1830s (Mormonism)

Centuries: 18th century – 19th century – 20th century
Decades: 1800s 1810s 1820s – 1830s – 1840s 1850s 1860s
Years: 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839

1 Overview
2 1830
3 1831
4 1833
5 1835
6 1836
7 1837
8 1838
9 See also

Overview

The church is formed, and begins establishing settlements, only to abandon them due to violence and opposition. Kirtland becomes the center of the church and the Kirtland Temple is built among poverty and destitution. The tension culminates in the Mormon War and ultimately the expulsion of the church from Missouri.

1830

April – Joseph Smith receives section 20 of the D&C, which is the constitution of the soon to be formed church.
April 6 – Joseph Smith and five others, in front of 56 others in attendance, formally form the church in Fayette, New York. minutes
April – Oliver Cowdery is called to preach for the church. (D&C 23, 24)
April 11 – Oliver Cowdery preaches for the first time as an official representative of the newly formed church. He baptizes in Seneca Lake that day Hiram Page, Catherine Whitmer Page, Christian Whitmer, Anne Schott Whitmer (Christian's wife), Jacob Whitmer, Elizabeth Ann Schott Whitmer (Jacob's wife), and Mary Page.
June – Joseph Smith begins translating the Bible by revelation.
June 9 – A church conference is held. minutes Membership is at 27.
August – Joseph Smith discovers Hiram Page and his seerstone. While he disagrees with it, he waits until the scheduled church conference in September to bring up the issue.
September – Joseph Smith receives revelation concerning Hiram Page, who claims to have a stone that allows him to receive revelation for the church. This revelation asserts that only Joseph Smith is allowed to receive revelation for the church, and that Hiram Page was deceived by the devil. (D&C 28)
September 26 – A church conference is held. minutes Notable events include:
- The discussion of and refutation by unanimous vote of the Hiram Page seerstone.
- 35 new members are added, bringing the total number to 62.
- Peter Whitmer, Jr. is called to preach with Oliver Cowdery to the Indians. John Whitmer is also called to preach. (D&C 30)
September – Immediately following the conference, Thomas B. Marsh is called to preach. (D&C 31)
October – Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson are called to preach to the Indians. (D&C 32) Ezra Thayne and Northrop Sweet are also called. (D&C 32, 33)
November – Orson Pratt is called to preach. (D&C 34)
December – Sidney Rigdon is called to be a scribe in Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible. (D&C 35) Joseph Smith is commanded to cease translation until the church is gathered in Ohio. (D&C 37)

1831

February 4 – Now in Kirtland, Ohio, additional revelation is given, naming Edward Partridge the first bishop. (D&C 42)
February 9 – Section 42 is received, laying out the law of the church including naming specific sins and the punishments thereof.

Mormons begin settling in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri to build the city of Zion.

1833

Driven from their settlements by the enraged inhabitants of Jackson County, mormons settle in Clay County.

1835

August 17 – The church unanimously adopts D&C 134 relating their beliefs concerning the relationship between church, government, and individuals. Among the assertions the church makes are that governments are instituted by God for the benefit of man; that government should protect the freedom of men to worship as they please; that all men should uphold their government and laws; that churches should not exercise civil powers; and that individuals are justified in defending themselves and their property.

1836

June 29 – Clay County residents resolve to ask that the mormons leave their county. While up until this time the mormons had not voted (out of respect) and had not committed any crimes, they realized that the differences between themselves and the mormons would not allow them to peacably reside together in the same county. The resolutions encouraged the mormons to settle in Wisconsin as it would be more suitable for their people.

Summer – Under the direction of Alexander W. Doniphan, it is agreed that a new county should be formed for the mormons in what is now Clay County. Mormons begin leaving Ray and Clay County to settle the proposed area. Plans for and work on Far West, Missouri begin, which is to be the county seat once the county is formed.

August 8 – The township of Far West, Missouri in what is to be Clay County is entered.

December 23, December 27- To ease tensions among Clay and Jackson County residents and provide a county for mormon settlers, Caldwell County is created by legislation, passing the house on the 23rd and the senate on the 27th. Daviess County is also created, although disputations about its purpose arise later. Missouri natives felt that the mormons agreed not to settle it, although no such agreement existed or was even acknowledged by the mormons.

1837

Problems begin in the Kirtland Safety Society.

1838

April 26 – While in Far West, Missouri, Joseph Smith received section 115 of the Doctrine of Covenants by revelation, naming the church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". Also in this revelation, the Lord commands the church to build a temple in Far West. Work begins almost immediately.

June 25 – A mormon settlement is established in a church conference above Wight's ferry on Spring Hill in Daviess County. The site is known as Adam-ondi-Ahman to the church. Adam-ondi-Ahman also is formed into a stake and thus a gathering place for members of the church. This is the third stake established in the church.

July 4 – The cornerstone is laid for the new temple to be constructed at Far West.

July 8 – John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, and Willard Richards are called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to fill vacancies. (see D&C 118)

Summer – Settlement in Adam-ondi-Ahman surpasses that of the county seat Gallatin, causing the balance of power to shift towards the mormons settling in Daviess County.

Summer-Autumn – The Mormon War erupts in Missouri.

August 6 – The first battle of the Mormon War occurs as mormons in Daviess County are prevented from voting in the Gallatin Election Day Battle.

October 1-October 11 – Carroll County residents besiege the town of De Witt, which is inhabited by mormons. Negotiations lead to the abandonment of the settlement without violence.

October 14 – Under direction from the church, three militias from the mormons march to protect embattled mormons in Daviess County. They drive the non-mormons out of the county and sieze their property in an event known as the Daviess Expedition.

October 27 – Governor Boggs issues an executive order known as the "Extermination Order". It is not until 1976 that the order is revoked by an apologetic Governor Christopher S. Bond.

October 30 – A renegade militia from Livingston County attacks a mormon settlement in the bloodiest conflict of the Mormon War, and 17 are killed. The event is known as Haun's Mill Massacre.

Mormon leaders surrender in the face of the Missouri state militia.

November 2 – After a short sham trial, General Lucas orders the leaders of the church be executed on this day. General Doniphan flatly refuses, calling the act murder.

The state siezes all property and drives the mormons from the state to neighboring Illinois. Held for trial in Richmond, lawyers for the church are able to argue for a more fair trial to be held in Liberty. Later, their captors allow them to escape and rejoin the saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.