(later known as the '''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints''' or Mormon church) is formed and begins expanding in two locations: Kirtland, Ohio and Jackson County, Missouri. Kirtland is the initial center of the religion and the Kirtland Temple is built. The Mormons are expelled from both Ohio and Missouri as a result of local opposition.
- March - The Book Of Mormon went on sale.
- March 26 - The Wayne Sentinel announced the Book of Mormon has been published.
- April - Joseph Smith produces section 20 of the D&C, which serves as the constitution of the soon to be formed church.
- . Joseph Smith was appointed as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator for the entire church.
- April - Oliver Cowdery was called to preach for the religion. (D&C 23, 24)
- April 11 - Oliver Cowdery preached publicly for the first time as an official representative of the newly formed church. In Seneca Lake he baptized Hiram Page , Catherine Whitmer Page, Christian Whitmer , Anne Schott Whitmer (Christian's wife), Jacob Whitmer , Elizabeth Ann Schott Whitmer (Jacob's wife), and Mary Page.
- June - Joseph Smith began translating sections the New Testament, claiming to receive information through revelation.
- , Oliver Cowdery , Peter Whitmer , David Whitmer , John Whitmer and Ziba Peterson . Joseph Smith, Sr. , Hyrum Smith , and Martin Harris were ordained priests, and Hiram Page and Christian Whitmer were ordained teachers.
- August - Joseph Smith becomes aware of Hiram Page and his use of a seerstone. However, he waits until the scheduled church conference in September to bring up the issue.
- September - Joseph Smith reported a revelation concerning Hiram Page , who claimed to have a stone that allowed him to receive revelation for the church. Joseph's revelation asserted that only he was allowed to receive revelation for the church, and that Hiram Page was deceived by the devil (D&C 28).
- September 26 - A church conference was held. minutes Notable events include:
- ---The discussion of the Hiram Page seerstone and its refutation by unanimous vote.
- ---35 new members were added, bringing the total number to 62.
- --- Peter Whitmer, Jr. was called to preach with Oliver Cowdery to the Native American Indians . John Whitmer was also called to preach (D&C 30).
- September - Immediately following the conference, Thomas B. Marsh was called to preach (D&C 31).
- October - Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson were called to preach to the Indians (D&C 32). Ezra Thayne and Northrop Sweet were also called (D&C 32, 33).
- October - Sidney Rigdon's Kirtland congregation was converted to Mormonism.
- November - Orson Pratt was called to preach (D&C 34).
- December - Sidney Rigdon was called to be a scribe in Joseph Smith's revision of the Bible (D&C 35). Joseph Smith is commanded to cease revising until the church is gathered in Ohio (D&C 37).
- January - Joseph Smith, Jr. moved to Kirtland, Ohio .
- February 4 - additional revelation was given, naming Edward Partridge the first bishop (D&C 42).
- February 9 - Section 42 was received, laying out the law of the church including naming specific sins and the punishments thereof.
- Spring - Revelation that Zion is located in Independence, Missouri was presented. Many of Smith's followers still living in New York moved to Kirtland.
- April 4 - Edward Partridge was called to be the first bishop in the church. Sidney Rigdon anointed him an elder and set him apart as a bishop.
- June 4 - Nineteen men were ordained High Priests, including Joseph Smith, Jr. , Lyman Wight , and Edward Partridge . Isaac Morely and John Corrill were ordained assistants to Bishop Partridge.
- June 7 - The new bishopric and several others were called to settle Jackson County, Missouri to build the city of Zion. A small group traveled to Independence, Missouri.
- August 28 - Sidney Rigdon ordained Oliver Cowdery a High Priest.
- November 11 - Revelation was received directing the church to organize presidencies over each quorum in the priesthood (D&C 107:60-92, 99-100).
- December 4 - Newel K. Whitney was called as a bishop over Kirtland, Ohio (D&C 72:2).
- January 25 - At a church conference, Joseph Smith, Jr. was ordained President of the High Priesthood over the entire church.
- January 26 - Joseph Smith was confirmed president of the High Priesthood by a church-wide sustaining vote.
- March - In an unpublished revelation, Joseph Smith was confirmed as having the authority to direct all the affairs of the church and also to appoint counselors in his presidency.
- March 8 - Joseph Smith organizes his presidency by appointed Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon as counselors.
- March 24 - Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered by a mob outside the John Johnson farmhouse.
- March 29 - Joseph and Emma's adopted son, Joseph Murdock Smith, died from a cold, thought to have been caught during the night of the mobbing.
- December - Joseph prophesied about a Civil War (D&C 87). This followed the threat of South Carolina to secede from the United States on November 24 of that same year.
- Spring - The comments of the Mormons in Missouri about freed slaves were misunderstood by other Missourians, raising hostility in the area and a manifesto against the Mormons.
- October - As a result of the hostility in Jackson County, Missouri, Mormons who had settled there moved to Clay County.
- Joseph Smith's first 65 revelations were printed in a book titled " Book Of Commandments ".
- December 16 - Revelation was received appointing the formation of Stakes of Zion to gather the saints. (D&C 101:21)
- December 18 - Joseph Smith, Jr. ordained his father, Joseph Smith, Sr. as Presiding Patriarch and assistant to the President of the High Priesthood.
- February 17 - A High Council in the Kirtland, Ohio area was organized. The Kirtland Stake of Zion was simultaneously organized.
- April - Zion's Camp was assembled as an effort to help the beleaguered Mormons in Missouri. The "Camp" was really a motley collection of Mormons who followed Joseph Smith to Missouri with the manifest aim of defending the Mormons in Missouri. Shortly after arriving in Missouri, the force was disbanded.
- May 3 - The name of the church was changed from ''The Church of Jesus Christ'' to ''The Church of the Latter Day Saints'' upon a proposal by Sidney Rigdon , seconded by Newel K. Whitney and passed by the church.
- June - Zion's camp disbanded.
- July 7 - Twelve High Priests in Clay County, Missouri organized into a High Council. David Whitmer was ordained president of the council, and John Whitmer and William W. Phelps were ordained as counselors. Joseph Smith, while ordaining David Whitmer, also appointed him as "Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator" and mentioned that he should succeed him if Joseph "did not live to see God himself."
- December 5 - Joseph Smith, Jr. ordained Oliver Cowdery as an Assistant President of the Church, with the understanding that Cowdery should act in Smith's absence.
- December 6 - Joseph ordained Hyrum Smith and Joseph Smith, Sr. as Assistant Presidents of the Church.
- February 14 - After a special conference, Oliver Cowdery , David Whitmer , and Martin Harris chose the individuals who were to be in the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles . Thomas B. Marsh , David W. Patten , Brigham Young , Heber C. Kimball , Orson Hyde , William E. McLellin , Parley P. Pratt , Luke S. Johnson , William Smith , Orson Pratt , John F. Boynton , and Lyman E. Johnson . Brigham Young , Heber C. Kimball , and Lyman E. Johnson were ordained apostles and members of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles .
- February 15 - David W. Patten , Orson Hyde , William E. McLellin , Luke S. Johnson , William Smith , and John F. Boynton were ordained apostles and members of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles .
- February 21 - Parley P. Pratt was ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles .
- February 28 - The Quorum Of The Seventy was organized. Joseph Young, Hazen Aldrich, Levi Hancock, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sherman, and Sylvester Smith are called as the seven presidents.
- April 26 - Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt were ordained apostles and members of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles . Elder Marsh, erroneously thought to be the eldest, was ordained the president of the quorum.
- March 28 - The Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles met together and confessed their shortcomings and weaknesses to one another before separating on their missions. At this meeting, Joseph Smith received Doctrine And Covenants section 107, regarding the priesthood. It clarified the order and administration of the various offices of the priesthood, appointing the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and First Quorum of the Seventy as equals in the church. The decisions of these quorums must be made unanimously. The standing high councils of the several stakes also form a body equal in authority.
- August 17 - The church unanimously adopted D&C 134 concerning the relationship between church, government, and individuals. Among the assertions the church makes are that governments are instituted by God for the benefit of man; that government should protect the freedom of men to worship as they please; that all men should uphold their government and laws; that churches should not exercise civil powers; and that individuals are justified in defending themselves and their property.
- January 15 - Further organizing the priesthood, presidents of each priesthood quorum were called for the Kirtland Stake of Zion, as was a president of the Kirtland Temple, now nearing completion.
- January 21 - Joseph Smith stated that he had received a vision in which he saw that salvation is possible for those who die without a knowledge of the gospel (D&C 137).
- March 3 - All the presidencies of the church met in the Kirtland Temple according to their order.
- March 27 - The first dedication of the Kirtland Temple was held. ---March 30 - At a solemn assembly in the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith commented that he had completed the organization of the priesthood.
- April 3 - Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery later stated that, on this date, Jesus Christ appeared to them and declared the temple acceptable. Moses, Elijah, and Elias were also reported to have appeared in order to confer the keys of the priesthood upon Joseph Smith (D&C 110).
- June 29 - Clay County residents resolved to ask that the Mormons leave their county. Up to this time, Mormons in the county had not voted on local affairs nor been accused of any crimes. Resident asserted that the differences between themselves and Mormon would not allow them to peaceably reside together. The resolution encouraged the Mormons to settle in Wisconsin.
- Summer - Under the direction of Alexander W. Doniphan , it was agreed that a new county should be formed for the Mormons called Caldwell County, in what is now Clay County, Missouri . Mormons began leaving Ray and Clay County to settle the proposed area. Plans for and work on the community of Far West, Missouri began, the proposed county seat for the new county.
- August 8 - The township of Far West, Missouri in Clay County was entered by the Mormons. It would serve as the county seat of the soon-to-be-formed Caldwell County.
- November 2 - The Kirtland Safety Society , also known as ''The Kirtland Bank'', was formed for use by church members in financial affairs.
- December 23, December 27 - To ease tensions among Clay and Jackson County residents and provide a county for Mormon settlers, Caldwell County was created by legislation, passing the House on the 23rd and the Senate on the 27th. Daviess County was also created, although disputations about its purpose arose later. Missouri natives felt that the Mormons agreed not to settle it, although no such agreement existed or was acknowledged by the Mormons.
- September 3 - Apostle Luke S. Johnson was disfellowshipped from the church in Kirtland, Ohio . Apostle John F. Boynton was excommunicated.
- Notable problems began in the Kirtland Safety Society .
- December - Many people were excommunicated from the church for various reasons.
- December 10 - Joseph returned to Kirtland from Missouri.
- December 27 - Brigham Young fled Kirtland, Ohio. His life was threatened for vigorously defending Joseph Smith.
- January 12 - Joseph Smith Jr. and others fled Kirtland, fearing their safety in wake of assertions dealing with the legality and financial viability of the Kirtland Safety Society.
- January 26 - The Far West High Council, meeting with apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten , rejected the presidency of David Whitmer , John Whitmer , and William W. Phelps , the stake presidency of Far West.
- March 10 - John Whitmer and William W. Phelps were excommunicated by the High Council in Far West.
- April 12 - The High Council and bishopric in Far West voted to excommunicate Lyman E. Johnson , David Whitmer , and Oliver Cowdery .
- April 13 - Apostle Luke S. Johnson was excommunicated from the church after being disfellowhipped and returning for a short period.
- April 26 - While in Far West, Missouri , Joseph Smith presented section 115 of the Doctrine of Covenants, naming the church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". Also in this revelation, the Lord commanded the church to build a temple in Far West. Work began almost immediately.
- May 2 - Joseph Smith wrote Joseph Smith - History .
- May 11 - Apostle William E. McLellin was excommunicated. He joined forces with some of the anti-Mormon groups to persecute the Mormons.
- June 17 - Sidney Rigdon delivered the " Salt Sermon " which generated much excitement in the church and among detractors.
- June 25 - A Mormon settlement was established in a church conference above Wight's ferry on Spring Hill in Daviess County . The site was named as Adam-ondi-Ahman .
- June 28 - Adam-ondi-Ahman was formed into a , Harvey Olmstead, Ezra Thayer .
- July 4 - The cornerstone was laid for the new temple to be constructed at Far West. Sidney Rigdon declared a "war of extermination" on those who intend to remove the saints from their land and deprive them of their liberties.
- July 6 - The "Kirtland Camp", 515 members under the direction of the Seventy, left Kirtland, Ohio for Far West, Missouri.
- July 8 - John Taylor , John E. Page , Wilford Woodruff , and Willard Richards were called to the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles to fill vacancies caused by the excommunications of John F. Boynton , Luke S. Johnson , and Lyman Johnson , and William E. McLellin (see D&C 118). The twelve were also called to missionary work in England and were to leave on April 26 , 1839 .
- Summer - Settlement in Adam-ondi-Ahman surpassed that of the county seat Gallatin , causing the balance of power to shift towards the Mormons settling in Daviess County .
- Summer-Autumn - The Mormon War began in Missouri.
- September 4 - John N. Sapp, who declared himself a member of a secret Mormon group known as the Danite s, swore in an affidavit before the Carroll County clerk concerning the size of the Danite army. He stated that they were about 800–1,000 well-equipped and ready men.
- August 6 - The first battle of the Mormon War occurred as Mormons in Daviess County were prevented from voting in the Gallatin Election . The brawl left no one dead, but reports were exaggerated.
- August 7 - Upon hearing the exaggerated reports of the previous day's battle, Joseph Smith rallied 150 men and marched to Adam-ondi-Ahman to protect the settlement there.
- August 8 - Judge Adam Black of Daviess County pledged support of the constitutional rights of everyone in Daviess County, regardless of religion.
- October 1-October 11 - Carroll County residents besieged the town of De Witt, which was inhabited by Mormons. Negotiations led to the abandonment of the settlement without violence.
- October 2 - The "Kirtland Camp" arrived in Far West, after travelling 3 months through difficult conditions.
- October 14 - Under the direction of the state militia, Mormons organized as an official state militia, marched to disband the forming mobs in Daviess County. Allegations of property destruction and theft were made against the Mormons. No lives are lost.
- October 19 - Apostle Thomas B. Marsh , angry with Joseph Smith, left the church.
- October 23 - Under the pretense that the Mormon militia looted and burned property in Daviess County to disperse the mobs, General Atchison authorized local groups to patrol the border of Ray County and Caldwell County.
- October 24 - Apostles Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde , also disaffected from the church, signed an affidavit claiming that Joseph Smith was trying to take over the world and was using the Danites to murder people. They submitted the affidavit to authorities in Richmond, Missouri .
- October 25 - The Battle Of Crooked River occurred as a unit of Mormon Militia fought against Missouri State Militia. Sixteen were wounded, and 4 died from their wounds, including Apostle David W. Patten .
- October 27 - Governor Boggs issued an executive order known as the " Extermination Order ", revoked in 1976 by then Missouri Governor Christopher S. Bond .
- October 30 - A renegade militia group from Livingston County attacked a Mormon settlement in the bloodiest conflict of the Mormon War, and 17 were killed. The event is known as Haun's Mill Massacre .
- November 1 - Mormon leaders were taken into custody and declared responsible for the violence and destruction of the conflict.
- November 2 - After a short trial, General Lucas ordered the leaders of the church to be executed. General Doniphan refused, recognizing the charges were innaccurate and that little solid information about the events of the conflict was known. Far West was plundered, and several other leaders were captured. After being allowed a brief good-bye, the leaders were led away to Independence for imprisonment and trial.
- November 3 - Joseph prophesied that none of the prisoners are going to die.
- November 4 - Fifty-six more prisoners were taken from Far West. The imprisoned leaders arrive in Independence.
- November 6 - General Lucas addressed the citizens of Far West. Far West prisoners left for Richmond.
- November 8 - General Wilson surrounded Adam-ondi-Ahman. Joseph and some of the other prisoners in Independence left for Richmond. Their guards become drunk, but no escape is attempted.
- November 10 - All citizens of Adam-ondi-Ahman were acquitted, but they were ordered to move to Caldwell County to prepare to leave Missouri.
- November 13–November 25
- ---Preliminary hearings on the fate of the leaders of the church were begun under Judge King. Witnesses testified at the point of a bayonet. Numerous violations of judicial process are recorded. Twendy three of the imprisoned men are released, leaving thirty in custody.
- ---During the hearings, excommunicated members robbed the homes of several members in Far West.
- November 28 - Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, and Alexander McRae were ordered to the jail in Liberty, Clay County; Parley P. Pratt, Morris Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, and Norman Shearer were retained in the Richmond jail. The remaining 19 were released or allowed release on bail.
- Devember 5 - Governor Boggs defended his Extermination Order in the state legislature.
- December 10 - Committee of Edward Partridge, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Theodore Turley, Brigham Young, Isaac Morley, George W. Harris, John Murdock, and John M. Burk drafted a petition to the state legislature detailing the Mormon side of the conflict.
- December 17 - The petition is delivered to the state legislature by David H. Redfield, who also met with General Atchison, Governor Boggs, and others.
- December 19 - John Taylor and John E. Page were ordained apostles and members of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles .
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