| 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. | |
| 1629 | Apocrypha dropped from printings of the King James Bible. | |
| 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 | 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. (see Natural Born Seer p. 64) |
| 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 | 1822 | The land agent, Zechariah Seymour, to whom the Smith’s made 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 | Isaac Hale, William Hale and Josiah Stowell 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 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 | Smith and Emma move to Harmony to live with the Emma’s parents. JS, 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 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 Mary Elizabeth Rollins, then 12, 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 | Johnson family tars and feathers Smith, almost castrating him (disputed), upon rumors of Smith’s intimacy with 16 year old Nancy Marinda Johnson. See 1842, when Smith later marries this very same Nancy. |
| 1832 | First vision draft hand written (mostly) in Smith’s own hand in 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 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 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. | |
| Dec 18 | 1833 | Smith offers prayer for Oliver Cowdery – “two evils in him that he must needs forsake.” Refers to Oliver’s adultery. |
| 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 published by W.W. Phelps, predecessor to D&C, 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 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. | |
| Nov 7 | 1833 | Saints began fleeing from mobs in Jackson County, Missouri across river. |
| Dec 16 | 1833 | Smith received D&C 101, outlining force to retake lands, pacifist response ceased. |
| 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 | Zions camp disbands, nothing achieved except apostasy and dissention, long walk home. |
| 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. |
| 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 | 1836 | President and Apostles sign warning to non-Mormon Justice of Peace to depart Kirtland. |
| Nov | 1836 | Kirtland Safety Society Bank organized, Rigdon as President, Smith as Cashier and signer on notes. |
| 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 confirms hearing Smith testify of revelation to continue bank. |
| Jan 27 | 1837 | Kirtland Safety Society collapsing, note redemptions cease, only land or hard assets accepted. |
| Feb 1 | 1837 | Notes selling for 12.5 cents on the dollar. |
| 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. |
| 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) | |
| Jan 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, but 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 | 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 A. King presides at Court of Inquiry held in Richmond, Ray County. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and a number of other Mormons are 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 other Mormons are indicted for crimes in Daviess County, and are granted a change of venue to Boone County. |
| April 16 | 1839 | Smith and other prisoners escape from 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.” (NBS p. xv, History of the Church, 4:407, 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, who had two husbands at same time, in the first case of polyandry. Smith’s first proposal was rebuffed, she married Henry Jacobs in March. Smith continued to pursue her, said angel with sword threatened his life if he did not obey. Brigham Young later married her too. |
| 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 11 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 bounds, 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 Time 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 Patty Sessions, 42, 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 | Nauvoo Mason lodge established – Smith receives expedited Masonic temple rituals. |
| 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 household 1832. |
| April 11 | 1842 | Smith wanted Sidney Rigdon’s 19 yr. 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 becomes 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 | 1842 | Joseph Smith marries Sarah Ann Whitney, Elizabeth’s daughter, with Elizabeth and Newell Whitney’s consent. |
| July 2 | 1842 | John C. Bennett writes letter in Sangamo Journal claiming Smith sought his help obtaining Sidney Rigdon’s 19 yr. old daughter Nancy. |
| July 15 | 1842 | Thousands of Nauvoo Mormons search for Apostle Orson Pratt after suicide note. They find him distraught because Smith attempted to seduce Pratt’s only wife Sarah. |
| July 15 | 1842 | Martha Brotherton (18) 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 Sarah Whitney without Emma’s knowledge. Joseph was 20 years older than Elizabeth. |
| 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 (17). Despite Joseph’s written instruction to destroy the letter, they retained 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) https://archive.org/stream/TimesAndSeasonsVol3/Times_and_Seasons_Vol_3#page/n532/mode/1up |
| 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. (Source: http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/deed-to-sarah-ann-whitney-6-september-1842/1) |
| 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. Source: https://archive.org/stream/TimesAndSeasonsVol3/Times_and_Seasons_Vol_3#page/n580/mode/1up |
| 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 18 | 1843 | Smith marries 16 yr. old Sarah Longstroth and her 14 yr. old sister to trusted aid Willard Richards. |
| Jan 20 | 1843 | Smith solicits Sarah Pratt, threatened to ruin her when rebuffed. She tells husband Orson anyway, Smith denies. (Minutes of Q12) |
| 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 Emily Partridge (19) 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. (http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/blessing-to-sarah-ann-whitney-23-march-1843/1#historical-intro ) |
| 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). (Marriage Certificate: http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/marriage-certificate-for-joseph-kingsbury-and-sarah-ann-whitney-29-april-1843/1) |
| 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 Lucy Walker (17) Her mother died in 1842, JS moved family into his mansion, sent father on eastern mission, married Lucy while Emma was in St. Louis buying supplies. “I will give you until tomorrow to decide this matter. If you reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.” |
| 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. |
| 1843 | Smith took 16 plural wives this year. | |
| 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. |
| 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 24 | 1844 | James Strang baptized |
| 1844 | Relief Society shut down because Emma was using it as anti-polygamy forum, not due to “various calamities”. | |
| March | 1844 | Smith petitions Congress to make him Officer in U.S. Army with power to raise 100,000 to patrol western borders of U.S. from Texas to Oregon. |
| March 11 | 1844 | The 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. |
| March 23 | 1844 | William Law files suit against Smith for adultery. |
| 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 children 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 in Sunday church, says “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.” One if left to wonder, if Smith prayed, wouldn’t God will help him find his numerous wives, much like lost car keys? |
| June 1 | 1844 | Smith’s journal records, “Drank a glass of beer at Moessers.” Church later excises this entry from its records. |
| 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 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. |
| Mar 1 | 1845 | Council of 50 anoints Brigham Young as “Prophet, Priest and King of the World.” |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Dec | 1845 | Nauvoo temple opens. |
| 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 | 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 recorded priesthood ban statement. |
| Sept | 1847 | David Whitmer join 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 he 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. | |
| 1853 | Salt Lake Temple construction begins. | |
| April | 1854 | Young denounces lawyer Hartley in General Conference “that he ought to have his throat cut.” |
| May 3 | 1854 | Bill Hickman, Brigham’s lackey, 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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) |
| 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 army to retake Utah territory (see Utah War). | |
| Sept 11 | 1857 | Mountain Meadows Massacre, 120 men, women and children murdered, much misinformation spun by Church. |
| Fall | 1857 | Young visits Idaho, exploring if entire Mormon colony might take refuge there. |
| 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 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 being described as based on ones income rather than on their 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. | |
| June | 1880 | LDS Ensign magazine publishes article celebrating fake Hofmann Anthon transcript (now removed from LDS website Ensign copy). |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 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.” |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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? | |
| 1950 | Levi Young, Pres of 1st Quorum of 70’s requests access to J. Fielding Smith’s sequestered records, denies access, Levi goes over his head, gets clearance. JF Smith opens private safe only after assurance not to copy anything or tell anyone. Peterson kept confidence until Levi’s death. | |
| 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 was interviewing Levi Young when he mentions a “strange account of first vision”, but says it must remain confidential. |
| 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 in South. |
| 1955 | First Presidency relents to constant lobbying and provides $200,000 to Thomas Ferguson to support his efforts to find archeological evidence for Book of Mormon (Larson 1990 p.64) | |
| 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. | |
| 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 publish 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 | Book of Abraham papyri were given to Jay Dee Nelson at the suggestion of Dr. 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 | 1971 | Smith’s arrest documents from 1821 “Glass Looker” are discovered. |
| 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. | |
| 1973 | Spencer Kimball becomes Prophet. | |
| Dec | 1973 | Spencer Kimball 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 | 1975 | Spencer Kimball 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.” |
| 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 HR policy terminating female employment upon the birth of first child, so they can go home. Seeking to retain the policy, the church seeks legal opinion of three separate firms before conceding the could no longer fire mothers. (see Leonard Arrington for context, p. 243) | |
| Sept | 1975 | Ted Bundy baptized into LDS Church in Utah, during the prime of his serial killing spree. |
| 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 archeological search for the Book of Mormon, 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. |
| Sept 30 | 1978 | Race / Priesthood 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) |
| 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, shuffling the department to BYU. |
| 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 | 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. | |
| Aug | 1985 | Dallin Oaks, member of Q12, warns members not to criticize church officials – “It does not matter that the criticism is true.” |
| Oct 15 | 1985 | Mark Hoffman murders two with package bombs, attempting to deflect suspicion from himself. |
| 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 Oath removed from 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. | |
| 2007 | Pres. Hinckley reiterates the Book of Mormon is either “right or wrong, true or false, fraudulent or true.“ | |
| 2012 | Estimates place LDS corporate wealth at around $40 billion as the church completed a multi-billion shopping mall in Salt Lake, 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’. | |
| 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 blamed. |
| 2014 | Church quietly releases Translation and the Historicity of the Book of Abraham essay. | |
| 2016 | The Church reveals spending only $40mm on “welfare, humanitarian and other…projects” annually. | |
| 2025 | Endangered and notoriously elusive Curelom and Cumom discovered in Belize jungle. |
Source Abbreviations:
Additional Chronology Resources:
Mormon Chronology
Wiki: Mormonism in the 19th Century
(NBS) Natural Born Seer, Richard Van Wagoner
(BHR) Studies of Book of Mormon, B.H. Roberts
(NMK) No Man Knows My History, Fawn Brodie
(MWV) Early Mormonism and the Magical World View, Michael Quinn
(LA) Leonard Arrington: The Writing of Mormon History
(LUCY) History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, Lucy Mack Smith
(MD) This is My Doctrine – The Development of Mormon Theology, Charles Harrell
(DG) Devil’s Gate: Brigham Young & the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy
Mormonism Unvailed