Today in Church History: March

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1832 - After being up all night and having the tar and feathers removed from his skin, the Prophet Joseph preaches to a congregation from the steps of the John Johnson home that included members of the mob that had attacked him and Sidney Rigdon the night before. Joseph also baptizes three people.

1834 - While on his return journey to Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph Smith traveled to Job Lewis's home in Westfield, New York. (History of the Church, 2:45)

1838 - About this time Heber C. Kimball and Brother Theodore Turley started on their mission to see the governor and obtain a writ of habeas corpus and win the release of the Prophet Joseph and the others being held in Liberty Jail. Judge King did not have the legal papers stating why they were being held and had to produce one for Elder Kimball. They traveled to Jefferson City, the capitol of Missouri, to meet with the governor and supreme judges. The governor was absent and the secretary of state, who treated the men kindly but said there was nothing he could do even though he admitted they were being held illegally. Elders Kimball and Turley would return to Liberty on March 30th without any success in obtaining the writ and the release of the Prophet Joseph and the others being held.

Also on this date, the Prophet Joseph completes an epistle, written over several days, to the Saints who are scattered across Missouri, in Quincy, Illinois, and other places of refuge in Illinois and Iowa. Portions of this epistle would later comprise Doctrine and Covenants 121, 122, and 123. These sections contain some of the most moving and most powerful writings of the Prophet Joseph, including, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8). Also why many are called and not chosen, "that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7), and that we should "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17).

1843 - Learning that a "band of desperadoes" who were stealing and causing problems in the surrounding area had taken up residence in Nauvoo to hid from the law, the Mayor of Nauvoo, Joseph Smith, issues a proclamation asking for help from the citizens, and offering protection to them, to find and bring the group to justice. (History of the Church, 5:310-311).

1953 - The First Presidency announces that returning missionaries will now report to their local stake presidency and high council rather than to General Authorities.

1982 - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir leaves Salt Lake City, Utah, for a ten concert tour of Europe.

1984 - The Church announces a new genealogical facilities program that authorized wards and branches to establish local Family History Centers in their meetinghouses.

2000 - For the first time, the annual Young Women's Meeting at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, was available as an audio broadcast over the Internet.

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1830 - The Book of Mormon goes on sale at the E. B. Grandin bookstore in Palmyra, New York.

1836 - The Prophet Joseph met with the "Presidency to make arrangements for the solemn assembly" and dedication of the Kirtland Temple scheduled for the next day. (History of the Church, 2:409).

1844 - The Prophet Joseph Smith meets with the full Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the last time and is probably when he gives them his "last charge" and bestows on them the keys, rights, and responsibility to lead the Kingdom of God. The Prophet also wrote a letter to the Congress of the United States offering to raise a volunteer army of one hundred thousand men to protect and bring organized constitutional government to the western and southern portions of the North American continent in behalf of the United States.

1850 - Colonel Thomas L. Kane, a nonmember friend of the Prophet Joseph and the Latter-day Saints, gives a lecture on the "Mormons" to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. His address is one of the few non-Mormon presentations on the Church that was a positive look at the Church.

1904 - The Bureau of Information, the first visitors' center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, is dedicated by President John R. Winder of the First Presidency. It was an octagonal frame structure about twenty feet across and cost approximately $500.

1989 - The first convert in Suriname is baptized.

1998 - A replica of the Joseph Smith Sr. family log home in Palmyra, New York, is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The original home is where Joseph lived at the time of the First Vision and where the appearance of the angel Moroni took place.

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1834 - The Prophet Joseph Smith traveled to Springfield, Pennsylvania, where "I found Elder Sidney Rigdon, who had come on by a different route." They continued their journey home together, stopping 16 miles east of Painesville, Ohio. (History of the Church, 2:45)

1836 - The Kirtland Temple, the first temple completed in this dispensation, is dedicated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The dedicatory prayer was given by revelation and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 109. Angels were seen by some in the Temple during the dedication and all witnessed the power of the Spirit. That evening, during a meeting of the Priesthood quorums, great manifestations took place. The Prophet Joseph recorded, ". . . a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels . . . The people of the neighborhood came running together . . . seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple, and were astonished at what was taking place. This continued until the meeting closed at eleven p. m." (History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 428).

1842 - The Prophet Joseph spoke to the Saints on baptism for the dead in the grove near the Nauvoo Temple. After his discourse, he went to the Mississippi River and baptized all who desired to be baptized-107 individuals. The Prophet also greeted 170 English Saints who arrived in Nauvoo on the steamer Ariel. (History of the Church, 4:568-569).

1843 - Upon hearing that Elder Sidney Rigdon was working with apostate John C. Bennett and others to undermine the leadership of the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote him a letter expressing his sadness and disappointment in Elder Rigdon. Upon receipt of the Prophets letter, Elder Rigdon immediately responded with his own letter denying any relationship with John C. Bennett, stating that "it is peace I want" (History of the Church, 5:312-316).

1844 - An affidavit of M. G. Eaton, made before the acting Nauvoo Justice of the Peace, Daniel H. Wells, stated that Mr. Eaton had attended a secret meeting held at the Keystone Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, where in several men, Samuel H. Jackson, Dr. R. Foster, and Chauncey L. Higbee, among them, met and discussed ways to remove the Prophet Joseph Smith by killing him and other members of the Smith family.

1845 - At 3:00 p.m., Brother William W. Player set the last trumpet stone on the capitols of the pilasters of the Nauvoo Temple. Brigham Young wrote it was "a matter of rejoicing to all who love to witness the prosperity of the work." (History of the Church, 7:388-389).

1846 - Brigham Young, continuing on the journey across Iowa, set up a permanent camp at Chariton River where he stayed until April 1.

1898 - Harriet Maria Horsepool Nye is set apart as a missionary. She is generally believed to be the first full-time sister missionary of the Church.

1960 - The first stake in Australia is organized at Sydney, and the first stake in England is organized at Manchester.

1980 - An essay on the Prophet Joseph Smith written by Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, is placed in the United States Congressional Record.

1998 - The restored Egbert B. Grandin Building in Palmyra, New York, where The Book of Mormon was printed, is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

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1834 - The Prophet Joseph Smith returns to Kirtland, Ohio, after traveling to western New York to recruit men for Zion’s Camp and the redemption of Zion. He finds his family all well and records, “The Lord be praised for this blessing!” (History of the Church, 2:45).

1835 - The Prophet Joseph Smith receives Doctrine and Covenants 107 during a special meeting with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The revelation on the Priesthood clarifies the duties of many Church offices and explains the difference between the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.

1843 - The Prophet Joseph Smith moved his office into the small upper room in his new brick store. The Prophet also records that “Josiah Butterfield came to my house and insulted me so outrageously that I kicked him out of the house, across the yard, and into the street” (History of the Church, 5:316).

1895 - Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth President of the Church, is born in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1896 - United States president Grover Cleveland signs an act to return to the Church real estate properties confiscated by the federal government during the anti-polygamy prosecutions of the 1880's.

1899 - Harold B. Lee, eleventh President of the Church, is born in Clifton, Idaho.

2003 - Elder Kenneth Johnson, of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, presented $100,000 Australian Dollars to the Farmhand Foundation for drought relief in Australia.

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1832 - Joseph Murdock, adopted son of Joseph and Emma Smith, dies as a result of exposure to the cold during the March 24th mob attack on Joseph and Sidney Rigdon.

1835 - The Prophet Joseph “preached about three hours, at Huntsburgh . . . on the divinity of the Book of Mormon—at the close of which two were baptized; and, on Monday, four more came forward for baptism” (History of the Church, 2:218).

1836 - The Prophet Joseph attended the last day of the Hebrew class taught by Professor Seixas. Later in the day, a large assembly of Church leaders and elders was held in the Kirtland Temple. They participated in the sacred ordinance of washing of the feet. “The Holy Spirit rested down upon us, and we continued in the Lord’s House all night, prophesying and giving glory to God” (History of the Church, 2:430).

1839 - The city council of Nauvoo, Illinois, ordered that the City of Commerce be surveyed to be included in, and correspond with, the plat of the new City of Nauvoo.

1970 - First convert baptisms take place in Indonesia.

1971 - Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, announces plans for a law school.

1995 - Presiding Bishop Merrill J. Bateman appears before a United State Senate Finance Committee hearing regarding welfare reform. He shares with the Senators information about the history, principles, and lessons learned by the Church while establishing the welfare programs of the Church.

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1834 - A young member of the Church, Ira J. Willis, who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, with the Saints, returned to the county to look for his stray cow. While at the house of the justice of the peace, Esquire Manship, he was taken by several men led by Moses Wilson and whipped “in a most cruel and savage manner.” The Prophet Joseph writes, “all that know Mr. Willis can bear testimony that he is a young man, honest, peaceable and unoffending, working righteousness, and molesting no one. May God reward Moses Wilson according to his works” (History of the Church, 2:46). The Prophet Joseph traveled to Chardon, Ohio, on this date, in order to attend the trial of Philastus Hurlburt who had threatened Joseph’s life.

1836 - A second session of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple took place on this date for those who were unable to attend the first dedication service.

1844 - The Prophet Joseph Smith reviewed and then signed two petitions to the United States Congress and one to United States president John Tyler that he wrote the previous day concerning raising a group of 100,000 men to protect the settlers in Oregon and Texas. (History of the Church, 6:282)

1845 - Brigham Young wrote a letter to Governor Ford asking for his advice on how to reorganize Nauvoo under the act for organizing towns and on the reorganization of the Nauvoo Legion militia that had been dissolved by the repeal of the Nauvoo City charter.

1864 - While trying to land at Lahaina, Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands, Elder Lorenzo Snow drowns when a boat he and Elder Ezra T. Benson are in capsizes. After an hour of prayer and artificial resuscitation, Elder Snow revives. He lives to become the fifth President of the Church.

1875 - The trial for George Reynold for breaking the Morrill Act of 1862 antipolygamy law begins in the Third District Court. The First Presidency had asked Brother Reynold’s to submit to this trial to test the constitutionality of the Morrill Act. He was found guilty the next day which set the stage for several appeals that eventually led to the United States Supreme Court. The Court upheld the constitutionality of the Morrill Act, paving the way for several more antipolygamy bills in the 1880's.

1978 - President Spencer W. Kimball announces that beginning in 1979, stake conferences will be held semiannually instead of quarterly.

2001 - President Gordon B. Hinckley announces the founding of the Perpetual Education Fund to help members of the Church obtain education and job training through low interest loans.

2007 - The historic Tabernacle at Temple Square was rededicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The historic building has been closed for more than two years for seismic strengthening, renovation, and restoration. The Tabernacle was named a national historic site in 1970.

Edited April 6, 2009 by Hemidakota

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1836 - About 300 Priesthood brethren met in the Kirtland Temple for a day of fasting and to attend to the ordinance of washing of feet. That evening, many of the congregation in the Temple experienced spiritual manifestations. The Prophet Joseph recorded, "The brethren continued exhorting, prophesying, and speaking in tongues until five o'clock in the morning. The Savior made His appearance to some, while angels ministered to others, and it was a Pentecost and an endowment indeed, long to be remembered" (History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 432-433).

1844 - Joseph Smith prepared a letter to United States President John Tyler, "asking the privilege of raising 100,000 men to extend protection to persons wishing to settle in Oregon and other portions of the territory of the United States, and extend protection to the people in Texas" (History of the Church, 6:281-82).