Church History
Doctrine and Covenants Places: Illinois


Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources, Places: Illinois, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2020)

Doctrine and Covenants Places: Illinois, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources

Historic Places: Illinois

Maps and information about places associated with the revelations from The Joseph Smith Papers, Historic Sites, and other helpful sources

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Map of the eastern United States, 1828–1831

Eastern United States, 1828–1831

Carthage, Illinois

Facts and sources: Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site of two-story stone jail where Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were killed by armed mob at about 5:16 p.m., 27 June 1844. More …

Hancock County, Illinois

Facts and sources: Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1840 about 9,900 and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage designated county seat, 1833. Included town of Commerce (now Nauvoo) where Latter-day Saints settled, 1839, following expulsion from Missouri. Saints also settled in at least sixteen other communities throughout county. More …

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Map of Illinois, 1841

Illinois, 1841

Mississippi River

Facts and sources: Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping, transportation, and recreation. At least four steamboat landings utilized in Nauvoo. More …

Nauvoo, Illinois

Facts and sources: Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839–1846. More …

Nauvoo (Commerce), Illinois

Topic essay: Aware of the risks of gathering but trusting in the commandment to do so, Joseph Smith authorized Church leaders to purchase a large tract of land from Isaac Galland. The land was situated along the Mississippi River and included the small town of Commerce, Illinois. More …

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Map showing Joseph Smith’s primary residences in the United States

Joseph Smith’s residences

Nauvoo Temple

Topic essay: Land for a new temple in Nauvoo was secured in 1840. Construction proceeded slowly for more than five years, and by the time most Saints left Illinois in 1846, they had erected a magnificent temple, largely through consecrated labor and means. More …

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Map showing Church land purchases in Iowa and Illinois

Church Land Purchases in Iowa and Illinois, 1839

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Map showing Church land purchases in Commerce, Illinois

Church Land Purchases in Commerce and Vicinity, 1839

Store, Nauvoo, Illinois

Facts and sources: Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. Completed 1841. Opened for business, 5 Jan. 1842. Owned by Joseph Smith, but managed mostly by others, after 1842. First floor housed Joseph Smith’s general store and counting room, where tithing was received and recorded. On second floor, one of two small rooms served as Joseph Smith’s private office, where he dictated revelations and translated portions of Book of Abraham. Large upper room, also on second floor, used as assembly room, which served as meeting place for Masonic lodge, priesthood quorums, Nauvoo temple and Nauvoo House committees, Nauvoo Legion, and Relief Society. Relief Society organized in upper room, 17 Mar. 1842. Joseph Smith introduced endowment to nine individuals in upper room, 4–5 May 1842. More …

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Map

Nauvoo Plats, Blocks and Lots, 1842

Red Brick Store, Nauvoo, Illinois

Topic essay: In his Red Brick Store at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Prophet Joseph Smith prepared his successors to carry on the “great and mighty work” of God. Originally built in 1841, the store became headquarters for the Church shortly after its completion. A dry goods store was located on the ground floor, and Joseph’s office and a meeting hall occupied the upper level. More …

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Map of Hancock County, Illinois, 1843–1844

Hancock County, Illinois, 1843–1844

Quincy, Illinois

Facts and sources: Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. More …

Topic essay: The city of Quincy, Illinois, is best known in Mormon history as a point of relocation for Latter-day Saint refugees after their expulsion from Missouri in 1839. More …

Ramus, Illinois

Facts and sources: Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. More …

Revelations in Illinois, Nebraska, and Utah

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Infographic illustrating revelations in Illinois, Nebraska, and Utah

Winter Quarters

Facts and sources: In 1846, months after departing Nauvoo, Illinois, on a painfully slow 300-mile trek across Iowa Territory, Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles paused the Latter-day Saints’ westward migration to prepare for winter. More …