February 15

1828 – The Prophet Joseph Smith gave Martin Harris a copy of some characters from the gold plates, which Martin took with him to show scholars in New York City, thus fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 29.

1835 – After being chosen by the Three Witnesses on the previous day, Orson Hyde, David W. Patten, Luke S. Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, and William Smith are ordained members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

1839 – Emma Smith and her children arrive safely in Quincy, Illinois, after walking across Missouri and crossing the Mississippi River, to flee the mobs.

1842 – The first issue of the Times and Seasons newspaper with Joseph Smith as editor was published.

1843 – The Prophet Joseph published a letter in the Times and Seasons concerning the persecutions he has received over the years.  Later, accompanied by Elders Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt and others, he started towards Shokoquon, Illinois, by sleigh.  It was bitter cold and they nearly turned back, but they continued on and stayed at the home of a Mr. Rose.

1844 – The Times and Seasons printed an article listing the reasons for the candidacy of the Prophet Joseph Smith for President of the United States.

1846 – Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, takes his family and crosses the Mississippi River, leaving Nauvoo for the west.  They travel nine miles to the camp of the Saints on Sugar Creek.  Willard Richards and his family and George A. Smith also crossed the river.

1970 – The first branch of the Church in Indonesia is organized at Jakarta.

1987 – The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs its three thousandth radio broadcast.  The Choir has the longest running network program in America.

1989 – The mayor of Quincy, Illinois, officially declares this “Latter-day Saints Day’ in commemoration of the refuge the residents of Quincy provided the Saints as they fled Missouri 150 years earlier.

2001 – The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve released a series of guidelines to reaffirm the centrality of the Savior in the name of the Church and how Church members are identified.  Church members, news organizations and others were asked to use the full name of the Church.

2011 – The Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front hosted a delegation of representatives from the LDS Church led by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and included Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Presidency of the Seventy..

2016 – Latter-day Saint Harvey Fletcher receives a posthumous Grammy Award—almost 35 years after his death.  He is known as the “father of stereophonic sound”. He is credited with the invention of the audiometer and an early electronic hearing aid. Born in Provo, Utah, in 1884, Fletcher graduated from Brigham Young University in 1907 and later, Dr. Fletcher returned to Provo and served as the founding dean of the BYU College of Engineering.

2019 – An adjustment was announced by the First Presidency “to encourage families to be more involved in their missionary’s efforts and experiences.’ Effective immediately, missionaries may communicate with their families on their weekly preparation day via text messages, online messaging, phone calls and video chat in addition to letters and emails. Previously, missionaries relied primarily on email and letters for communication.

2021 – A quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was featured in the national comic strip “Pickles.’ It shows Earl and Opal having a conversation. When soy sauce unexpectedly spills all over Earl’s shirt, Opal responds, “Well, Earl, to quote Jeffrey R. Holland, ‘No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse.’’