drunk? Do you pay all yo ur tithing? Do you teach your children the gospel? Do you pray in your family night and morning? Do you attend your ward meetings? Do you pray in secret? D o you wash your bodies once a week? At this meeting, Young answered only the la st question: "Said that he did not. He had tried it. He was well aware that th is was not for everybody." Nov 9 - arrival in Salt Lake City of Willie handcart company after loss of sixty -eight persons who freeze or starve to death in mountains. Martin handcart comp any arrives on 30 Nov after about 150 similar deaths. This total death rate of 22 percent is worst of any Mormon emigrant companies. With better planning, han dcarts bring thousands of European Mormons to Utah for another four years with f ew deaths. Nov 26 - Deseret News publishes new hymn, "The Reformation," with fourth verse: "We ought our Bishops to sustain,/ Their counsels to abide/ And knock down every dwelling/ Where wicked folks reside." Dec 22 - At Seventy's meeting apostles ask six subordinate members of First Coun cil to resign. Some do temporarily but are reinstated. A week later several ap ostles offer to resign from Quorum of Twelve. Dec 28 - apostles preach that First Presidency has "retired from our midst becau se the people will not do as they are told," and the apostles also threatened to leave and take the "Holy Priesthood . . . into the wilderness among the Lamanit es, or to the Ten tribes." Brigham Young has already stopped administering sacr ament to Utah's Mormons.

Dec 30 - eight days after his excommunication, Mormons make night raid on office of Judge George P. Stiles and burns his law library in a privy. Anti-Mormon of ficials use this incident to falsely claim that Mormons have destroyed federal r ecords. 1857 Jan 11 - first counselor Heber C. Kimball preaches "against wild enthusiasm." Fi rst official reference that religious zeal of Utah Reformation is getting out of control.