On this Day…
I apologize that this page is not yet complete, but I am working on it on an on-going basis. I just wanted to go ahead and get it “out there” so that you could enjoy it.
JANUARY
January 7
(Pomfret, 1832) Missionary Joseph Blanchette Brackenbury is allegedly poisoned by anti-Mormons. An unsuccessful attempt was made to resurrect him. His wife, Elizabeth Davis Brackenbury would later become a plural wife of Joseph Smith.
January 18
(1827) After being refused her hand in marriage three times by her father, Joseph elopes with Emma Hale.
January 22-23
(Kirtland, 1833) A two-day conference is convened. Joseph and others speak in tongues. The ordinance of Washing of Feet is instituted, though Joseph has each one wash their own feet first before he washes them. Joseph Smith, Sr., blesses his son Joseph that he will continue in his office until Christ comes. The School of the Prophets is founded.[i]
[i] Kirtland High Council Minutes (December 1832-November 1837), 6-8. Selected Collections, 1:19 // New Mormon Studies CD-ROM. Original, Church Archives, MS 3432.
January 30
(Kirtland, 1831) In a sermon to his followers at Kirtland, Sidney Rigdon issues a challenge to the world to “refute the divine pretensions of the Book of Mormon.” Thomas Campbell (father of famed Alexander Campbell) accepts the challenge by letter, but Rigdon tosses it into the fire after only reading the first few sentences. No debate ever takes place.
FEBRUARY
February 1
(Kirtland, 1831) Joseph Smith and his family arrive in Kirtland, Ohio. They temporarily move in with the family of Newel K. Whitney. Within three days, Joseph receives a revelation commanding his followers to build him a house. In it, God threatens them to comply, telling them that His words “are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment” (D&C 41:7, 12).
February 14
(Kirtland, 1835) The first apostles are chosen, not by Joseph, but by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon: Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer. Each had personal experience with divining rods, treasure-digging, and seer stones, respectively. Each was eventually excommunicated.
February 15
(Kirtland, 1831) The Painesville Telegraph reports that members of the Church “would fall, as without strength, roll upon the floor….At other times they exhibited all the apish actions imaginable, making grimaces both horrid and ridiculous, creeping upon their hands and feet, etc. At other times, they are taken with a fit of jabbering after which they call speaking foreign languages by divine inspiration.” Even Parley P. Pratt reports that “some very strange spiritual operations were manifested, which were disgusting, rather than edifying.”[i]
[i] Pratt, The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, 61.
February 27
(1833) Joseph records “Word of Wisdom” revelation.
MARCH
March 8
(Kirtland, 1831) Joseph Smith begins his inspired revision of the New Testament.
March 12
(Kirtland, 1831) Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses, arrives and delivers a spontaneous speech on Mormonism at a local hotel bar. “He told all about the gold plates, Angels, Spirits, and Jo Smith. all who presumed to question his blasphemous pretentions [sic], were pronounced infidels. He was very flippant, talking fast and loud, in order that others could not interpose an opinion counter to his. Every idea that he advanced, he knew to be absolutely true, as he said, by the spirit and power of God. The meeting was closed, by a request of the landlord that the prophet should remove his quarters, which he did, and declaring, that all who believed the new bible would see Christ within fifteen years, and all who did not would absolutely be destroyed and dam’d.”[i]
[i] Painesville Telegraph, March 15, 1831.
March 20
(Bainbridge, 1826) Joseph is brought to trial on charges of being “a disorderly person and an imposter.” He had been leading Josiah Stowel around for months on a fruitless treasure quest with his seer stone.
March 24
(Hiram, Ohio, 1832) A mob containing members of the Church attacks Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Some think their motivation was a recent revelation from Joseph regarding the Law of Consecration, requiring the members to relinquish ownership of their real estate and give it to Joseph. Others suggest that the mob was motivated by accusations of inappropriate behavior between Joseph and the Johnson’s teenage daughter, Marinda Nancy Johnson. Years later, Marinda becomes one of Joseph’s plural wives.
March 26
(Palmyra, 1830) The first of 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon go on sale at the Grandin Bookstore.
March 30
(Kirtland, 1831) Warner Doty becomes the first Saint to die in Kirtland, despite Joseph’s administration and promises of recovery. About a month before his death, he announced that he would live for a thousand years. He was so convinced of Joseph’s powers that he refuses medical treatment after falling ill. Members of the Church assemble around him “telling him that he was getting better and soon would be well.” Joseph also said that “he would get well, and protested against calling a physician.” As he nears death, however, he realizes his delusion with Mormonism and declares: “What a wonderful mistake I have made. this is a lesson that I have learnt by actual experience, by which you ought to profit, but with me it is too late.”[i]
[i] Painesville Telegraph, April 5, 1831.
APRIL
April 6
(Fayette or Manchester, New York, 1830) Joseph Smith and his followers organize “The Church of Christ.” Several are baptized, including the prophet’s parents, Martin Harris, and Orrin Porter Rockwell. Joseph announces a revelation wherein the Lord commands the Church: “his [Joseph’s] word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth” (D&C 21).
April 7
(Mentor, Ohio, 1835) While attempting to preach to his former Campbellite brethren, Parley P. Pratt is pelted with five dozen eggs on the doorstep of their brick meetinghouse. Afterwards, Pratt wrote a short pamphlet describing the incident. This is his first published work.[i]
[i] The pamphlet was entitled A Short Account of a Shameful Outrage Committed by a Part of the Inhabitants of the Town of
Mentor, Upon the Person of Elder Parley P. Pratt, While Delivering a Public Discourse Upon the Subject of the Gospel; April 7th, 1835.
April 14
(1832) Brigham Young is baptized. Heber C. Kimball follows a few days later.
MAY
May 1
(Kirtland, 1834) Zion’s Camp is formed.
May 3
(Kirtland, 1834) Several members become disaffected when the name of the Church is changed to “Church of the Latter Day Saints”, effectively removing any reference to Jesus. Though Sidney is recorded as being the one to suggest the name change, Joseph is accused of apostasy and a splinter group is later formed under the old name, “The Church of Christ,” and takes control of the temple in 1837.
May 6
(Kirtland, 1833) Joseph receives a revelation directing the Saints to build “a house for the presidency, for the work of the presidency, in obtaining revelations; and for the work of the ministry of the presidency, in all things pertaining to the church and kingdom.”
May 15
(1829) Joseph Smith (who claimed to be of the tribe of Ephraim) and Oliver Cowdery claim to receive the Aaronic (or Levitical) Priesthood (which was inherited only among Levites, and not bestowed) under the hands of an angel who introduces himself as John the Baptist (a Levite). There are no other witnesses to this event.
JUNE
June 5
(Kirtland, 1833) Digging for the foundation of the Kirtland Temple begins.
June 8
(March of Zion’s Camp, 1834) Joseph chooses twenty men to protect him and places his brother Hyrum over them as captain.
June 15
(1828) A deformed son is born to Joseph and Emma. They name him Alvin, but he dies the same day.
June 16
(Geauga County, 1835) Joseph is acquitted of charges brought against him by his brother-in-law, Calvin Stoddard. After Calvin calls Joseph a “damned false prophet,” Joseph knocks him to the ground. Calvin subsequently sues for assault, but Joseph apologizes and is acquitted of this charge, too, four days later.
June 22
(1834) Zion’s Camp is disbanded. Their mission is a complete failure.
JULY
July 1
(1830) Joseph Smith is brought to trial. With regard to treasure-digging, Addison Austin testifies that he asked Joseph “to tell him honestly whether he could see this money or not. Smith hesitated some time, but finally replied, ‘to be candid, between you and me, I cannot, any more than you or any body else; but any way to get a living.’”
July 2
(1833) Joseph’s work on the “inspired translation” of the Bible ends. Joseph has changed over 3,400 verses and inserted many others.
July 3
(Kirtland, 1835) Joseph convinces members to raise $2,400 in order to purchase some Egyptian papyri which he claims are the ancient writings of Abraham and Joseph. In reality, they are common Egyptian burial documents. Joseph produces the Book of Abraham which he claims to have translated from the papyri. Modern-day scholars have demonstrated conclusively that his work is pure fabrication and is not remotely related to the actual content of the papyri.
July 5
(Ohio, 1832) After arriving late to a prayer meeting, at which he was to speak, Sidney Rigdon paces back and forth anxiously. When questioned, he excitedly replies that “the keys of the kingdom are rent from the Church” and “you never will have them again until you build me a new house.” As punishment for this outburst, Joseph takes Rigdon’s license, reminding his followers that “I, myself, hold the keys of this Last Dispensation, and will for ever hold them, both in time and eternity; so set your hearts at rest upon that point, all is right.”[i]
[i] Lavina Fielding Anderson, ed., Lucy’s Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Smith’s Family Memoir (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2001), 560-562; Reynolds Cahoon Diary, May 18, 1832 (ms d 1115) in Van Wagoner, Sidney Rigdon, 126.
July 10
(1804) A third daughter, Emma, is born to Isaac and Elizabeth Hale. She would later become the wife Joseph Smith.
July 13
(Independence, 1833) W. W. Phelps innocently publishes an article in The Evening and Morning Star entitled “Free People of Color.” Non-Mormon citizens interpret his article as encouraging the immigration of free black Mormons intoMissouri, a slave state.[i]
[i] W. W. Phelps, “FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR,” The Evening and Morning Star 2, No. 14 (July 1833): 109.
July 17
(Jackson County, Missouri, 1831) Joseph Smith receives what some consider to be his first revelation on plural marriage.
July 20
(1832) For the first time, Joseph writes about his “first” vision - twelve years after it was supposed to have occurred. This account refers to “the Lord,” but makes no mention of “two personages.”
(Independence, Missouri, 1833) An angry mob destroys the printing press in response to an article written by W. W. Phelps. Amazingly, some copies of the Book of Commandments escape destruction. Bishop Edward Partridge is tarred and feathered. Within three days, Mormons are forced to agree to cease publication of Phelps’ paper immediately and leave the county by April 1 of next year.
Summer
(Kirtland, 1835) Joseph and Fanny Alger are discovered together, perhaps by Emma herself. Emma banishes Fanny from her home, where she had been helping Emma keep house and care for the children. Joseph enlists the help of Oliver Cowdery to help calm Emma down. This incident creates a rift between Joseph and Oliver.
AUGUST
August 2
(Independence, Missouri, 1831) Sidney Rigdon consecrates and dedicates the land of Zion.
August 3
(Independence, Missouri, 1831) During a special ceremony, Joseph lays the cornerstone for the temple in Independence, and Sidney Rigdon dedicates the grounds as “wholly dedicated unto the Lord forever.”[i]
[i] Westergren, From Historian to Dissident, 86-87.
August 11
(McIlwaine’s Bend, 1831) William W. Phelps “in open vision by daylight, saw the destroyer in his most horrible power, ride upon the face of the waters.” Those with him heard a noise, but saw nothing.
August 12
(McIlwaine’s Bend, 1831) Joseph Smith and his traveling companions receive a revelation wherein God states that he has “cursed the waters” and that the day would come when “no flesh shall be safe upon the waters.” He does, however, give them permission to use the Canal. God describes the inhabitants of Cincinnati as “a people who are well-nigh ripened for destruction,” but takes no action against them.
August 17
(Kirtland, 1835) A special conference is held, and the new 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants is accepted, even though the extensive changes made since the 1833 Book of Commandments are not announced.
August 19
(Kirtland, 1835) Almon Babbitt defends himself before the High Council for not keeping the Word of Wisdom by pointing out that the Prophet Joseph doesn’t keep it, either. Babbitt admits that he has “taken the liberty to break the word of wisdom from the example of President Joseph Smith Junr & others.” The council admonishes Babbitt to keep the Word of Wisdom anyway.
SEPTEMBER
September 22
(Hill Cumorah, 1823) Joseph reports that the angel Moroni commands him to bring along his brother Alvin next year in order to obtain the gold plates. The angel Moroni is clearly unaware that Alvin will be dead within two months.
NOVEMBER
November 4
(1830) Through a revelation to Joseph, the Lord declares “the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory” (D&C 34). 177 years later, the prophecy is still unfulfilled.
November 6
(1832) Emma gives birth to a son, Joseph Smith III.
November 7
(1832) Joseph meets Brigham Young and hears him speak in tongues - the first time he has ever heard anyone do so. Before the day is out, Joseph, too, is speaking in tongues.
November 14
(Kirtland, 1830) Sidney Rigdon encourages his congregation to seriously investigate Mormonism.
(Kirtland, 1832) Joseph both speaks and sings in tongues.
November 16
(Ohio, 1830) The Painesville Telegraph prints the following: “[Oliver Cowdery] pretends to have a divine mission and to have seen and conversed with Angels, and assisted in translating the plates. He proclaims destruction upon the world within a few years.” Cowdery was also one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
November 19
(1823) Joseph’s older brother, Alvin, dies from an overdose of calomel that was prescribed to treat a stomach disorder. He was considered by his family to be a forthcoming prophet and seer; but after his untimely death, this mantle passes to Joseph.
November 28
(1834) Mormonism Unvailed is published by E. D. Howe.
DECEMBER
December 3
(Kirtland, 1832) William E. McLellin is excommunicated because, during his mission, he stayed “many days” at “the house of a certain harlot.” Nevertheless, he would later be rebaptized and admitted to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1835.
December 7
(Ohio, 1830) The Painesville Telegraph prints the following: “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 Cowdery claims that he and his associates are the only persons on earth who are qualified to administer in his name.”
December 23
(Sharon, Vermont, 1805) Joseph Smith, Jr. is born, fifth child of Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith.
December 25
Joseph records his famous “Civil War” revelation.