TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: January

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1836 - Joshua Seixas arrives in Kirtland, Ohio, and begins teaching Hebrew to the Prophet Joseph and the others attending Hebrew school in the Kirtland Temple. The class is held from ten to eleven a.m. and again from two until three p.m.. The Prophet wrote, "His instruction pleased me much" (History of the Church, 2:386).

1839 - The exodus of the Saints from Missouri to Illinois and Iowa begins as a result of mob activity and Missouri Governor Lilburn W. Bogg's October 1838 extermination order. The order to the Missouri Militia stated, "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state." With the Prophet Joseph and other Church leaders in Liberty Jail, the exodus took place under the direction of the senior member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Brigham Young, and was a precursor to the great exodus west from Nauvoo to Utah that began seven years later in 1846. Of great concern was the removal of the poor and destitute. A meeting was held on this date in Far West, Missouri, and a committee was organized to write an appeal to the citizens of the area to help in their removal out of the state.

1845 - News reached Nauvoo, Illinois, that the Illinois State Legislature had repealed the Nauvoo City Charter. The repeal removed the legal protections of the citizens of the City written into the original city charter. Also on this date, the High Priests met to plan the building of a meeting hall in Nauvoo. Brigham Young recommended that they work to finish the Temple instead, which was approved by the brethren attending the meeting.

1865 - The Church agrees to purchase a six thousand acre plantation in Laie on the island of Oahu for $14,000. This area later becomes the home to Brigham Young University-Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the Laie Hawaii Temple.

1973 - The Aloha Center at the Church College of Hawaii, later BYU-Hawaii, is dedicated by President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency.

2005 - The U.S. Senate unanimously confirms Church member Michael O. Leavitt as Cabinet Secretary for the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

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1800 - Jacob Whitmer, one of the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon, is born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

1842 - The Prophet Joseph recorded that he spent the day in business, met with his recorder and gave some instructions concerning the order of the kingdom, and met in council in the upper room of his store in the evening. During the day he also placed a carpet given to him by Carlos Granger on the floor of his office and received a report from Brigham Young and James Ivins on their visit with Dr. Galland, who had sold land in Nauvoo to the Church.

1845 - In the midst of trying to finish the Temple and hold the Church together, Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sent fifty missionaries on their missions on this date.

1846 - The news came from Springfield, Illinois, that Governor Ford had turned against the Saints and was in favor of putting the county under martial law-suspending all civil offices, and the direct collection of taxes. In contrast, Brigham Young officiated in giving 126 members of the Church their endowments, officiating until 10:00 p.m. and ended up spending the night in the Temple.

1847 - The Mormon Battalion arrives at San Luis Rey Mission in California near San Diego, ending the longest infantry march in United States History. Much of the money paid to the soldiers was sent back to Council Bluffs and given as aid to the soldiers' families. The Mexican War in California ended two weeks before the Mormon Battalion arrived in the San Diego, California area, fulfilling Brigham Young's prophecy that they would "have little or no fighting."

1852 - As a missionary to Hawaii, George Q. Cannon begins translating the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian.

1878 - The first stake in Arizona is organized at the Mormon colonies along the Little Colorado River.

1910 - The Bishop's Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, was dedicated by President Joseph F. Smith. It is the first time the Presiding Bishopric of the Church has its own offices.

1985 - A special fast is held by Church members in the United States and Canada to raise money for the victims of famine in Africa and other parts of the world. The fast raises $6.5 million.

2000 - During his visit to the Pacific Rim countries, President Gordon B. Hinckley met with the President of Indonesia, Abdurranman Wahid, at a dinner in the presidential palace in Jakarta.

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1836 - The Prophet Joseph called all his family together, including his parents, and had dinner and evening together. "This was a good time to me, and all the family rejoiced together" (History of the Church, 2:388). They talked about and rejoiced in the blessings of the gospel.

1839 - The brethren at Far West, Missouri, met again to plan their migration out of the state of Missouri. Brigham Young presented a motion that the brethren covenant to help the poor to safety out of Missouri. Seven brethren were appointed to a committee to organize the effort to help the poor. The committee was William Huntington, Charles Bird, Alanson Ripley, Theodore Turley, Daniel Shearer, Shadrach Roundy, and Jonathan H. Hale. The covenant was written up and signed by eighty individuals the first day and three hundred the second day.

1842 - The Prophet Joseph spent the day in counsel with various individuals. In the evening he met with Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Williard Richards, and others, "showing forth the Kingdom and the order thereof concerning many things, and the will of God concerning His servants" (History of the Church, 4:505).

1843 - The Prophet Joseph spoke in a meeting at the Temple site on the importance of John the Baptist and the Parables of the Savior.

1844 - In a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a few others, they discussed the current candidates for president of the United States. Martin Van Buren, who told the Prophet Joseph "Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you," and Henry Clay, who had told the Saints "You had better go to Oregon for redress." Willard Richards then made a motion for "an independent electoral ticket, and that Joseph Smith be a candidate for the next Presidency" (History of the Church, 6:188). The motion carried and several brethren were called to go out and campaign for the Prophet. The Prophet then met with W. W. Phelps and wrote his pamphlet, "Views on the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States."

1846 - Temple work continued in the Nauvoo Temple with 133 persons receiving their endowments. There were a large number of the governor's troops in Nauvoo reportedly looking for leaders of the Church to arrest. A letter came from Samuel Brannan stating that he had learned that the government intended to stop the Saints from leaving the country.

1847 - The Mormon Battalion arrives at the San Diego Mission, the oldest Spanish mission in California. This ends the 103-day march from Fort Leavenworth, traveling approximately two thousand miles, the longest military march in United States History.

1888 - The Saints dedicated the first meetinghouse of the Church in Canada at Lee's Creek, now known as Cardston, Alberta.

1972 - The Adult Aaronic Priesthood program is renamed the Prospective Elders program.

1980 - The first branch of the Church in the Canary Islands is organized in Las Palmas.

2005 - The Church receives full recognition in Chile, enabling it to be treated as an equal, accepted and mainstream religion in Chile.

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1831 - After visiting the Prophet Joseph Smith in New York, Sidney Rigdon returns home to Ohio barring a strong witness and testimony of the Prophet's calling and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

1836 - The Prophet Joseph attended Hebrew school in the morning as usual. He showed Mr. Seixas (the Hebrew teacher) and several visitors, the papyri record of Abraham. Mr. Seixas "pronounced it to be original beyond all doubt." He spent the remainder of the day in meetings and in instructing the brethren. He met with the different quorums and continued to set them in order, trying to insure every Priesthood brother was included in a quorum. The Prophet wrote: "I returned to my house, being weary with continual anxiety and labor in putting all the authorities in order, and in striving to purify them for the solemn assembly, according to the commandment of the Lord" (History of the Church, 2:388).

1841 - At a special conference of the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith is placed in the position of Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The office of trustee-in-trust for the Church would administer the finances for the Church until 1923.

1842 - The Prophet Joseph "preached at [his] house" concerning "the different spirits, their operations, designs, etc." (History of the Church, 4:510)..

1845 - Brigham Young met with the Nauvoo City council to discuss the repeal of the City Charter by the Illinois State Legislature. They agreed to continue with the city election and to hope the Governor would veto the legislation.

1846 - At 9:00 a.m. the angel wind vane was placed on the top of the Nauvoo Temple tower. Temple ordinances continued in the Temple until late evening, one hundred and seventy-two persons received their endowment.

1847 - Lieutenant-colonel Philip St. George Cook, United States military officer and leader of the "Mormon" Battalion issues "Order Number 1," stating: "The lieutenant-colonel commanding congratulates the [Mormon] battalion on their safe arrival on the shore of the Pacific ocean, and the conclusion of the march of over two thousand miles. History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry" (Exploring Southwestern Trails 1846-1854, 4:238).

1909 - During a two-day meeting of local Church leaders in Auckland, New Zealand, they dedicate a new mission headquarters and an assembly hall.

1951 - Church leaders announce that no young men of draft age in the United States will be called to serve a mission during the Korean War.

1982 - The Primary announces major changes in curriculum for the Primary. They introduce a Valiant A and B course, combined class of eleven-year-olds, and a new Gospel in Action award.

2007 - Copies of LDS Scriptures and other materials about the Church's doctrine and history were presented to Matei Iliev, Councilor of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Bulgarian Presidential Library. President Blair S. Bennett, Bulgaria Sofia Mission President, made the presentation during a meeting at the presidential palace.

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1836 - The Prophet Joseph attended Sunday meetings in the school house where he "arranged the several quorums of the authorities of the Church, appointed doorkeepers to keep order about the door, because of the crowd, and to prevent the house from being excessively crowded." The High Council of Zion spoke in the morning about the difficulties in Missouri and in the afternoon, Sidney Rigdon spoke and they "attended to the breaking of bread." Joseph spent a quiet evening at home.

1839 - January ends with the Prophet Joseph still in Jail at Liberty, Missouri, as the Saints continue leave and prepare to leave the state for safety in Illinois and Iowa.

1844 - The Prophet Joseph asked Benjamin Winchester to go to Warsaw, Illinois, to preach the gospel. Warsaw was the center of anti-Mormon feelings in Illinois. The Prophet records that there was an increase and revival in the desire to learn more of the things of God throughout Nauvoo.

1845 - The Nauvoo Mercantile and Mechanical Association is organized in a meeting held at the Seventies' Hall in Nauvoo, Illinois. John Taylor was elected chairman and Daniel Garn, Samuel Bent, Shadrach Roundy, Charles C. Rich, John D. Lee, L. N. Scovil, Joseph Worthen, Joseph Horn, Hosea Stout, Edward Hunter, Gustavus Williams, and Charles A. Davis, were made trustees.

1846 - Brigham Young receives a revelation dealing with succession in the Church Presidency. Although never canonized, the revelation is one of a number of inspired written documents Brigham Young receives as the senior Apostle of the Church during the period between Joseph Smith's death and the beginning of his own tenure as President of the Church.

1852 - The first Scandinavian convert emigrants sail from Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United States.

1886 - The first meeting is held in the newly erected chapel in what would later become Colonia Juarez, Mexico. The first meeting house in Mexico.

1907 - The first issue of The Elders' Messenger is published by the New Zealand Mission. It was a semimonthly periodical in both English and Maori.

1960 - Church member Vernon Law is named the best pitcher in professional baseball and wins the Cy Young Award.

1964 - United States President Lyndon B. Johnson visits with President David O. McKay. During their meeting he asks for advice from President McKay and states that he has felt inspired during previous visits with President McKay.

Edited February 2, 2009 by Hemidakota