Time Line: Palmyra, Fayette, and Harmony
By 1809, Peter Whitmer Sr. and his family move to Fayette, New York.
By 1812, the Hale family moves into a large frame home in Harmony, Pennsylvania.
The Smith family settles in Palmyra, New York, during the winter of 1816–17.
The Smith family moves into a log home during the winter of 1819–20.
During the spring, Joseph Smith has the First Vision.
Joseph Smith is visited by the angel Moroni for the first time.
Alvin Smith dies and is later buried in the Swift Burying Ground in Palmyra.
In the spring, the Smith family moves into the frame home.
Emma’s brother Jesse Hale marries and builds a new home for his family adjacent to his father’s land.
Joseph Smith meets Emma Hale in late 1825 while working for Josiah Stowell near Harmony, Pennsylvania.
The Smiths lose ownership of their Palmyra farm but stay on as renters.
Joseph and Emma are married by a justice of the peace in South Bainbridge, New York, about 25 miles from her family’s home in Harmony.
Newly married Joseph and Emma Smith move in with the Smith family in the frame home.
Joseph Smith obtains the Book of Mormon plates from the Hill Cumorah.
Joseph and Emma move to the Hale farm in Harmony, and Joseph begins translating the Book of Mormon plates.
Joseph and Emma move out of Emma’s parents’ home and into the nearby home built by Emma’s brother Jesse.
Martin Harris takes a transcript of characters copied from the Book of Mormon plates from Harmony to scholars in New York City and Albany, New York.
Emma and Joseph’s first child, a son named Alvin, dies at birth and is buried in a Harmony cemetery.
Joseph Smith visits Palmyra. At his parents’ frame home, he learns that Martin Harris has lost manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon.
In Harmony, Joseph receives his first revelation that was written down (now D&C 3), which chastises him but affirms his calling as translator.
Joseph Smith regains the ability to translate the Book of Mormon plates.
A revelation (now D&C 5) calls for three witnesses to see and testify of the golden plates.
Translation of the Book of Mormon plates resumes with Oliver Cowdery acting as scribe.
While working on the Book of Mormon translation in Harmony with Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith receives several revelations (D&C 6, 7, 8, 9).
A revelation (now D&C 10), likely received in the spring of 1829, instructs Joseph Smith not to retranslate Book of Mormon pages for which the initial translation was lost.
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery receive the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist; sometime thereafter, they receive higher priesthood authority, the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Two revelations (now D&C 11, 12) invite Hyrum Smith and Joseph Knight to help bring forth “a great and marvelous work.”
The Book of Mormon translation enters its final phase at the Peter Whitmer Sr. home in Fayette, New York.
Joseph Smith dictates several revelations regarding the Book of Mormon and God’s forthcoming work (now D&C 14, 15, 16, 18).
Joseph Smith’s request to secure the copyright for the Book of Mormon is filed in Utica, New York.
Joseph Smith and Martin Harris visit printers in Palmyra and Rochester, New York, to ask about publishing the Book of Mormon.
A revelation (now D&C 17) calls Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris as the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
An angel shows the Book of Mormon plates to the Three Witnesses.
The Eight Witnesses see and handle the Book of Mormon plates in late June near the Smiths’ log home in Palmyra.
Joseph Smith completes the translation of the Book of Mormon in the Whitmer home around July 1, 1829.
After the translation is finished, Moroni takes back the Book of Mormon plates.
Oliver Cowdery and others begin to create a duplicate printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon.
Martin Harris mortgages part of his farm to secure funds for printing the Book of Mormon.
In late August, Hyrum Smith delivers the first pages of the Book of Mormon printer’s manuscript for typesetting.
Printing for the Book of Mormon is completed late, and the binding process begins.
The Book of Mormon becomes available for purchase in E. B. Grandin’s bookstore.
The Church is organized in the Peter and Mary Whitmer home. Joseph and Oliver are ordained as First and Second Elder of the Church.
A revelation (now D&C 21) outlines the responsibilities of Joseph Smith and members of the Church.
A revelation known as the “Articles and Covenants” (now D&C 20), which outlines Church organization, is presented to Church membership and approved.
During the summer, Joseph Smith receives the “Vision of Moses” and begins making inspired revisions of the Bible.
Samuel Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., and Don Carlos Smith leave on missions from Fayette.
Members from the Fayette, Colesville, and Palmyra areas attend a Church conference, what is now counted as the Church’s first general conference.
A revelation (now D&C 25) praises Emma Smith and calls her to specific assignments.
Joseph and Emma Smith leave their farm in Harmony permanently.
The second Church conference, which lasts several days in late September, is held in Fayette.
A revelation to Oliver Cowdery (now D&C 28) clarifies who can receive revelation for the Church.
A revelation (now D&C 29) gives instruction about the last days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Three revelations (now D&C 30) counsel David, Peter Jr., and John Whitmer. Peter is called to join Oliver Cowdery on a mission to the Lamanites.
A revelation (now D&C 31) calls Thomas B. Marsh to preach the gospel.
A revelation (now D&C 34) calls Orson Pratt to lift up his voice in warning, beginning a lifetime of missionary service for him.
Last members of the Smith family leave the farm in Palmyra.
A revelation to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (now D&C 35) calls Rigdon to serve as scribe for the Prophet.
A revelation (now D&C 36) calls Edward Partridge to preach the gospel.
A revelation (now D&C 37) calls the Saints to assemble in Ohio and instructs Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to stop the translation of the Bible until they have relocated.
The Prophet Joseph Smith and John Whitmer begin arranging and copying recorded revelations early in 1831 while in Harmony.
The third Church conference, which lasts two days, is held in Fayette.
In response to questions from the Saints in New York, a revelation (now D&C 38) elaborates on the reasons for gathering to Ohio.
James Covel asks for the Lord’s will, and a revelation (now D&C 39) calls him to join the work and gather to Ohio with the Church.
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon ask why James Covel did not follow the revelation that had been given to him, and they receive an explanation (now D&C 40).
Joseph Smith goes to the Hill Cumorah and sees the Book of Mormon plates for the first time. Moroni instructs him to return to the Hill Cumorah annually until he is prepared to obtain the plates.
Joseph Smith is tutored by Moroni at the Hill Cumorah.
Joseph Smith is tutored by Moroni at the Hill Cumorah.
Joseph Smith is tutored by Moroni at the Hill Cumorah.