Timeline of Events

  1. 1805 23 December Born at Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont.
  2. 1816 Family moves to Palmyra, New York.
  3. 1820 Spring First Vision.
  4. 1823 September First Moroni visitation.
  5. 1827 18 January Marries Emma Hale at South Bainbridge, New York. 22 September Obtains Book of Mormon plates. December Moves to Harmony, Pennsylvania.
  6. 1829 May Receives Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist; baptized; moves to Fayette, New York. May-June Receives the Melchizedek Priesthood from the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John.
  7. 1830 March Book of Mormon published. 6 April Church organized.
  8. 1831 January Moves to Kirtland, Ohio, area. 20 July Revelation, site for city in Zion.
  9. 1832 25 January Sustained president of high priesthood. March Tarred and feathered by mob at Hiram, Ohio.
  10. 1833 2 July Completes revision of Bible. 22 November Learns of expulsion of Saints from Jackson County, Missouri.
  11. 1834 5 May–
    1 August     Leads Zion’s Camp expedition to Missouri; returns.
  12. 1835 February Organizes Quorum of Twelve Apostles and Quorum of Seventy.
  13. 1836 27 March–
    6 April     Dedication of House of the Lord in Kirtland; solemn assembly; Pentecostal experiences; keys restored.
  14. 1837 June Sends first missionaries to British Isles.
  15. 1838 12 January–
    14 March     Flees Kirtland for Far West, Missouri.

     31 October Surrenders to Missouri militia at Far West; imprisoned. 1 November Sentenced to death; General Alexander W. Doniphan prevents execution.
  16. 1839 April Indicted on charge of treason; escapes; reunited with family at Quincy, Illinois. 10 May Moves to Commerce [later Nauvoo], Illinois. 29 November Visits United States president Martin Van Buren.
  17. 1841 19 January Revelation, construction of Nauvoo House and Nauvoo temple (D&C 124). 4 February Elected lieutenant general of Nauvoo Legion.
  18. 1842 15 March Officiates at installation of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge; receives first degree of Masonry. 17 March Organizes Female Relief Society. 4 May Introduces temple endowment. 19 May Elected mayor of Nauvoo.
  19. 1843 5 January Acquitted in Missouri extradition case. 28 May Sealed to Emma for time and eternity. 12 July Revelation on marriage.
  20. 1844 20 February Instructs the Twelve to select a location for the Saints in California or Oregon. 11 March Organizes Council of Fifty. 17 May Nominated as United States presidential candidate. 12 June Arrested on charge of riot for destroying Nauvoo Expositor press. 25 June Surrenders at Carthage, Illinois. 27 June Shot to death by mob at Carthage jail.