Chronology of LDS History

CHRONOLOGY OF LDS HISTORY

	597 B.C.	Siege of Jerusalem – Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, installs Zedekiah as puppet king. 2 Kings 24:14 “None remained except the poorest people of the land.”
	587 B.C.	Second siege of Jerusalem, city and Solomon’s Temple destroyed
	1611	King James Bible published.
	1775	History of the American Indians, James Adair published.  Provides 23 arguments that Indians are descendants of Hebrews, tells of buried plates (5 copper and 2 brass) kept by Indians.
	1778	Emanuel Swedenborg’s book Heaven and Hell first translated into English.
	1784	John Glen, sailing from London, brings Emanuel Swedenborg ‘s popular work, Heaven and Hell to the U.S., lecturing and promoting the book.
	1785	Solomon Spalding graduates from Dartmouth.
	1786	Ethan Smith (reportedly a Seminary classmate of Solomon Spalding) enters Dartmouth
	1789	Emanuel Swedenborg reading groups form in New York, Boston, Ohio and many other Northeastern states, as his philosophical works become more widely known.
	1792-1831	Martin Harris (a farmer) in Palmyra, NY knew Joseph Smith Sr. and often hired him as a farm hand.
	1796	First elephant arrives in America on Captain Jacob Crowninshield’s boat from India.
	1802	President Thomas Jefferson and 100 members of Congress hear Baltimore minister John Hargrove speak on Emanuel Swedenborg’s work.
Spring	1803	Joseph Sr. invests in ginseng, defrauded, loses everything, sells farm to cover debt.
	1804	Thomas Jefferson reelected President – U.S. population 6 million.
Nov 7	1805	Lewis and Clark first glimpse Pacific Ocean.
Dec 23	1805	Joseph Smith Jr. born in Sharon, VT.
Oct 3	1806	Oliver Cowdery (third cousin of Joseph Smith) born in Wells, VT.
Oct 15	1807	Joseph Sr. petitions Vermont for military exemption, citing poverty. (To the Honorable General Assembly, Oct 15, 1807)
	1811	Solomon Mack, Joseph Smith’s grandfather publishes his war/sailing adventures.
	1811	Hyrum Smith, Joseph’s older brother, enters Moor’s Academy, a Dartmouth prep school.
	1811	Lucy Mack Smith reported that Joseph Smith Sr. had the tree of life dream.
June 18	1812	President James Madison declares war against Great Britain.
	1812-1814	Solomon Spalding brings a manuscript of Manuscript Found to printers Patterson & J. Harrison Lambdin.
	1812	Napoleon invades Russia, suffers massive losses, retreat as winter sets in.
	1812	Emanuel Swedenborg ‘s Heaven and Hell published in U.S.  His philosophies elaborate upon “Three heavens…distinct from each other,” Highest heaven is “the Celestial Kingdom,” degrees correspond to sun, moon and stars.
	1813	Joseph Smith endures painful leg operation.
May	1814	Joseph Sr. too poor to be levied poll tax, could not vote.
April 5	1815	Mount Tambora – largest eruption in recorded history, reducing global temperatures.
June 18	1815	Napoleon crushed by British at Waterloo, exiled for final time.
March	1816	Joseph Sr. relates one of several prominent visionary dreams. (Lucy’s Book 266, 319)
March 25	1816	Smith family receives “warning out” of community notice from Constable. (Norwich town records, Vogel, Early Mormon Documents)
June	1816	Smith family crops ruined by record cold summer.
	1816	Smith family moves to Palmyra, NY – “The Burned-Over District” known for extreme evangelical fervor. Unpaid creditors seize most of their funds.
	1816	Elias Smith published his vision.
	1816	The Late War published in New York, becomes required reading in schools.
	1817	Religious revival occurs in Palmyra area.
	1817	Governor of N.Y. describes mounds around state containing “piles of skeletons.” (see Natural Born Seer p. 376)
July 4	1817	Erie Canal construction begins, largest economic project in the region.
Jan 21	1818	Palmyra Register publishes article speculating of battles and burial mounds in area.
May 7	1818	Joseph Smith Sr. raised to Master Freemason in Ontario Lodge #23 in Canandaigua, NY.
May 26	1819	Palmyra Register publishes speculation “this country was once inhabited by a race of people, partially civilized, exterminated by forefathers of the…tribes of Indians in this country.”
Sept	1819	Smith as a teenager obtains three different seer stones, his first being a whitish, opaque stone, located using Sally chase’s green stone. (see Magical World View p.42)
Spring (date unknown)	1820	Smith experiences the First Vision. Not a single document, family member, friend or foe has ever substantiated this event – nobody heard of it until many years later. Persecution stemmed solely from the Smith family’s money digging activities and unresolved debts.
	1820	Compilation of Samuel Mitchill’s speculations on origins of indigenous peoples published. Mitchill theorized that a white race met a dark race in bloody conflicts in upstate NY.
	1820	Smith family earns money selling cakes and beer from handcart at regional fairs.
	1821	Smith used his whitish seer stone on treasure hunts, sometimes with his brothers. (see Magical World View p. 50)
	1821	Charles Finney records his vision.
	1821	Smith was “very passable exhorter” at Methodist camp meetings, revivals. (Turner, History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps & Gorham’s Purchase, 214)
	1822	Smith finds brown seer stone while treasure digging (later said to be a well) on Willard Chase property.
	~1822	Antionio Lebolo discovers eleven mummies and several Papyri in Thebes, Egypt. (Egyptian hieroglyphics remain unreadable at this time)
	1822	Peter Ingersoll, neighbor of Smith family in 1822, later stated “general employment of the family was digging for money.” 72 others made corroborating  affidavits. (Peter Ingersoll, Affidavit, Dec 2, 1833)
July 2	1822	The land agent, Zechariah Seymour, to whom the Smith’s owe mortgage payments, dies.
	1822	Smith served as treasure seer for Oliver Harper, whose partners included Josiah Stowell. (see Magical World View p. 56)
Aug 1	1822	Final payment due on Smith farm.
Nov	1822	Smiths build framed home with mortgage money, failing to pay land owner.
	1822-1844	Sidney Rigdon shows Spalding manuscript to John Winters [per Winters].
	1823	View of the Hebrews, Ethan Smith published.
	1823	There were two bookstores in Palmyra, plus a public library, despite population of farmers and unskilled labor. (see Magical World View p. 179-183)
April 15	1823	Ontario (New York) Repository publishes story of Colonel Abraham Edwards’s discovery of ancient manuscript, nobody could decipher the hieroglyphics, receives prominent press.
May 16	1823	Detroit Gazette publishes article about same ancient manuscript.
Sept 21	1823	Joseph Smith (17) tells of Moroni visit and of the existence of gold plates. Later, he writes of instructions to wait four years.
Sept 22	1823	Smith tells of attempt to retrieve plates, denied, struck by toad-like creature, instructed to bring older brother Alvin next year. (Benjamin Saunders)
Fall	1823	This is the year and time Lucy Smith (Joseph’s mother) later stated Joseph’s first vision occurred (Lucy’s Book p. 335)
Nov 19	1823	Smith’s eldest brother Alvin dies, primary family breadwinner, additional financial strain on Smith family, posing problem for Angel’s command to bring Alvin.
March 13	1824	Large revivals in Palmyra area – Lucy Mack Smith, Hyrum, Sophronia and Harrison join Presbyterians.
	1824	Popular history of New York published, relating tradition of Seneca Indians, highly civilized white race totally destroyed, built fortifications against savage red Indians.” (History of State of NY Including its Aboriginal and Colonial Annals, p.40)
May	1824	John Greenwood, NY lawyer, received power of attorney over Smith’s farm, 18 months overdue mortgage payment. Note deferred until Dec 25, 1825.
Sept	1824	Alvin Smith’s grave disturbed.
Sept 22		Smith tells of second attempt to get plates from Hill Cumorah, again denied.
Sept 29	1824	Joseph Sr. publishes announcement in local newspaper, Wayne Sentinel, denying rumors that Alvin’s body has been disinterred.
Feb 18	1825	Russell Stoddard, carpenter on Smith home, sues Joseph Sr. for $66.
	1825	Hyrum Smith joined Masons.
Summer	1825	Josiah Stowell searches for lost Spanish mine in Pennsylvania. (Mormon History, Joseph and Heil Lewis)
	1825	View of the Hebrews reprinted.
	1825	Joseph Smith gets a brown seer stone from the well of Willard Chase, neighbor.
Fall	1825	Joseph visits Hill Cumorah with Samuel Tyler Lawrence, both envision plates with their seer stones. No angel appears, no plates found.
Oct 11	1825	The Wayne Sentinel, Smith’s hometown newspaper, publishes article describing how Indians are “lineal descendants of the Israelites.“
October	1825	Both Joseph Sr. and Jr. accompany Josiah Stowell to South Bainbridge to search for buried treasure. (see Natural Born Seer p. 243)
Nov 1	1825	Joseph Smith, Isaac Hale, Josiah Stowell and others sign agreement for dividing anticipated proceeds from renewed treasure quest. (Articles of Agreement, reprinted in Kirkham, New Witness for Christ in America)
Nov 17	1825	Joseph Sr. and Jr. and Stowell find no treasure, Smith “said the enchantment was so powerful that he could not see” with his stone,” relocate to another Stowell property along the Susquehanna river. (see Magical World View, p. 55)
Nov	1825	Isaac Hale’s March 1834 affidavit identifies this month when Isaac met Joseph in the money digging business.
	1825	Sidney Rigdon experiences falling out with Alexander Campbell.
Nov 20 – Mar	1825 1826	Joseph Smith lives at Josiah Stowell’s in Bainbridge, NY, while working for him as a treasure hunter.
Dec 20	1825	Smith family again lose their land and house, sold to carpenter Stoddard while Joe Sr. and Jr. seeking treasure. Seven years of hard work entirely lost.
	1826	There were at least 23 libraries surrounding Manchester/Palmyra.
	1826	Journalist William Morgan disappears, presumably murdered for preparing anti-Mason expose.
	1826	American Temperance Society forms in U.S.
March 20	1826	Relative of Josiah Stowell files complaint – Smith arrested for disturbing the peace (fraud, treasure digging for hire). Justice Albert Neely conducts the “glass looker” trial. (See Natural Born Seer p. 251-258)
Jan 17	1827	Smith elopes with Emma Hale against her father’s wishes, after using seer stone to confirm she is the one.
Jan 18	1827	Smith and Emma marry.
Fall	1827	Smith and father worked on money digging project. (Martin Harris, Lorenzo Saunders Interview 1884)
Sept 18	1827	Smith family purchases lamp black paint from Dr. Gain Robinson’s Palmyra store – used to paint objects black for use in treasure seeking rituals. (Gain Robinson Store day book)
Sept 21	1827	Joseph sends Smith Sr. to keep eye on Samuel Lawrence, a treasure digging partner, to ensure he didn’t search for treasure on Hill Cumorah that night. (Saints: The Standard of Truth 1815-1846,’ 1:4:37)
Sept 22	1827	At midnight, Smith goes to Cumorah and received gold plates – this day was both the autumnal equinox and new moon, strong astrological alignment. New moon was in second day – as published in Book of Fate and folklore manuals. Smith family parchments and dagger align with favorable planetary powers of this date. (see Magical World View p. 167)
Fall	1827	Smith describes running for 3 miles while carrying extremely heavy gold plates, while fighting off three attackers. (Lucy Mack Smith)
Oct	1827	Martin Harris gives Smith $50 to finance translation.
December	1827	Joseph and Emma move to Harmony to live with the Emma’s parents. Smith, penniless, earning little money treasure digging, borrows $50 from Martin Harris.
	1828	Palmyra newspapers print anti-Masonic articles describing “secret combination”, referring to “its secret and cut-throat oaths.”
February	1828	Martin Harris travels to NY City, carrying transcribed symbols from plates, to find Mitchill in hopes of verifying authenticity. Mitchell could not decode, drafted introductory note to Charles Anthon.
February	1828	Anthon declares the characters “imitation of various alphabetic characters, no meaning with them…” Harris departs convinced Smith is smarter than Anthon. Anthon remained consistent his entire life refuting JS and Harris account. (Anthon to Coit, Apr 3, 1841)
Spring	1828	Father-in-law Isaac Hale extends credit to Smith for farmland on his property. Isaac wants son-in-law out of money digging business, helps get him started farming. (NBS p. 309)
April 12	1828	Martin Harris heads for Harmony, becomes scribe.
June 15	1828	Emma delivers son, Alvin, dies within day.
~June 25	1828	Joseph and Emma, along with many of her kin, seek consolation, affiliate with Methodists.
June 28 – July	1828	Emma’s cousin Joshua McKune and another accost Smith, “such a character as he was a disgrace to the church.” Force him to either make public confession, renounce fraudulent practices or withdraw from church. Smith withdraws from Methodists.
July	1828	Lucy Harris seizes 116 pages to stop Martin from being fooled.
July	1828	Smith reveals D&C 3, loses ability to translate for a season.
Aug	1828	Oliver Cowdery, second cousin to Lucy Smith, hired as school teacher, boards at Joseph Sr. home.
Aug	1828	Smith reveals D&C 10, solving the problem of the 116 pages – numerous problems with this story.
Sept 22	1828	Plates and interpreters apparently returned to Smith, though he never uses them.
March	1829	Martin Harris asks Smith for “greater witness.” Smith instructs Harris to follow his tracks into snowy woods where he had buried the plates. Harris never locates any plates. (Affidavit of Isaac Hale / see also Natural Born Seer p. 332)
March	1829	Smith reveals Book of Commandments 4:2 “he shall pretend to no other gift, for I will grant him no other gift.” Joseph’s role, clearly defined in canonized scripture, would be significantly altered and expanded in 1835 D&C 5:4.
April	1829	Oliver Cowdery becomes Smith’s scribe. Oliver is Smith’s distant cousin.
April	1829	Smith provides Oliver with D&C 8 blessing, “gift of the rod” (divining rod), later altered to “gift of Aaron”.
May	1829	Oliver attempts to translate but sees nothing but blackness in the rock. He “could have translated…it is not expedient now” reveals Smith in D&C 9.
May	1829	Martin Harris hears progress report, wants to visit Smith. Lucy Harris gathers affidavits from neighborhood, files complaint before magistrate. Martin testifies he believes Smith has powers, judges tosses them all out. (see Natural Born Seer p. 342)
May 15	1829	John the Baptist visits, without mention or record anywhere until several years later.
May 16-28 (date unknown)	1829	Peter, James, John appear possibly within this 13-day period, also without mention or record anywhere until several years later. The Church remains unaware of location or date.
Late May	1829	Smith and Oliver relocate to Whitmer farm in NY, at Whitmer’s expense, to avoid persecution. Many witness “translation” process, confirming no plates or breastplate were ever present – Smith stared into his hat for entire project.
June 1	1829	Smith and Oliver resume work on the book.
June 11	1829	Smith applies for Book of Mormon copyright.
June	1829	As Book nears completion, Smith family writes many letters to family members promoting the “marvelous work” yet not one mention of first vision or visitation from God.
June 17	1829	Hyrum Smith receives response from Uncle Jesse Smith, angry at attempts to promote Smith, accusing him of “making lead books…deception…shielded by your ignorance.” (NBS p. 362)
June 28	1829	Smith, Cowdery, Whitmer, Harris go into the woods, pray to receive spiritual vision of the plates. Whitmer later describes “a table with many records on it, plates, sword of Laban, directors and interpreters, heard voice. (Whitmer, Sept 7-8, 1878)
June	1829	Book of Mormon finished.
July 2	1829	8 additional witnesses vision plates after praying for hours while admonished by Smith to repent. Versions differ if in grove, in home, plates in box, no angel.
Aug 5	1829	Martin Harris mortgages his land to E. B. Grandin for $3,000 to pay for Book printing.
Aug 17	1829	Smith and Harris sign contract with Grandin publishing, each agreeing to pay half.
Winter	1829	Smith received revelation via his seer stone to sell copyright. When effort fails, Smith declares revelation was not from God.
Jan 16	1830	Realizing he cannot pay his debt, Smith signs agreement granting Martin Harris equal right to sell books until his printing money is repaid.
March	1830	Unable to pay his promised half of printing costs, Smith delivers chastising D&C 19 revelation to Martin Harris – “eternal, endless God’s punishment, repent, smite, wrath, anger, suffering, not covet thine own property, impart freely.”
March 26	1830	Book of Mormon published – 5,000 copies, advertised for sale in Grandin’s bookstore.
March 29	1830	Presbyterian church suspends Lucy, Hyrum and Samuel Smith.
March	1830	Martin Harris “gave up his entire time to advertising the book”  for $1.75, soon reduced to $1.25, did not sell. Most 5,000 copies remained in storage until Ohio.
April 6	1830	Church of Christ organized in Manchester, not Fayette.
April 7	1830	Hyrum Smith signs promissory note to shoe his horse.
May 7	1830	Collection order issued against Smith Sr. for $37.50, Constable Sylvester Southworth. (NBS p. 457)
May 26	1830	Congress passes Indian Removal Act, forcing Indians west of Mississippi. Mormons view displacement as “God’s work”, fulfilling prophecy of a literal gathering.
June 1	1830	First proselytizing mission directed toward Native Americans. Mission fails to convince Indians, but converts Sidney Rigdon and Frederick Williams.
June 9	1830	First church conference. Smith casts devil out of Newel Knight, who then sees vision of God.
June 28	1829	Smith arrested.
June 29	1829	Smith trial for disorderly conduct begins, extends to July 3, Smith leaves town that night.
July 4	1830	Smith and Emma arrived home in Harmony.
Early July	1830	Smith and Oliver return to Knight home, chased out of town, travel through night, arrive back in Harmony next morning.  NOTE: this is the night Richard Bushman suggests Peter, James, John may have visited.
July	1830	Smith enhances his position via D&C 24 revelation – called and chosen, go speedily to church, support him under threat of God’s curse, in exchange for spiritual and temporal blessings, JS to expound all scripture for church, hear him under threat of God’s curse, temporal labor not his calling. D&C 25 instructs Emma not to murmur against Joe, it’s God’s will she can’t see plates, comfort and console Joe, be meek, don’t fear for livelihood as Joe will support Emma “from the church” (later altered to “in” the church).
Aug	1830	Sidney Rigdon has a doctrinal falling out with Alexander Campbell over importance of spiritual gifts and communal property. (see My Doctrine p. 385)
Aug 25	1830	Pressed by Isaac Hale’s annoyance at Joseph and daughter living off sweat of others’ brows, Smith makes a payment for Isaac’s land using borrowed money. Church becomes his sole livelihood for the remainder of his life.
Aug	1830	The Church claims D&C 27 was received this month, yet this mundane revelation about sacrament wine contained no mention of Peter, James, John or priesthood authority when originally published in 1833. Someone inserted all the text dealing with priesthood authority, hundreds of words, at a later date. (See Priesthood Restoration section)
Sept	1830	Hale family fed up with Joseph, no longer offers protection, Smith summons benefactor Newell Knight to transport him and Emma to Fayette to Whitmer home. Emma never sees her home again.
Sept	1830	Hiram Page (married to Catherine Whitmer), supported by Cowdery and Whitmers, uses black seer stone to dictate 16 pages of revelations about Zion.
Sept	1830	Smith reveals D&C 28, no one but him may receive commandments and revelations, as he is like Moses, do not command Joseph who is at the head of the Church, Joe appointed to preside, Zion will be on borders by the Lamanites, sends Oliver packing on mission. Mormon eyes turn westward.
Oct	1830	First missionaries Cowdery, Peter Whitmer Jr., Parley Pratt, Ziba Peterson prioritize taking Book of Mormon story to Indians (specifically called Lamanites) in Ohio and Missouri. Church of Christ numbers about 60 people.
Oct 28	1830	Cowdery and Pratt meet Sidney Rigdon, Reformed Baptist minister Pratt had known for years.
Oct 26	1830	Constable Nathan Harrington attempts to serve warrant on Hyrum, farrier still unpaid from April, Hyrum flees the county to avoid creditors. Joseph Sr. sentenced to 30 days in debtors’ prison. Smith later recounts “I brought salvation to my father’s house…when they were in a miserable situation.”
Oct-Nov	1830	Sidney Rigdon baptized, recruits over 100 members of his Kirtland congregation and common stock community.
Nov 4	1830	Smith used the white stone to dictate a revelation (D&C 34) for Orson Pratt.
Nov 16	1830	Missionaries depart Ohio for region past Mississippi, seeking Indian converts.
Nov 4	1830	Smith discontinues use of seer stones in dictating revelations, begins offering revelations as they occur to him.
Oct 6	1830	Kirtland chapter of Temperance Society formed, 239 members, before Mormons arrived from NY.
	1830	A key summary of the Church is written, yet contains no mention of first vision, visitations, angels or restored authority.
Nov	1830	Samuel Smith returns home from selling books, frees Smith Sr. from prison, moves poverty stricken parents to NY.
Dec 2	1830	Smith writes Hyrum warning to “beware of the freemasons…who care more for his body than the debt…heard were in Manchester, got a warrant.” (see Natural Born Seer p. 457)
Mid Dec	1830	Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge (a Rigdon parishioner) travel to NY to meet Smith. They remain unaware of treasure digging, Smith Sr. incarceration or creditors pursuing family.
Dec 7	1830	Smith provides D&C 35 revelation to Sidney Rigdon to prepare for greater work.
Dec 24	1830	Rigdon and Smith preach in Canandaigua, meet William Wines (W.W.) Phelps. Rigdon persuades Smith to relocate to Ohio where he maintains a communitarian, sharing all things in common, many wealthy members.
Jan 2	1831	Church’s third conference, in Whitmer home in Fayette. Smith reveals D&C 37 commandment to move followers to Ohio. Original speech includes assurances of “greater riches…land of promise…shall be endowed with power from on high.” Followers begin selling property.
Feb 1	1831	Rigdon catches stagecoach for Kirtland. The Palmyra Reflector reported “…whole family will follow Rigdon, as soon as their deluded followers shall be able to dispose of what little real property they possess.”
March 3	1831	Smith again writes Hyrum, warning him that creditors were again pursuing Smith Sr. for unpaid debts. “Come to Fayette, bring father, do not go through Buffalo for they lie in wait for you.” (Jessee, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith)
April 1	1831	Martin Harris sells 151 acres of his farm to Thomas Lakey, as Book of Mormon would not sell and mortgage was 2 months overdue. The Smiths never repay Harris.
	1831	Smith told 12 year old Mary Elizabeth Rollins that God told him she was to be his first plural wife. They later married when she was 23 and already married to Adam Lightner.
June 3	1831	General Conference notes state “Joseph Smith Jr. & Sidney Rigdon were ordained to the High Priesthood under the hand of br. Lyman Wright.” Years later, History of the Church, 1:175-76 recorded “The authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders.” This is first time the word “priesthood” is referenced within church. Recognizing the problem, B.H.Roberts, as church historian, inserted footnote denying the text.
July 17	1831	Smith reveals that already married Mormon men should intermarry Lamanite women (W.W. Phelps records).
July 20	1831	Independence, MO is selected for the city of Zion, a literal gathering in “New Jerusalem.”
Aug 12	1831	Joseph delivers D&C 61 revelation, that “Satan controls the waters.”
Nov	1831	D&C 68:15 received, refers to Melchizedek Priesthood, yet original 1831 text does not contain the priesthood phrase, it was added in 1835.
Dec	1831	Oliver Cowdery marries.
March 1	1832	Smith delivers D&C 78 establishing United Order, aggressively solicits communal property donations.
March 8	1832	Sidney Rigdon and Jesse Gause named to First Presidency, both experienced with communal consecration.
March 15	1832	Smith receives D&C 81 revelation for Jesse Gause, later crossed out, altered in D&C to Frederick Williams. Not corrected until 1980’s when historians pressed the issue.
March 24	1832	Smith tared and feathered, almost castrated (disputed), upon rumors of his intimacy with 16 year old Nancy Marinda Johnson. See 1842 when Smith marries this very same Nancy.
	1832	First vision draft, hand written (mostly) in Smith’s own hand – Letterbook 1 journal. He does not tell anyone (other than scribe Frederick Williams) of this journal or angelic visitation. Public remained unaware of this journal until 1965 – published by Tanners despite official Church efforts to withhold information.
June	1832	The Evening and The Morning Star, church’s first periodical, publishes numerous revelations – yet still ZERO mention of first vision, Peter, James, John.
July	1832	W.W. Phelps speculates in The Evening and Morning Star that the Nephite interpreters may be the Urim & Thummim mentioned in the Bible. This is the first reference to Urum & Thummim in Mormonism.
July 5	1832	Sidney Rigdon tries to seize control of Church, disfellowshipped for a few weeks.
Aug 10	1832	Orson Hyde is quoted in Boston Investigator referring to “two crystal stones in the form of spectacles.”
Sept 22	1832	D&C 84 revealed – No man can see God without the priesthood and live.
	1832	Elijah Abel, a black man, baptized into the Church.
	1832	Several acquaintances of Solomon Spalding claim that the historical content of The Book of Mormon is identical to Spalding’s Manuscript Found, but not the religious content.
Oct	1832	Andrew Jackson spoke against S. Carolina seceding, prayed to prevent civil war, dispatched Federal troops to squash state rebellion.
Nov 6	1832	Emma catches Smith having a “transaction” with Fanny Alger, the teenage nanny (some suggest closer to 1835).
Nov 27	1832	Governor of SC states willingness to resist U.S. Gov’t by force if necessary.
Nov 27	1832	Smith begins keeping a journal, commanded two years earlier.
Dec 3	1832	Jesse Gause, First Presidency counselor excommunicated. He was sent on mission and kept on walking, denying Mormonism.
Dec 18	1832	Oliver Cowdery marries Elizabeth Ann Whitmer.
Dec 25	1832	Smith prophesies “For behold, the southern states shall be divided against the norther states…” Peace held for 28 years. Church abandoned the prophecy, excluding it from 1833 and 1835 books of revelations, re-inserting it decades later out of context.
Jan	1833	Smith calls upon “Christian world” to flee to Zion before overflowing scourge overtakes you.”
Jan 5	1833	Frederick G. Williams named to Presidency. Smith later swaps his name into D&C 81, altering original revelation to Jesse Gause.
Feb 1	1833	Temperance society eliminates distillery in Kirtland and nearby Mentor.
Feb 2	1833	Smith declares JST Bible retranslation “finished” and “correct.” Several passages, including critically important Malachi text, would be changed years later. The LDS Church has never published the complete JST translation.
Feb 26	1833	National Day of Temperance. Several speeches given, later distributed as pamphlets. (The Journal of Health, Philadelphia)
Feb 27	1833	Smith creates Word of Wisdom at Emma’s request, suggested as good advice, not by command. Wording mirrors Temperance literature.
	1833	Oliver Cowdery commits adultery, bitter at Smith’s rebuke because aware of ongoing Fanny affair.
Feb – Mar	1833	Smith secretly marries his nanny Fanny Alger (16) who lives in Smith home. Exact date unknown, but closely linked to sanction of Levi’s marriage soon after.
Mar 29	1833	Levi Hancock, successful in “his mission” to secure Fanny for Smith, terminates engagement to Temperance Jane Miller, receives Clarissa Reed as reward.
	1833	45 prominent Palmyra citizens sign affidavits describing Smith family as “destitute of that moral character.” (Vogel, Early Mormon Documents)
July	1833	Book of Commandments – predecessor to D&C – published by W.W. Phelps, yet ZERO mention of Peter, James, John.
July 20	1833	Mob destroys Evening & Morning Star press in Independence, MO. Book of Commandments almost destroyed, few copies remain.
July 22	1833	Agreement signed with Jackson County, Mo. to depart and not restart printing press.
Nov 7	1833	Saints began fleeing from mobs in Jackson County, Missouri across river.
Nov 15	1833	First significant anti-Mormon book, Mormonism Unvailed printed, with no mention of First Vision, Peter, James, John or priesthood.
	1833	Joseph Knight writes history of important events in Mormonism up to that year, with no mention of first vision, John the Baptist or Peter, James, John.
Dec 16	1833	Smith received D&C 101, outlining force to retake lands, pacifist response ceased.
Dec 18	1833	Smith delivers blessing to Oliver Cowdery, calling out “two evils in him that he must needs forsake.” Refers to Oliver’s adultery.
Jan	1834	D. P. Hurlbut travels through Kirtland and Palmyra to investigate Joseph’s past, denounces Smith for ministering “under pretense of Divine Authority”, stirs up opposition.
	1834	Oliver Cowdery writes first official church history – yet ZERO mention of first vision.
Feb 12	1834	Kirtland High Council meeting – FIRST mention of any Angel, first mention to members of conferral of authority before church’s organization, but they only refer to angel in general terms.
Feb 17	1834	Charles Anthon, furious that Mormons are using his name to promote Book of Mormon, writes “The whole story about my having pronounced the Mormonite inscriptions to be ‘reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics’ is perfectly false.” (Anthon to Howe)
March 20	1834	Isaac Hale (Emma’s father) affidavit on this day states that Smith boarded with him while he was employed by money-diggers as a seer, by means of putting a stone in his hat, then putting the hat over his face.
April	1834	United Order dissolved. Communal real estate assets divided personally among Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G . Williams.
May 1	1834	Zion’s Camp begins, the 1,000 mile march from Kirtland, OH to retake Jackson County, MO. Only 207 men at peak, plus women/children.
	1834	Isaac Hale makes statements against Smith for fraud -“money digger looking into hat, delusion, fabrication.”
June 2	1834	Smith provides inspiring Zelph revelation to troops at Indian mount on Illinois River.
June 4	1834	Smith wrote letter to Emma identifying the whole Mississippi area as Nephite territory. (The Personal Writings of J. Smith, p. 324)
June 22	1834	Cholera sweeps through. Negotiations with locals and gov’t fail to yield any result, JS chastises Zion Camp members, blames failure on their disobedience, it was merely a test of their faith.
June 25	1834	Zion’s camp disbands, nothing achieved except apostasy and dissention, long walk home.
Aug 16	1834	Smith reveals Sept 11, 1836 as future “appointed time” of Zion’s redemption in Jackson County (JS Letterbook 1, p. 86)
Aug 27	1834	Smith states / implies his son Joseph III would be his successor.
Feb 14	1835	Quorum of 12 and Seventies organized in Kirtland.
May	1835	Fifth Lecture on Faith published in Messenger and Advocate – says God is a spirit.
	1835	Smith worked with Oliver to produce an account of early church beginnings for publication in Latter Day Saint Messenger and Advocate paper. It contains no mention of first vision. Nobody knew of Smith’s 1832 journal vision draft at this time.
July 3	1835	Smith solicits $2,400 from member donations to purchase Egyptian mummies and papyrus scrolls, claiming one is from hand of Abraham, the other of Joseph of Egypt. Translation attempt begins.
July 20	1835	W.W. Phelps writes his wife Sally, recounting how Smith said “…the rolls of papyrus contained the sacred record kept by Joseph…in Egypt and the teachings of father Abraham.” (History of the Church)
July	1835	Smith records via W.W. Phelps, “I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet of the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language…” (Book B-1, 597; History of the Church, 2:238)
Aug	1835	The Church via Phelps and Cowdery issues the first of an ongoing series of denials of polygamy.
Aug 17	1835	Updated and revised Doctrine & Covenants presented at conference, containing numerous unannounced changes and expansions to previously published revelations. PETER, JAMES, JOHN retroactively inserted into D&C 27 – FIRST TIME ANYBODY HEARS OF PRIESTHOOD RESTORATION.
	1835	D&C version contains Lectures of Faith and includes details of the Godhead, describing God as a spirit only. There is no mention of Joseph supposedly having seen them both 15 years earlier.
Aug	1835	“Article on Marriage” introduced at conference, became D&C Section 101 – later removed from LDS scripture in 1876.
Oct 7	1835	Smith uses white seer stone (referred to as Urim &Thummim) for blessing to Newel Whitney.
Nov 9	1835	Smith dictates his history and first vision to Warren Parrish, for visitor Robert Matthias. It is not shared with members. “…I received the first visitation of Angels when I was about 14 years old…” (Personal writings of Joseph Smith, p. 84) It should be noted that this entry was altered in the History of the Church, Vol. 2, pg. 312. It now reads “my first vision” instead of “visitation of Angels”
Nov 14	1835	Smith relates first vision to Erastus Holmes.
Nov	1835	Smith issues “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands…husband head of the wife…” revelation.
Nov	1835	Smith marries Newel Knight to undivorced Lydia Goldthwaite, illegal and lacking authority.
Mar 3	1836	Elijah Abel, a black man, was ordained an Elder in the LDS Church.
March 27	1836	Kirtland Temple dedication.
April 3	1836	Elijah (and Elias apparently, even though they’re the same person) restore sealing authority while Smith and Oliver are behind a curtain.
Jan 6	1836	Blackrock Advocate, a New York newspaper, questions solvency of Bank of Monroe, a Mormon bank.
	1836	Grammar & Alphabet of Egyptian Language (GAEL) is developed to interpret purchased papyri.
	1836	Cholera epidemic passed through, thousands die.
August	1836	Desperate with debt, Smith travels to Salem, MS under false pretense of missionary effort in search of treasure rumored to be buried under house.
Sept	1836	Fanny Alger moves from Kirtland to Missouri.
Sept 11	1836	The day Smith previously appointed for the redemption of Zion (their lost lands) – passes without event.
Nov 2	1836	Kirtland Safety Society Bank organized, Rigdon as President, Smith as Cashier and signer on notes.
Nov 7	1836	First Presidency and numerous general authorities warn non-Mormon Justice of The Peace, Ariel Hanson, to “depart forthwith out of Kirtland.”
Dec 7	1836	Bishop Edward Partridge defines tithing as 2% of net worth, to cover operating expenses of the Church.
Jan 1	1837	Bank paper currency arrives in Kirtland.
Jan 1	1837	Ohio legislature denies Smith’s bank incorporation application, citing lack of capital, bank begins operations as anti-bank.
Jan 6	1837	Wilford Woodruff records in his journal hearing Smith testify of revelation to continue bank.
Jan 18	1837	The Cleveland Weekly Gazette warns readers of Smith’s bank, labeling Rigdon “a notorious hypocrite and knave.” Smith would “take up what little money they have, and depart hence.” – which is exactly what he did.
Jan 27	1837	Kirtland Safety Society collapsing, Rigdon announces cessation of note redemptions, only land or hard assets accepted.
Feb 1	1837	Notes selling for 12.5 cents on the dollar.
Feb 9	1837	Warren Parrish states in Painesville Telegraph that Smith declared “the audible voice of God instructed him to establish a anti-banking institution, which, like Aaron’s rod, should swallow up all other banks…”
March 24	1837	Smith loses court case, financial penalty imposed.
April	1837	Smith flees town to avoid arrest.
May		Financial panic, many banks fail. 13 law suits filed against Smith between June 1837-April 1839. Major apostasy among leadership begins.
May	1837	6 of 12 apostles in open rebellion, form rival church, claim the temple they paid for.
May 23	1837	Parley Pratt writes Smith, reminding him of their land agreement, threatens to sue for extortion, undue influence.
June 5	1837	Smith tried for conspiracy to commit murder. Apostles Orson Hyde and Luke S. Johnson acknowledge in court that “Smith seemed much excited and declared that Grandison Newell should be put out of the way, or where the crows could not find him; he said destroying Newell would be justifiable in the sight of God, that it was the will of God.” Hyde and Johnson insist that Smith is “tender-hearted,” court acquits him because his statements do not constitute conspiracy. (Quinn)
June	1837	Smith launches England mission.
	1837	A Voice of Warning, Parley P. Pratt, 1st edition printed. One of the most influential works in Mormon history, a most powerful proselytizing tool – yet no mention of first vision.
July	1837	Smith departs on Canadian mission tour – wants everyone out of Kirtland to cool down. Upon his return, Whitmer, Harris, Cowdery have pledged loyalty to an opposing faction. Frederick Williams, Joseph’s former First Counselor, was her scribe. “The girl seeress would dance herself into a state of exhaustion, fall to the floor, and burst forth with revelations.”
	1837	Book of Mormon reprinting alters nature of God wording in multiple places, replacing Eternal Father with Son of Eternal Father.
August	1837	David Whitmer resigns, leaves Church while accusing Smith of altering doctrines.
Oct	1837	Smith and Rigdon convicted of illegal banking (court only met twice annually)
	1837	Lyman Wight dismisses D&C as Telestial law, Book of Commandments  as Celestial law, because of numerous significant changes, almost excommunicated.
	1837	Apostles write how “Many scores of persons were healed by our sending a handkerchief (Smith’s) to them.” (Orson Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, 1888)
January 21	1838	Oliver Cowdery writes his brother re: Smith’s  “dirty, nasty, filthy affair” with Fanny the nanny.
January 12	1838	Smith flees Kirtland to Far West (Zion), Church in chaos, outstanding warrant for bank fraud, all is lost.
Feb 5	1838	Warren Parrish, Smith’s trusted scribe, writes letter to Editor of Painesville Republican heavily criticizing Smith and Rigdon for fraud, lying, deception, mismanagement, etc.
March 14	1838	Far West, MO saints welcome Smith home with song and cheer, welcome home the prophet, restart/reset.
March 25	1838	Martin Harris testifies publicly that none of 8 Book of Mormon signatories saw or handled physical records.
Late March	1838	Apostles Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, John Boynton and others leave the Church.
April 12	1838	Oliver Cowdery excommunicated, won’t recant adultery claim against Smith. Takes Book of Mormon printer’s manuscript with him.
April 13	1838	David Whitmer excommunicated – strongly disaffected by Kirtland Bank fraud.
April 15	1838	Martin Harris says the 8 witnesses never saw the plates, hesitated to sign document, but were persuaded. (Harris in Burnett to Johnson, 1838)
April 26	1838	Name of the Church changed again, reinstating “Jesus Christ” back into name.
May 12	1838	Smith and Rigdon request annual salary of $1,100 each. High Council approves, many object, rescinds following week, each given 80 acres instead. See July 8, revelation commanding member donations.
May 19	1838	Smith says that Davies County is Adam-Ondi-Ahman where Adam dwelt after his expulsion from Eden.
June	1838	Smith’s First Presidency accuses Cowdery, Whitmer and others of affiliating with counterfeiters, etc
June	1838	Sampson Avard organizes Danites. Smith remains aware or organization.
June 17	1838	Sidney Rigdon delivers “Salt Sermon” in Far West, harsh public condemnation of many church leaders for their perceived disloyalty towards him and Smith, Danites start threatening lives.
June 19	1838	Dissenters, having been warned, flee Caldwell County
June 28	1838	Mormons lay out town and organize a Stake of Zion at Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County.
July 4	1838	Sidney Rigdon delivers fiery speech, threatening Missouri Gentiles, declares “war of extermination,” sparking the Mormon War.
July 8	1838	D&C 119 received, redefines tithing as paying “one-tenth of all their interest annually” and any “surplus property” as a “standing law unto them forever.” See May 12, 1838 – Smith’s salary request was denied.
July	1838	Mormons open settlements at DeWitt and throughout northwestern Missouri.
July 14	1838	Carroll citizens meet to oppose Mormon settlement at DeWitt. Meetings and threats against Mormons at DeWitt continue throughout the summer.
July 27	1838	Joseph writes in journal that Danites organized according to revelation to put right physically that which is not right, and to cleanse the Church of very great evils which hath hitherto existed among us. This portion of journal crossed out and not included in History of the Church.  (Jessee 1992, p. 262)
Aug 6	1838	Gallatin election battle. Daviess settlers talk of organizing against Mormons.
Aug 6	1838	Mormon War in Missouri begins, Danites present active offense.
Aug 7	1838	Smith leads 150 Danites to Diahman to protect the Saints. Mormons threaten Judge Adam Black and others suspected of anti-Mormon activities. Reports of Mormon “invasion” spread through upper counties.
Aug 13	1838	Daviess County judges issue writs for the arrest of Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight. Committee of Carroll citizens orders the Saints to leave the county.
Aug 20	1838	One hundred armed men ride into DeWitt and threaten Mormons.
Aug 30	1838	Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, responding to reports of civil and Indian disturbances in western counties, orders twenty-eight hundred state troops to stand ready to march.
Sept 7	1838	Smith and Wight receive a preliminary hearing in Daviess County. Judge Austin A. King orders the defendants to post bail and appear at the next hearing of the grand jury in Daviess.
Sept9	1838	Excitement in upper counties continues as Mormons capture three men attempting to transport guns to vigilantes in Daviess County. Mormons and Missourians petition Judge King to quell the disturbances.
Sept 10	1838	Judge King orders General Atchison to raise four hundred troops and disperse the Mormons and non-Mormon vigilantes.
Sept 13	1838	Carroll vigilantes postpone assault on DeWitt and march to Daviess to assist settlers against the Mormons.
Sept 18	1838	After receiving reports of disturbances, Governor Boggs orders out two thousand troops and prepares to lead march to western Missouri.
Sept20	1838	Atchison disperses vigilantes in Daviess County and leaves one hundred troops under General Parks to maintain peace.
Sept 24	1838	Governor Boggs receives letter from Atchison stating that vigilantes in Daviess have dispersed. Boggs dismisses troops and returns to Jefferson City.
Oct 1	1838	Vigilantes attack DeWitt, burn the home and stables of Smith Humphrey. During the next several days Mormons appeal to Governor Boggs and other civil authorities for protection.
Oct 6	1838	General Parks arrives in DeWitt with one hundred troops to quell disturbances. Anti-Mormon spirit among troops forces Parks to return to Ray County a few days later.
Oct 9	1838	Messenger reports to Mormons that the Governor said they must rely on local authorities for protection, will not intervene.
Oct 11	1838	Mormons at DeWitt surrender and move to Caldwell and Daviess counties. Carroll vigilantes resolve to help settlers expel Mormons from Daviess.
Oct 14-15	1838	Smith and Rigdon call upon Mormon troops to ride to Diahman to protect the Saints, threatening those who will not join the Mormon army. Four hundred soldiers march to Daviess County.
Oct 18	1838	Mormon soldiers attack Gallatin, Millport, and other settlements in Daviess, driving non-Mormon settlers from their homes, plundering, and burning. Missourians retaliate. General Parks visits Mormons and Missourians in Daviess. Parks discovers that civil war has broken out and declares that Mormons are now the aggressors.
Oct 22	1838	Mormon troops return to Far West after driving nearly all non-Mormons from Daviess.
Oct 24	1838	Bogart and his troops harass Mormon settlers in Ray and Caldwell counties. They capture two Mormon spies and threaten to execute them.
Oct 24	1838	Apostles Thomas Marsh and Orson Hyde sign affidavits in Ray County describing Mormon activities. Ray committee returns from Daviess with similar reports of depredations. Capt. Samuel Bogart calls out Ray troops to prevent invasion by Mormons.
Oct 25	1838	Capt. David W. Patten leads Mormon troops to rescue spies. Troops clash at Crooked River, with three Mormons and one Missourian killed. Exaggerated reports of Crooked River battle spread throughout the state. Fearing the Mormons intend to continue attacks, Generals Atchison, Doniphan, and Parks call out state militia to quell alleged Mormon rebellion.
Oct 27	1838	Governor Boggs, responding to reports of Mormon depredations in Daviess County and their attack on state troops at Crooked River, orders that the Mormons must be “exterminated or driven from the state.”
Oct 30	1838	Missouri troops, under command of Gen. Samuel D. Lucas of Jackson County, arrive outside Far West. Mormon leaders send messengers to learn intentions of troops. 200 soldiers from Livingston and nearby counties overrun Mormon village of Haun’s Mill, killing 18 and wounding 15.
Oct 31	1838	Col. George Hinkle, John Corrill, and other Mormon representatives attempt to negotiate with General Lucas, but receive demands for surrender. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, and other Mormon leaders give themselves up as hostages. About seventy-five Mormon soldiers, advised of the surrender plans, flee from Far West during the night.
Nov 1	1838	Smith advises Mormon troops at Far West and Diahman to surrender. Mormon War ends.
Nov 2	1838	Mormons forced to deed over their property to pay expenses for the war. This part of the surrender agreement is later declared illegal.
Nov 12-29	1838	Judge Austin King presides at Court of Inquiry held in Richmond, Ray County. Joseph, Hyrum and Sidney Rigdon, and others charged wit high treason, arson, murder, robbery – committed to prison on the basis of testimony against them.
Nov 26	1838	Smith writes in his diary while aboard ship in storm, how he commanded the winds and they abated.
December	1838	Missouri legislature debates whether to investigate the disturbances and allow the Mormons to remain. Legislation to investigate is tabled until July, after the Mormons have already left the state.
February	1839	Mormons pool resources and organize to leave Missouri.
March 17	1839	Sampson Avard excommunicated (Danite leader).
	1838-1839	Church drafts another version of First Vision, expanding upon prior versions, not shared with members.
	1839	Salomon Spaulding’s widow, Matilda Spaulding Davison, upon hearing a reading of Book of Mormon, declares it to be similar to husband’s writing.
April 11	1839	Joseph Smith and four others are indicted for arson, treason, riot, burglary in Daviess County, and are granted a change of venue to Boone County.
April 16	1839	Smith and other prisoners escape by bribing their guards and return to Saints, who are gathering at Quincy, Illinois.
April 22	1839	Smith implies his son Joseph III would be his successor.
May	1839	Nearly all the Saints have left Missouri.
Spring	1839	Smith gives handkerchief to a father to bring to sick child, that whey would be healed by it. (Wilford Woodruff, Leaves From My Journal, 1881)
June 6	1839	First British converts arrive in Nauvoo. Cheap land is a prominent factor.
July	1839	With no prospect of redeeming Zion, Smith expands geography of Zion to “all of North and South America.”
July 3	1839	Isaac Galland baptized and ordained Elder by Smith.
July 24	1839	Smith receives letter from Isaac Galland repeatedly mentioning Emanuel Swedenborg.
	1839	Isaac Galland sells 19,000 acres to Smith
Aug 15	1839	Baptism for the dead publicly announced.
September	1839	Orson Pratt creates pamphlet in Scotland titled An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records. FIRST EVER published account of FIRST VISION, was not viewed in U.S.
Oct 20	1839	Nauvoo  High Council minutes state, “five hundred dollars be the average price of lots, i.e., none less than two hundred dollars, nor more than eight hundred dollars.” (History of the Church 4:17)
	1840	Book of Mormon edition alters 2 Nephi 30:6, changing white to less racist pure and delightsome.
Feb 4	1840	The Nauvoo Legion militia is organized.
March 2	1840	John C. Bennett’s wife leaves him over adultery.
Jan 1	1841	New bankruptcy law enacted, allowing private citizen bankruptcy, stipulating properties could not be transferred to others to avoid debt obligations.
Jan	1841	Smith reveals that God is flesh and bone, and that “This earth was organized or formed out of other planets which were broke up and remodeled and made into the one on which we live.”
Jan 30	1841	At Conference in Nauvoo Smith is unanimously elected sole Trustee-in-Trust for the Church. (History of the Church 4:286)
Feb 8	1841	All Church assets assigned to Smith, granting him sole discretion of all disbursements.
April 5	1841	First fully “documented” plural marriage of Smith to Louisa Beaman, she wore men’s clothes to conceal the event, held in grove of trees in Nauvoo.
April 7	1841	Don Carlos, youngest brother to Joseph, dies of Malaria
Aug 15	1841	Smith promotes malarial and yellow-fever plagued bottomland to immigrant saints in Nauvoo, despite penning letter of complaint to prior land owner calling it a “deathly sickly hole…unable to realize valuable consideration” and “keeping up appearances…holding out inducements to encourage immigration.” (History of the Church, 4:406, 5:357)
	1841	Smith prophesies Governor Boggs will die violent death within one year (controversial, yet multiple evidences available).
	1841	Smith tells Apostles Book of Mormon is keystone of our religion.
Oct 2	1841	Smith places original Book of Mormon manuscript, witness signatures, and other items in the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House, effectively destroying them. Ebenezer Robinson recorded Joseph as having said “I have had trouble enough with this thing.”
Oct 27	1841	Smith marries Zina Jacobs, in the first case of polyandry. She rebuffed Smith’s first proposal and married Henry Jacobs in March. Smith continued to pursue her, saying an angel with drawn sword threatened his life if he did not obey. Brigham Young later married Zine too.
Nov 13	1841	John C. Bennett paid $100 annually as Mayor of Nauvoo. (Nauvoo City Council Minutes Book, p. 30)
Nov 28	1841	Joseph Smith tells the 12 Apostles that Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of Mormon religion.
	1841	Smith took 3 plural wives this year.
Dec 30	1841	Smith petitions Nauvoo Mason Lodge for membership.
Dec-Aug	1841-1842	Hancock County, Illinois – Joseph and Emma Smith made several major transfers of property and deeds to their minor children, the last transfer just two days before filing for bankruptcy. They ‘sold’ their properties for $100 when in fact they were worth thousands of dollars. (History of the Saints p. 96-97)
Jan 6	1842	Joseph Smith secretly marries Agnes Coolbrith Smith, wife of his recently deceased brother, Don Carlos.
Jan 17	1842	Unhappy with the publications of the Times and Seasons, Joseph, the Nauvoo Stake and Q12  decide not to let Ebenezer Robinson continue to publish, having tried unsuccessfully to intimidate him into selling to them.
Jan 17	1842	Joseph Smith marries Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, 6 months pregnant, on the eve of his wedding anniversary.
Jan 18	1842	There is a grand celebration at the Smith home for their 16th wedding anniversary.
Jan 25	1842	Smith reveals that God instructs Ebenezer Robinson to take Marinda Hyde into his home until her husband Orson Hyde returns from mission. His home is the Times and Seasons building. God also tells Marinda to listen to anything and everything which Smith may teach her.
Jan 28	1842	God, via Joseph, reveals that the Quorum of 12 should take over the printing of the Times and Seasons and install Joseph as Editor, John Taylor writing and Wilford Woodruff managing business.
Feb 4	1842	Ebenezer is allowed to name his price for Times &Seasons, affixes hefty $6,600 value . A significant amount of that money was listed as moneys credited to him for the building of the temple in the book of the law of the lord and various other credits so that he actually does not receive $6,600. Unable to relocate his family that day, he is forced out in dead of winter. That same night Apostle Willard Richards moves into the living quarters attached to the printing house with Marinda Hyde who stays in the living quarters. Richards celebrates by boarding up windows, shoots revolvers in celebration. Richards’ wife and family are living in Massachusetts at the time. (See April 1842)
Feb 6	1842	Emma Smith gives birth to Joseph’s stillborn son.
Feb 8	1842	Joseph  marries Sylvia Porter Sessions.
Feb 28	1842	Smith marries Sylvia Lyon, already married to Windsor, uncertain if he knew. Brigham taught “If woman preferred a man of higher authority, no divorce necessary.”
March 1	1842	Joseph’s letter to John Wentworth published in Times and Seasons. FIRST PUBLISHED account of FIRST VISION in U.S. Also first time church officially says Native Americans are the primary descendants of the Lamanites.
March 4	1842	Smith approves second facsimile illustration from Egyptian papyri, with references to “grand key words of Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, as revealed to Adam.”
March 5	1842	Office of Registrar of Deeds created, Joseph Smith designated as registrar, requiring any and all land purchases to register with his office.
March 9	1842	Smith marries 42 year old Patty Sessions, who was already married to David. Her daughter, Sylvia, married Smith only a month prior. It is unclear if husband knew.
	1842	Smith reads Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan, then prints extracts in Times & Seasons, along with editorial commentary that he believes BoM location to be Guatemala.
	1842	Times & Seasons prints translation from Book of Abraham, revealing that Elohim lives near the star Kolob , also introducing the doctrine of plural gods.
March 15	1842	Abraham Jonas establishes Nauvoo Masonic lodge. Smith receives expedited Masonic temple rituals. Abraham Jonas, with overwhelming Mormon support, elected to legislature shortly thereafter.
March 17	1842	Female Relief Society organized – Emma named President.
April 7	1842	Smith reveals establishment of formal theocratic government, “The Kingdom of God,” later knows as The Council of 50.
April 9	1842	Marinda approaches Nancy Rigdon at funeral, informs that Smith wants to see her “on special business.”
April	1842	Smith marries Nancy Marinda Hyde – already married to Orson Hyde – while Orson away on mission. This is the same Nancy (Johnson) he almost got castrated for when living in Johnson home in 1832.
April 11	1842	Smith wanted Sidney Rigdon’s 19 year old daughter Nancy. He  wrote “that which is wrong under one circumstance may be and often is right under another…whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is.” Nancy refuses, shows letter to father, who immediately sends for Smith, who promptly denied everything, Rigdon thrust letter in face, Smith admitted he had spoken with Nancy but was only testing her virtue.
April 18	1842	Smith and brothers Hyrum and Samuel file for bankruptcy – later denied. (Papers of Joseph Smith, Vol.2, Dean Jessee, 1992)
May 4-5	1842	Smith introduces Mormon endowment to close friends – tokens, signs, penalties, prayer circle, new name, apron – all masonic rituals. Teaches polygamy, secretly, soon after.
May 6	1842	Former Governor Boggs shot. Suspicion immediately falls upon Smith and Porter Rockwell.
May 7-14	1842	The Wasp, page 67, publishes Smith’s bankruptcy notice. Public notice also published declaring bankruptcy of Joseph’s Red Brick Store (Quincy Law Firm).
May 19	1842	Smith elected by City Council as Mayor of Nauvoo after John C. Bennett resigns.
May 28	1842	Nauvoo newspaper The Wasp editorialized “Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to report; but who did the noble deed remains to be found.”
June	1842	As Editor of the official church periodical, Smith reprints a section from Josiah Priest’s 1833 American Antiquities to support the idea that “the Ten Tribes came over to America.” Priest’s book, in turn, was quoting from and commenting on the 1825 View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith.
June 29	1842	Smith marries Eliza Snow (Sarah Cleveland is a witness to this sealing).
July	1842	Smith’s status includes Editor of Times Seasons, Mayor of Nauvoo, Trustee of church finances, Chief Justice of municipal court, Commanding Officer / General of Nauvoo Legion.
July 2	1842	John C. Bennett asserts in the Sangamo Journal claiming that Smith sought his help obtaining Sidney Rigdon’s 19 year old daughter Nancy.
July 15	1842	John C. Bennett asserts in the Sangamo Journal that Smith had confidentially requested his assistance in securing Sarah Pratt as a “Spiritual Wife.”
July 15	1842	Thousands of Nauvoo Mormons search for Apostle Orson Pratt after suicide note. They find him distraught over Smith’s attempt to seduce his only wife Sarah.
July 15	1842	Martha Brotherton (18 years old) records and publishes in St. Louis Bulletin the combined attempt by Smith and Young to persuade her to marry Young, secrecy, hidden from parents, her character is then attacked.
Summer	1842	Smith publishes official Church denial of polygamy, declaring it “false as many other ridiculous charges.”
July 22	1842	Orson Pratt votes against a public resolution in defense of Smith’s virtue.
July 27	1842	Joseph secretly marries 17 year old Sarah Ann Whitney, with Elizabeth and Newel Whitney’s consent, but without Emma’s knowledge. Joseph was 20 years older than Sarah.
	1842	During falling out with John C. Bennett, Nauvoo city council assures Gov. Carlin that Smith “violated no law…” when in fact he was violating anti bigamy law.
Aug 8	1842	Smith and Porter Rockwell arrested for attempted murder, discharged.
Aug 10-29	1842	Smith goes into hiding to avoid second arrest and extradition.
Aug 18	1842	While in hiding, Smith writes Newel and Elizabeth Whitney asking them to come in secret with their daughter Sarah. Despite Joseph’s written instruction to destroy the letter, they retain it.
Aug 19	1842	John C. Bennett  produced a transcription of the letter Smith dictated for Nancy Rigdon, in Richards’s handwriting – “That which is wrong in one circumstance, may be, and often is right under another…Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is…” (See Sunstone, I Could Love Them All).
Aug 20	1842	Orson Pratt excommunicated for siding with his wife Sarah, who accused Smith of attempting to seduce her.
Sept 1	1842	Smith, at Editor of Times & Seasons, prints another polygamy denial, quoting D&C Section 101 “Inasmuch as this church has been reproached…” (Vol.3, No.21, p.909)
Sept 6	1842	Joseph Smith deeds Sarah Ann Whitney a parcel of land, which was owned by the Church, just one block from his own. Female ownership of land in Nauvoo was extremely rare, unheard of for 17 year old girls.
Oct	1842	U.S. Attorney Justin Butterfield travels to Nauvoo, confirms John C. Bennett’s claims that Smith had been transferring property to avoid paying creditors. Smith’s bankruptcy petition is denied. (Smith and Legal Process: In the Wake of The Steamboat Nauvoo p. 756)
Oct 1	1842	Not content with his own denials, Smith musters 31 prominent members to lie in Times & Seasons article denying polygamy, including Emma and all her counselors, some of whom were secretly married to Smith.
	1842	Smith finishes “translating” Egyptian papyri, calls it the Book of Abraham (first published in Times and Seasons, including his incorrect reconstruction of Facsimile 1).
	1842	Smith took 11 plural wives this year. John C. Bennett’s list of wives this year has been substantiated.
Jan 14	1843	Smith increases Nauvoo Mayor salary to $500 annually. (Nauvoo City Council Minutes Book, Sec. 1)
Jan 18	1843	Smith marries 16 year old Sarah Longstroth and her 14 year old sister to trusted aid Willard Richards.
Feb 9	1843	Joseph reveals D&C 129 – how shaking hands will reveal if messenger is of God or Devil.
Spring	1843	Smith married Flora Woolworth (16)worked for JS. Emma did not know, saw gold watch Smith had gifted her, stormed over to temple lot, made a scene.
	1843	D&C 132 language presented to Emma by Hyrum to persuade of polygamy, threatens Emma with destruction.
March	1843	Smith marries 19 year old Emily Partridge with assistance of Heber Kimball.
March	1843	Just four day after Emily, Smith marries her sister Eliza, keeping each secret from the other.
March 14	1843	Smith sees moon, sketches “A union of power, combination of Nations“ as signs of times.
March 23	1843	Smith provides special blessing to Sarah Whitney, recorded in his own hand, guaranteeing eternal salvation to her extended family.
April 13	1843	Joseph elaborates on his land speculation philosophy, “…suppose I sell you land for $10 per acre & I gave 3, 4, 5 per acre. then you are speculating says one. yes, I will tell you how. I buy others lands & give them to the widow & the fatherless. (J. Smith Papers, Book 2)
April 23	1843	Kinderhook Plates found. Same day Smith borrows $20 from William Allen to pay Woodworth.
April 29	1843	Smith arranges a sham wedding between his new polygamous bride Sarah Whitney and Joseph Kingsbury, by promising Kingsbury sealing to his recently deceased wife (Sarah’s sister). (Source: Marriage Certificate)
May 1	1843	William Clayton, Smith’s trusted clerk, marries him to Lucy Walker – who lived in Smith’s house. The same day, William records Smith saying “he has translated portion of the brass Kinderhook plates.
	~1843	Smith allows his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, to exhibited the mummy collection in her home charging a 25 cent admission.
May 11	1843	Smith secretly marries both sisters Maria (18)and Sarah (16) Lawrence, both work as maids in Smith home after father died, Smith was executor of their recently deceased father’s estate. Smith is a full service family trustee.
May 28	1843	Emma finally sealed to Joseph, she was number 20-something wife sealed.
May 1	1843	Smith marries 17 year old Lucy Walker while Emma was in St. Louis buying supplies. Smith said “I will give you until tomorrow to decide this matter. If you reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.” Lucy’s mother died in 1842, whereupon Smith moved the family into his mansion and sent the father on eastern mission.
May	1843	Smith marries 14 year old Helen Kimball with assist from Apostle Kimball. Gave her 2 days to decide her salvation. See wivesofjosephsmith.org.
June 24	1843	Church advertises in Nauvoo Neighbor, will publish Kinderhook Plates in Times & Seasons “as soon as the translation is complete.”
July	1843	Smith an Emma attempt to persuade Jane Law of “correctness” of spouse swapping revelation, she refuses.
July 12	1843	Smith provides D&C 132 revelation, not delivered to members at this time. Verses 51-54 relate to failed Law spouse  swapping offer. No extra husband for Emma, instead threatened with destruction or submit to Joseph’s ongoing affairs.
Aug 27	1843	Smith refers in sermon to succession promise to his son Joseph III.
Sept 28	1843	Emma Smith receives endowment, only then are other women introduced to endowment.
Oct	1843	William Law (in Joseph’s Presidency) pleads with Smith to stop polygamy – Lawrence sisters among other concerns.
Nov 2	1843	Smith takes his final plural wife, Nancy Young.
Nov 5	1843	Emma attempts to poison Joseph, as attested by Brigham Young.
December	1843	Smith petitions Congress to make Nauvoo independent federal territory, with own legion incorporated into U.S. Army and ability to call out Federal troops.
Dec 1	1843	Smith diary mentions Nauvoo Mansion’s bar room, with Porter Rockwell as bartender.
Dec 12	1843	Smith as Mayor of Nauvoo passes ordinance allowing him to sell alcohol from the bar in his house.
Winter	1843	Smith performs second anointing for elite group of leaders and wives.
Dec 20	1843	Nauvoo Neighbor publishes declaration to emigrants, instructing them to purchase any land directly from Smith, as sole trustee of all Church property. He may be found either at “Smith’s bar room, or the Temple Recorder’s office.”
Dec 27	1843	Church newspaper Nauvoo Neighbor advertises ale and beer from Nauvoo Brewery.
	1843	Smith took at least 16 plural wives this year.
Jan 8	1844	William Law resigns as First Counselor.
Jan 29	1844	Quorum of 12 nominates Smith candidate for U.S. President with Rigdon as VP, emissaries soon dispatched around country.
Feb 20	1844	Joseph Smith and the apostles at Nauvoo begin planning an expedition to Oregon territory and Mexican territories of California to secure a new settlement location.
Feb 24	1844	James Strang baptized
March 11	1844	Council of 50 formed in secret to investigate relocation territories for a theocracy free from Federal intervention. Nearly every member is a Freemason.
March 16	1844	Emma instructs Relief Society women protect their daughters and their own virtue. She says the men had lost their authority, she was the only one still worthy of speaking with authority. The Society is suspended, no further meetings held.
March 23	1844	William Law files suit against Smith for adultery.
April 4	1844	The council sends Orson Hyde to Washington D.C. to petition Congress to make Smith an Officer in U.S. Army with power to raise 100,000 troops to patrol western territories from Texas to Oregon.
April 6	1844	The Council of 50 declares proclamation “To all the Kings”, Pres of U.S. they cannot stand idle as nations and creeds reduced to one political and religious standard – the Mormon one – destined to rule entire world.
April 7	1844	Smith delivers famous King Follet Sermon, declares that God was once a mortal man and is eternally progressing, that resurrected children will always remain in bodies of the same age, that eternity is full of infants upon thrones.
April 11	1844	Council of 50 anoints Smith as “Prophet, Priest and King of the World.”
April 18	1844	William and Jane Law excommunicated.
April 24	1844	Freemasons hold fundraising play, Brigham Young in lead role, to pay Smith’s mounting legal bills.
May 13	1844	William Law records in journal that Smith again attempts to seduce his wife Jane. “He [Smith] had lately endeavored to seduce my wife, and had found her a virtuous woman.”
May	1844	Sidney Rigdon visits the Laws, offers to reinstate both, offer refused unless Smith apologizes for polygamy.
May 23	1844	William Law obtains grand jury indictment against Smith.
May 26	1844	Smith speaks from pulpit on Sunday, “Oh what a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjurers.”
May 26	1844	“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 6 Ch. 19)
June 1	1844	Smith’s journal records, “Drank a glass of beer at Moessers.” Church later excises this entry from its records.
June 1	1844	Joseph H. Jackson prints Startling Disclosures in The Warsaw Signal, accusing Smith of counterfeiting, seduction and the attempted assassination of Governor Boggs.
June 5-9	1844	“Went with Henres uncles family uppon the hill. From this day I understand the Kinsman degree of freemasonry. My husband, [Joseph Smith] being a Master Mason, attended meeting. Hyrum Smith spoke exceeding well also red [sic] a revelation…” (Zina Huntington journal)
June 7	1844	The Nauvoo Expositor, funded by William Law, purchased own press, publishes first and last issue, exposing Smith’s polygamy and governmental secession plans, listing reforms to save the Church.
June 8	1844	Smith convenes City Council, which he controls, tries Expositor editors (lacking jurisdiction) all day, obtains public nuisance declaration.
June 10	1844	Town Marshall carries out Smith’s order as Mayor, uses Nauvoo Legion to destroy the press. Smith then blesses the mob in name of The Lord.
June 12	1844	Hancock County Justice issues warrant for the arrest of Smith and 17 others.
June 12	1844	Municipal Court of Nauvoo dismisses charges against Smith. The following day, Smith presides over the court to dismiss charges against all others involved.
	1844	Mormon Nauvoo legion boasts 3,000 troops, while U.S. Army has 8,500.
June 18	1844	Smith declares martial law, calls out Nauvoo Legion militia, marches around on his horse in full military dress, raises sword giving rousing speeches to troops – right before fleeing town.
June 18	1844	A letter of appointment, purportedly from Smith, was mailed from Nauvoo (postal records confirm) to James Strang in Wisconsin appointing him to either Stake or Church leadership.
June 21	1844	Nauvoo Neighbor publishes an extra claiming that Expositor editors left town of their own free will, not because their lives were threatened.
June 21	1844	Governor Ford travels to Hancock County, writes Mayor and City Council of Nauvoo – “destruction of the press was a very gross outrage upon the laws and the liberties of the people.”
June 22	1844	Smith flees town at midnight to avoid arrest, with Hyrum, Willard Richards, bodyguard Porter Rockwell. Smith tells William Clayton to burn or bury the minutes of Council of 50. With opposition forces gathering, members feel abandoned, accuse Smith of cowardice.
June 24	1844	Smith and Hyrum come out of hiding and head to Carthage – “If my life is of no value…” Joseph held on charges of treason and destruction of the press.
June 26	1844	Smith sends secret orders to Major General Jonathan Dunham to attack Carthage with militia to free him.
June 27	1844	5 p.m., a large group of men approach jail. Smith assumes it’s Nauvoo Legion to rescue him, but Dunham disobeyed orders knowing a jailbreak would mean certain annihilation of Nauvoo. Joseph and Hyrum Smith killed by angry mob.
July	1844	Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issues official proclamation to immediately pay “a tenth of all their property and money…and then let them continue to pay a tenth of their income from that time forth.”
	1844	At least 29 men were practicing polygamy at time of Joseph Smith’s death – primarily an exclusive leadership perk. Hyrum Smith had 5 living wives at time of his death.
July	1844	Council of 50 explore route to Missouri River for westward migration, sending Lucian Woodworth to Texas to secure a treaty by offering Mormon army help against Mexico in exchange for 3/5th of Texas.
Aug 3	1844	Sidney Rigdon returns to Nauvoo, says received revelation appointing him “Guardian of the Church.”
Aug 8	1844	Conference held to debate who would lead church. Not one single contemporary source supports the changed countenance of Brigham Young myth, it too evolved years later.
Sept 14	1844	Nauvoo City Council reverts Mayor annual salary to pre Joseph Smith level of $100.
Sept 19	1844	Brigham young begins marrying some of Smith’s polygamous widows as his own wives.
	1844	Church claims approx. 26,000 membership.
Jan	1845	Nauvoo city charter revoked by State in both Senate and House.
Jan 11	1845	Quorum of 12 reemphasized “the duty of all saints to tithe themselves one-tenth of all they possess when they enter into the new and everlasting covenant: and then one-tenth of their interest, or income, yearly afterwards.”
Jan 29	1845	Quorum of 12 votes to exempt themselves and a few others from paying tithing.
Feb 4	1845	Council of 50 is reorganized, Brigham Young appointed leader.
March 1	1845	Council of 50 anoints Brigham Young as “Prophet, Priest and King of the World.”
Feb-March	1845	The council considers sites for settlement outside the U.S., including territories in Texas, Oregon and California.
March 11	1845	News of the annexation of Texas by the United States reaches Nauvoo, after which Mormons no longer consider Texas a viable gathering place.
March	1845	Brigham Young announces decision to “stay” (halt) Relief Society. (Document 1.13)
June 27	1845	Quorum of 12 prays for God’s vengeance on those who shed the prophet’s blood. 6 months later this formal prayer would become part of temple oath.
July 28	1845	General Jonathan Dunham, despondent over disobeying Smith’s order to rescue him, commits suicide.
Aug	1845	LDS leaders receive positive reports about Salt Lake area.
Sept 9	1845	Brigham Young announces his intention to settle “somewhere near the Great Salt Lake.”
Sept 16	1845	Porter Rockwell murders Franklin Worrell, leader of Carthage Grey militia that collaborated in killing Smith.
Sept 24	1845	Brigham Young signs pledge to lead Mormons in spring to Oregon or Vancouver Island.
Oct 8	1845	Lucy Mack Smith is first woman to speak at general conference. Church authorities do not invite another woman to address conference for 143 years.
Oct 27	1845	Hancock County grand jury indicts Brigham Young on counterfeiting charges.
Oct 31	1845	LDS leaders declare in The Gazette, they will depart Nauvoo “at the first appearance of the first vegetation.”
Dec	1845	Nauvoo temple opens.
Dec 11	1845	Brigham Young, tipped by Samuel Brannan, gathers the Twelve to discuss pending counterfeiting indictments.
Dec 18	1845	Federal grand jury indictments issued against Brigham Young for counterfeiting.
Jan 12	1846	Samuel Brannan writes Young warning U.S. Government, concerned about large militant force fleeing into territories, intends to disarm Mormons in spring.
Jan 11-19	1846	Council of 50 meets to finalize preparations to move west.
Jan 29	1846	Samuel Brannan again writes Young, U.S. Government intends to station troops west of Nauvoo and disarm Mormons. Dallin Oaks later wrote “this warning appears to have been decisive in persuading the Mormon leaders to begin their departure.”
Feb 2	1846	Zina Jacobs Smith marries Brigham Young, for life only, at the same time she’s re-sealed to Smith for eternity. The Church considered civil marriage to Jacobs canceled, superseded by spiritual marriages, yet no divorce documented.
Feb 4	1846	First group of Mormons crosses the Mississippi River into Iowa Territory.
Feb	1846	Nauvoo temple closes.
Feb 15	1846	Brigham young leaves Nauvoo with his family for Iowa.
April 6	1846	Apostle John E. Page, though exempt from tithing obligation, leaves Church over what he called an “unjust and mandatory tax” by which “many paid at the cost of necessities for life.”
May 11	1846	Lucy Mack Smith writes letter upholding James Strang. Every living Book of Mormon witness except Cowdery, plus every living Smith family member join Strang.
May	1846	Brigham Young sends Henry Jacobs on mission to England, starts living with his wife Zina.
Jan 14	1847	Brigham Young records his only canonized and officially published revelation, concerning pioneer trek.
Feb 13	1847	Former Apostle William McLellin organizes a church on behalf of David Whitmer.
April 25	1847	Parley P. Pratt says “…a black man with the blood of Ham in him which lineage was cursed as regards the priesthood.” This is the first publicly recorded priesthood ban statement.
Sept	1847	David Whitmer joins schismatic Church of Christ, sustained as Prophet, Seer, Revelator.
	1847	Not a single one of the surviving eleven witnesses remains part of the Mormon church.
July 24	1847	Brigham Young enters Salt Lake Valley.
July 28	1847	Brigham Young selects the site of Salt Lake temple using Oliver Cowdery’s divining rod.
	1847	Utah becomes the only western territory where slavery and slave sales are protected by territorial statute.
Feb 2	1848	Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo renders Salt Lake City a breakaway colony on U.S. soil.
	1848	Oliver Cowdery rejoins church.
June	1848	Crickets plague Salt Lake Valley, crops lost but faith inspiring Seagull myth is born.
March	1849	Brigham young declares State of Deseret a “free and independent government.”
	1849	California gold rush brings hordes of fortune-seekers streaming west through Salt Lake.
	1849	James Strang begins practicing polygamy.
	1849	Brigham institutes Perpetual Emigration Fund, offering high interest loans to settlers.
	1850	Brigham Young appointed Governor of Utah territory.
July 11	1850	John Taylor flat out lies in public debate in France, condemns polygamy, says not doctrine or legal, yet he had a dozen wives at the time and knew Church practiced it. He later published the debate to promote missionary efforts in England.
June	1851	Pearl of Great Price published, includes Book of Abraham.
	1851	Utah claims 12,000 members on rolls, while England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland claim 33,000, with an additional 11,000 already emigrated to America.
Sept 9	1851	Brigham Young calls for vote on observation of Word of Wisdom, still not a commandment. Also votes to accept excommunication as a punishment for non-payment of tithing.
	1852	Brigham Young publicly comes clean on polygamy for first time ever.
Feb 3	1852	Young, as Governor, establishes Utah as a slave territory.
Feb 4	1852	Brigham Young issues public proclamation that blacks can not hold the priesthood, and establishes Utah as a slave territory.
Feb 5	1852	Brigham Young delivers race speech to Utah Legislature.
April	1852	Brigham Young preaches that Adam lived as a man on another planet and then became God. (Journal of Discourses, April 9, 1852)
Aug 29	1852	D&C 132 – polygamy rules defined – presented to members for first time, canonized as scripture.
	1853	Lucy Mack Smith’s Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith published by Orson Pratt in England. Many family visions detailed, yet no first vision mentioned in Lucy’s manuscript, Orson Pratt adds official version after the fact.
Sept	1853	Jesse Hartley, a young non-Mormon attorney, arrives in Salt Lake City.
Sept 24	1853	Hartley’s client, David Hull, poisoned to death.
Sept 25	1853	Hartley accused by Mormons of stealing a horse and money.
Sept 26	1853	Hartley pens letter to Secretary of War to warn of “coming storm…brewing in the Territory,” requests Federal intervention. The letter was intercepted, never leaving Utah Valley, ultimately residing in Brigham Young’s possession.
Sept 30	1853	Judge releases Hartley, finding insufficient cause to detain him. Jesse soon accepts teaching job near Spanish Fork.
Oct 1	1853	Deseret News publishes statement accusing Hartley of theft.
	1853	Salt Lake Temple construction begins.
Jan 7	1854	Jesse Hartley joins LDS Church and promptly begins practicing law again.
April 8	1854	On the first day of General Conference, Jesse Hartley received call to serve mission in Texas.
April 9	1854	Brigham Young denounces Jesse Hartley in General Conference, accuses him of being “a vagrant, thief, robber…ought to have his throat cut…ought to be baptized in Salt Lake with stones tied to him…to wash away one hundredth part of his sins.” Hartley declares his innocence, but is excommunicated.
May 3	1854	Bill Hickman, Brigham’s enforcer, murders Jesse Hartley as he flees toward Fort Bridger.
	1854	A Voice of Warning, Parley P. Pratt, 4th edition updated, still lacks any mention of first vision. Pratt was still living.
	1854	Brigham Young teaches that “the Earth is a living creature and breathes as much as you and I do.” He claimed that the earth’s breathing, not the moon, caused the movement of the tides. (MWV p. 213)
	1854	Orson Pratt disagrees with Brigham Young’s Adam God doctrine.
	1855	W.P. Harris confesses to Kinderhook fraud.
	1855	Brigham Young says of the first vision that an angel of the Lord, not the Lord, visited Joseph Smith.
	1855	Ancient Egyptian code cracked using the Rosetta Stone.
Nov 22	1855	Brigham Young privately ordains his 11 yr. old son, John Willard Young, as Apostle to increase likelihood of him eventually becoming senior Apostle, thereby leading Church after Brigham’s death.
Dec 22	1855	Millennial Star publishes the handcart manifesto – poor planning and execution ensues.
April 25	1856	W. P. Harris, writes letter elaborating on Kinderhook  fraud.
Spring	1856	Brigham Young initiates a “reformation” resulting in increased fanaticism, control, violence.
July 9	1856	James Strang assassinated by disaffected followers.
	1856	Emma Smith sells 4 mummies and some papyrus pieces to Abel Combs 12 days after Lucy’s death. They soon go on display in the St. Louis Museum.
	1856	Utah census notoriously inflated, including fictitious and deceased people, in bid to  quality the territory for statehood.
Aug 25	1856	Martin handcart company departs Florence, NB (now Omaha) toward Zion, dangerously late in the season.
	1856	Brigham Young delivers speech about seeing with spiritual eyes. (Van Wagoner, The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young)
Sept 21	1856	Brigham Young gives Blood Atonement speech.
Nov 2	1856	Rumors and blame spreading of handcart suffering. Heber Kimball in Tabernacle blames others for mess – “If all…had done as they were counseled by the First Presidency…suffering would have been avoided.”
Nov 30	1856	Martin handcart company enters Salt Lake, death toll estimated 150-170.
Dec 4	1857	Deseret News spins and sanitizes suffering and death of Martin company.
April	1857	William Aitken leads 300 ex-Mormons out of Salt Lake, well armed in fear of ambush – “all determined to get off or die.” (See Devils Gate for details)
	1857	U.S. President Buchanan, informs Congress, “Brigham Young has been both Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs…at the same time head of the church…His power has been, therefore, absolute over both church and state.”
May 13	1857	Parley P. Pratt, Mitt Romney’s great-great-grandfather, killed by estranged husband of his 12th wife.
Sept 6	1857	Brigham Young declares Utah a free and independent people, no longer bound by the laws of the U.S.
	1857	U.S. Government sends 2,500 troops to retake Utah territory (see Utah War).
Sept 11	1857	Mountain Meadows Massacre, 120 men, women and children murdered – much misinformation spun by Church in attempt to conceal.
Fall	1857	Young visits Idaho, exploring if entire Mormon colony might take refuge there.
June 26	1858	U.S. Army expeditionary force marched through Salt Lake City.
Aug 10	1859	The New York Times publishes The Great Forgery Case, detailing Brigham Young’s attempt to finance Utah War with counterfeit money.
	1860	M. Theodule Deveria, a pioneering Egyptologist in Paris, views LDS pamphlet with Book of Abraham facsimiles, dismisses Smith’s interpretation as rambling nonsense.
	1860	William Smith, Joseph’s son, establishes his own church, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now called Community of Christ.
March 4	1861	Abraham Lincoln becomes U.S. President.
April	1861	U.S. Civil War begins.
Oct	1861	Brigham Young delivers “if a woman preferred another man of higher authority” speech, no bill of divorce required.
	1862	U.S. Government passes Morill Act, first in a series of laws designed to force Church to relinquish plural marriage.
	1863	The St. Louis Museum closes and the mummy collection goes to the Chicago Museum.
Aug 23	1865	Brigham Young disapproves of Lucy Mack Smith’s biography of Smith, orders saints to destroy books.
	1866	Brigham Young calls Eliza Snow to be second Relief Society President, 22 years after disbanding the organization.
	1869	Joseph F. Smith countering RLDS denials of Smith’s polygamy, has living widows sign affidavits documenting marriages.
	1871	Museum destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. Papyri are salvaged and are passed down to Alice Heusser.
	1873	Orson Hyde describes tithing as paying one tenth of one’s property at baptism and then one tenth of one’s annual income thereafter. This is the first instance of tithing described as income-based rather than surplus or interest.
	1873	Martin Harris interviewed by Anthony Metcalf, reiterates visionary, entranced state when seeing plates. Harris made numerous statements throughout his life reinforcing spiritual eye view. (NBS p. 358)
	1876	D&C 101:4 marriage clarity quietly removed from D&C scripture.
March 23	1877	John D. Lee executed by firing squad for the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
	1878	Orson Pratt publishes The Pearl of Great Price, removing the name of Nephi from the text entirely, inserting Moroni.
	1878	Survivors of 1856 handcart tragedy publicly dispute official Church versions for first time. SLC Herald chastises the Church for continued attempts to collect high interest Perpetual Emigration loans from handcart victims.  (See Devil’s Gate p. 263)
June 30	1879	W. Fugate, one of the 9 original Kinderhook witnesses, writes an affidavit that he, Robert Wiley, and Bridge Whitton created the Kinderhook plates has a hoax.
	1879	Church loses Reynolds v. United States, polygamy is not protected by First Amendment. This is the first U.S. limitation on free expression of religion.
	1879	Pres. John Taylor repeatedly refers to Smith asking an angel in first vision which church was true. Church still was not teaching God/Jesus first vision version at this time.
Oct 10	1880	Pearl of Great Price canonized as scripture, including facsimiles 1,2 and 3.
	1880	John Taylor declares a Jubilee Year in which he forgives half the delinquent tithing debt.
March 30	1881	Helen Mar Kimball Whitney writes autobiography detailing marriage to Smith.
Aug 4	1881	Philip Klingensmith’s dead body found in prospect hole in Mexico. A former Bishop, he first publicly exposed Mountain Meadows Massacre and feared he would be killed for his testimony in John D. Lee trial.
	1884	Spaulding’s Manuscript Found discovered in Hawaii.
	1884	The Council of 50 terminated after the Church publicly abandons theocratic government aspirations.
July 4	1885	Prophet John Taylor lowers all U.S. flags to half staff in protest of Federal anti-polygamy laws.
	1887	Apostle Charles Penrose letter to President John Taylor, expressed concern that “the endless subterfuges and prevarications which our present condition impose…threaten to make our rising generation a race of deceivers.“
	1887	U.S. Congress passes the Edmunds-Tucker Act to punish the Church, not just its members, dissolving the Corporation and seizing property over $50,000.
Oct 6	1890	First polygamy Manifesto accepted at Conference, yet formally sanctioned polygamy continued within church, 250 more plural marriages.
Oct 10	1890	Apostle John Taylor marries 3rd wife Janet Maria Wooley, backdating it to same day one year prior, 1889.
May 18	1894	Jane Elizabeth Manning James, black servant, sealed to Smith as his eternal servant.
	1895	Church issues Political Manifesto, prohibiting leaders from running for political office without church approval
April	1895	Ongoing confusion regarding the godhead prompted President Woodruff to declare in conference,  “Cease troubling yourselves about who god is; who Adam is, who Christ is, who Jehovah is. God is God. Christ is Christ. The Holy Ghost is the Holy Ghost. That should be enough for you and me to know.” (Millennial Star 57:355-356)
	1896	Utah finally granted statehood.
	1897	Wine used in sacrament as late as this year.
	1898	B.H. Roberts was polygamous, resulting in denied Senate seat, millions signed protest.
May 17	1899	President Lorenzo Snow delivers “those with means” tithing talk, limits the law of tithing to one-tenth of annual income, removing the required payment upon conversion.
March 31	1900	Presidency changes the Prophet succession policy to prevent John Willard Young ascension to Prophet.
	1901	Apostle Marriner W. Merrill took a plural wife, later lied under oath at Senate committee investigating Reed Smoot, despite committee possessing solid evidence he was lying.
	1902	Joseph F. Smith condemns the “pernicious superstition” of witchcraft as an “outrageous” belief that persisted among LDS members. (MWV p. 293)
April 18	1903	RLDS church purchases Book of Mormon printers manuscript from Whitmer family.
	1903	Reed Smoot sworn into U.S. Senate.
March	1904	Pres. Joseph F Smith, polygamist, subpoenaed in Smoot hearings. His testimony conveys a distinction Church leaders had long understood: the Manifesto removed divine command for the Church collectively; it had not prohibited individuals from continuing to practice or perform plural marriage as a matter of religious conscience.
April 6	1904	Second polygamy Manifesto issued, clarifying end of polygamy.
	1909	Word of Wisdom becomes mandatory for “all who enter the temple.”
	1910	The payment of tithing became a requirement to receiving a temple recommend.
	1912	Pres. Joseph F. Smith says “The Saints should know that the pattern of endowment garments was revealed from heaven” …and that can’t change form or manner of wearing. (Dev. of LDS Temple Worship p. xl)
	1912	History of the Church is released with King Follet Discourse omitted without Editor B.H. Roberts knowledge.  First Presidency believes it to be in direct conflict with revelations accepted as divine. It stays in print into the 1960s. (Lyon 1978, p.14-15)
	1912	Franklin Spalding sends copies of Joseph’s interpretations to 8 Egyptologists and Semitists. All denounce Joseph as an “impudent fraud,” pronouncing the Papyri nothing more than common funerary directives and representations of Egyptian gods with spells written upon the hypocephalus.
Dec 29	1912	NY Times proclaims Joseph a fraud for Book of Abraham, as several scholars and Egyptologists agree “authenticity has been destroyed completely.”
	1917	Utah ratifies prohibition
Jan 17	1920	National Prohibition Act takes effect, prohibition becomes law nationwide
	1921	Church ceases teaching that God is spirit without physical body, Lectures on Faith removed from D&C, Section 130 added – thus officially changing nature of Mormon God.
Aug 22	1921	Apostle James Talmage receives 5 question letter from Mr. Couch – assigns B.H. Roberts to investigate.
	1921	Joseph Fielding Smith called as Church Historian.
	1921 – 1935	Sometime between these years, Joseph Fielding Smith discovers Letterbook 1A in a box – finds Smith’s original, hand written first vision draft. Finds it so troubling he cuts pages from journal, hides in his private safe for decades.
Jan 4-5	1922	B.H. Roberts submits findings to General Authorities – “not in a studious mood.”
Jan 9	1922	B.H. Roberts writes Pres. Grant, expressing “disappointment re: irrelevancy of comments expressed”
	1925	John A. Widtsoe published Discourses of Brigham Young – removing Adam-God doctrines.
	1926	Oath of vengeance is removed from the temple ceremony.
	1928	LDS Church purchases Hill Cumorah in New York.
May 29	1929	Presidency instructs B.H. Roberts, who is still pestering about troubling BoM history, to select a mission to focus his labors and attention, moves to N.Y.
June 17	1930	Reed Smoot’s sponsored Smoot–Hawley Tariff becomes law, despite signatures of 1,029 economists, contributing greatly to historic collapse of global trade.
	1937	The Hill Cumorah Pageant begins – celebrating the millions of Lamanites that perished on that very hill.
	1938	Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith is published. It includes a copy of the King Follet Discourse, but omits the infants doctrine, with a note suggesting a scribal error in copying what the Prophet originally said.
Nov 12	1943	Apostle Richard R. Lyman excommunicated, had been living in polygamy since 1925. Last excommunication of an apostle
	1945	Fawn Brodie publishes No Man Knows My History.
Feb 1	1946	Thomas Ferguson‘s first trip to Mexico in search of Book of Mormon evidence.
	1947	Ludlow Bull, associate curator of the Department of Egyptian Art (Metropolitan Museum of Art) acquires Joseph’s papyri fragments.
	1947	Church First Presidency investigation concludes “the races…badly mixed…no color line is drawn among the mass of people.” It realized “a great part of the population of Brazil is colored.
	1947	Thomas Ferguson publishes Cumorah – Where?
Aug 17	1949	First Presidency releases statement, race ban “…is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church.”
	1950	King Follet Discourse is returned to the History of the Church.
	1950	Levi Young, President of 1st Quorum of 70’s requests, but is denied access to J. Fielding Smith’s sequestered records. Levi goes over his head, obtains clearance. JF Smith opens private safe only after assurance not to copy anything or tell anyone.
Oct	1952	Thomas Ferguson organizes the New World Archeological Foundation.  Ezra Benson indicates that the church is sympathetic to his efforts, declines to provide funds.  John A. Widtsoe is placed on board of directors.
Feb 3	1953	Amateur historian Lamar Peterson interviewing Levi Young when he mentions a “strange account of first vision”, but says it must remain confidential. Lamar Peterson kept confidence until Levi’s death.
	1954	David O. McKay visits South Africa, the first General Authority to visit the area.
	1954	David O. McKay conducts private research project within 12 on race ban, they know it’s not doctrine, just policy. (see Leonard Arrington for context p. 309)
Nov	1954	National Urban League publishes report indicating UT, NV, southern AZ racial discrimination almost as severe as Southern U.S.
	1955	First Presidency relents to constant lobbying and provides $200,000 to Thomas Ferguson to support his efforts to find archeological evidence of Book of Mormon (Larson, 1990 p.64)
	1958	Bruce R. McConkie publishes Mormon Doctrine, drawing private criticism from First Presidency.
	1959	Church stops providing financial disclosure.
	1960	BYU assumes control of New World Archeological Foundation, all funding flows through the university, Howard W. Hunter is Chairman.  Thomas Ferguson demoted to Secretary, writes he is “content to eat whatever piece of pie is thrown my way, however small or humble.” (Larson ,1990 p.67)
	1961	Church correlation program instituted, aligning doctrine and polished official narratives.
	1962	Joseph Vincent, Editor of California Archaeologist, reignites limited geography theory at a BYU symposium.
	1963	LDS Church attempts to establish mission in Nigeria, but government learns of race ban and denies visas for 3 years. Church closed mission attempt short while later.
	1963	“If the pressure continues to increase on the Negro question, the leaders of the Mormon Church will probably have another revelation which will allow the Negro to hold the priesthood.” – Jerald Tanner
Dec 13	1963	Levi Young dies, Lamar Peterson tells Tanners of 1832 hand written “strange account” first vision, they begin writing about it, pressure builds to release it. Joseph F. Smith tapes pages back into journal, grants access to Paul Cheesman.
	1965	Paul Cheesman includes “typescript” of 1832 J Smith first vision account in thesis.
Late	1965	Tanners first publish text of 1832 first vision account – LDS church suppressed, never previously published it.
Nov 27	1967	Aziz Suryal, of University of Utah, discovers D&C papyri fragments  in Metropolitan Museum archives. The LDS Church acquires Papyri via anonymous member donation.
	1967-1968	The Church validates the papyri authenticity and acknowledges the rediscovery in the Deseret News. Apostle N. Eldon Tanner states the discovery of the Papyri will finally prove Joseph Smith could Translate ancient documents. Unfortunately, both LDS and non-LDS Egyptologists agree they are typical ‘Book of Breathings’ in form and content. Church officials begin repressing the story that the original Papyri have been found and are in their possession.
	1967	Thomas Ferguson privately arranges for top Egyptologists to examine photographs of the papyri without knowing their source. President Hugh B. Brown provides photographs.  All are united in identifying them as sections from the Book of Breathings. Ferguson is shaken, fails to report to President Brown until 1970. Church officials independently arrive at the same conclusion, question whether these are the portions Joseph Smith used for the Book of Abraham, while Elder Hunter points out to President Tanner that parts matched Oliver Cowdery description. Tanner replies that he does not want information to get out. (Larson 1990 p. 69-71)
	1967	The Priesthood Bulletin announces only priesthood holders should open/close prayer.
May 19	1967	The New York Times publishes Stewart Udall’s (U.S. Secretary of Interior and inactive Mormon) letter to Dialogue regarding the church’s race ban – “It must be resolved because we are wrong and it is past the time when we should have seen the right.” It created problems for Gov. George Romney’s Presidential campaign.
Jan 5	1968	Jay Dee Nelson asked to review Book of Abraham papyri at suggestion of Hugh Nibley.
	1969	Dean Jessee, the Church’s leading expert on Joseph Smith documents is chastised for writing about first vision. “You have published photographs which I have been instructed not to talk about.” (see Leonard Arrington p. 80)
	1970	David McKay dies, Joseph fielding Smith becomes Pres, reluctantly relinquished church historian position, which he guarded and restricted like a mother hen, to Howard Hunter. Archives fully opened to researchers for first time ever, employees with advanced degrees brought in.
Nov 30	1970	BYU receives a letter from the IRS informing them of an injunction prohibiting the IRS to grant tax exemption to private schools that practiced racial discrimination.
Dec	1970	Thomas Ferguson finally reports to Hugh B. Brown, confessing he no longer believes Smith had any skill in translating Egyptian. Brown, one of Church’s highest officials, agreed, stating that he too did not believe it to be scripture.  When asked later, Brown denied recollection. (Larson 1990 p 72-73).
July 28	1971	Wesley Walters discovers Smith’s arrest documents from 1826 “The Glass Looker” trial in basement of Norwich, NY county jail.
	1971	Only single women work at SLC church headquarters. HR policy requiring termination upon birth of first child, so mom would stay home.
	1972	Equal Rights Amendment passes both houses of Congress, but vigorous Church effort to rally members contributes to it narrowly failing to garner sufficient state ratification – fails to become law.
	1972	Leonard Arrington called as Church Historian.
Dec 30	1973	Spencer Kimball ordained as Prophet.
Dec 31	1973	Spencer Kimball, in his first press conference as Prophet, responds to reporter’s question “Will there be a change in attitude toward women?” Kimball replied “Not too abruptly; we believe that the ideal place for women is in the home.”
Feb	1974	Dialogue publishes Lester Bush’s Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine over strong church objections, Packer unable to cite a single inaccuracy.
	1974	The Church instructs BYU to lock up and prevent circulation of Robert Woodford’s Ph.D. dissertation on alterations in the D&C.
	1974	NAACP sues LDS Church over black Boy Scouting discrimination, Church changes its policy.
	1974	Reed Durham, Pres. of Mormon History Assn / Dir. of Institute at U of Utah, delivers Masons in Mormon history speech, church freaks, demotes him, ends his career.
Jan 11	1975	Church News publishes article decrying Equal Rights Amendment as “not only imperfect, but dangerous,” presenting it as a moral issue, not a political one. (Mark E. Petersen, Equal Rights Amendment)
Feb 18	1975	Utah legislature, with solid Church support after rallying thousands of Mormon women against the issue, votes down Equal Rights Amendment.
	1975	Church maintains rigid policy terminating female employment upon the birth of first child, so they can go home. Seeking to retain the policy, Church seeks legal opinion of three separate firms before conceding they could no longer fire mothers.  (see Leonard Arrington for context, p. 243)
Aug	1975	The First Presidency reiterates that only priesthood holders offer opening and closing prayers in sacrament meetings. The policy excludes not only women, but also men of color. (Ensign, Aug 1975)
Aug 16	1975	Ted Bundy arrested in UT for aggravated kidnapping, freed, placed on 24 hour watch.
Sept	1975	Ted Bundy baptized into LDS Church in Utah, during his serial killing spree, while prime suspect in ongoing murder investigation.
April 2	1976	Douglas Wallace baptizes and confers priesthood to Larry Lester, a black man, in violation of Church doctrine.
	1976	Elaborating on a paper he had presented on problems in Book of Mormon archeology, Thomas Ferguson, the man that single-handedly launched the search for Mormon archeology, writes that you cannot set Book of Mormon geography down anywhere because it is fictional and will never meet requirements of dirt archeology. (Larson, 1990 p.79)
	1977	Boyd Packer delivers BYU talk, counseling members to marry only their own race.
	1977	Jimmy Carter becomes U.S. President, quietly bans Mormons from his administration over race and women’s issues.
March 11	1977	President Jimmy Carter meets with President Kimball in White House, shares his opinion about LDS race policy.
	1977	Eldon Tanner – “A woman will find greater satisfaction and joy and make a greater contribution by being a wise and worthy mother raising good children than she could make in any other vocation.”
Oct	1978	The Brethren fail to locate scriptural prohibition against females praying, ban is lifted, even in sacrament meetings
June 1	1978	Pres. Kimball meets with 10 of 12 Apostles to lobby race ban policy/doctrine change, having already met with each individually in prior weeks.
June 8	1978	Pres. Kimball meets Presiding Bishopric, 1st Quorum of 70 (46 individuals) to lobby race ban policy/doctrine change.
June 9	1978	LDS race ban lifted.
	1970’s – early 1980’s	Twenty Church departments and agencies reported directly to First Presidency, which controlled nearly every aspect of the church.
Nov	1978	The Brethren decree that women may pray in sacrament meetings, a right previously denied. (Ensign, Nov. 1978)
	1979	Church Committee for Strengthening Members approaches college students to spy and report on select BYU history professors.
Feb	1980	Ezra Benson, then Pres of Q12, delivers infamous Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet at BYU, states “The prophet will never lead the Church astray…” First Presidency scolds Benson, forced to apologize, but no public retraction. (see Leonard Arrington for context, p. 409)
April 18	1980	Governing Board of LDS Church, including Prophet Kimball, meets with Mark Hoffman to scrutinize what turned out to be a forged Anthon Script.
April 22	1980	Church trades $20,000 worth of items from its archive to obtain Hoffman’s forged Anthon Script.
May 3	1980	Deseret News prints photo of LDS leaders scrutinizing Mark Hoffman’s (forged) document in Church’s board room.
June 1	1980	Bruce McConkie delivers infamous The Seven Deadly Heresies talk at BYU.
June	1980	LDS Ensign magazine publishes article celebrating fake Hofmann Anthon transcript (now removed from LDS website Ensign copy).
July 2	1980	Salt Lake Tribune prints “The history research division of the Mormon church’s historical department will move to BYU…”
	1981	Solicitor General of the United States, Rex Lee, a Mormon, recuses himself from a case against Bob Jones University. Lee explained that he had previously represented the LDS Church, arguing that it should retain its tax-exempt status despite racist policies, and felt conflicted from arguing an opposing view in the Bob Jones case.
Summer	1981	Boyd Packer delivers infamous “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect.” talk at BYU.
Summer	1981	LDS Church purchases various forged documents from Mark Hoffman.
Aug 31	1982	Church terminates History Division, dismissing Leonard Arrington, shuffling the department to BYU.
January	1983	Mark Hoffman presents forged letter from Smith to Stowell to Gordon Hinkley, who promptly acquired it for $15,000.
	1983	Gordon Hinckley instructs G. Homer Durham to dismantle the church history department – “their efforts were not only unappreciated but seen as dangerous.”
	1984	Mark Hoffman produces the Salamander Letter. The Tanners decry it a forgery but the Church believes it.
June	1984	LDS Church instructs Bishops not to allow discussion of Mormon Enigma, banning the book’s mention in official publications.
Aug 22	1984	At Sunstone gathering, Jerald Tanner distributes tract challenging Salamander Letter authenticity.
Apr 28	1985	LDS Church News publishes text of Hoffman’s Salamander Letter, while supporting its authenticity.
Oct 23	1985	Gordon Hinckley confirms at press conference that the Church had purchased and traded many items from Mark Hoffman. (Deseret News)
	1985	B. H. Roberts Book of Mormon Difficulties first published.
	1985	Leonard Arrington publishes Brigham Young: American Moses.
Oct 15	1985	Mark Hoffman murders two with package bombs, attempting to deflect suspicion from himself.
Oct 16	1985	Mark Hoffman accidentally blows himself up, survives, while handling a third bomb.
Oct 17	1985	Elder Hugh Pinnock, when questioned by police, denies knowing Mark Hoffman, despite having recently arranged large loan for Hoffman, with Church’s approval.
Oct 23	1985	LDS Church holds press conference to address Hoffman documents. Gordon Hinkley declares “The Church’s interest in documents and artifacts pertaining to its history was mandated through revelation.”
Oct 25	1985	Elder Hugh Pinnock pays off Mark Hoffman’s $171,243.76 loan from First Interstate Bank.
May 4	1986	Dallin Oaks, member of Q12, warns members “It’s wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true.” (Student Association fireside, SLC Tabernacle)
Jan 24	1987	Convicted forger Mark Hoffman enters Utah prison.
	1992	Dean Jessee publishes the second volume of the Papers of Joseph Smith, including the part of Smiths diary that had been omitted from the official church history regarding Joseph’s knowledge and approval of the Danites, (See July 27, 1838) directly refuting the longstanding claim that Joseph was unaware of its organization or that it was done without his approval.
	1992	Church employs former FBI agents to watch for disloyalty, builds files on suspects. (see Leonard Arrington for context, p. 357)
Sept	1993	The September 6 excommunicated – including Michael Quinn.
May	1989	Blood Oaths (sometimes called penal oaths) removed from LDS temple endowment.
Sept	1989	Elder Paul Dunn given emeritus status due to “age and health” reasons, as his fabricated stories come under scrutiny.
	1991	Arizona Republic publishes Lynn Packer’s expose of Elder Paul Dunn’s elaborate fabrications.
May 18	1998	L.A. Times publishes article exposing an effort to have old racist notions disavowed by LDS Church, around the 20th anniversary of the lifting of the priesthood ban. The Church confirmed that they were exploring the matter.
	2007	Pres. Hinckley reiterates the Book of Mormon is either “right or wrong, true or false, fraudulent or true.“
Summer	2010	Apostle Russel Nelson and Ronald Rasband meet with questioning Swedish leadership. Satisfactory answers were not provided.
Nov 28	2010	Church convenes emergency leadership fireside in Stockholm, dubbed Swedish Rescue, to address member exodus and doctrinal questions.
	2012	Estimates place LDS corporate wealth at approx.. $40 billion as the Church completes $3 billion downtown Salt Lake revitalization project, while owning 2% of Florida. The tithing slip disclaimer was also changed to: ‘Though reasonable efforts will be made globally to use donations as designated, all donations become the Church’s property and will be used at the Church’s sole discretion to further the Church’s overall mission’.
May	2013	www.CESLetter.com registered.
July 21	2013	NY Times publishes Hans Mattsson article, Some Mormons Search Web and Find Doubt.
Nov 4	2013	MormonThink puts up its first billboard on I-15 near Salt Lake City.
Dec	2013	Church publishes Race and the Priesthood essay – “It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church…,” generational bias and Brigham Young are blamed.
	2014	Church quietly releases Translation and the Historicity of the Book of Abraham essay.
Sept 9	2014	Church sends letter to all Priesthood leaders, directing doubting members to a series of essays       published in the Gospel Topics section of LDS.org
	2016	The Church reveals spending only $40mm on “welfare, humanitarian and other…projects” annually.
March 19	2018	Mormonleaks releases audio recording of former MTC President, Joseph L. Bishop, admitting to inappropriate contact (attempted rape) with sister missionaries in MTC basement.
March 31	2018	Kirton McKonkie, the Church’s law firm, instructs ldschurchtemples.com to cease publishing growth statistics.
May 30	2018	Mormonleaks releases information connecting LDS Church to $32 Billion of stock market assets held among 13 LLCs registered under different names. Asset total excludes the Corporation’s additional bond, real estate and ongoing business holdings.
	2045	Endangered and notoriously elusive Curelom and Cumom discovered in remote patch of Belize jungle.

Additional LDS Chronology Resources:
Mormon Chronology
Wiki: Mormonism in the 19th Century