NAUVOO NEWS – From the early days of the Church in Palmyra, New York to the global headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah here are the pivotal historic dates of church history.
23 December 1805
Birth of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith (1805–44) born to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, Sharon, Vermont (see
Spring 1820
Joseph Smith’s First Vision
The Prophet Joseph Smith received the First Vision in a grove of trees in Palmyra and Manchester Townships, New York, near his home (see
21-22 September 1823
Moroni Visits Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith visited by angel Moroni and told of the Book of Mormon record. Joseph viewed the gold plates buried in a nearby hill (Cumorah) (see
18 January 1827
Joseph Smith Marries Emma Hale
Joseph Smith and Emma Hale are married in South Bainbridge, New York.
22 September 1827
Joseph Smith Obtains Plates
Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates from Moroni at the Hill Cumorah (see
15 May 1829
Aaronic Priesthood Restored
John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in Harmony, Pennsylvania (see
June 1829-April 1830
Melchizedek Priesthood Restored
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John near the Susquehanna River between Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, New York (see
June 1829
Book of Mormon Translation Completed
Translation of the Book of Mormon completed. The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses shown the gold plates (see
26 March 1830
Book of Mormon Published
First printed copies of the Book of Mormon available, Palmyra, New York.
06 April 1830
Church Organized
The Church organized in Fayette Township, New York.
September-October 1830
Lamanite Mission
First missionaries called to preach to the Lamanites (American Indians) (see
December 1830-January 1831
Saints Commanded to Gather to Ohio
(See
20 July 1831
Site for Zion Revealed
Site for the city of Zion (the New Jerusalem) in Independence, Missouri, revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith (see
1-2 November 1831
Resolution to Publish Revelations
Conference of elders decided to print 10,000 copies of what was to be the Book of Commandments, a compilation of revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
25 January 1832
Joseph Smith Sustained as President
A conference in Amherst, Ohio, sustained Joseph Smith as President of the High Priesthood.
08 March 1832
Joseph Smith’s Counselors Ordained
Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon were ordained as counselors to Joseph Smith.
18 March 1833
Joseph Smith’s Counselors Given Keys
Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams were given the keys of the kingdom along with Joseph Smith.
20 July 1833
Press in Independence Destroyed
A mob destroyed the printing office in Independence, Missouri, stopping the publication of the Book of Commandments.
07 November 1833
Saints Leave Jackson County
Saints began fleeing from mobs in Jackson County, Missouri, across the Missouri River and into Clay County.
05 May 1834
Zion’s Camp Departs
President Joseph Smith left Kirtland, Ohio, for Missouri as leader of Zion’s Camp to bring relief to Saints expelled from Jackson County.
14-15 February 1835
Quorum of the Twelve Organized
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized, Kirtland, Ohio (see
28 February 1835
First Quorum of Seventy Organized
The organization of the First Quorum of the Seventy commenced, Kirtland, Ohio.
17 August 1835
Doctrine and Covenants Canonized
The Doctrine and Covenants accepted as a standard work of the Church, Kirtland, Ohio.
27 March 1836
Kirtland Temple Dedicated
The Kirtland Temple dedicated (see
03 April 1836
Sealing Keys Restored
Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared and conveyed priesthood keys (see
19 July 1837
First Mission to Britain
Heber C. Kimball and six others arrived in Liverpool, England, on the Church’s first mission outside of the United States and Canada.
26 April 1838
Name of Church Established
The name of the Church was established by revelation as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see
December 1838
Joseph Smith and Imprisoned in Liberty Jail
The Prophet Joseph Smith and others imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Liberty, Clay County, Missouri (see
1840-1841
Twelve Serve Mission in England
Most of the Twelve Apostles serve a mission together in England.
May 1840
Millennial Star First Published
First issue of the
15 August 1840
Baptisms for the Dead Announced
Joseph Smith publicly announced the doctrine of baptism for the dead, Nauvoo, Illinois.
24 October 1841
Holy Land Dedicated
Elder Orson Hyde dedicated the Holy Land for the return of the children of Abraham (see
17 March 1842
Relief Society Organized
Female Relief Society organized, Nauvoo, Illinois.
04 May 1842
First Endowments
First full temple endowments given, Nauvoo, Illinois.
1844
Joseph Smith Gives Last Charge
(ca. March)
01 May 1844
First Mission to South Pacific
Addison Pratt arrived in Tubuai as one of the first missionaries in the South Pacific.
27 June 1844
Joseph Smith Martyred
Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith martyred in Carthage Jail (see
08 August 1844
Brigham Young Sustained
Church conference sustained Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as leaders of the Church, Nauvoo, Illinois.
December 1845-February 1846
Temple Ordinances Administered
More than 5,000 Latter-day Saints receive sacred ordinances in the Nauvoo Temple.
04 February 1846
Ship Brooklyn Departs
Ship
06 February 1846
Saints Begin to Leave Nauvoo
The first wagons crossed the Mississippi River from Nauvoo on their way west to the Great Basin.
16 July 1846
Mormon Battalion Mustered
Mormon Battalion mustered into U.S. military service in Council Bluffs, Iowa, during the Mexican War.
09 April 1847
First Pioneer Company Leaves Winter Quarters
President Brigham Young’s pioneer company left Winter Quarters on the journey west (see
24 July 1847
Brigham Young Arrives in Salt Lake Valley
President Brigham Young entered Salt Lake Valley.
27 December 1847
First Presidency Sustained
Church conference in Kanesville, Iowa sustained President Brigham Young, Elder Heber C. Kimball, and Elder Willard Richards as First Presidency, Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), Iowa.
24 January 1848
Gold Discovered in California
Several discharged Mormon Battalion soldiers were present when James Marshall discovered gold at John Sutter’s mill in California, which started the American Gold Rush.
May-June 1848
Crickets Devastate Crops
Crickets in the Salt Lake Valley devastated the crops. The fields were saved from complete destruction as flocks of seagulls consumed the crickets.
06 October 1849
Perpetual Emigrating Fund
Perpetual Emigrating Fund established to assist poor Saints in gathering to Utah.
09 December 1849
Sunday School Organized
Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne, Salt Lake City.
1850-1853
Missionary Work Expands
International missionary work expanded as elders preached in British India, China, South Africa, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Italy, and Chile.
15 June 1850
Deseret News Published
Deseret News
12 December 1850
Missionaries Arrive in Hawaii
Missionaries arrived in Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich Islands.
May 1851
First non-English Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is published in Danish, becoming the first non-English edition.
29 August 1852
Plural Marriage Announced
Plural marriage officially announced as a Church practice, though many members had been practicing plural marriage since the 1840s in Nauvoo, Illinois.
05 May 1855
Endowment House Dedicated
The Endowment House dedicated in Salt Lake City as a place for the Saints to receive temple ordinances.
October 1856
Handcart Companies Rescued
Pioneer wagon and handcart companies devastated by early snowstorms in present-day Wyoming. Found by rescue party from Salt Lake Valley.
1857-1858
Federal Army Sent to Utah
A federal army dispatched to Utah Territory to suppress a reported rebellion among the Latter-day Saints.
11 September 1857
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Latter-day Saint men in southern Utah Territory killed most members of a company of Arkansas immigrants traveling to California in a crime known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
06 October 1867
Salt Lake Tabernacle Completed
First conference in the New Tabernacle held on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
08 December 1867
Relief Society Reorganized
Relief Society reorganized under the direction of President Brigham Young.
10 February 1870
Retrenchment Society Organized
Latter-day Saint women form the Ladies’ Cooperative Retrenchment Society to promote reform in eating, housekeeping, and habits of dress.
27 May 1870
Young Ladies’ Retrenchment Society Organized
First official meeting held for the Young Ladies’ Department of the Ladies’ Cooperative Retrenchment Association, forerunner of the Young Women organization.
10 June 1875
Young Men’s MIA Organized
Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association organized, forerunner of Young Men program.
16 October 1875
Brigham Young Academy Founded
Brigham Young Academy, forerunner of Brigham Young University, founded in Provo, Utah Territory.
07 January 1876
First Missionaries Arrive in Mexico
06 April 1877
St. George Temple Dedicated
06 April 1877
Priesthood Reorganization
President Brigham Young received revelation to set in order the priesthood organization and stakes of Zion.
25 August 1878
First Primary Meeting
Aurelia Spencer Rogers held the first Primary meeting in Farmington, Utah Territory.
19 June 1880
Eliza R. Snow Appointed Relief Society President
John Taylor appointed Eliza R. Snow as president of all Relief Societies in the Church; since 1868, she had exercised leadership over Relief Society throughout the Church.
10 October 1880
The Pearl of Great Price Accepted as a Standard Work
10 October 1880
John Taylor Sustained as President of the Church
17 July 1882
Deseret Hospital Opened
Relief Society opened the Deseret Hospital, the first Church hospital, in Salt Lake City.
14 April 1883
Revelation on the Seventies
Revelation to President John Taylor on the organization of the Seventies.
19 February 1887
Edmunds-Tucker Act
United States congress passed the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which disincorporated the Church, dissolved the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, abolished female suffrage in Utah Territory, and threatened to confiscate most of the Church’s property.
26 April 1887
First Settlement in Alberta
Latter-day Saints began to settle in Alberta, Canada.
06 April 1889
First General Relief Society Meeting
First general Relief Society meeting held in Salt Lake City.
07 April 1889
Wilford Woodruff Sustained as President of the Church
06 October 1890
Manifesto Accepted
“Manifesto” accepted by general conference, beginning the termination of the practice of plural marriage in the Church (
06 April 1893
Salt Lake Temple Dedicated
President Wilford Woodruff dedicated Salt Lake Temple.
Summer 1893
Chicago World’s Fair
Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir and Church leaders participated in the World’s Fair at Chicago, Illinois.
13 November 1894
Genealogical Society of Utah Founded
The Genealogical Society of Utah was incorporated with Church Historian Franklin D. Richards as president.
09 June 1895
First Stake Outside United States
In Canada, the Cardston Alberta Stake was organized as the first stake outside of the United States.
13 September 1898
Lorenzo Snow Becomes President of the Church
May 1899
Lorenzo Snow Emphasizes Tithing
President Lorenzo Snow received revelation in St. George prompting him to emphasize tithing.
01 September 1901
Japan Dedicated
Elder Heber J. Grant dedicated Japan for the preaching of the gospel and opened a mission there.
17 October 1901
Joseph F. Smith Becomes President of the Church
January 1905
Friend First Published
The
23 December 1905
Joseph Smith Birthplace Monument Dedicated
President Joseph F. Smith dedicated the Joseph Smith Memorial Cottage and Monument in Royalton Township, Vermont.
14 December 1907
Saints Advised to Remain in Home Countries
In a letter addressed to Saints in the Netherlands, the First Presidency advised European Saints to not gather to Utah, but to build up the Church in their home countries.
September 1912
First Seminary
First seminary opened at Granite High School in Salt Lake City for religious weekday instruction.
16 May 1913
Church Affiliates with Boy Scouts of America
The Church announces the affiliation of its program for young men with the Boy Scouts of America.
January 1915
Relief Society Magazine First Published
27 April 1915
Home Evening Announced
The First Presidency announced the beginning of a practice known as Home Evening, encouraging families to gather together weekly to study the gospel.
03 October 1918
Vision of the Redemption of the Dead
President Joseph F. Smith received the vision of the redemption of the dead (see
23 November 1918
Heber J. Grant Becomes President of the Church
27 November 1919
Hawaiian Temple Dedicated
First temple outside of the continental United States dedicated in Laie, Hawaii.
1920-1921
David O. McKay’s Worldwide Travels
Elder David O. McKay visited various countries in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.
26 August 1923
Cardston Temple Dedicated
Cardston Alberta Temple dedicated as the first temple outside of the United States.
03 February 1925
Mission Home Dedicated
President Heber J. Grant dedicated a home in Salt Lake City for the training of missionaries.
25 December 1925
South America Dedicated
Elder Melvin J. Ballard dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
15 July 1929
First Tabernacle Choir Broadcast
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir started a weekly network radio broadcast on NBC, later known as “Music and the Spoken Word,” that became the longest continuing network radio broadcast in history.
06 April 1930
Centennial of Church Organization
General Conference celebrated the centennial of the Church’s organization.
21 June 1935
Hill Cumorah Monument Dedicated
President Heber J. Grant dedicated the Hill Cumorah Monument near Palmyra, New York.
April 1936
Church Security Program Founded
Instituted to assist poor during Great Depression; became Church welfare program.
24 August 1939
Missionaries Leave Europe
First Presidency directed all missionaries to leave Europe because of the threat of war.
14 October 1940
Missionaries Return from Pacific Islands
First Presidency sent telegrams to mission presidents in the Pacific Islands instructing that all elders should return home as soon as possible because of the threat of war.
06 April 1941
Assistants to the Twelve First Called
21 May 1945
George Albert Smith Becomes President of the Church
01 January 1946
Relief Sent to Post-War Europe
In the aftermath of World War II, the Church began sending relief supplies to the Saints in Europe.
01 January 1947
Church Membership Reaches One Million
24 July 1947
Pioneer Centennial
President George Albert Smith dedicated the “This is the Place” monument in Salt Lake City to commemorate the centennial of the pioneers’ arrival.
01 September 1950
Early-Morning Seminary
The early-morning seminary program began in southern California.
09 April 1951
David O. McKay Becomes President of the Church
02 March 1952
Primary Children’s Hospital Opens
Half of the funds for the new hospital in Salt Lake City had been raised by the children of the Church through the Primary penny drive.
01 July 1954
Indian Placement Program Announced
The new Church program placed American Indian children in foster homes while they attended school.
11-15 September 1955
Swiss Temple Dedicated
First temple in Europe.
20 April 1958
New Zealand Temple Dedicated
First temple in the South Pacific.
17 December 1958
Church College of Hawaii Dedicated
President David O. McKay dedicated the school in Laie.
30 September 1961
Correlation Announced
Elder Harold B. Lee, under the direction of the First Presidency, announced that all Church programs were to be correlated through the priesthood to strengthen the family and the individual.
01 November 1961
Language Training Institute Created
The institute was established at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, for missionaries called to serve in non-English speaking missions.
03 December 1961
First Spanish-Speaking Stake Established
The landmark stake of the Church was organized in Mexico City.
01 January 1964
Home Teaching Begins
The Church instituted a new program of home teaching, replacing ward teaching.
22 April 1964
Pavilion at New York World’s Fair
The Mormon Pavilion opened at the New York World’s Fair.
03 October 1964
Family Home Evening Emphasized
Observance of family home evening was reemphasized.
01 May 1966
São Paulo Brazil Stake Established
First stake in South America.
29 September 1967
First Regional Representatives of the Twelve Called
23 January 1970
Joseph Fielding Smith Becomes President of the Church
15 March 1970
Tokyo Japan Stake Established
First stake in Asia.
22 March 1970
Transvaal South Africa Stake Established
First stake in Africa.
01 January 1971
Ensign, New Era, Friend First Published
New Church magazines—
01 September 1971
All Latter-day Saint Women Become Members of the Relief Society
Automatic enrollment of all Latter-day Saint women into Relief Society was instituted and dues were eliminated.
07 July 1972
Harold B. Lee Becomes President of the Church
30 December 1973
Spencer W. Kimball Becomes President of the Church
06 September 1974
Church Divests Hospitals
The Church announced it was divesting itself of its system of hospitals.
03 October 1975
Seventy Reorganized
President Spencer W. Kimball announced the reorganization of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
03 April 1976
New Scripture Canonized
Two revelations were added to the Pearl of Great Price. In 1981, they were moved to become
08 June 1978
Priesthood Restriction Ends
The First Presidency announced that all worthy males, without regard to race, could henceforth hold the priesthood (see
30 October 1978
São Paulo Brazil Temple Dedicated
First temple in Latin America.
September 1979
LDS Edition of Bible Published
The LDS edition of the King James Bible included study aids.
02 March 1980
Consolidated Meeting Schedule Instituted
Church members in the United States and Canada began meeting on Sundays in a consolidated meeting schedule, with sacrament meeting, Sunday School, and auxiliary meetings all held in a three-hour block.
3 April 1981
Three-Fold Mission of Church
President Spencer W. Kimball outlined the three major elements of the mission of the Church: proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead.
1 September 1981
New Editions of LDS Scripture Published
New editions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price were published in English.
June 1984
Area Presidencies Organized
Members of the presidencies called from the Seventies.
August 1985
Johannesburg South Africa Temple Dedicated
First temple in Africa.
10 November 1985
Ezra Taft Benson Becomes President of the Church
1 April 1989
Second Quorum of the Seventy Reorganized
5 June 1994
Howard W. Hunter Becomes President of the Church
12 March 1995
Gordon B. Hinckley Becomes President of the Church
April 1995
Liahona First Published
Liahona
1 April 1995
Area Authorities
The position of Regional Representative was discontinued and a new leadership position to be known as Area Authority was announced.
23 September 1995
Family Proclamation Introduced
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” from the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles was announced at the General Relief Society Meeting.
5 April 1997
New Seventies
Area Authorities would now be ordained Seventies. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy were also announced.
4 October 1997
Plan for Small Temples
President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the building of smaller temples.
November 1997
Church Membership Reaches Ten Million
1 January 2000
The Living Christ
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve issued the document “The Living Christ.”
Late February 2000
A Hundred Million Books of Mormon
The 100-millionth copy of the Book of Mormon was published.
1-2 April 2000
Conference Center Opens
The first General Conference in the new Conference Center was held in Salt Lake City.
1 October 2000
Boston Massachusetts Temple Dedicated
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple, meeting a goal announced in April 1998 to have 100 operating temples by the end of 2000.
31 March 2001
Perpetual Education Fund
President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund, designed to provide young adults in the Church with support and resources to receive education and gain better employment.
8 February 2002
Tabernacle Choir Sings at Olympics
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City to a worldwide audience of 3.5 billion people.
27 June 2002
Nauvoo Illinois Temple Dedicated
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the rebuilt temple in Nauvoo.
21 April 2004
Sixth Quorum of the Seventy Organized
1 August 2004
A Million Saints in Mexico
Mexico became the first country outside the United States to reach 1 million members of the Church.
November 2004
Preach My Gospel Published
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve introduced the new missionary training manual
19 April 2005
Seventh and Eighth Quorums of the Seventy Organized
23 December 2005
Celebration of Joseph Smith’s Life
The Church commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
3 February 2008
Thomas S. Monson Becomes President of the Church
29 August 2010
Kyiv Ukraine Temple Dedicated
First temple built in a nation of the former Soviet Union.
6 October 2012
Change in Missionary Age
President Thomas S. Monson announced a change in the age of eligibility for missionary service: 18 years for young men, 19 years for young women.