The history of the Church, with its many dates, places, and names, can be confusing. Open your scriptures to the Chronological Order of Contents at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants. CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

Listed below is a simple historical outline of Church history since Using a pencil, divide the Chronological Order of Contents in your scriptures into six sections that correspond to these six periods of Church history. Then label each division with the name and dates of the period. 1.Beginnings: 1820–January Two Church Centers: February 1831–March Nauvoo: April 1839– The Church in the West: 1847– Expansion: 1898– Worldwide Church: 1951–Present CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

1. BEGINNINGS: 1820–JANUARY 1831 Below are major events that occurred during the Beginnings period. These events took place mostly in New York and Pennsylvania. First Vision First Vision Publishing of the Book of Mormon Publishing of the Book of Mormon Restoration of the priesthood Restoration of the priesthood Organization of the Church Organization of the Church Missionary work begun Missionary work begun 39 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received 39 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received Church membership reached 680 Church membership reached 680

2. TWO CHURCH CENTERS: FEBRUARY 1831–MARCH 1839 Commandment to pay tithing Commandment to pay tithing Revelation on the three degrees of glory Revelation on the three degrees of glory First bishop called First bishop called First temple built: Kirtland Temple First temple built: Kirtland Temple Word of Wisdom Word of Wisdom First Presidency organized and Twelve Apostles called First Presidency organized and Twelve Apostles called 88 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received 88 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received Church membership reached 16,460 Church membership reached 16,460 Below are major events that occurred during the Two Church Centers period. These events took place mostly in Kirtland, Ohio, and in Missouri.

3. NAUVOO: APRIL 1839–1846 Twelve Apostles called to serve missions in British IslesTwelve Apostles called to serve missions in British Isles Relief Society organizedRelief Society organized Nauvoo Temple builtNauvoo Temple built Revelation on temple marriageRevelation on temple marriage Revelation on work for the deadRevelation on work for the dead Joseph and Hyrum Smith martyred in Carthage, IllinoisJoseph and Hyrum Smith martyred in Carthage, Illinois 10 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received10 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received Church membership reached 34,000Church membership reached 34,000 Below are major events that occurred during the Nauvoo period. These events took place mostly in Nauvoo, Illinois.

4. THE CHURCH IN THE WEST: 1847–1898 Instructions on how to organize the pioneer camp (D&C 136)Instructions on how to organize the pioneer camp (D&C 136) Saints arrived in Salt LakeSaints arrived in Salt Lake Four temples built in Utah: St. George, Logan, Manti, Salt LakeFour temples built in Utah: St. George, Logan, Manti, Salt Lake Settlements established in western U.S., Mexico, and CanadaSettlements established in western U.S., Mexico, and Canada 1 section of the Doctrine and Covenants received1 section of the Doctrine and Covenants received Official Declaration 1 on plural marriageOfficial Declaration 1 on plural marriage Church membership reached 267,251Church membership reached 267,251 Below are major events that occurred during the Church in the West period. These events took place mostly on the plains and in Utah.

5. EXPANSION: 1898–1951 Below are major events that occurred during the Expansion period. These events took place in Utah and throughout the world. Missionary work expanded in Asia, South Africa, Missionary work expanded in Asia, South Africa, Central and South America, the Pacific, and other Central and South America, the Pacific, and other locations. locations. Welfare program established worldwide Welfare program established worldwide An Apostle, Elder David O. McKay, visits members An Apostle, Elder David O. McKay, visits members throughout the world. throughout the world. Revelation on the redemption of the dead (received Revelation on the redemption of the dead (received in 1918 and published in 1979 as D&C 138). in 1918 and published in 1979 as D&C 138). Church membership reached 1,147,000. Church membership reached 1,147,000.

6. WORLDWIDE CHURCH: 1951–PRESENT Additional Quorums of the Seventy organizedAdditional Quorums of the Seventy organized Large and small temples built worldwideLarge and small temples built worldwide Continued expansion of missionary workContinued expansion of missionary work Official declaration on the priesthood announced, 1978Official declaration on the priesthood announced, 1978 Two Quorums of the Seventy organized as General AuthoritiesTwo Quorums of the Seventy organized as General Authorities “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” given in 1995“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” given in 1995 Church membership reaches nearly 14,000,000Church membership reaches nearly 14,000,000 Below are major events that occurred during the World- wide Church period.

CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE Why were so many revelations received and recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants during the early historical periods?

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? Inspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasionsInspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasions CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? Inspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasionsInspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasions “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? Inspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasionsInspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasions “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” Missionary work and temple building around the worldMissionary work and temple building around the world CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? Inspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasionsInspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasions “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” Missionary work and temple building around the worldMissionary work and temple building around the world LDS editions of the scriptures LDS editions of the scriptures CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE

What evidence can you think of that shows that the Lord continues to give revelation to His prophets today? Inspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasionsInspired messages from General Authorities at general conference and other occasions “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” Missionary work and temple building around the worldMissionary work and temple building around the world LDS editions of the scriptures LDS editions of the scriptures CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE These principles and many others testify that prophets guide the Church in our day as much as they did in other times.

CHURCH HISTORY TIME LINE President Boyd K. Packer said: “When I was a young seminary teacher, I thought, ‘I missed the days of the great revelation in the Church when the Prophet Joseph Smith and those who followed him were receptive to constant revelation and instruction from the Almighty.’ “In due time (and it takes time), I came to realize that we now live in a more intense period of revelation than it was then. The Lord is close to us and is revealing Himself to us as the great work of the Restoration moves forward” (Boyd K. Packer, Mine Errand from the Lord: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Boyd K. Packer [2008], 137). President Boyd K. Packer