| 1837 Chronology |
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| January 1 | Oliver returns from Philadelphia
with plates to print bank notes. |
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| Orson Hyde (h) returns with news that the Ohio legislature would not grant a charter for the Kirtland Safety Society bank. | ||||
| Reynolds Cahoon confirms Willard Richards (h). Lyman Sherman sings in tongues and Willard understands. | ||||
| Eliza R. Snow resumes teaching school for young ladies and boards with the Smith family. | Personal: ERS, 10–11. | |||
| January 12 | Cleveland Herald and Gazette: The Kirtland Safety Society is an unauthorized bank. Its officers, and anyone passing its notes is subject to a $1,000 fine. » | |||
| January 19 | Painesville Republican: The Kirtland Safety Society is an unauthorized bank. Its officers, and anyone passing its notes is subject to a $1,000 fine. « | |||
| January 31 | Wilford Woodruff: Joseph and Sidney announce that the First Presidency had purchased the charter of a bank in Monroe, Michigan. » |
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| February | Shortly after the Monroe bank opens, Samuel D. Rounds charges Joseph and Sidney violated Ohio's 1816 banking laws which prohibited banking except by authorized corporations. « » | |||
| February 5 | Warren Parrish writes the editor of the Painesville Republican that Joseph said "that the audible voice of God instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti-Banking Institution, which, like Aaron's rod, should swallow up all other banks … and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins." » | |||
| February 10 | Orson Hyde again applies for bank charter. | |||
| March 22 | The Ohio Repository reprints Warren Parrish's letter about Joseph hearing the voice of the Lord instructing him to establish the "Banking-Anti-Banking Institution." « | |||
| March 24 | At a preliminary hearing on charges the Monroe, Michigan bank charter had been obtained illegally, a court date is set for the fall session. « » | |||
| April 3 | High council lays out nine charges against Presidents W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer. | Minutes of April 3, 1837 | ||
| April 5–6 | Presidents W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer meet with the high council, bishop's council, and apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten. They demand a private meeting but Thomas B. Marsh threatens them with a common council. Investigation begins. David characterizes their conduct as "iniquitous & fradulent in the extreme." | Minutes of April 5–6, 1837 | ||
| April 6 | On short notice a solemn assembly is called "for the purpose of washing, anointing, washing of feet, receiving instruction and the further organization of the ministry." | Messenger and Advocate vol. 3 no. 31 (April 1837), 486. | ||
| April 7 | Far West high council adopts city plat, appoints five "wise men" to price and sell town lots, names building committee named for the House of the Lord with presidents of the stake to superintend and receive revelation therefor. | Minutes of April 7, 1837 | ||
| April 24 | David W. Patten (h) charges Lyman Wight (h) (swh) with teaching the "erroneous" doctrine that the church is under a telestial law. Lyman is directed to recant. | Minutes of April 24, 1837; HC 2:481–482. |
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| May | Priesthood bearers who do not observe the literal interpretation of the Word of Wisdom are not to be fellowshipped. John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, and John Corrill are authorized to sell Far West lots for the church. | Minutes of May 1837 | ||
| May 26 | John Corrill named "an agent of the Church and Keeper of the Lord's Store House." | Minutes of May 22, 1837 | ||
| May 26 | The Painesville Telegraph publishes Grandison Newell's ¶ letter to the editor charging that Joseph Smith had sent two men to murder him. | Did Joseph Plot to Kill Grandison Newell? | ||
| May 28 | Joseph defends himself at a meeting in the temple, followed by Sidney and others in support. Warren Parrish denounces the Prophet in a temple meeting. | WWJ 1: 147–148. | ||
| May 29 | Apostles Orson Pratt and Lyman Johnson charged Joseph with lying, misrepresentation, and extortion. | |||
| May 29 | Kirtland high council meets to try President Frederick G. Williams, President David Whitmer, Apostles Parley P. Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish, a seventy. Cannot decide if the council has jurisdiction. Lyman and Orson accuse Joseph of misrepresentation and extortion. Dissidents meet in the temple, declare Joseph fallen; want to David to lead. |
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| June 2 | Conference designates Heber C. Kimball to lead mission to England. | ¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3) | ||
| June 3 | Preliminary hearing in Painesville. Joseph charged with plotting the murder of Grandison Newell. Orson Hyde testifies in behalf of the prosecution. > | Did Joseph Plot to Murder Grandison Newell? | ||
| Church court in the temple. Parrish testifies. | ||||
| June 4 | Orson Hyde (h) pleads for forgiveness and is set apart with Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Fielding for first mission to England. | ¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3) | ||
| June 9 | Painesville Republican: … no testimony appeared [in the murder conspiracy trial], on which, any reliance could be placed, that went in the least degree to crimination … and resulted in the entire acquittal of Joseph smith, Jr. of the charges alleged against him. This is said to be the thirteenth prosecution which has been instituted against Joseph Smith, Jr. for prejudice against him, he has never in a single instance been convicted, on a final trial. < | Qtd. in Zion in the Courts, 56. | ||
| June 11 | High council endorses commercial enterprises. All are free to engage in business. No preferential treatment. No partnering with non-Mormons or using non-Mormon suppliers. Give David Patten and Thomas B. Marsh town lots. | Minutes of June 11, 1833 | ||
| Willard Richards (h) arrives in Kirtland after 3-month mission to New York and Massachusetts. | ||||
| June 12 | Heber C. Kimball urges Willard to come to England. After consulting with Hyrum, Joseph, Sidney, and Brigham, Willard agrees and is set apart. | ¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3) | ||
| June 13 | Heber, Willard, and Orson leave Kirtland, take steamboat at Fairport. | ¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3) | ||
| July 29 | David Whitmer attends high council meeting in Far West, apparently for the first time since September 11, 1833. | FWR, 116; Minutes of September 11, 1833 | ||
| August 1 | Far West high council: presidents of high priests and elders must be ordained by a higher authority. Quorum presidents may ordain their counselors. Bishop takes charge of the Lesser Priesthood. Quorums to choose their presidents. | Minutes of August 1, 1837 | ||
| August 1 | A general meeting in Far West votes to proceed with construction of a house of the Lord "as we have means." Building committee to have no store. Members are free to compete. | Minutes of August 5, 1837 | ||
| September 3 | Kirtland conference sustains Joseph as president of the whole church, with Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams as counselors, and Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith Sr., and Hyrum Smith as assistant counselors. The Kirtland bishopric is also sustained. Luke S. Johnson (h), Lyman E. Johnson (h), and John F. Boynton (h) are excommunicated or rejected as apostles (the technical aspects are unclear). > Nine high council members are replaced. |
Minutes of September 3, 1837 | ||
| September 4 | John Whitmer and W. W. Phelps "…have done things which are not pleasing in my sight Therefore if they repent not they shall be removed." | Revelation of September 4, 1837 | ||
| September 17 | General conference of elders in Kirtland appoint Joseph and Sidney to visit Far West and locate gathering places "for a refuge and safety, in the day of the wrath of God which is soon to burst upon the head of this generation, according to the testimony of the prophets; who speak expressly concerning the last days." | Elders Journal vol. 1 no. 2 (November 1837), 27. | ||
| George W. Robinson elected Church Recorder in place of Oliver Cowdery, who had gone to Missouri. | "Writing of Joseph Smith's History," 450. | |||
| September 18 | Kirtland Bishop Newel K. Whitney and counselors Reynolds Cahoon and Vinson Knight write to the Saints scattered abroad pleading for donations. | HC 2:525. | ||
| September 27 | Joseph, Vinson Knight, and William Smith leave Kirtland for Far West. | Elders Journal vol. 1 no. 2 (November 1837), 27. | ||
| October | Joseph and Sidney are found guilty of violating state banking statutes. Each to pay $1,000 plus court costs. They appeal. « | |||
| November 7 | Far West general assembly elects Joseph as president of the whole church, and Sidney as a counselor. Frederick is rejected as counselor and Hyrum is vote in. Opposition to David Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, and John Whitmer, but ultimately they are elected. A high council is elected, as are members of the Quorum of the Twelve (including the Johnsons and John F. Boynton (h) who had been rejected by the Kirtland conference), < bishopric, patriarch, keeper of the Lord's storehouse, presidents of seventies. | Minutes of November 7, 1837 | ||
| November 10 | Far West priesthood members vote to double the size of the city. Those who lay out the city plat are to be compensated in land. The rest of the land to be consecrated to the public good. | Minutes of November 10, 1837 | ||
| December 6 | Far West high council and bishop's council vote to pay themselves and recorders for services and reimburse Bishop Partridge expenses he incurred defending the church during the Jackson county episode. | Minutes of December 6, 1837 | ||
| December 7 | Bishop Edward Partridge and his counselors submit to the high council a plan to raise funds for the church based on an annual contribution of 2% of a man's net worth. | Minutes of December 7, 1837 | ||
| December 10 | Joseph returns to Kirtland. | ¶ Thomas B. Marsh (h); HC 2:528. | ||
| December 24 | Hyrum marries Mary Fielding. | |||
| December 27 | Brigham flees Kirtland. Dissenters "had threatened to destroy him because he would proclaim publicly and privately that he knew by the power of th Holy Ghost that I was a Prophet of the Most High God, that I had not transgressed and fallen as the apostates declared." | HC 2:529. | ||