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History Revisited

9 fun facts about 'Come, Come, Ye Saints' and its composer that might surprise you
By Alexa Reimschussel
William Clayton wrote "Come, Come Ye Saints" on the plains in Iowa over 170 years ago. Here are some interesting facts about how the familiar words came about.
Left: The Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody was the first hymnbook to include both music and text in 1889. Right: The Primary Song Book was published in 1905.
Fun facts you probably didn't know about the history of the Young Women organization
Nearly 150 years ago, in the parlor of the Lion House in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young organized the Young Ladies Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association — the predecessor to the Young Women program.
The first Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association meeting in 1880 of which Elmina S. Taylor is called by President John Taylor to be president.
Did you know President Howard W. Hunter was a professional musician? Here's why he left it behind
By Gerry Avant
On a Saturday night in 1931, a few days after marrying Clara May Jeffs, Howard W. Hunter returned home from a music gig and packed his instruments into boxes. During an interview 54 years later, he told me why he abandoned his music career.
Young Howard W. Hunter, center, played several instruments in his dance band, "Hunter’s Croonaders." The band played for Boise area dances and performed on the tour ship SS President Jackson.
Elder John A. Widtsoe's works to be available online beginning this year
The masterworks and religious writings of Elder John A. Widsoe are expected be available online to both scholars and the public by the end of this year.
George H. Durham, left, John A. Widtsoe's youngest grandson, looks over the shoulder of John W. "Jack" Welch — BYU law professor, Widtsoe Foundation Distinguished Scholar, and guest speaker — during a Widtsoe Family Collection dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019.
7 summertime stories from General Authorities to uplift and enlighten your vacation
By Alexa Reimschussel
Here are seven stories from President Monson, Elder Holland, Elder Christofferson, Elder Gong, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Uchtdorf that highlight gospel learning from summer experiences.
In an undated photo, Thomas S. Monson is photographed having caught two fish at Vivian Park in Provo Canyon.
How 1 Swiss woman's curiosity led to an entire family's conversion
By Gerry Avant
Curious about a neighbor's Sunday morning activities, Elisabeth Zoebeli Ringger followed her one day. The neighbor led Elisabeth to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elisabeth Zoebeli Ringger, 1853-1955, grandmother of Elder Hans B. Ringger of the First Quorum of the Seventy
Brigham Young and others heard the news of Joseph and Hyrum's death weeks after. Here's how they reacted
By Alexa Reimschussel
Male Church members were spread out teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and lectioneering for Joseph Smith's presidential campaign when Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were killed in Carthage.
Carthage Jail, where Joseph Smith Jr. was shot and killed.
A timeline of the 96-hour period surrounding the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith
By Aubrey Eyre
In honor of the 175th anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, here's a look at the 96-hour period surrounding their time in Carthage and the events that led to their deaths.
Portraits of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
Face to face with history: The death masks of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith
By Valerie Johnson
The Church History Museum has displayed a set of Joseph and Hyrum Smith's death masks since 1990. Here's a look at how were they made and what impact they have had on Church history through the years.
Brielle Fawson, 14, and Savannah Carter, 12, of Grantsville, look at the Dibble death masks of Hyrum and Joseph Smith at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City on Thursday, June 13, 2019.
These 3 mosaics found in a Galilean village by a BYU graduate uncover surprising facts about ancient Jewish worship
By Alexa Reimschussel
BYU Magazine wrote of Bryan R. Bozung's discovery of ancient Jewish synagogue mosaics in Huqoq, a Galilean village. The mosaics feature biblical and not so biblical scenes.
BYU graduate Bryan R. Bozung was the first to discover mosaics depicting biblical scenes in the Galilean village of Huqoq. These mosaics reveal depictions of Samson, Jonah, Noah’s ark and Pharaoh’s army swallowed up in the Red Sea. There are also glimpses of daily life in antiquity and a mysterious non-biblical story.
Why the advice about children from this Church leader in the 1970s is still relevant today
By Gerry Avant
LaVern Watts Parmley spent her life serving Primary children in the Church. In the early 1970s, she shared some sage wisdom about children with the Church News. Here's why her advice still applies to parents and children today.
Chan Pui Pui (Dorene), 5, left; Chan Pui Shan, 9, (Irene), standing, and Chan Pui Sai, 7, (Pauline), daughters of brother and Sister Chan Yuk, visit with Sister LaVern Parmley during her trip to Hong Kong in 1974.
D-Day recollections from Elder Hugh B. Brown on its 75th anniversary
The July 8, 1944, edition of the Church News included a letter from Elder Hugh B. Brown who described England following D-Day.
A U.S. flag flies among the graves at the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Thursday June 6, 2013, on the day of the commemoration of the 69th anniversary of the D-Day.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)
A look back at the first converts in Fortaleza and what it's taken to build a temple there
By Scott Taylor
The June 2 dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple brought longtime members and returned missionaries back together — some who hadn't seen each other in more than a half-century.
The family of Carlos and Gilda Ferreira, joined by Elder John Beck, are photographed on one of the beaches of Fortaleza, Brazil. The Ferreiras were the first converts in Fortaleza, baptized at different times beginning on May 15, 1966; the family moved from Fortaleza later that year.
To gain a testimony, this woman realized first she needed to want one
By Gerry Avant
Helen K. Richards, wife of Elder Franklin D. Richards, is remembered for her work as a missionary.
Sister Helen K. Richards, wife of Elder Franklin D. Richards of the Presidency of the Seventy, circa 1964.
All you need to know about the newest volume in the Joseph Smith Papers series
By Trent Toone
The newest volume in the Joseph Smith Papers series, which covers February to November 1841, was a time of "hope and optimism" for the early Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.
This 1845 painting, created after Joseph Smith's death, depicts the prophet with the Nauvoo Legion. It is considered the earliest known visual depiction of the Nauvoo Legion.
12 facts Latter-day Saints should know about the golden spike for its 150th anniversary
By Trent Toone
In honor of the golden spike's 150th anniversary, historians at the Church History Department share 12 unique facts about the golden spike and how it impacted Latter-day Saints at the time.
The joining of the rails at Promontory, Utah, is photographed May 10, 1869. The photo is taken from the original glass plate from the Oakland Museum.
Elder McConkie's sense of humor that you probably never knew about
By Gerry Avant
Elder Bruce R. McConkie was noted for his vast knowledge of and writings about the scriptures. He was also a man with a sense of humor.
1 General Authority's transformation from feeling inadequate to serving with confidence
By Gerry Avant
During an interview shortly after H. Burke Peterson was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1985, he told of feelings of inadequacy he'd carried throughout his youth into his calling as a General Authority.
Elder H. Burke Peterson, a General Authority Seventy (1985-1993), and his wife, Sister Brookie Cardon Peterson.
Parking, protestors and other things that did (or didn't) exist in conference 100 years ago
By Trent Toone
How different was conference 100 years ago? Here's a taste of what it was like when Elder Heber J. Grant was called as president of the Church and conference sessions were held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.
A view of the Salt Lake Temple in 1919.
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