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On August 8, 1844, about 6,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in Nauvoo, Illinois, to make one of the most important decisions in Mormon history. Joseph Smith, the church's founder and prophet, had been murdered by an angry mob just six weeks earlier. Now the church faced a crisis - who would lead them next?

Two main candidates emerged for leadership. Sidney Rigdon, age 53, was Smith's first counselor and a longtime church leader who believed he had the rightful claim to succeed Smith. But Brigham Young, age 43, was president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and argued that his group should lead the church instead. Both men made speeches to convince the gathered Saints.

When Young spoke to the crowd, something remarkable happened. Many witnesses later claimed that Young's voice and appearance seemed to transform into that of Joseph Smith himself. Whether this "transfiguration" actually occurred or was later embellished by believers, it had a powerful effect. The Saints voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Twelve Apostles as their new leaders, with Young at their head.

This decision changed Mormon history forever. Young officially became the second president of the church in December 1847 and led the Mormons on their famous journey west to Utah. Under Young's leadership, the Mormons founded Salt Lake City and built a thriving religious community in the desert. While some church members broke away to follow other leaders, the vast majority stayed with Young, ensuring the church's survival and growth.

On August 8, 1975, country music star Hank Williams Jr. was climbing Ajax Peak in Montana when disaster struck. The 26-year-old son of legendary Hank Williams Sr. was hiking with local rancher Dick Willey and his 11-year-old son when the snow beneath Williams suddenly collapsed. He fell about 500 feet down the rocky mountainside, crashing face-first into a boulder near the bottom.

The accident was catastrophic. Williams suffered multiple skull fractures and severe facial injuries. Parts of his brain had fallen out, one eye was hanging from its socket, and his face was badly torn. Dick Willey had to push pieces of Williams' brain back into his skull and wrap his torn face with a T-shirt. Most people wouldn't have survived such injuries, and doctors didn't expect Williams to live.

It took six hours and six men to get Williams off the mountain and to a hospital in Missoula, Montana. When he finally woke up after surgery, the first people he saw were Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash - old family friends who rushed to be by his side. June Carter, who was Williams' godmother, put a cross on him and told him everything would be okay. Williams underwent 17 operations over two years to repair his skull and face.

The accident changed Williams' life and career forever. He grew a beard and started wearing sunglasses to hide the scars - a look that became his signature style. The near-death experience also changed his music. He moved away from trying to sound like his famous father and developed his own unique blend of country and rock that would make him one of the biggest country stars of the 1980s. The man who almost died on a mountain became known as "Bocephus" and proved that sometimes our worst moments can lead to our greatest successes.

Vatican City🇻🇦
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and could fit inside Central Park 120 times. At just 0.17 square miles, this tiny nation is about one-eighth the size of New York's Central Park, making it smaller than most shopping malls. The entire country can be walked across in approximately 20 minutes at a leisurely pace.

Polar Bear Skin🐻‍❄️
Polar bears have black skin underneath their white fur. Their dark skin helps absorb heat from the sun, while their hollow, translucent fur provides insulation and appears white because it reflects light. This clever combination of black heat absorption and white camouflage creates the perfect Arctic survival system for these massive predators.

God Be With Ye👋
The word "goodbye" comes from "God be with ye" - a religious blessing from the 16th century. This common farewell gradually shortened over time from "God be with ye" to "godbwye" and eventually to our modern "goodbye." The transformation shows how everyday language evolves while preserving traces of its spiritual origins.

Penguin Proposal🐧
Penguins propose with pebbles in a charming courtship ritual. Male penguins search for the perfect smooth pebble to present to their chosen female. If she accepts the pebble, they become partners and use it to build their nest together. This romantic gesture creates lifelong bonds sealed with the perfect stone gift.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.