August 17
- "Lectures on theology" were approved for inclusion in the Book of Commandments, and the Book of Commandments was renamed to Doctrine and Covenants by a Conference vote in 1835. Section 101, known as the "Article on Marriage", was also added, part of which read, "Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again."
Aug 17, 1835 - A special conference accepts the DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS which contains unannounced changes and expansions of revelations previously published in THE EVENING AND MORNING STAR and 1833 BOOK OF COMMANDMENTS. This canonized work includes a statement on marriage which prohibits polygamy.
Aug 17, 1845 - William Smith preaches in favor of "spiritual wifery," to which John Taylor gives an immediate rebuttal. William's niece Mary (orphaned daughter of Samuel Smith) later writes: "He was ordered to discontinue his discourses, but he did not obey orders." His relatives helped build wooden seates to accommodate a crowd near his house. On the first Sunday "every seat in that grove had been fouled with outhouse refuse." Within months his mother Lucy Mack Smith would angrily tell James J.Strang's followers about this incident.
Aug 17, 1858 - Apostle George A. Smith, after extensive consultation with leaders of Mountain Meadows Massacre, writes official account which deteils their movements on day of massacre but not their participation in it. Begins conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Aug 17, 1942 - SS BRIGHAM YOUNG is launched as Liberty Ship for transporting troops, prisoners, and freight. Christened by Lucy Gates Bowen (his granddaughter) in Los Angeles Harbor. On May 22, 1943 SS JOSEPH SMITH is launched. Former survives World War II, but latter sinks in heavy seas on Jan. 11, 1944.
Aug 17, 1951 - First Presidency statement that church's restriction on negroid peoples receiving priesthood "is not a matter of the declaration of policy but of direct commandment from the Lord." However in his biographies of LDS presidents David O. McKay, Harold B. Lee, and Spencer W. Kimball, First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons repeatedly refers to this priesthood restriction as "policy."
