Time Line: The Church in Ohio and Missouri, 1830–1839
Missionaries en route to federal Indian territories preach in Ohio and baptize about 130 people in Kirtland, Mentor, Orange, Thompson, and Amherst Townships.
Three months after receiving the call to preach to the American Indians (see D&C 28, 30, 32), missionaries reach Jackson County, Missouri, and begin preaching to the Delaware and Shawnee nations across the Missouri River without proper government permission. Federal Indian agents shut down the mission after just a few weeks.
Joseph Smith arrives at Newel K. Whitney’s store after a revelation commanded members of the Church to gather to Ohio (see D&C 37). Edward Partridge is called as a bishop, and the law of the Church is revealed (see D&C 41, 42).
While living at the Morley farm near Kirtland, Emma Smith gives birth to twins, who die shortly after birth. John Murdock’s wife also dies after delivering twins the same day. Joseph and Emma adopt the Murdock twins nine days after birth.
New York branches arrive in Ohio. The Saints of the Colesville Branch settle in Thompson.
First high priests in this dispensation are ordained on Isaac Morley’s farm.
The Lord reveals that Independence, Missouri, is the center place of Zion. Edward Partridge, who was serving as bishop, is commanded to stay in Zion (see D&C 57).
Sidney Rigdon dedicates Jackson County for a place of gathering. Joseph Smith dedicates the temple site and receives other revelations (see D&C 58, 59, 60).
Joseph Smith and his family move into John and Elsa Johnson’s home in Hiram. Joseph resumes translating the New Testament.
General conference takes place in Orange, Ohio.
Newel K. Whitney is appointed bishop in Kirtland, the second bishop called in the Church.
Bishop Partridge requests that Church leaders in Ohio send more skilled craftsmen to Missouri. Nearly 1,200 acres are owned by Church members in Jackson County.
At a Church conference in Amherst, Ohio, Joseph Smith is ordained and sustained as president of the high priesthood (see D&C 75).
While in Hiram, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon receive visions of the three kingdoms of glory (see D&C 76).
Joseph and Sidney Rigdon are tarred and feathered on the Johnson farm in Hiram. Joseph’s adopted son, Joseph Murdock Smith, dies five days later.
The United Firm is created in Jackson County to oversee the temporal affairs of the Church (see D&C 82).
Almost 100 members arrive in Missouri from Ohio without formal permission to settle in Zion. Others settle without permission over the next year.
Joseph and his family move into the Whitneys’ store. Joseph Smith III is born there two months later.
Church leaders in Jackson County receive a letter from Joseph Smith in the fall expressing frustration over some members’ conduct that generated hostility among local citizens.
The Lord commands Church members to build a house of God in Kirtland (see D&C 88). First meetings of the School of the Prophets are held.
A special council of high priests reports that Saints in Missouri are repentant and seek unity with leaders in Ohio. Joseph Smith accepts and implores the Saints in Missouri to be humble and obedient.
The Lord reveals the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89) at the Whitney Store.
Dissension continues among Church members in Jackson County. Bishop Partridge receives counsel from Joseph Smith clarifying how to handle land transactions under the law of consecration (now part of D&C 51).
The Lord rebukes the Church for not building His house, and the First Presidency sees the Kirtland Temple in vision (see D&C 95). The Lord reveals the plat for the city of Zion.
Construction begins on the Kirtland Temple.
Joseph finishes his inspired translation of the Bible at the Whitney Store.
Between 1,000 and 1,200 Latter-day Saints live in Jackson County. Mob violence erupts in Independence. Mobbers destroy W. W. Phelps’s printing office and scatter pages of the Book of Commandments. Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen are tarred and feathered. Three days later, the Saints sign an agreement to leave Jackson County.
Workers lay the cornerstones for the Kirtland Temple.
Mob vigilante attacks multiply in Church settlements throughout Jackson County. Church members flee the county in the following months.
During the fall, Church members begin building a saw mill on Stoney Brook in Kirtland.
Joseph Smith gives the first patriarchal blessings of this dispensation at the Johnson Inn in Kirtland.
The first stake of the Church is organized in Kirtland.
Zion’s Camp leaves for Missouri.
Zion’s Camp arrives in Missouri. The Lord commands the men not to fight (see D&C 105). Members of Zion’s Camp are officially discharged on July 3.
Joseph Smith organizes a presidency and high council for Missouri near Liberty, in Clay County. David Whitmer is sustained as president.
The first issue of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate is published in Kirtland.
The School of the Elders is organized in Kirtland.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is organized in Kirtland.
The First Quorum of the Seventy is organized in Kirtland.
Michael Chandler sells papyrus scrolls and mummies to the Church. Joseph Smith spends the next several months translating the Egyptian writing from his home.
The Doctrine and Covenants is accepted as a standard work of the Church. Copies are ready for distribution the following month.
Emma Smith’s hymnal begins printing in Kirtland and becomes available early in 1836.
While in the Kirtland Temple, Joseph sees a vision of the celestial kingdom (D&C 137). Spiritual manifestations continue in the weeks leading up to the temple’s dedication.
The Kirtland Temple is dedicated. A second dedicatory session occurs four days later.
Church leaders explore the future site of Far West during the spring.
Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear in the temple and commit priesthood keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
Frederick Granger Williams Smith is born to Joseph and Emma at their home in Kirtland.
Clay County residents request that the Church leave Clay County.
The Church purchases the site that becomes the city of Far West, Missouri.
The Kirtland Safety Society is organized. It opens for business in January 1837.
Caldwell County is created for the Mormons. Daviess County is also created.
A nationwide bank panic hits the state of Ohio. Many blame Joseph Smith for financial losses incurred through the Kirtland Safety Society.
Heber C. Kimball and others leave Kirtland on a mission to England.
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon preside at a conference at Far West. David Whitmer and his counselors are sustained again as a presidency for all of Missouri. Tensions persist between Missouri leaders and the First Presidency.
The Kirtland Safety Society closes.
Kirtland high council excommunicates 28 dissenters, including Martin Harris.
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon flee from Kirtland, taking their families to Missouri. Other Saints also begin leaving Ohio.
Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dissolves the Missouri presidency.
Joseph Smith arrives at Far West. He approves the removal of the Missouri presidency. Several other Church leaders, including Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, are excommunicated that spring.
The Lord reveals in Far West that the name of His Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see D&C 115).
Joseph Smith learns more about Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County through revelation (see D&C 116). Five weeks later, on June 28, 1838, the third stake of Zion is organized there.
Sidney Rigdon delivers an inflammatory Independence Day speech near the temple site at Far West.
Kirtland Camp of about 500 Saints leaves for Missouri.
Saints evacuate De Witt in Carroll County after a three-week siege from armed vigilantes. Missouri militia leaders choose not to intervene.
Apostle David W. Patten leads Mormon militiamen in the Battle of Crooked River in Ray County. He dies from his wounds later that day.
Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs issues an extermination order against the Saints.
Unaware of the governor’s order, a mob attacks Latter-day Saints at Hawn’s Mill in Caldwell County, killing 17 and wounding 14.
Joseph Smith and other Church leaders are arrested near Far West.
Joseph Smith and several other prisoners are taken first to Independence and then to Richmond, Missouri, for preliminary hearings.
Joseph Smith and five others are imprisoned in Liberty, Missouri. Other prisoners are released or kept in Richmond to await trial.
The Saints’ printing office in Kirtland is destroyed by fire.
Sidney Rigdon is released from Liberty Jail after a court hearing.
Large-scale evacuation of Latter-day Saints from Missouri to Illinois begins.
Joseph Smith shares from Liberty Jail divine comfort and direction for the Saints received through revelation (see D&C 121, 122, 123).
Prisoners in Liberty Jail leave for a court hearing. Ten days later, they are allowed to escape to Illinois.
Fulfilling prophecy at the peril of their lives, seven Apostles gather at the Far West temple site before leaving on foreign missions.
After moving from Richmond to Columbia, Parley P. Pratt and two other prisoners escape from jail and head to Illinois. King Follett remains a prisoner in Missouri for several more months.