TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 15 June

[Hemidakota]

1828 - Emma Smith gives birth to her and Joseph's first son, Alvin, who dies within a few hours.

1829 - About this time, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, having been moved upon by the Spirit, approached the Prophet Joseph and asked to be the three special witnesses of the Book of Mormon mentioned in Ether 5:2-4 and other places. The Prophet asked the Lord and received the revelation recorded as Doctrine and Covenants 17 where they are told that with full purpose of heart and faith, they shall "view the plates" and other items associated with the Book of Mormon and then they must bear witness to the world.

1834 - Zion's Camp travels twelve miles, crossed the Chariton River near its mouth, and camped on the west bank. Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt arrived in the camp from Jefferson City, Missouri, and reported that Governor Dunklin refused to fulfill his promise to help the Saints be reinstated on their land in Jackson County. Bishop Edward Partridge came into camp from Clay County and updated the leadership on the conditions of the Saints and the hostile feelings that existed. Zion's Camp was struggling to get provisions and was living principally on corn meal. (History of the Church, 2:94)

1844 - Word arrived in Nauvoo confirming a company of men were training in Carthage to move against the Saints in Nauvoo. Several boxes of arms had also arrived in Warsaw. Two brethren from Lima, Illinois, came to the Prophet Joseph at his home and informed him that a Colonel Levi Williams had demanded the arms of the Saints in that area. The Prophet told them not to do it. Samuel Jones left Nauvoo for Springfield, Illinois, to carry letters and papers to Governor Ford concerning the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor press. The whole area around Nauvoo was escalating in threats against the Prophet, the Saints and Nauvoo. (History of the Church, 6:471-472)

1850 - The first edition of the Deseret News, the Church owned newspaper, is published in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1855 - Thomas S. Smith and his company of LDS settlers found Fort Limhi, on the Salmon River in Idaho. The fort becomes the headquarters for missionaries laboring among the Native Americans in the area.

1929 - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir begins there weekly radio broadcasts.

1969 - The first stake in Samoa is organized in Pago Pago.

2000 - The Adelaide Australia Temple is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

2003 - The Brisbane Australia Temple is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

2007 - Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve, and former president of Rotary International (1966-1967), was honored by a small group of Rotarians a few days before their 98th International Convention being held in Salt Lake City, with a service held near his gravestone in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.