General Timeline of Church History Events: 1805–1846

1805

Joseph Smith was born.

1820

God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.

1823

The angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith.

1827

Joseph Smith received the golden plates.

1829

Joseph Smith completed the Book of Mormon translation.

1829

The Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored.

1830

The Book of Mormon was published.

1830

The Church was organized.

1831

Kirtland, Ohio, became a gathering place for the Saints.

1831

The Lord designated Independence, Missouri, as the place for the city of Zion.

1833

The Saints in Jackson County, Missouri, were forced to leave the county.

1834

Joseph Smith led the camp of Israel (Zion’s Camp) from Ohio to Missouri.

1835

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of the Seventy were organized.

1836

The Kirtland Temple was dedicated.

1836

Priesthood keys were committed to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple.

1838

Joseph Smith and other Church leaders moved to Far West, Missouri.

1838

Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail.

1839

The Saints in Missouri were forced to leave the state.

1839

Joseph Smith joined the Saints in Illinois and helped establish Nauvoo.

1840

Joseph Smith began teaching about baptisms for the dead.

1842

The Relief Society was organized.

1842

Joseph Smith presented the endowment ordinance in Nauvoo.

1843

Revelation on eternal marriage and plural wives (D&C 132) was recorded.

1844

Joseph and Hyrum Smith were assassinated.

1844

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was sustained to lead the Church.

1846

Many Saints began their journey to the Salt Lake Valley.

1846

The Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.