Doctrine and Covenants and Church History
Doctrine and Covenants Times at a Glance, Chart 3:
Section 138 and Official Declarations 1 and 2
"Doctrine and Covenants Times at a Glance, Chart 3: Section 138 and Official Declarations 1 and 2," Ensign, Sept. 2005, 48-49
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Left: Illustrated by Robert T. Barrett; top (from left): Colonel Cook Looks toward the West, by William Maughan; In Emigration Canyon-July 24, 1847, by VaLoy Eaton; Red Buttes Camp, by Joseph Brickey; photograph of railroad by Andrew Joseph Russell; photograph of Brigham Young Academy courtesy of Utah State Historical Society, may not be copied; photograph of St. George Utah Temple by Welden C. Andersen; photograph of Manti Utah Temple by John Telford, may not be copied; map by Mountain High Maps; bottom: photograph of George Albert Smith courtesy of Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
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From top: Photograph of Conference Center by Matthew Reier, may not be copied; photograph of BYU Jerusalem Center by Giuman Maurizio; photograph of Nauvoo Illinois Temple by Welden C. Andersen; photograph of hymnbook by Matthew Reier
See Doctrine and Covenants section headings for historical background and History of the Church references.
Section number (see also circled numbers above), date the section was given, and situation that brought forth the revelation:
138. Oct. 3, 1918 President Joseph F. Smith was studying the scriptures in order to understand our postmortal existence.
Official Declaration 1. Sept. 24, 1890 President Wilford Woodruff sought for a solution to the problems resulting from persecution of those practicing plural marriage.
Official Declaration 2. June 1, 1978 President Spencer W. Kimball desired to know the will of the Lord concerning extending the blessings of the priesthood to all worthy male members.
Some dates are approximate.
July 1846
The Mormon Battalion began its historic march to California on behalf of the United States government.
Sept. 1846
Church leaders established Winter Quarters as a way station for the Saints traveling west.
Apr. 1847
The first pioneer company, led by Brigham Young, began its trek west from Winter Quarters.
July 21-24, 1847
The first pioneer company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
1847-57
The Saints established about 100 colonies in the American West.
Dec. 27, 1847
In Kanesville, Iowa, the First Presidency was sustained in a conference of the Church, with Brigham Young as second Church President.
Sept. 1849
The Perpetual Emigrating Fund was established to assist Saints traveling to the Salt Lake Valley.
1849-50
Missionary work was greatly expanded in Europe and began in Hawaii.
Sept. 9, 1850
Utah and some of its surrounding areas became a territory of the United States.
Oct.-Nov. 1856
Severe snowstorms trapped the Willie and Martin handcart companies in Wyoming. Many were saved by courageous rescuers from the Salt Lake Valley.
1866-67
The Relief Society was reestablished, with Eliza R. Snow as president.
May 10, 1869
The transcontinental railroad was completed, enabling Saints to gather more quickly and easily in the American West.
Nov. 28, 1869
The forerunner to the current Young Women organization was established.
June 10, 1875
The forerunner to the current Young Men organization was founded.
Oct. 16, 1875
Brigham Young Academy (now University) was organized, in Provo, Utah.
Apr. 6, 1877
The St. George Utah Temple was dedicated.
Aug. 29, 1877
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with John Taylor as President, led the Church.
Aug. 25, 1878
The first meeting of the Primary was held.
Oct. 10, 1880
The First Presidency was reorganized. John Taylor was sustained as third President of the Church.
May 17, 1884
President Taylor dedicated the Logan Utah Temple.
July 25, 1887
Wilford Woodruff led the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
May 17, 1888
President Woodruff dedicated the Manti Utah Temple.
Apr. 7, 1889
Wilford Woodruff was sustained as fourth President of the Church.
Apr. 6, 1893
President Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple.
Jan. 4, 1896
Utah became a state in the United States of America.
1898
The first full-time sister missionaries were set apart.
Sept. 1898
Lorenzo Snow was sustained as fifth President of the Church.
May 1899
While seeking wisdom in prayer on how to solve the Church's financial problems, President Snow received a revelation emphasizing the law of tithing.
Aug. 1901
A mission was opened in Japan.
Oct. 1901
Joseph F. Smith became sixth President of the Church.
1906
President Joseph F. Smith became the first Church President to visit Europe.
1908-9
Weekly ward priesthood meetings and age requirements for the ordination of worthy young men began.
1912
The first seminary classes were established.
Apr. 27, 1915
The First Presidency urged members to hold regular family home evenings.
Nov. 1918
Heber J. Grant became seventh President of the Church.
1926
The first institute of religion program for college students was opened.
July 15, 1929
The Tabernacle Choir held its first radio broadcast.
1930
The Church celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Apr. 7, 1936
The welfare program was launched.
1939-40
Because of World War II, missionaries began to be evacuated from Europe, the Pacific, and other areas.
May 1945
George Albert Smith became eighth President of the Church.
1947
Church membership passed the one million mark.
Apr. 1951
David O. McKay was sustained as ninth President of the Church.
1952-61
Missionary work was expanded in many areas of the world. President McKay taught, "Every member a missionary."
1955-58
Outside North America and Hawaii, the first stakes were organized and the first temples dedicated.
Sept. 1955
The Church College of Hawaii opened.
1961
The priesthood correlation program was instituted.
Sept. 1967
The first regional representatives were called.
Jan. 1970
Joseph Fielding Smith was sustained as tenth President of the Church.
1971
Church membership exceeded three million.
July 1972
Harold B. Lee was sustained as eleventh President of the Church.
Dec. 1973
Spencer W. Kimball became twelfth President of the Church.
1974
President Kimball urged members to "lengthen our stride" and "enlarge our vision" of missionary work worldwide.
1975-76
The First Quorum of the Seventy was reorganized to serve as a General Authority quorum.
1979-81
New editions of the scriptures with improved study helps were published in English.
1980
A three-hour-block Sunday meeting schedule was instituted.
1982
Church membership exceeded five million.
June 24, 1984
Area Presidencies were organized to strengthen Church government on the local level.
Aug. 1985
A new hymnbook in English was published and became the basis for new hymnbooks in many languages.
Nov. 1985
Ezra Taft Benson became thirteenth President of the Church.
1985
The humanitarian relief program began to be greatly expanded to provide food, clothing, and medical supplies to the needy around the world.
1986
Church membership reached six million.
1986-87
President Benson emphasized the importance of studying the Book of Mormon.
May 15, 1988
The first stake in western Africa was organized.
1988-91
Missionary work expanded into Eastern Europe.
May 16, 1989
The Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center was dedicated.
June 1994
Howard W. Hunter became fourteenth President of the Church.
Mar. 1995
Gordon B. Hinckley became fifteenth President of the Church.
Apr. 1, 1995
The first Area Authorities were called.
Sept. 23, 1995
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was issued.
Apr. 4, 1997
The first Area Authority Seventies were called.
1997
Church membership exceeded 10 million.
1998
The dedication of the first smaller temples began making the blessings of regular temple attendance available to more members.
May 24, 1999
The FamilySearch™ Web site was launched.
Jan. 1, 2000
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published their testimony in "The Living Christ."
Oct. 2000
President Hinckley dedicated the 21,000-seat Conference Center.
Mar. 31, 2001
President Hinckley announced the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund to help young Latter-day Saints receive education and training.
June 27, 2002
The rebuilt Nauvoo Illinois Temple was dedicated.
Sept. 2005
One hundred and twenty-two temples are in operation.
Joseph F. Smith 1838-1918
Heber J. Grant 1856-1945
George Albert Smith 1870-1951
David O. McKay 1873-1970
Joseph Fielding Smith 1876-1972
Harold B. Lee 1899-1973
Spencer W. Kimball 1895-1985
Ezra Taft Benson 1899-1994
Howard W. Hunter 1907-95
Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-
Gospel topics: Church history, Doctrine and Covenants, scripture study