TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 05 October

[Hemidakota]

1833 - The Prophet Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Freeman Nickerson, leave Kirtland, Ohio, for a one-month proselyting mission to Ontario Province in "upper Canada." (History of the Church, 1:416-417)

1835 - The Prophet Joseph spends the day in reading and meditation until evening when he attended a council of the Twelve Apostles and counseled them to prepare to receive an endowment and take their families to Missouri next year. (History of the Church, 2:287)

1838 - On the way to choose a site for a new city for the Saints in Caldwell County, the Prophet Joseph learns of the difficulties in DeWitt, Missouri, and immediately prepared to travel there to "save the lives of my brethren who were thus exposed to their wrath" (History of the Church, 3:153).

1839 - The first stake in Illinois is organized in Nauvoo, Illinois. It was later discontinued in 1846 when the Saints move to the west. The stake would be reorganized on February 18, 1979, as the 1,000th stake in the Church. Also, the first stake in Iowa is organized on the west side of the Mississippi River across from Nauvoo. It was discontinued in 1842.

1842 - Joseph records that his wife Emma is still very ill and he fears she will not recover. He learns that there is an effort to get him to Missouri to face trial in the attempted murder of Governor Boggs. He expresses his desire for the Lord to protect and prolong his days in peace "until my head is white with old age."

1845 - Five thousand Saints "had the inexpressible joy and great gratification" to attend general conference held in the unfinished Nauvoo Temple. It was the only general conference held there. Brigham Young records, "From mites and tithing millions had risen up to the glory of God, as a Temple, where the children of the last kingdom could come together and praise the Lord" (History of the Church, 7:456).

1851 - The first convert baptism of a native of India, a woman named Anna, is performed by Elder Maurice White.

1856 - Upon learning the desperate situation of the Martin and Willie handcart companies, Brigham Young organizes a rescue effort to save their lives and bring them to Salt Lake City, Utah.

1857 - During the Utah War, a small company of men led by Lot Smith, begins the Saints' effort to slow the march of the U. S. Army to Utah by burning two supply wagon trains. It was hopped that by slowing Johnston's Army down, peace could be agreed to before there was any fighting.

1947 - President J. Reuben Clark of the First Presidency delivers "To Them of the Last Wagon," an important address relating to the importance of every member of the Church as symbolized by the "Last Wagon."

1986 - The First Presidency releases a statement indicating that the Church is opposed to the legalization of gambling and government-sponsored lotteries.