“Church History Chronology,” Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide (1999)
“Church History Chronology,” Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide
Church History Chronology
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1805, December 23Joseph Smith born to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith in Sharon, Vermont (see Joseph Smith—History 1:3–4).
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1820, Early SpringJoseph Smith received the First Vision in a grove of trees near his home in the state of New York (see Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20).
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1823, September 21–22Joseph Smith visited by the angel Moroni and told of the Book of Mormon record. Joseph viewed the gold plates buried in a nearby hill (Cumorah) (see Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54).
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1827, September 22Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates from Moroni at the Hill Cumorah (see Joseph Smith—History 1:59).
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1829, May 15John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in Harmony, Pennsylvania (see D&C 13; Joseph Smith—History 1:71–72).
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1829, MayJoseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John near the Susquehanna River between Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, New York (see D&C 128:20).
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1829, JuneTranslation of the Book of Mormon completed. The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses shown the gold plates (see 2 Nephi 11:3; 2 Nephi 27:12–13; D&C 17).
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1830, March 26First printed copies of the Book of Mormon available in Palmyra, New York.
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1830, April 6Organization of the Church in Fayette Township, New York.
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1830, September–OctoberFirst missionaries called to preach to the Lamanites (Native Americans) (see D&C 28; 30; 32).
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1830, December to 1831, JanuaryThe Lord commanded the Saints to gather to Ohio (see D&C 37; 38:31–32).
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1831, July 20Site for the city of Zion (the New Jerusalem) in Independence, Missouri, revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith (see D&C 57; Articles of Faith 1:10).
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1833, March 18Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams set apart as Counselors in the Presidency of the Church and given the keys of the kingdom (see the headings to D&C 81 and D&C 90; see also D&C 90:6).
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1833, November 7Saints began fleeing from mobs in Jackson County, Missouri, across the Missouri River and into Clay County, Missouri.
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1834, May 5Joseph Smith left Kirtland, Ohio, for Missouri as the leader of Zion’s Camp to bring relief to Saints expelled from Jackson County.
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1835, February 14The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized in Kirtland, Ohio (see D&C 107:23–24).
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1835, February 28The organization of the First Quorum of the Seventy commenced in Kirtland, Ohio.
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1835, August 17The Doctrine and Covenants accepted as a standard work of the Church in Kirtland, Ohio.
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1836, March 27The Kirtland Temple dedicated (see D&C 109).
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1836, April 3Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:1–10). Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared and conveyed priesthood keys (see D&C 110:11–16).
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1837, July 19Elder Heber C. Kimball and six others arrived in Liverpool, England, on the first overseas mission.
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1838, April 26Name of the Church specified by revelation (see D&C 115:4).
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1838, December 1 to 1839, April 16The Prophet Joseph Smith and others imprisoned at Liberty Jail in Liberty, Missouri (see D&C 121–123).
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1840, August 15Baptism for the dead publicly announced by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
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1841, October 24Elder Orson Hyde dedicated Palestine for return of the children of Abraham.
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1842, March 17Female Relief Society organized in Nauvoo, Illinois.
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1842, May 4First full temple endowments given in Nauvoo, Illinois.
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1844, June 27Joseph and Hyrum Smith martyred at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois (see D&C 135).
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1846, February 4Nauvoo Saints began crossing the Mississippi River to move west. Some Saints sailed from New York City for California on the ship Brooklyn.
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1846, July 16Mormon Battalion mustered into United States service in Iowa.
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1847, AprilPresident Brigham Young’s pioneer company left Winter Quarters on the journey west (see D&C 136).
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1847, July 24President Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley.
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1847, December 27Brigham Young sustained as President of the Church.
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1848, May–JuneCrickets in the Salt Lake Valley devastated the crops. The fields were saved from complete destruction as flocks of seagulls consumed the crickets.
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1849, December 9Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne.
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1850, June 15Deseret News began publication in Salt Lake City.
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1856, OctoberWillie and Martin handcart companies detained by early snowstorms. Found by rescue party from the Salt Lake Valley.
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1869, November 28Young Ladies’ Retrenchment Association organized, forerunner of the Young Women program.
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1875, June 10Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association organized, forerunner of the Young Men program.
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1877, April 6St. George Utah Temple dedicated. President Brigham Young received revelation to set in order the priesthood organization and stakes of Zion.
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1878, August 25Aurelia Spencer Rogers held the first Primary meeting in Farmington, Utah.
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1880, October 10John Taylor sustained as President of the Church. The Pearl of Great Price accepted as a standard work.
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1883, April 14Revelation given to President John Taylor on the organization of the Seventy.
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1889, April 7Wilford Woodruff sustained as President of the Church.
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1890, October 6“Manifesto” sustained in general conference, ending the practice of entering into plural marriage (see Official Declaration 1).
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1893, April 6President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple after 40 years of construction.
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1898, September 13Lorenzo Snow became President of the Church.
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1899, May 17President Lorenzo Snow received revelation in St. George, Utah, prompting him to emphasize tithing.
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1901, October 17Joseph F. Smith became President of the Church.
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1918, October 3President Joseph F. Smith received the vision of the redemption of the dead (see D&C 138).
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1918, November 23Heber J. Grant became President of the Church.
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1936, AprilChurch Security Program instituted to assist the poor during the Great Depression; became Church welfare program. This program grew out of a revelation received previously by President Heber J. Grant.
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1941, April 6Assistants to the Twelve first called.
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1945, May 21George Albert Smith became President of the Church.
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1951, April 9David O. McKay sustained as President of the Church.
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1961, September 30Under the direction of the First Presidency, Elder Harold B. Lee announced that all Church programs were to be correlated through the priesthood to strengthen families and individuals.
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1964, OctoberObservance of family home evening emphasized.
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1970, January 23Joseph Fielding Smith became President of the Church.
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1971, JanuaryNew Church magazines—Ensign, New Era, and Friend—commenced publication.
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1972, July 7Harold B. Lee became President of the Church.
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1973, December 30Spencer W. Kimball became President of the Church.
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1975, October 3President Spencer W. Kimball announced reorganization of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
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1976, April 3Two revelations added to the Pearl of Great Price. In 1981 they were moved to become D&C 137 and D&C 138.
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1978, September 30Revelation granting the priesthood to every worthy male member regardless of race or color sustained by the Church (see Official Declaration 2).
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1979, SeptemberLDS edition of King James Bible with study aids published.
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1981, SeptemberNew editions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price published.
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1984, JuneArea Presidencies inaugurated, with members called from the Seventy.
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1985, November 10Ezra Taft Benson became President of the Church.
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1989, April 1Second Quorum of the Seventy reorganized.
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1994, June 5Howard W. Hunter became President of the Church.
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1995, March 12Gordon B. Hinckley became President of the Church.
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1995, April 1Announcement of a new leadership position to be known as an Area Authority.
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1995, September 23President Gordon B. Hinckley read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at a general Relief Society meeting.
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1997, April 5Area Authorities to be ordained Seventies. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy organized.
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1997, October 4President Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to build smaller temples.
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1997, NovemberChurch membership reached 10 million.
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1998, April 5President Gordon B. Hinckley announced goal of having 100 temples in service in the year 2000.