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589 BCE
Lehi Comes to the Americas
According to Mormon doctrine, Lehi, an Israelite, comes from the Middle East to the Americas with his family. Lehi has many children who would become his descendants. -
Period: 588 BCE to 570 BCE
Lehi's Death and the Nephrite Lamanite Divide.
Lehi dies and his descendants split into two groups known as the Nephites and Lamanites. -
Period: 570 BCE to 33
War Between Lamanites and Nephites
The Nephrties and nomadic Lamanites wage war for centuries. -
33
Divine Intervention
Jesus appears following his crucifixion and resurrection to the Nephites. This leads to peace between the Lamanites and Nephites. -
Period: 33 to 233
Era of Peace
Short-lived peace is achieved. -
385
Mormon's Super-Duper Secret Diary
These writings are called the "Book of Mormon." These writings are transcribed on gold plates and passed on to Mormon's son Morani. Mormon dies in a battle that nearly wipes out the Nephites. -
421
Sealed Plates
Morani lived another 36 years adding material to the Book of Mormon before sealing them in 421. -
The Wonderful Mr. Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Jr. is born in Vermont. Him and his brother use divination tools such as seer stones. -
The Divine 14 Year Old
Joseph Smith is troubled by local difference among Christian faiths. In the woods smith sees a light pillar accompanied by an image of God and Jesus forgiving his sins and telling him to stay away from all denominations for they have strayed from the way. -
Smith Strays from The Goated Path
Smith is concerned he has strayed from the right path, so he prays for forgiveness of his sins. In turn, Smith receives a vision of an angel, named Morani, who tells of a book written on gold plates buried on the hillside. Morani describes the book as speaking of the people of America's past and the "fullness of the everlasting Gospel." -
Sorry, come back next year.
Smith locates the box containing the gold plates but is told he cannot take them yet and must return on the 22nd of every September for 4 years to be instructed on God's mission for him. -
The Return of the Super-Duper Secret Diary
Since it has been 4 years, Smith uncovers the plates and is warned not to allow anyone else see them. Smith uses a pair of odd spectacles to translate the reformed Egyptian in which the plates are written in. -
Martin Harris the Dumb Clutz
Martin Harris who had been helping financially with the translation of the plates loses the first and only copy of the first produced 116 pages of text. -
Surprise Visit and Bath Time
Smith and his new scribe Cowdery encounter John the Baptist after praying. John the Baptist declares Cowdery and Smith elders of the church and they baptize oneanother. -
The Book of Mormon Published
The Book of Mormon, copyrighted the year prior with eleven witnesses to the gold plates, goes public. The price is $1.25. The initial publication is financed by a mortgage on Harris' farm. -
Meeting for Bible Patch Notes Overview.
The first organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is held at the Whitmer farm. This meeting has 50 people in attendance. -
Missionaries on the Move
Four missionaries with the Mormon message stop in Kirtland on their way to the Indian in Ohio and Missouri. A Baptist minister named Sidney Rigdon joins the group along with his 100-person congregation. -
Missouri Temple
Missionaries arrive in Missouri, settling in Independance. A cornerstone is laid as 800 more church members arrive in the area which Smith has prophesized as "New Jerusalem." -
Period: to
Home Sweet Kansas...I mean Kirtland.
Josph and Emma Smith arrive in Kirtland where Smith will be based for the next six years. During this time, Smith will have 65 revelations which primarily have to do with church structure. A temple will be built in Kirtland and the church will grow further. -
Period: to
The Construction of the Great Mormon Temple
The great Mormon Temple is constructed measuring 55 by 85 feet and standing 110 feet tall. -
Doctrine and Covenants Published
Smith publishes 138 of his revelations in what would be called Doctrine and Covenants. Some of these revelations would be republished in other books. -
Missourian Migration
The Missouri Mormons are forced to leave Clay Country and move North. -
Corruption, Cheating, and Distrust
Following a failed venture to create a bank after an economic panic, Smith is accused of both unethical financial and sexual practices. -
Tea and LDS
The Mormons begin spreading their beliefs to England -
See ya... Wouldn't Wanna be ya...
Smith leaves Kirtland for Missouri. Smith plans for a new temple and excommunicates past friends and current rivals. This includes Cowdery who claimed he committed adultery. -
Tensions Crescendo
Distaste for Mormons had been growing in Missouri. A bloody melee unfolds between church and nonchurch members following a Missouri Governer's call for the deportation or extermination of Mormon's. Mormons are murdered and Smith is arrested and sentenced to death. Smith only escapes death by the refusal of his executioner to carry it out. -
A New Home
The Missouri Mormons flee to Illinois and are welcomed. Smith escapes, evading trial, and buys land on the banks of the Mississippi. -
Mormon City
The Mormons are permitted to create a city with a local militia. The initial mayor is excommunicated leaving Smith as both a mayor and military leader. -
Selfish Revelation
Smith would have revelations around two practices. First, baptism after death is permissible. Second, polygamy is not only allowed but sometimes required. Polygamy as a doctrine would not be made public until almost a decade's time. -
President Smith?
Joseph Smith announces a run for presidency and that those who obey God can also become gods. The public opposition to this leads to criminal charges putting Smith in jail again. -
End of an Era
During his prison sentence, both Smith and his brother are fatally shot. A power struggle within the Mormon faith ensues. -
Oh Salt Lake...Oh great Salt Lake...
Displaced and spread-out following harassment wherever they went, many Mormons made their way to Great Salt Lake Valley departing from this previous home in Illinois. -
A Perminant Home
A non-formalized state is formed in this new Mormon home known as the State of Deseret. This is not approved. However, as a part of the Compromise of 1850, Deseret became Utah and was made a U.S. territory. -
Public Polygamy
The Mormon polygamous doctrine is made public to those outside the church and is met with backlash. -
Reorganized?
As an aside to the growing Mormon publicity and influence, an offshoot movement formed. Mormons rejecting the leadership of Bridgham Young and opposed to polygamy formed the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Today, this church is known as The Community of Christ and reports 250,000 members. -
New Settlements
Mormon missionaries establish settlements in present day Las Vegas, San Bernardino, California, and Wyoming. -
Period: to
The "Mormon War"
A period of brief conflict between the Union and the Utah Territory following a President James Buchanan ordered Union troop deployment in response to reports of Utah being run as an independent theocracy. Buchanan would issue an amnesty in 1958, but Utah would be prohibited from state status due to plural marriage. -
Polygamy Crackdown
Following multiple unenforced government legal attempts to dispel polygamy, the Edmunds Act declared it a felony. This would lead to over 1000 convictions for "unlawful cohabitation." -
Polygamous Backpedaling
Church president Wilford Woodruff announces the church's abandonment of polygamy. -
Utah is Declared a State
Utah receives statehood after deferral because of polygamous practices. -
Period: to
The Church Led LDS Polygamy Crackdown
The LDS church uses excommunication to deter polygamy and works with the government to persecute polygamy. -
The End of Government Collaboration
Following a government raid on a polygamist group and growing sympathy for polygamy the LDS Church discontinues the persecution of polygamy. -
The LSD Church Has 17,002,461 Members
As of December 31st, of 2022 the LSD church has 17,002,461 members.
