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Brigham Young
Brigham Young is born in the town of Whitingham to a family of Vermont farmers. -
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Joseph Smith & His Family
December 23, 1805: Joseph Smith was born. Joseph, Sr. and his sons hunt using various divination tools, when viewed at the bottom of a hat, are said to convey special sight. They move to New Hampshire, to help their children go to school. -
Typhoid Epidemic
A local typhoid epidemic infects the Smith children. Joseph develops a leg infection, that will require him to use crutches and walk with a limp. -
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Finding His Way
The Smith family moves to Palmyra, New York because of their crop failure. Young leaves his family, who have settled in New York, and sets out on his own as a carpenter and handyman. -
First Vision
God and Jesus appear to 14-year-old Joseph Smith in the "First Vision" -
Angel Moroni
Angel Moroni reveals location of golden plates to Joseph Smith. According to Moroni, the book describes the people who used to inhabit America and contains "the fullness of the everlasting Gospel." -
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Finding His Love
Smith and his father go to Pennsylvania to find a treasure. They find no treasure, but Smith falls in love with Emma Hale. They get married. -
The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith publishes the Book of Mormon, an English translation of the golden plates. $1.25 a peice at the time. -
Church of Jesus Christ
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded. Smith became known as a prophet. -
Mob Harms Smith
Smith's headquarters was in Kirkland. A mob resentful of growing Mormon influence tars and feathers Smith in front of his Kirtland house. -
Book of Commandments
Joseph Smith published the Book of Commandments. -
Kirtland Safety Society Bank
Smith forms the Kirtland Safety Society Bank, but a national economic panic begins, which leads to his bank collapse. -
Massacre at Haun's Mill
Non-Mormons attempt to prevent church members from voting, leading to a bloody fight. Stirred up by the governor's decree, an anti-Mormon mob massacres church members at Haun's Mill. Smith is charged with treason. -
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Nauvoo, Illionois
Joseph Smith and his followers settle in Illinois, found the city of Nauvoo. He demands compensation for the Mormon losses in Missouri, from Martin Van Buren who was unable to do anything. Nauvoo becomes bolstered by an influx of Mormon converts from Europe. -
New Practices
Joseph Smith runs for President of the United States. Smith introduces two new practices. First, the dead can be baptized. Second, there can be polygamy relationships. Joseph Smith goes on to have 25 wives. -
Who to Follow?
Joseph Smith is killed by a mob while awaiting trial for promoting a riot. A struggle for the leadership of the Mormon movement follows, in which the Saints are divided over whether to follow (a) the Council of the Twelve; (b) the surviving members of the Smith family; (c) the remaining members of the First Presidency; or (d) a variety of other potential leaders. -
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple is completed. a substantial number of polygamous marriages are solemnized. -
Mormons Settling
Brigham Young establishes the First Presidency. The valley of the Great Salt Lake is where the Mormons will settle. -
Mormon Headquarters
Mormon headquarters established at Salt Lake City, Utah. -
Doctrine of Polygamy
The doctrine of polygamy is made public outside the church, leading to widespread condemnation. -
Mormon Missionaries
Mormon missionaries establish a settlement in what will become Las Vegas. Settlements are also established in San Bernardino, California and in the Wind River area of Wyoming. -
Utah War
Utah War between Mormons and federal forces. -
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Mormon militia kill 120 immigrants on their way to California -
New Organization
Joseph Smith III claims to receive a revelation as Prophet/President of a "New Organization" of the Latter Day Saint church. -
Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act criminalizes plural marriage in U.S. territories, but President Abraham Lincoln declines to enforce it. -
Increasing Members
The Church of the Latter-day Saints has 109,894 members. -
Polygamy Outlawed
Edmunds Act outlaws polygamy -
Edmunds-Tucker Act
The Edmunds-Tucker Act disincorporates the Mormon Church and gives the federal government all church property about $50,000. -
Abolish Polygamy
Mormons formally abolish polygamy. -
Prosecuting Polygamists
The church threatens polygamists with excommunication and subsequently cooperates with federal authorities in prosecuting them. -
Community of Christ
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed its name to the Community of Christ -
Mormonism
"Reform Mormonism" founded -
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Mormonism Lives on Till Today
Today there are nearly 13 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. A variety of Mormon Fundamentalist groups continue to practice polygamy. The estimated number of fundamentalists is somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000.
