Church History Chronology

1805, December 23Joseph Smith born to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith in Sharon, Vermont (see Joseph Smith—History 1:3–4).

1820, Early SpringJoseph Smith received the First Vision in a grove of trees near his home in the state of New York (see Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20).

1823, September 21–22Joseph Smith visited by the angel Moroni and told of the Book of Mormon record. Joseph viewed the gold plates buried in a nearby hill (Cumorah) (see Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54).

1827, September 22Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates from Moroni at the Hill Cumorah (see Joseph Smith—History 1:59).

1829, May 15John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in Harmony, Pennsylvania (see D&C 13; Joseph Smith—History 1:71–72).

1829, MayJoseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John near the Susquehanna River between Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, New York (see D&C 128:20).

1829, JuneTranslation of the Book of Mormon completed. The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses shown the gold plates (see 2 Nephi 11:3; 2 Nephi 27:12–13; D&C 17).

1830, March 26First printed copies of the Book of Mormon available in Palmyra, New York.

1830, April 6Organization of the Church in Fayette Township, New York.

1830, September–OctoberFirst missionaries called to preach to the Lamanites (Native Americans) (see D&C 28; 30; 32).

1830, December to 1831, JanuaryThe Lord commanded the Saints to gather to Ohio (see D&C 37; 38:31–32).

1831, July 20Site for the city of Zion (the New Jerusalem) in Independence, Missouri, revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith (see D&C 57; Articles of Faith 1:10).

1833, March 18Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams set apart as Counselors in the Presidency of the Church and given the keys of the kingdom (see the headings to D&C 81 and D&C 90; see also D&C 90:6).

1833, November 7Saints began fleeing from mobs in Jackson County, Missouri, across the Missouri River and into Clay County, Missouri.

1834, May 5Joseph Smith left Kirtland, Ohio, for Missouri as the leader of Zion’s Camp to bring relief to Saints expelled from Jackson County.

1835, February 14The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized in Kirtland, Ohio (see D&C 107:23–24).

1835, February 28The organization of the First Quorum of the Seventy commenced in Kirtland, Ohio.

1835, August 17The Doctrine and Covenants accepted as a standard work of the Church in Kirtland, Ohio.

1836, March 27The Kirtland Temple dedicated (see D&C 109).

1836, April 3Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:1–10). Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared and conveyed priesthood keys (see D&C 110:11–16).

1837, July 19Elder Heber C. Kimball and six others arrived in Liverpool, England, on the first overseas mission.

1838, April 26Name of the Church specified by revelation (see D&C 115:4).

1838, December 1 to 1839, April 16The Prophet Joseph Smith and others imprisoned at Liberty Jail in Liberty, Missouri (see D&C 121–123).

1840, August 15Baptism for the dead publicly announced by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

1841, October 24Elder Orson Hyde dedicated Palestine for return of the children of Abraham.

1842, March 17Female Relief Society organized in Nauvoo, Illinois.

1842, May 4First full temple endowments given in Nauvoo, Illinois.

1844, June 27Joseph and Hyrum Smith martyred at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois (see D&C 135).

1846, February 4Nauvoo Saints began crossing the Mississippi River to move west. Some Saints sailed from New York City for California on the ship Brooklyn.

1846, July 16Mormon Battalion mustered into United States service in Iowa.

1847, AprilPresident Brigham Young’s pioneer company left Winter Quarters on the journey west (see D&C 136).

1847, July 24President Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley.

1847, December 27Brigham Young sustained as President of the Church.

1848, May–JuneCrickets in the Salt Lake Valley devastated the crops. The fields were saved from complete destruction as flocks of seagulls consumed the crickets.

1849, December 9Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne.

1850, June 15Deseret News began publication in Salt Lake City.

1856, OctoberWillie and Martin handcart companies detained by early snowstorms. Found by rescue party from the Salt Lake Valley.

1869, November 28Young Ladies’ Retrenchment Association organized, forerunner of the Young Women program.

1875, June 10Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association organized, forerunner of the Young Men program.

1877, April 6St. George Utah Temple dedicated. President Brigham Young received revelation to set in order the priesthood organization and stakes of Zion.

1878, August 25Aurelia Spencer Rogers held the first Primary meeting in Farmington, Utah.

1880, October 10John Taylor sustained as President of the Church. The Pearl of Great Price accepted as a standard work.

1883, April 14Revelation given to President John Taylor on the organization of the Seventy.

1889, April 7Wilford Woodruff sustained as President of the Church.

1890, October 6“Manifesto” sustained in general conference, ending the practice of entering into plural marriage (see Official Declaration 1).

1893, April 6President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple after 40 years of construction.

1898, September 13Lorenzo Snow became President of the Church.

1899, May 17President Lorenzo Snow received revelation in St. George, Utah, prompting him to emphasize tithing.

1901, October 17Joseph F. Smith became President of the Church.

1918, October 3President Joseph F. Smith received the vision of the redemption of the dead (see D&C 138).

1918, November 23Heber J. Grant became President of the Church.

1936, AprilChurch Security Program instituted to assist the poor during the Great Depression; became Church welfare program. This program grew out of a revelation received previously by President Heber J. Grant.

1941, April 6Assistants to the Twelve first called.

1945, May 21George Albert Smith became President of the Church.

1951, April 9David O. McKay sustained as President of the Church.

1961, September 30Under the direction of the First Presidency, Elder Harold B. Lee announced that all Church programs were to be correlated through the priesthood to strengthen families and individuals.

1964, OctoberObservance of family home evening emphasized.

1970, January 23Joseph Fielding Smith became President of the Church.

1971, JanuaryNew Church magazines—Ensign, New Era, and Friend—commenced publication.

1972, July 7Harold B. Lee became President of the Church.

1973, December 30Spencer W. Kimball became President of the Church.

1975, October 3President Spencer W. Kimball announced reorganization of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

1976, April 3Two revelations added to the Pearl of Great Price. In 1981 they were moved to become D&C 137 and D&C 138.

1978, September 30Revelation granting the priesthood to every worthy male member regardless of race or color sustained by the Church (see Official Declaration 2).

1979, SeptemberLDS edition of King James Bible with study aids published.

1981, SeptemberNew editions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price published.

1984, JuneArea Presidencies inaugurated, with members called from the Seventy.

1985, November 10Ezra Taft Benson became President of the Church.

1989, April 1Second Quorum of the Seventy reorganized.

1994, June 5Howard W. Hunter became President of the Church.

1995, March 12Gordon B. Hinckley became President of the Church.

1995, April 1Announcement of a new leadership position to be known as an Area Authority.

1995, September 23President Gordon B. Hinckley read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at a general Relief Society meeting.

1997, April 5Area Authorities to be ordained Seventies. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy organized.

1997, October 4President Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to build smaller temples.

1997, NovemberChurch membership reached 10 million.

1998, April 5President Gordon B. Hinckley announced goal of having 100 temples in service in the year 2000.