| 1834 Chronology |
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| January 1 | Deadline for all Mormons to leave Jackson county. | Missouri Persecutions (2) | ||
| Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight (h) (swh) leave Jackson county for Kirtland >. | From Historian, 72n4 | |||
| January 13–15 | Preiminary hearing in Joseph's complaint against Doctor P. Hurlbut, who is bound over for trial at the next session of the court. | Geauga county, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas, Book P, 431–432, cited in Papers 2n1. | ||
| February 9 | At a conference in New Portage, Ohio, Sidney is told not move from Kirtland to New Portage. | ¶ Minutes of February 9, 1834 | ||
| February 12 | Joseph's first documented allusion to conferral of office by an angel. Transgressed while translating the Book of Mormon. Before translation, Martin Harris said Joseph drank too much. Exalted himself above Joseph. Martin admits his mind has been darkened, promises to do better. | Minutes of February 12, 1834 | ||
| February 13 | Orson Pratt (h2) returns from mission to the East, "Elder Lyman E. Johnson (h) having arrived a few days before me. I had been absent two months and a half." | Millennial Star, vol. 27 no. 5 (February 4, 1865), 73. | ||
| February 17 | D&C 102 (Kirtland): Organization of the first high council. | ¶
Minutes of February 17, 1834 ¶ Heber's Histories of Zion's Camp |
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| February 19 | Ratification of the constitution of the high council (D&C 102). Organization of the council "according to the ancient order." | Minutes of February 19, 1834 | ||
| February 20 | Non-compliance with Word of Wisdom renders members unworthy of office. | Minutes of February 20, 1834 | ||
| February 22 | Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight (h) (swh) arrive in Kirtland <. | From Historian, 72n4 | ||
| February 24 | Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight report conditions in Clay county. Saints want to return to Jackson. | Minutes of February 24, 1834 | ||
| D&C 103 (Kirtland): Saints driven out of Jackson county because of disobedience. Now Zion to be redeemed to power; one will be raised up like Moses to lead the people back. Parley and Lyman to gather a hundred men, also Joseph, Sidney, Hyrum, Frederick, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt. | ||||
| February 26 | Those designated to raise men for Zion's camp on February 24 leave on their assignments. | |||
| March 17 | Joseph and other leaders meet with New York brethren to raise men for Zion's Camp, funds to purchase land, and pay $2,000 of Kirtland debt. | Minutes of March 17, 1834 | ||
| March 31 | Orson Hyde writes Joseph that he has failed to raise money quickly in the eastern branches of the church. | |||
| April 1 | Joseph predicts that the Lord will destroy Doctor Hurlbut, his body will be delivered to "the fowls of heaven" and "his bones shall be cast to the blast of the wind." | Joseph's 1832–1834 journal in Papers 2: 28. This entry is in Joseph's hand. | ||
| April 2 –3 | Joseph attends court in Chardon, Ohio, accusing Doctor Hurlbut of assault and threatening his life. | Joseph's 1832–1834 journal in Papers 2: 28; Zion in the Courts, 52; HC 2:47. | ||
| April 7 | Joseph, Frederick, Oliver, Newel K. Whitney, and Heber C. Kimball pray for the Lord to funish means to save the United Firm from debt and that Joseph will prevail against Hurlburt. | Joseph's 1832–1834 journal in Papers 2: 28. | ||
| Joseph, Frederick, and
Oliver write Orson Hyde in New York pleading for financial assistance. |
HC: 2:48 | |||
| April 9 | Court binds Dr. Philastus Hurlburt over under $200 bond to keep the peace for six months and pay nearly $112.59 in court costs. | Joseph's 1832–1834 journal in Papers 2: 28–29; Zion in the Courts, 52; HC 2:49; Early Documents 1:23 cites the cout judgment dated March 31. | ||
| April 10 | The council of the United Firm agree to dissolve the company and divide assets as stewardships. | HC 2:49. | ||
| Second petition, signed by 114 persons, including Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, John Corrill, Isaac Morely, and Algernon S. Gilbert, is forwarded to the president of the United States. | ||||
| April 18 | Joseph leaves Kirtland with Sidney, Oliver, and Zebedee Coltrin to attend a conference in New Portage. | Times and Seasons, vol. 6 no. 19 (December 15, 1845), 1058, | ||
| April 19 | In Norton, Ohio, Joseph, Sidney, Oliver, and Zebedee Coltrin pray, bless each other. Sidney and Oliver to arrange church covenants soon to be published. | Minutes of April 20–21, 1834 | ||
| April 20–21 | In Norton, Joseph relates the history of obtaining and translating the Book of Mormon, the revelation of the Aaronic Priesthood, the organization of the church, the revelation of the High Priesthood, "and the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Church &c." | Minutes
of April 20–21, 1834 Early sequence of Aaronic, then High Priesthood. |
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| April 22 | Joseph returns to Kirtland. | Times and Seasons, vol. 6 no.1 (December 15, 1845), 1061. | ||
| April 23 | Joseph, Sidney, Frederick, Oliver, Newel K. Whitney, and John Johnson to pray that Zebedee Coltrin will be able to borrow money from Jacob Myers or persuade him to come to Kirtland and bring it himself. | Joseph Smith Ohio journal, 1832–1834 in Papers 2:32–33. | ||
| D&C 104 (Kirtland): Those who have broken United Order covenants are cursed; the united orders of Kirtland and Zion are to be separated. Stewardships are assigned to Sidney, Martin, John Johnson, Frederick, Oliver, Joseph, and Newel. | ||||
| April 25 | Wilford Woodruff arrives in Kirtland from New York and meets Joseph, who invites the Woodruffs to stay with him. | WWJ,
1:8. ¶ Wilford Woodruff (h1) |
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| May 1 | Orson Pratt's company of 20 leaves Kirtland for Zion. Joseph remains in Kirtland to organize a larger body of men. |
Orson Pratt Journals, 40. |
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| May 3 | A conference of elders renames the Church of Christ to the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Sidney's suggestion. | |||
| May 4 | Sunday services in Kirtland. Sidney
urges men to "deeds of valor" and promises "the glory of
Christian martyrs." |
Sidney, 149. | ||
| Joseph calls volunteers in Kirtland together, speaks for a short time, and seals them up to eternal life: | ||||
| we ware all Sealed up to Eternal Life by Joseph and said they should come forth in the day of the Lord if they comited sins they would be delivereth over to the bufetings of Satan for the destruction of the flesh but they should come forth in of the day of the Lord Jesus. | Reuben McBride diary | |||
| In New Portage, Orson Pratt (h) addresses the men of his camp on the second coming and millennium, and "the Saints inheriting the earth forever." | ||||
| May 5 | Joseph and volunteers later known as Zion's Camp leave Kirtland. | |||
| May 6 | Joseph arrives at New Portage with a hundred volunteers. | Orson Pratt Journals, 40. | ||
| May 7 | At New Portage the brethren pool their money,
putting it into a general fund. Travel a few miles and reorganize into companies of about 13 each. "… and behold the presence of the Lord was with us by day and by night and his Angel went before us to prepare the way." |
Orson Pratt Journals, 40. | ||
| May 17 | Camp crosses into Indiana. | Millennial Star, vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 69. | ||
| May 25 | Camp crosses into Illinois. | Millennial Star, vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 69. | ||
| May 26 | Camp "aroused by the continual threats of our enemies," but "we did not fear … neither did we hesitate … for God was with us, and His angels went before us, and the faith of our little band was unwavering. We know that angels were our companions, for we saw them." | Millennial Star, vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 69. | ||
| May 29 | W. W. Phelps, John Corrill, A. S. Gilbert, and Edward Partridge write Governor Dunklin about his order for Colonel S. D. Lucas to return Mormon arms taken last November. They forwarded it to Lucas on the 17th. He replied that he would write by the next mail but moved to Lexington without writing. The "excitement, or rather spite of the mob, runs so high against our people," that we ask for Col. Allen or Captain Atchison to return the weapons. | Millennial Star vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 68–69. | ||
| June 1 | Camp services in Jacksonville, Indiana (near Decater). Five Elders—former Baptist, Campbellite, Reformed Methodist, and Restorationist preachers—speak throughout the day. Local citizens ask questions, "but no one could learn our names, profession, business, or destinatin; and, although they suspected we were 'Mormons,' they were very civil." | "History of Joseph," Millennial Star vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 69. | ||
| June 2 | Camp crosses Illinois river. "The ferryman counted, and declared there were five hundred of us; yet our true number was only about one hundred and fifty." | Millennial Star, vol. 15 no. 5, (January 29, 1853), 69. | ||
| June 4 | Joseph writes Emma that the Camp has reached the Mississippi in good condition, but needs more men. He enjoys the journey, especially "wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionaly the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity …" | |||
| June 4–5 | Camp crosses the Mississippi into Missouri. | |||
| June 5 | A. S. Gilbert, W. W. Phelps, and "Edward Partridge, &c." write the governor, "We think the time is just at hand, when our Society will be glad to avail themselves of the protection of a military guard, that they may return to Jackson county." They request "an order on the commanding officer, to be sent by return of mail, that we might have it in our hands to present when our people are ready to start.." | Millennial Star,. vol. 15 no. 5 (January 29, 1853), 69–70. | ||
| June 6 | Governor still looking for a compromise without getting involved personally. | Daniel Dunklin to James Thornton, June 6, 1834 | ||
| June 9 | Governor Dunklin writes W. W. Phelps and others: "you have a second order for the delivery of your arms now in the possession of the militia of Jackson county. Colonel Lucas has resigned his command, he informs me. If Lieut.-Colonel Pitcher should be arrested before you receive this, you will please hold up the order until I am informed who may be appointed to the command of the regiment. " | HC 2:89 | ||
| In Kirtland Joseph speaks in behalf of John Johnson [Jr.] to maintain a tavern in Kirtland. (The license had been granted April 5, 1834.) | Joseph's
1832–1834 journal in Papers
2: 28. Probably John Johnson Jr., one of the mob that tarred Joseph and Sidney. ¶ 1832 Tarring In 1837 a committee was appointed to "see if he would desist from selling spirituous liquors to those who were in the habit of getting intoxicated, and report to the authorities of the Church those members who might drink spirits at his house."¶ Reynolds Cahoon |
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| June 15 | Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt (h) return from Jefferson City: Governor Dunklin says it is impractical to restore the Saints in Jackson county. | HC 2:89. | ||
| June 22 | Zion's Camp is dissolved. | From Historian, 72n4. | ||
| June 23 | Clay county. 15 are selected for Kirtland endowment. | Minutes of June 23, 1834 | ||
| July | Early in the month, on the Prophet's orders, Lyman Wight (h) (swh) disbands Zion's Camp. | |||
| July 3 | Clay county. Joseph organizes the first high council in Missouri. | Minutes of July 3, 1834 | ||
| July 7 | Clay county. Members of the new high council are ordained, replacing the bishopric as the presiding authority in Missouri. Joseph apparently ordains David to be his successor should he fall. Joseph says his work is now complete. | Minutes of July 7, 1834 | ||
| July 12 | Clay county high council suspends proselything missions and public meetings in an effort to assuage public hostility. | Minutes of July 12, 1834 | ||
| August 6 | Clay county high council. Charge to peace missionaries. Hulet Branch members: Joseph's teachings are subject to ratification through gifts of the spirit to them, expect persecution by Clay county brethren. Amasa Lyman and Simeon Carter to labor with them. Twenty-one volunteer for peace missions. | Minutes of August 6, 1834 | ||
| August 11 | Kirtland high council exonerates Joseph (Zion's Camp behavior). Sylvester Smith's confession to be widly published. | Minutes of August 11, 1834 | ||
| August 16 | Joseph writes Lyman Wight (h) (swh) that September 11, 1836 "is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion." | Joseph
to Lyman Wight and others, August 16, 1834 in Personal,
2nd ed., 347–350; HC
2:144–146. cf. D&C 64:21: I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some. |
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| August 21 | Frederick G. Williams returns from Cleveland and reports cholera epidemic. "After much consultation" Joseph, Oliver, and Frederick agree that Frederick should return and administer to the sick . | Joseph Smith Ohio journal, 1832–1834 in Papers 2:33–34. | ||
| Clay county high council. Is all disease and medicine of the Devil? Members may believe whatever they want, but may not teach that Satan is behind the idea of administering roots, herbs, and vegetables for health. | Minutes of August 21, 1834 | |||
| August 31 | Heber C. Kimball arrives in Kirtland from mission. | |||
| September 1 | David Whitmer leaves Missouri for Kirtland. | Far West Record, 74. | ||
| September 10 | First elders for Kirtland endowment nominated. Zion's Camp members apply for discharges from Lyman Wight. | Minutes of September 10, 1834 | ||
| September 27 | I attended meeting. Elders Thomas B. Marsh (h), David W. Patten (h), Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball (h) preached and broke bread. The Lord poured out His Spirit and my soul was edified. | |||
| October 18–20 | In the evening of the 18th, Joseph Jr. and Sr., Hyrum, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Frederick G. Williams, Roger Orton, and possibly Martin Harris and Lucy Mack Smith, start on a mission "to Canada." They travel by team to Fairport, where at 9 p.m. they board the steamboat Monroe. After brief stops at Cleveland and Huron, they reach Detroit the next morning and take the stage to Pontiac, arriving in the evening. Promises Saints they can "speak with tongues, and the signs (of the Gospel) shall follow you, and by this you may test me as a Prophet sent of God." | Journal
History, October 16, 1834, Selected
Collections 2:1. ¶ Edward Stevenson Reminiscence (2) On members of the party, see Early Mormon Documents 1:36n2 and Lucy, 185. |
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| November 5 | Clay county high council ends scheduled meetings, administer sacrament only in secret. | Minutes of November 5, 1834 | ||
| November 28 | E. D. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed is released. | Early Mormon Documents 2:16. | ||
| November 29 | Joseph and Oliver give thanks for a loan of $430 from brethren in the East. They covenant with the Lord that if He: | Joseph Smith journal, 1832–1834 in Papers 2:34–35. | ||
| will prosper us in our business and open the way before <us> … to pay our debts … that of all he shall give us we will give a tenth, to bestowed upon the poor in his Church, or as he shall command … and that our children after us shall remember to observe this sacred and holy covenant … And that our children and our children's [children] may know of the same we here subscribe our names with our own hands before the Lord: [signed]. | ||||
| November 30 | While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providences in a merciful manner and send us assistance to deliver us from debt and bondage. | Joseph Smith Ohio journal, 1832–1834 in Papers 2:35. | ||
| December 5 | Joseph, Sidney, Frederick, and Oliver meet to discuss "the welfare of the Church." Joseph ordains Oliver Assistant President: "My brother, in the name of Jesus Christ who {died} was crucified for the sins of the world, I lay my hands upon thee, and ordain thee an assistant President of the high and holy priesthood in the Church of the Latter Day Saints["]. | Joseph
Smith Ohio journal, 1832–1834 in Papers
2:36. Hyrum succeeded Oliver to this office in 1841. Oliver and Hyrum are the only two to hold this office. |
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| December 6 | W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, and A. S. Gilbert write Governor Daniel Dunklin for military assistance to restore them to their lands, their own military organization, and a court of inquiry. | Times and Seasons, vol. 6 no. 10 (June 1, 1845), 915. | ||
| December 22 | Heber C. Kimball starts attending a six-week grammar school taught by Sidney and William E. McLellin (h). |
¶
Heber C. Kimball (h3) |
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