General Timeline of Church History Events: 1805–1846

1805Joseph Smith was born.

1820God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.

1823The angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith.

1827Joseph Smith received the golden plates.

1829Joseph Smith completed the Book of Mormon translation.

1829The Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored.

1830The Book of Mormon was published.

1830The Church was organized.

1831Kirtland, Ohio, became a gathering place for the Saints.

1831The Lord designated Independence, Missouri, as the place for the city of Zion.

1833The Saints in Jackson County, Missouri, were forced to leave the county.

1834Joseph Smith led the camp of Israel (Zion’s Camp) from Ohio to Missouri.

1835The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of the Seventy were organized.

1836The Kirtland Temple was dedicated.

1836Priesthood keys were committed to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple.

1838Joseph Smith and other Church leaders moved to Far West, Missouri.

1838Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail.

1839The Saints in Missouri were forced to leave the state.

1839Joseph Smith joined the Saints in Illinois and helped establish Nauvoo.

1840Joseph Smith began teaching about baptisms for the dead.

1842The Relief Society was organized.

1842Joseph Smith presented the endowment ordinance in Nauvoo.

1843Revelation on eternal marriage and plural wives (D&C 132) was recorded.

1844Joseph and Hyrum Smith were assassinated.

1844The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was sustained to lead the Church.

1846Many Saints began their journey to the Salt Lake Valley.

1846The Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.