TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 13 May

[Hemidakota]

1834 - Zion's Camp continued traveling towards Missouri by traveling through a long range of beech woods where the roads were very bad. "In many instances we had to fasten ropes to the wagons to haul them out of the sloughs and mud holes. Brother Parley P. Pratt broke his harness; the brethren fastened their ropes to his wagon, and drew it about three miles to the place of encampment on the Scioto river, while he rode singing and whistling" (History of the Church, 2:65).

1857 - Elder Parley P. Pratt is murdered in Arkansas and buried near the town of Alma. He was traveling through the southern and eastern states visiting the Saints and teaching the gospel. It is reported his dying words were: "I die a firm believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. . . . I am dying a martyr to the faith" (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, xxvii). [HD - a brother I do admire. Until we meet again across the veil]

1885 - A delegation of Saints meets with U.S. President Grover Cleveland in the White House in Washington D.C., and present a document entitled "Statement of Grievances and Protest," which lists injustices committed against the Saints after passage of the Edmunds Law against polygamy.

1895 - Susan B. Anthony attends a woman suffrage convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1903 - The first missionaries enter British Columbia, Canada.

1999 - President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed 2,300 people at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, including diplomats from 19 consulates, and told them of the worldwide operations of the Church and the challenges brought on by rapid growth.