| 1830 Chronology |
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| March 19 | Wayne Sentinel ad: Book of Mormon available within the week. | |||
| March 26 | First copies of the Book of Mormon for sale at Grandin Bookstore in Palmyra, New York. | |||
| March [26–31] | Joseph and Joseph
Knight arrive in Manchester. D&C 19 (Manchester): Christ to destroy Satan and his works at the end of the world, judgment, endless/eternal punishment is God's punishment (not without end); Martin Harris to preach nothing but repentance; certain things should not be taught; don't lust after neighbor's wife or think of killing him; don't covet your own property; pay the printer's bill. |
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| April | Joseph Smith casts a devil out of Newel Knight (first miracle of the restoration). | |||
| April 6 | The Church of Christ is organized, probably at
the Smith home in Manchester, New York. The six organizing members are probably
Joseph, Joseph Sr., Hyrum, and Samuel
H. Smith; Oliver Cowdery and Joseph
Knight, though Orrin Porter Rockwell, Sarah Rockwell, Lucy Smith, and
Martin Harris have also appeared on some lists of six. |
Inventing Mormonism, 154–156. | ||
| Joseph ordains Oliver "an elder," Oliver ordains Joseph "a seer, translator, prophet, apostle." | ||||
| Oliver baptizes, by all accounts, Joseph Sr. and Martin Harris in Crooked Brook; also by most accounts, Sarah W. Rockwell; and by some accounts, Lucy Smith. Joseph Sr. and Martin (and others?) are baptized at night "Because of persecution." | Inventing
Mormonism,
157–159. "Joseph Knight's Recollection," 37. |
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| D&C 21 (Manchester): A record to be kept; Joseph to be known as a seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder. Church to give heed to him and receive his word "as if from mine own mouth." Oliver to ordain him. | ||||
| D&C 23 (Manchester): Oliver Cowdery is blessed
but should beware of pride; Hyrum's heart is open and his tongue loosed,
to preach and strengthen the church forever because of his family; Samuel
H. Smith is to exhort and strengthen the church but not yet to go on
a mission; Joseph Sr. is called to exhort and strengthen the church forever;
Joseph Knight is to take up his
cross and pray publicly, unite with the church, and exhort continually.
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Joseph Knight was still reading the Book of Mormon and wanted more time before being baptized. "Joseph Knight's Recollection," 37. | |||
| April 11 | Church at Fayette is organized [the term branch is
not yet used]. Oliver delivers the first public address about the church at the home of Peter Whitmer. Oliver baptizes Hiram Page and Catherine Whitmer Page in Seneca Lake. |
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| April 16 | D&C 22: All ordinances are done away, all must be baptized into the church. | |||
| April 18 | Oliver performs more baptisms. | |||
| April 19 | The Telegraph (Painesville) publishes a copy of the Articles and Covenants provided by Martin Harris. | |||
| June | Joseph begins revisions of the Bible and receives the "Visions of Moses" (Moses 1). | |||
| June 1 | Joseph Knight and family, and others, are baptized. Joseph confirms them. | "Joseph Knight's Recollection," 37. | ||
| Palmyra Reflector refers to Oliver as and "apostle … under a command." | ||||
| June [1–9] | D&C 20: Joseph is the seer called of God and ordained an apostle, an elder of the church; and Oliver, is an apostle, an elder of the church. Joseph's sins were forgiven but he became "entangled again in the vanities of the world." When he repented an angel gave him commandments and power to translate the Book of Mormon. All must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ. Duties of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members. Bless children, baptize at age of accountability. Baptismal prayer, procedure. Church to meet to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus Christ. Membership records. | See
Zebedee Coltrin diary version in JS
Revelations, 62–68. Oliver had written an early draft in 1829. Early Mormon Documents, 3:409–412. The section underwent further revisions later. |
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| June 9 | First conference of the church, Fayette, New York. Articles and Covenants presented. Joseph and Hyrum are ordained priests. | |||
| June 28 | Joseph is charged with disorderly conduct and taken to South Bainbridge, New York, for trial. | |||
| June 29 | Joseph is acquitted of disorderly conduct charge. | |||
| June 30 | Joseph is charged with disorderly conduct and taken to Broome
County, New York, where he is acquitted. Samuel H. Smith leaves on a mission to neighboring towns. |
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| July | D&C 24 (Harmony) Joseph to stop sinning,
magnify his office; go to Colesville; branch there to support him or be
cursed; calling to write what Comforter gives, expound scriptures, bless
the churches; Oliver to declare the gospel; do not require miracles except
casting out devils, healing the sick, power over serpents, etc; dust feet
against those who reject you; no purse or scrp; prune the vineyard. D&C 25 (Harmony) Emma "an elect lady," not to murmur because of things she has not seen; comfort Joseph; be a substitute scribe while Oliver is gone; be ordained to expound the scriptures and exhort the church; compile a book of hymns. |
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| John Whitmer assists Joseph arrange and copy what would become Book of Commandments 2–27. | Inventing, 154. | |||
| Fleeing persecution, Joseph moves family from Harmony, Pennsylvania, to Peter Whitmer Sr.'s farm in Fayette, New York. | ||||
| July [4–13] | D&C 26 (Harmony): Joseph, Oliver, and John to devote their time to studying scriptures, preaching, and supporting the church at Colesville. All things to be done by common consent. | |||
| September [1] | Oliver baptizes Parley P. Pratt is Seneca Lake. | ¶ History of Parley P. Pratt | ||
| September 4 | D&C 27 (Harmony): It doesn't matter what you use for the sacrament as long as you do it "with an eye single to my glory." Don't buy wine from your enemies. | |||
| September [5–26] | D&C 28: Oliver to
preach to the church, but only Joseph shall be appointed to receive commandments
and revelations. Joseph as Moses, Oliver as Aaron. Joseph has the keys of
the mysteries and sealed revelations until the Lord appoints another in
his stead. Oliver to preach to the Lamanites. A city to be built, location
not revealed. Oliver to privately tell Hiram
Page that he has been deceived by Satan in the revelations he has written.
All things to be done by common consent. D&C 29: "A Revelation to the church of Christ, given in the presence of six elders, in Fayette, New-York, September, 1830." Sins are forgiven, gather the elect; resurrection, then end of the world calamaties, wicked into everlasting fire. All things are spiritual. The devil and a third of the heavenly host cast down to hell before Adam was created. Devil necessary to tempt men so they can be agents unto themselves. Adam yielded to temptation, was cast out and became spiritually dead, until angels were sent to declare repentance and redemption through the Son. Little children cannot sin, are redeemed through the Only Begotten. |
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| September 19 | Orson Pratt is baptized by his brother, Parley. | Orson Pratt Journals, 9 | ||
| September 26 | Second church conference, Fayette, New York (no minutes). | |||
| September [ca. 26–28] | D&C 30 (Fayette): David
Whitmer has not been diligent. Peter Whitmer Jr. and John
Whitmer to accompany Oliver on mission. Oliver is to build up the church
among the Lamanites and only Joseph is above him in the church. D&C 31 (Fayette): Thomas B. Marsh (h) called on a mission; sins forgiven; to be a physician to the church. |
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| October (ca 17) | D&C 32 (Fayette): Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson to join Oliver's mission to the Lamanites. | |||
| October 18 | Parley, Ziba, Oliver, and Peter Whitmer Jr. leave on a mission to the Seneca Indians near Buffalo, New York. | |||
| October [ca 18–31] | D&C 33 (Fayette): Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet called on missions. Gather the elect. | |||
| October 21 | Book of Moses (Pearl of Great Price) is being written as Joseph continues to revise the Bible. | Joseph Smith's Revision, 4. | ||
| November | Parley, Ziba, Oliver, and Peter Whitmer Jr. preach in the Western Reserve (Ohio) and baptize 127. | Sidney, 62; From Historian, 3. | ||
| November 4 | D&C 34 (Fayette): Orson Pratt (h2) to preach, for "the time is soon at hand, that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory;" calamities near. | Reportedly received through a seer stone placed in a hat; recorded by John Whitmer.Joseph Smith Revelations, 94. | ||
| November 8 | Oliver baptizes Sidney and Phebe Rigdon. | Sidney, 62, 66n61. | ||
| November 14 | Parley baptizes Lyman (h) (swh) and Harriet Benton Wight. | "Impact," 487. | ||
| November 16 | Painesville Telegraph: Oliver "pretends to have a divine mission and to have seen and conversed with Angels," predicts end of the world within a few years, Saints to gather at a city of refuge beyond the Mississippi, where they would convert the Indians and the lost tribes of Israel. Twenty or thirty are reported to have been baptized. | |||
| November 18 | Oliver confirms Wight (h) (swh) (and presumably his wife). | Lyman Wight Journal | ||
| November 20 | Oliver ordains Lyman Wight an elder. | |||
| November 22 | The "Lamanite missionaries," now joined by Kirtland physician Frederick G. Willliams, leave Kirtland for Independence, Missouri. | Sidney, 64. | ||
| December |
Part of the book of Enoch (Moses 7) is revealed. |
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| December 7 | [Painesville Telegraph]: Mr. Oliver Cowdery has his commission directly from the God of heaven, and that he has his credentials, written and signed by the hand of Jesus Christ, with whom he has personally conversed, and as such, said Cowdry claims that he and his acosiates are the only persons on earth who are qualified to administer in his name. By this authority, they proclaim to the world, that all who do not believe their testimony, and be baptized by them foer the remission of thier sins … must be forever miserable. | |||
| December [7–11] | D&C 35 (Fayette): Sidney, like John, prepared the way for Jesus and Elijah. Baptized unto repentance. Now Holy Ghost. Signs follow believers. Lord will "let fall the sword in their behalf." Joseph has the keys of the mysteries. If he fails, he will be replaced. Sidney to be Joseph's scribe. Lord comes soon. |
Sidney begins writing on manuscript page 15 of the Bible revisions. JS Revelations, 96n96. |
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| December 10 | Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge meet Joseph in Waterloo, New York, a short distance from David Whitmer's home in Fayette township. | |||
| December 11 | Joseph baptizes Edward Partridge in the Seneca River. | Joseph Smith, "History, 1839" in Personal, 348. | ||
| December [11–15] | D&C 36 (Fayette): Edward is called to preach the gospel. | |||
| December 15 | Sidney ordains Edward an elder. | JS Revelations, 97n97. | ||
| D&C 37 (Canandaigua): Joseph to stop translating now until he goes to Ohio "because of the enemy." Strengthen the church in Colesville. In time they should gather in Ohio "against the time that my servant Oliver shall return unto them." | Date given by William E. McLellin in The Ensign of Liberty 1 (March 1847), 2, cited in Joseph Smith Revelations, 97n98, | |||
| 1831
Chronology Chronologies |
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