TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 11 September

[Hemidakota]

1831 - The Prophet Joseph Smith receives the revelation known as Doctrine and Covenants 64, which gives instructions to the Saints concerning forgiveness, the future of Zion, and contains the promise "he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming." (History of the Church, 1:211-214)

1833 - As a result of the mob action in Jackson County, Missouri, that destroyed the Church press, the Prophet Joseph and the brethren announce that the Church publication--The Evening and Morning Star and the Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate--will be published in Kirtland, Ohio. (History of the Church, 1:409)

1838 - The Kirtland Camp continues its journey across Indiana, traveling sixteen miles on this day. Sickness is beginning to enter the camp. They have traveled 510 miles from Kirtland, Ohio, on their way to Missouri to join with the Saints there.

1843 - Lieutenant-General Joseph Smith appointed William W. Phelps, Henry Miller, and Hosea Stout as a committed to contact Governor Ford about obtaining "public arms" from the state for use by the Nauvoo Legion. In the evening, the Prophet Joseph met with Hyrum Smith, William Law, Newel K. Whitney, and Willard Richards, in private where they prayed for "Brother Law's little daughter, who was sick, and Emma, who was somewhat better" (History of the Church, 6:31).

1846 - Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles formally select the site for Winter Quarters as the main winter encampment of the Saints. This becomes the first city in the future state of Nebraska. The site is now located in Florence, Nebraska.

1851 - The first missionary arrives in Norway.

1857 - In a quite valley in the Southwestern Utah mountains, the Mountain Meadow Massacre takes place. During a time of heightened anxiety and fears with the U.S. Army approaching Utah, an emigrant wagon train from Arkansas and Missouri traveled through Utah. While camped at Mountain Meadow, a group Latter-day Saint men and Indians attacked the wagon train under a flag of truce and killed 120 members of the group. Only a small group of children were spared. This event is the darkest day in Utah and Latter-day Saint history.

1955 - The Bern Switzerland Temple is dedicated by President David O. McKay.

1999 - President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates a monument at Mountain Meadows honoring the 120 people killed in the Mountain Meadow Massacre

2007 - Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve read a Church statement expressing regret for the events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre during a memorial service held at the site of the massacre in southwestern Utah on the 150th anniversary of the tragedy.