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Timeline

Individual
Family
Personal Religious
LDS Church Context
Historical Context
1800

1807

January
February
March

March 1, 1807

Wilford is born in Farmington Township (...

April
May
June

June 7, 1807

Wilford is baptized in the Northington C...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1808

January
February
March
April
May
June

June 11, 1808

Wilford's mother, Beulah Thompson Woodru...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1809

January

1801 - 1809

Thomas Jefferson is third President of 1...

February
March

March 4, 1809

James Madison is inaugurated as fourth P...

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1810
 
 
 
 
 
 
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

November 9, 1810

Wilford's father Aphek marries Azubah Ha...

December

1811

1812

1813

1814

1815

1816

1817

January
February
March

March 4, 1817

James Monroe inaugurated as fifth Presid...

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1818

1819

 
 
 
 
 
 
1820
 
 
 
 
 
 
January
February
March
April

Spring 1820

Joseph Smith's First Vision in a grove n...

May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1821

January
February
March
April
May

May 1, 1821

Wilford completes general education at a...

June

1821 - 1826

Wilford works summers, continues schooli...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1822

1823

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September

September 21, 1823

Joseph Smith's second vision: instructio...

October
November
December

1824

1825

January
February
March

March 4, 1825

John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as sixt...

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1826

1827

January
February
March
April

1827 - 1830

Wilford manages flour mill in East Avon,...

May
June
July
August
September

September 22, 1827

Joseph Smith receives records to begin t...

October
November
December

1828

1829

January
February
March

March 4, 1829

Andrew Jackson is inaugurated as seventh...

April
May

May - June 1829

Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods are...

June

June 1829

Joseph Smith finishes translating the Bo...

July
August
September
October
November
December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1830
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1830

Church membership reaches 200; the popul...

February
March

March 26, 1830

First copies of the Book of Mormon are a...

April

Spring 1830

Wilford is 23 years old when Robert Maso...

April 6, 1830

Joseph Smith officially organizes the Ch...

May

May 1830

Wilford hired by Collins Axe Company to...

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Dec 1830 - Jan 1831

God instructs Joseph Smith to move the C...

1831

January

1831 - 1832

Wilford works in Cowles mill in Farmingt...

February
March
April
May

May 5, 1831

Wilford is baptized by immersion by Geor...

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1832

January
February

February 16, 1832

Joseph Smith receives revelation regardi...

March

March 8, 1832

First Presidency of the High Priesthood...

Spring 1832

Wilford reads newspaper article about th...

April

Spring 1832

Wilford feels inspired to go to Rhode Is...

May

May 1832

Wilford and his brothers purchase a farm...

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

December 1832

Joseph Smith commanded to build a temple...

1833

January
February
March
April
May
June

June 5, 1833

Construction of the Kirtland Temple begi...

July

July 23, 1833

Cornerstones laid for the Kirtland Templ...

August
September
October
November
December

December 29, 1833

Wilford hears the restored gospel for th...

December 31, 1833

Wilford is baptized and confirmed by Zer...

1834

January

January 1834

Wilford begins preaching with Harry Brow...

January 2, 1834

Richland Branch of Church organized by Z...

February
March
April

April 1, 1834

Wilford is directed by Parley P. Pratt a...

April 11, 1834

Wilford leaves New York to join Church m...

April 25, 1834

Wilford arrives in Kirtland, Ohio, where...

May

May - June 1834

Wilford travels with Zion's Camp to Miss...

June
July

July - Dec 1834

Wilford works in Clay County, Missouri,...

August
September
October
November

November 5, 1834

Wilford ordained a priest by Simeon Cart...

November 13, 1834

Wilford licensed by Edward Partridge as...

December

December 31, 1834

Wilford consecrates himself and all his...

1835

January

January 13, 1835

Wilford leaves for his first mission in...

February

February 14, 1835

The first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...

March
April
May
June

June 28, 1835

Wilford ordained an Elder by Warren Parr...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1836

January

January 21, 1836

First washings and anointings administer...

February
March

March 27, 1836

Kirtland Temple is dedicated. ##Doctrine...

April

April 3, 1836

Jesus Christ appears in Kirtland Temple;...

April 19, 1836

Wilford called to be a member of the Sec...

April 22, 1836

Wilford stays in Samuel Smith's home (fa...

May

May 31, 1836

Wilford ordained a Seventy in Second Quo...

June
July
August
September
October

October 25, 1836

Wilford leaves mission in Kentucky to re...

November

November 7, 1836

Wilford votes in national elections for...

November 25, 1836

Wilford returns to Kirtland from mission...

November 27, 1836

Wilford spends his first day in the Kirt...

December

December 1836

Wilford studies Latin and Greek in the K...

1837

January

Jan - April 1837

Wilford attends School of the Prophets.

January 3, 1837

Wilford called to be a member of the Fir...

January 28, 1837

Wilford introduced to Phebe Whittemore C...

February
March

March 4, 1837

Martin Van Buren inaugurated as the eigh...

April

April 1837

Wilford attends Solemn Assembly and rece...

April 13, 1837

Wilford and Phebe married by Frederick G...

April - May 1837

Wilford and Phebe live with Warren and M...

April 15, 1837

Wilford receives his patriarchal blessin...

May

May 1837

Woodruffs live with Jonathan and Olive H...

May - July 1837

Phebe stays with Olive Hale while Jonath...

June

June - July 1837

Wilford visits childhood homes in Connec...

July

July 12, 1837

Wilford baptizes his Uncle Ozem, Aunt Ha...

August

August 8, 1837

Wilford meets Phebe's family for the fir...

August 19, 1837

Wilford arrives in the Fox Islands, Main...

September
October
November
December

December 29, 1837

Wilford stays with Charles Brown (father...

1838

January

January 12, 1838

Joseph Smith moves Church to Far West, M...

February
March
April
May

May 14, 1838

Wilford reads Parley P. Pratt's pamphlet...

June
July

July 1, 1838

Wilford baptizes father Aphek, stepmothe...

July 1838

Joseph Smith explains the need for all l...

July 8, 1838

Wilford called to serve as a member of t...

July 14, 1838

Wilford present for birth of his first c...

August

August 7, 1838

Wilford returns to his mission in the Fo...

August 9, 1838

Wilford receives news of his calling as...

September
October

October 4, 1838

Woodruffs begin trek from Maine to Misso...

October 18, 1838

Wilford's half-brother Asahel dies in In...

October 27, 1838

Governor Lilburn W. Boggs issues order e...

October 30, 1838

Haun's Mill massacre in Caldwell County,...

November

November 1, 1838

Joseph and Hyrum Smith and other Church...

November 1838

Court hearings to determine Church leade...

Nov 1838 - Dec 1838

Phebe deathly ill with brain fever; afte...

December

Dec 1838 - April 1839

While Church leaders remain in Liberty J...

Dec 1838 - April 1839

Woodruffs winter in Rochester, Illinois...

1839

January
February
March

March 16, 1839

Wilford, Phebe, and Sarah Emma finally a...

April

April 6, 1839

Church leaders escape while being transp...

April 26, 1839

At age 32 Wilford is ordained an Apostle...

May

May 4, 1839

Wilford receives the official call to se...

May 18, 1839

Woodruffs move to Montrose, Iowa; live i...

June

June 11, 1839

Joseph Smith begins dictating history to...

July
August

August 8, 1839

Wilford leaves Nauvoo with John Taylor f...

September
October
November

November 1839

Times and Seasons, official Church newsp...

November 29, 1839

Joseph Smith travels to Washington, D.C....

December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1840
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1840

Church membership is 16,800; population...

January 11, 1840

Wilford arrives in Liverpool, England; h...

February

February 10, 1840

Wilford celebrates Queen Victoria's marr...

March

March 4, 1840

Wilford arrives at John Benbow's home in...

March 22, 1840

Phebe's second child Wilford Jr. is born...

April
May

May 1840

The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star f...

June
July

July 17, 1840

Phebe's first child Sarah Emma dies at a...

August

August 14, 1840

Joseph Smith's first explanation of doct...

August 15, 1840

First baptisms for the dead performed in...

September

September 1840

Joseph Smith announces the need to build...

October
November
December

1841

January

January 19, 1841

Revelation to Joseph Smith on building N...

February
March

March 4, 1841

William Henry Harrison inaugurated as ni...

April

April 6, 1841

Cornerstones are laid for the Nauvoo Tem...

April 6, 1841

John Tyler inaugurated as tenth Presiden...

April 20, 1841

Wilford leaves England for America with...

May

May 20, 1841

Wilford arrives in New York from his mis...

June

June 2, 1841

Wilford reunited with Phebe after 2 year...

July

July - August 1841

Wilford spends time with family; officia...

August
September
October

October 3, 1841

Joseph Smith directs Church members to s...

October 6, 1841

Wilford, Phebe, and Wilford Jr. arrive i...

October 19, 1841

Wilford and Phebe move into their own ho...

October 30, 1841

Wilford is appointed to Nauvoo City Coun...

November

November 8, 1841

Wooden font dedicated in the unfinished...

November 21, 1841

Wilford witnesses first baptisms for the...

December

December 27, 1841

Wilford sees Urim and Thummim.

1842

January

January 1842

Wilford helps haul stone for the Nauvoo...

February

February 3, 1842

Wilford appointed manager of the Church'...

February 19, 1842

Wilford sets type for printing/publishin...

March

March 4, 1842

Phebe's third child Phebe Amelia is born...

March 15, 1842

Serial publication of Manuscript History...

March 27, 1842

Church Reformation in Nauvoo includes re...

April

April 21, 1842

Wilford baptized for mother Bulah; half-...

May

May 4, 1842

Joseph Smith administers first endowment...

May 7, 1842

Wilford baptized by proxy for great-gran...

May 15, 1842

Wilford baptized by proxy for more great...

May 29, 1842

Wilford and Phebe baptized by proxy for...

June

June 1842

Millennial Star begins serial publicatio...

July
August

August - Sept 1842

Wilford is confined to his bed with illn...

September

September 6, 1842

Joseph Smith's letter states baptism for...

October

October 30, 1842

3,000 gather in unfinished Nauvoo Temple...

November
December

1843

January
February
March
April
May

May 1843

Wilford assists in publication of the Na...

May 15-16, 1843

Revelation received by Joseph Smith expl...

June
July

July - Nov 1843

Wilford serves fourth mission in Eastern...

July 12, 1843

Revelation regarding new and everlasting...

July 25, 1843

Phebe's fourth child Susan Cornelia born...

August

August 5, 1843

Wilford arrives in Philadelphia, Pennsyl...

September
October
November

November 4, 1843

Wilford returns to Nauvoo from mission t...

November 11, 1843

Wilford's marriage to Phebe sealed for e...

December

December 2, 1843

Wilford receives his washings, anointing...

December 23, 1843

Phebe receives her washings, anointings,...

1844

January

1844

Publication of "The History of Joseph Sm...

January 28, 1844

Wilford and Phebe receive their second a...

February
March

March 26, 1844

Wilford attends meeting when Joseph Smit...

April

April 7, 1844

Wilford records Joseph Smith's discourse...

May

May - August 1844

Wilford serves fifth mission in the Nort...

May 4, 1844

Wilford completes brick home in Nauvoo;...

June

June 26, 1844

Wilford arrives in Boston to attend conv...

June 27, 1844

Joseph and Hyrum Smith are murdered whil...

July

July 1, 1844

Wilford attends Jeffersonian Democracy C...

July 7, 1844

Work on the Nauvoo Temple resumes.

July 9, 1844

Wilford learns of Joseph and Hyrum's dea...

August

August 6, 1844

Wilford returns to Nauvoo with other mem...

August 8, 1844

Meeting where majority of Church members...

August 12, 1844

Wilford accepts call to preside over the...

August 26, 1844

Wilford and Phebe baptized in Mississipp...

August 28, 1844

Wilford and Phebe and their children lea...

September
October
November
December

December 6, 1844

Woodruffs board ship to sail from New Yo...

1845

January

January 3, 1845

Woodruffs arrive in Liverpool.

February
March

March 4, 1845

James K. Polk inaugurated as eleventh Pr...

April
May

May 1845

First Thursday of the month designated f...

June

June 25, 1845

First stone laid for the new baptismal f...

July

July 18, 1845

Phebe's fifth child, Joseph, is born in...

August
September
October

October 5, 1845

Church Conference is held in the Nauvoo...

November
December

December 10, 1845

First endowments for the living administ...

1846

January

1846

Population of Nauvoo 14,000 - 15,000; po...

January 8, 1846

First priesthood adoptions administered...

January 11, 1846

First sealings of children to parents ad...

January 16, 1846

Phebe and 40 other Church members (inclu...

January 22, 1846

Wilford leaves England for New York; exp...

February

Feb - March 1846

Main exodus of Church members from Nauvo...

February 4, 1846

First Church members leave Nauvoo for Io...

February 7, 1846

On final day of work in temple, 600 rece...

February 15, 1846

Times and Seasons stops serial publicati...

March

March 11, 1846

Wilforn returns to his parents' house in...

March 17, 1846

Wilford retrieves daughter from sister-i...

March 23, 1846

Wilford's parents and cousin Betsey Coss...

April

April 13, 1846

Wilford arrives in Nauvoo, Illinois with...

April 15, 1846

Woodruffs tour Nauvoo Temple with others...

April 30, 1846

Private dedication of Nauvoo Temple by J...

May

May 1, 1846 - May 3, 1846

Public dedication of Nauvoo Temple by Or...

May 13, 1846

United States Congress declares war on M...

May 22, 1846

Woodruffs leave Nauvoo to join Church me...

June

June 26, 1846

Wilford at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa when Captain...

July

July 9, 1846

Woodruffs reach Council Bluffs, Iowa.

July 16, 1846 - July 17, 1846

Mormon Battalion recruited by United Sta...

July 26, 1846

Woodruffs cross Missouri River to Cutler...

August

August 2, 1846

Wilford sealed to Mary Ann Jackson, Sara...

August 8, 1846

Wilford rebaptized second time; rebaptiz...

August 29, 1846

Wilford expels Sarah Elinor Brown and Ma...

September
October

October 15, 1846

Wilford severely injured by falling tree...

November

November 12, 1846

Phebe's fifth child Joseph dies at age 1...

November 17, 1846

Wilford recovers enough to resume work o...

December

December 8, 1846 - December 10, 1846

Phebe's sixth child Ezra born in Winter...

December 20, 1846

Of 483 people living in Winter Quarters,...

1847

January

1847

Church membership is 34,694.

January 19, 1847

Wilford organizes "adopted" family (40 h...

February
March
April

April 14, 1847

Wilford leaves for the Salt Lake Valley...

May

May 25, 1847

James Jackson Woodruff born (only child...

June

June 14, 1847

Mary Ann Jackson and her 19-day-old son...

July

July 22, 1847

Advance company arrives in Salt Lake Val...

July 24, 1847

Wilford arrives in Salt Lake Valley with...

July 26, 1847

Wilford first to climb Ensign Peak.

July 28, 1847

Location for Salt Lake Temple Block desi...

July 1847

First bowery built on Temple Block by Mo...

August

August 6, 1847

Wilford, Brigham Young, and other apostl...

August 26, 1847

After planting crops and building cabins...

September

September 3, 1847 - September 5, 1847

Wilford and first pioneer company meets...

October

October 28, 1847

Phebe's seventh child Shuah Carter born...

October 31, 1847

Wilford arrives in Council Bluffs/Kanesv...

November
December

December 1847

Log tabernacle built in Council Bluffs,...

December 5, 1847

First Presidency reorganized with Brigha...

December 27, 1847

Brigham Young sustained as President of...

1848

January
February

February 2, 1848

Treaty signed ending Mexican-American Wa...

March

March 18, 1848

Wilford baptizes 8-year-old son Wilford...

April
May

May 11, 1848

Mary Ann Jackson divorces Wilford.

June

June 21, 1848

Wilford leaves Iowa with Phebe and their...

July

July 22, 1848

Phebe's seventh child Shuah Carter dies...

August

August 12, 1848

Woodruffs arrive in Boston, Massachusett...

September
October
November
December

1849

January
February
March

March 5, 1849

Zachary Taylor inaugurated as twelfth Pr...

March 8, 1849

Constitutional convention held to form t...

March 22, 1849

Wilford baptizes father-in-law Ezra Cart...

April

April 1849

Second bowery built on Temple Block in S...

May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1850
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1850

Church membership 51,839; population of...

February
March
April

April 9, 1850

Woodruffs leave Boston with a group of 2...

May

May 16, 1850

Woodruffs return to Kanesville, Iowa.

June

June 15, 1850

Woodruffs leave for Salt Lake Valley fro...

July

July 10, 1850

Millard Fillmore inaugurated as 13th Pre...

August
September

September 9, 1850

Under Compromise of 1850, Congress creat...

October

October 14, 1850

Woodruffs arrive in Salt Lake Valley and...

November
December

December 5, 1850

Wilford appointed to the Council (Legisl...

1851

January

1851

Wilford moves his cabins from Old Fort t...

1851 - 1854

Marriage sealings and endowments adminis...

January 6, 1851

Wilford begins serving as member of Terr...

February
March

March 20, 1851

Wilford's stepmother Azubah Hart dies in...

April

Spring 1851

Plans announced for construction of adob...

May
June
July

July 19, 1851

Phebe's eighth child Beulah Augusta born...

August

August 2, 1851

Groundbreaking for adobe Tabernacle on T...

September
October
November

November 15, 1851

Publication of the Manuscript History of...

December

1852

January

Jan - March 1852

Wilford serves second term as member of...

February
March

March 28, 1852

Wilford sealed to plural wife Mary Meek...

April

April 6, 1852

General Conference held in new adobe Tab...

April 7, 1852

Brigham Young sustained as Governor of t...

May
June
July

July 7, 1852

Endowments for the living resumed in Cou...

July 25, 1852

Wilford rebaptizes plural wife Mary Meek...

August

August 3, 1852

Workers began laying foundation stones f...

August 8, 1852

Revelation on patriarchal marriage first...

September
October

October 3, 1852

Wilford's plural wife Mary Meek Giles We...

November
December

December 21, 1852

Wilford appointed clerk and historian of...

1853

January

January 1853

Wilford serves third term as member of T...

January 26, 1853

Phebe's ninth child Aphek born in Salt L...

February

February 14, 1853

Wilford attends groundbreaking ceremony...

Feb - April 1853

Wilford assigned to supervise constructi...

March

March 4, 1853

Franklin Pierce inaugurated as 14th Pres...

March 13, 1853

Wilford sealed to Emma Smith and Sarah B...

April

April 6, 1853

Cornerstones laid for the Salt Lake Temp...

May
June

June 14, 1853

Eunice, Wilford's only sister, dies in B...

July
August
September
October
November
December

December 13, 1853

Wilford's sealing to Mary Ann Jackson is...

1854

January

January 1854

Wilford serves fourth term as member of...

February
March
April

April 4, 1854

Sarah Brown's first child David Patten W...

May
June

Summer 1854

Third bowery built on Temple Block, nort...

July
August
September
October
November
December

Dec 1854 - Jan 1855

Wilford serves fifth term as member of T...

1855

January
February

February 3, 1855

Wilford elected president of the Univers...

March
April
May

May 5, 1855

Wilford attends dedication of Endowment...

May 5, 1855

First endowments for the living administ...

May 9, 1855 - May 27, 1855

Wilford tours southern Utah settlements...

June
July
August
September

September 13, 1855

Wilford helps establish the Deseret Hort...

October
November
December

Dec 1855 - Jan 1856

Wilford serves sixth term as member of T...

1856

January

1856 - 1861

Wilford serves on Board of Directors of...

February
March

March 17, 1856

Wilford rebaptizes family members over t...

March 17, 1856

Second Constitutional Convention held an...

April

April 7, 1856

Wilford appointed Assistant Church Histo...

April 28, 1856

Wilford poisoned while skinning livestoc...

May
June
July
August
September

Sep 1856 - April 1857

Church-wide reformation includes rebapti...

October

October 2, 1856

Wilford helps dedicate baptismal font be...

October 2, 1856

First baptisms administered in baptismal...

November
December

Dec 1856 - Jan 1857

Wilford serves seventh term as member of...

December 30, 1856

Members of Territorial Legislature rebap...

1857

January

1857

Church membership is 55,236.

January 1857

Wilford and George A. Smith complete Man...

January 18, 1857

Sarah's second child Brigham Young Woodr...

February
March

March 4, 1857

James Buchanan inaugurated as 15th Presi...

April
May
June
July

July 13, 1857

President Buchanan removes Brigham Young...

July 24, 1857

Saints receive news that 2,500 United St...

July 31, 1857

Wilford sealed to plural wife Sarah Deli...

August
September

September 7, 1857 - September 11, 1857

Attack on wagon train of emigrants and m...

September 29, 1857

John D. Lee gives false report of Mounta...

October

October 4, 1857

Emma's first child Hyrum Smith Woodruff...

October 16, 1857

United States Army Colonel Alexander's l...

November

Nov 1857 - April 1858

United States Army winters at Camp Scott...

November 21, 1857

Alfred Cumming charges Brigham Young wit...

December

Dec 1857 - Jan 1858

Wilford serves eighth term as member of...

1858

January
February

February 3, 1858

President Buchanan asks for four more re...

March
April

Spring 1858

Third bowery on Temple Block in Salt Lak...

April 8, 1858

Wilford moves families to Provo; 30,000...

April 1858

Governor Cumming enters Salt Lake City w...

May
June

June 1858

United States Army peacefully enters aba...

July

July - August 1858

Church members begin returning to their...

August
September
October
November

November 24, 1858

Emma's first child Hyrum Smith Woodruff...

December

December 1858

Wilford serves ninth term as member of T...

1859

January

January 30, 1859

Wilford performs marriage of daughter Su...

February
March
April

April 4, 1859

Wilford's daughter Phoebe Amelia is seal...

May

May 30, 1859

Sarah's third child Phebe Arabell is bor...

June
July
August
September
October

October 16, 1859 - October 29, 1859

Wilford is dying; gives family final ins...

November
December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1860
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1860

Church membership 61,000; population of...

February
March
April
May

May 21, 1860

First grandchild born, Robert and Susan'...

June
July

July 4, 1860

Emma's second child Emma Manella is born...

August
September
October
November
December

Dec 1860 - Jan 1861

Seven Southern states secede from Union....

1861

January
February
March

March 4, 1861

Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as 16th Pres...

April

April 21, 1861

News arrives in Utah of firing on Fort S...

May

May 28, 1861

Wilford's father Aphek Woodruff dies.

June

June 1, 1861

Delight's first child Marion is born in...

July
August
September
October
November
December

December 1861

Governor John Dawson arrives on 7th depa...

1862

January

1862–1870

Council (Legislature) of the State of De...

January 14, 1862

Sarah's fourth child Sylvia Melvina is b...

January 20, 1862

Wilford helps draft constitution for Sta...

February
March
April
May
June

June 9, 1862

Congress rejects fourth petition for for...

June 10, 1862

Salt Lake Temple foundation razed and to...

July

July 6, 1862

Wilford moves plural wife Delight to For...

July 6, 1862

Wilford baptizes son David Patten Woodru...

July 8, 1862

Morrill Anti-Bigamy Law signed by Abraha...

1862 - 1877

Wilford serves as President of Deseret A...

August

August 23, 1862

Wilford records Brigham Young's plans fo...

September
October
November
December

1863

January

January 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abra...

February

February 3, 1863

Emma's third child Asahel Hart is born i...

March
April

April 6, 1863

Plans announced for construction of Grea...

April 7, 1863

Wilford Jr. called to serve a mission in...

May

May 29, 1863

James Jackson Woodruff leaves his mother...

June
July

July 25, 1863

Delight's second child Emeline is born i...

August
September
October
November

November 3, 1863

Sarah's fifth child Newton is born in Sa...

December

1864

1865

January
February
March

March 4, 1865

Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration.

April

April 9, 1865

Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate...

April 14, 1865

Abraham Lincoln assassinated.

April 15, 1865

Andrew Johnson inaugurated as 17th Presi...

May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

December 23, 1865

Delight's third child Ensign is born in...

1866

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

December 26, 1866

Brigham Young reintroduces second anoint...

1867

January
February

February 12, 1867

Emma receives her second anointing.

February 14, 1867

Delight receives her second anointing.

March
April

April 10, 1867

Emma's fourth child Ann Thompson is born...

April 11, 1867

Emma's child Ann Thompson dies.

May
June
July
August
September
October

October 6, 1867

First meeting held in the Great Tabernac...

October 26, 1867

Sarah's sixth child Mary is born in Salt...

November
December

December 2, 1867

Wilford participates in reestablishment...

1868

January
February
March
April
May
June
July

July 23, 1868

Emma's fifth child Clara Martisha is bor...

August

August 29, 1868

Delight's fourth child Jeremiah is born...

September
October
November
December

1869

January
February
March

March 4, 1869

Ulysses S. Grant inaugurated as 18th Pre...

April
May

May 10, 1869

Transcontinental Railroad completed at P...

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

December 16, 1869

Delight's fourth child Jeremiah dies at...

 
 
 
 
 
 
1870
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1870

Church membership 90,130; population of...

February

February 1870

Utah women given the right to vote; Libe...

March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

December 3, 1870

Wilford comforts Emma through her miscar...

December 5, 1870

Sarah's seventh child Charles Henry is b...

1871

January

January 31, 1871

Brigham Young proposes idea of building...

February

February 2, 1871

Sarah's seventh child Charles Henry dies...

March
April

April 7, 1871

Delight's fifth child Rosannah is born i...

April 18, 1871

Wilford moves wife Sarah Brown and her c...

May
June
July
August
September
October

October 6, 1871

Priesthood members vote in favor of buil...

November

November 9, 1871

Groundbreaking ceremony for St. George T...

December

1872

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September

September 9, 1872 - September 27, 1872

Wilford travels to California to attend...

October

October 22, 1872

Delight's fifth child Rosannah dies at a...

November

November 23, 1872

Emma's sixth child Abraham Owen is born...

December

1873

January
February

February 2, 1873

Sarah's eighth child Edward Randolph is...

February 8, 1873

Sarah's eighth child Edward Randolph die...

March
April
May
June
July
August

August 14, 1873

Delight's sixth child John Jay is born i...

September
October
November
December

1874

January
February
March
April
May
June

June 23, 1874

Poland Act passed by Congress becomes le...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1875

January
February
March
April

April 10, 1875

Seniority of apostles adjusted according...

May
June
July

July 17, 1875

Wilford rebaptized (for the sixth time)...

August

August 11, 1875

St. George Temple baptismal font dedicat...

September
October

October 3, 1875 - October 4, 1875

President Ulysses S. Grant visits Salt L...

October 9, 1875

Great Tabernacle on Temple Block dedicat...

November
December

1876

January

January 3, 1876

Wilford moves Delight into her new house...

February
March
April

April 9, 1876

Emma's seventh child Winnifred Blanche i...

May
June
July
August
September
October
November

November 1, 1876

Wilford moves to St. George to assist in...

November 7, 1876

National election between Republican Rut...

November 13, 1876

Wilford, L. John Nuttall and John D. T....

December

1877

January

1877

Church membership reaches 115,065.

January 1, 1877

Wilford, Brigham Young Jr., and Erastus...

January 9, 1877

First baptism for the dead administered...

January 11, 1877

First proxy endowments administered in t...

January 11, 1877

First proxy sealings and first sealings...

January 14, 1877

Brigham Young asks Wilford and others to...

January 16, 1877

Wilford administers second anointing to...

February

February 7, 1877

Wilford administers second anointing by...

February 23, 1877

Wilford receives revelation authorizing...

March

March 1, 1877

In honor of Wilford's 70th birthday, 154...

March 3, 1877

Rutherford B. Hayes inaugurated as 19th...

March 10, 1877

Wilford sealed to Eudora Lovina Young by...

March 21, 1877

Wilford and others finished writing down...

March 22, 1877

Wilford administered first adoptions (tw...

March 27, 1877

Wilford's wife Phebe, and children Wilfo...

March 30, 1877

First time Wilford ever served as proxy...

April

April 6, 1877

General Conference held in completed St....

April 8, 1877

Wilford called to preside over the St. G...

April 11, 1877

First time anyone adopted (sealed) by or...

April 14, 1877

Wilford's family leaves St. George to re...

April 16, 1877

Wilford resigns as President of the Dese...

April 25, 1877

Site for Manti Temple dedicated by Brigh...

May

May 18, 1877

Site for Logan Temple dedicated by Brigh...

June

June 16, 1877

Wilford's son Brigham drowns in Bear Riv...

July

July 1877

Church-wide priesthood reorganization di...

August

August 19-21, 1877

Wilford's vision of Signers of Declarati...

August 22-24, 1877

Majority of endowments completed for Emi...

August 29, 1877

Brigham Young dies in Salt Lake City.

August 30, 1877 - September 1, 1877

Wilford accompanies Lucy Bigelow Young t...

September

September 2, 1877

Wilford dedicates Brigham Young's grave.

September 2, 1877

Funeral service for Brigham Young held i...

September 4, 1877

Apostles meet and agree that John Taylor...

September 16, 1877

Wilford publicly shares his vision of th...

September 17, 1877

Wilford participates in the cornerstone...

October

October 6, 1877

Solemn Assembly to sustain Quorum of Twe...

November

November 29, 1877

Endowments resume in Endowment House in...

December

1878

January

Jan 1878 - March 1878

Wilford spends two months working in St....

February
March
April

April 1, 1878

Wilford and Eudora's son Brigham Young W...

May
June

June 28, 1878

Delight's seventh child Julia Delight St...

July
August
September
October
November

November 1878

Wilford is divorced from Eudora Young ("...

December

December 2, 1878

Wilford asks Mary Ann Jackson to be rese...

1879

January

January 1, 1879

Wilford and Phebe move from Valley House...

January 2, 1879

Emma's eighth child, Wilford's 34th and...

January 6, 1879

Supreme Court denies George Reynolds' ch...

February

February 7, 1879

Wilford goes into hiding to avoid arrest...

March

March 1879 - April 1880

Wilford spends a year in Arizona "on the...

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 
 
 
 
 
 
1880
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1880

Church membership 135,000; Utah Territor...

January 26, 1880

Wilford receives Wilderness Revelation r...

February
March
April

April 2, 1880

Wilford returns to Salt Lake City from v...

May
June
July
August
September
October

October 10, 1880

First Presidency reorganized with John T...

October 10, 1880

Pearl of Great Price officially accepted...

November
December

1881

January

January 16, 1881

Wilford appointed General President of Y...

February

Feb 1881 - March 1881

Wilford works for a month in the St. Geo...

March

March 4, 1881

James A. Garfield inaugurated as 20th Pr...

March 5, 1881

Apostles wash feet against enemies as di...

April
May
June
July
August
September

September 20, 1881

Chester A. Arthur inaugurated as 21st Pr...

October

Oct 1881 - April 1889

Wilford serves 7.5 years as Church Histo...

November

Nov - Dec 1881

Wilford works in St. George Temple.

December

1882

January

January 8, 1882

Assembly Hall on Temple Block in Salt La...

February
March

March 14, 1882

Edmunds Act passed: plural marriage a fe...

March 24, 1882

First Presidency counsels men to live wi...

April

April 1882

Sixth Constitutional Convention for Utah...

May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1883

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

October 5, 1883

Wilford sustained in General Conference...

October 12, 1883

Majority of proxy endowments completed f...

November
December

Dec 1883 - Jan 1884

Wilford works in St. George Temple.

1884

January
February
March
April
May

May 17, 1884

Wilford helps dedicate Logan Temple.

May 29, 1884 - June 19, 1884

Wilford tours Idaho settlements with wif...

June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1885

January

Jan 1885 - Oct 1887

Wilford goes into hiding again to avoid...

February
March

March 4, 1885

Grover Cleveland inaugurated as 22nd Pre...

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

November 1, 1885

Wilford called back to Salt Lake City fo...

November 9, 1885

Wilford sees his wife Phebe for the last...

November 10, 1885

Phebe Woodruff dies; Wilford watches fun...

December

1886

1887

January

January 13, 1887

Edmunds-Tucker Act passed by Congress: d...

February
March
April

April 24, 1887

John D. T. McAllister becomes St. George...

May
June

June - July 1887

Seventh Constitutional Convention for Ut...

July

July 25, 1887

Wilford, as President of the Quorum of t...

July 25, 1887

John Taylor dies at the age of 80.

July 29, 1887

Wilford watches John Taylor's funeral pr...

July 30, 1887

To enforce the Edmunds-Tucker Act, Frank...

August
September
October

October 9, 1887

Wilford meets with Church members in the...

November
December

1888

January
February
March

March 1888

Wilford's reorganization of First Presid...

April
May

May 17, 1888

Wilford dedicates the Manti Temple in pr...

May 21, 1888

Lorenzo Snow dedicates Manti Temple in p...

May 27, 1888

When Erastus Snow dies Wilford is only l...

June

June 14, 1888

Wilford directs all 32 stakes to establi...

July

July 9, 1888

Church's attorneys obtain commitment fro...

August
September
October
November
December

December 20, 1888

Apostles refuse to sign document rejecti...

1889

January
February
March

March 4, 1889

Benjamin Harrison inaugurated as 23rd Pr...

April

April 5, 1889

First Presidency reorganized: Wilford as...

April 7, 1889

Solemn Assembly held in Tabernacle to su...

May
June
July
August
September
October

October 21, 1889 - November 16, 1889

Wilford travels with wife Emma and Churc...

November

November 1889

Salt Lake Endowment House closed and dem...

November 24, 1889

Wilford receives revelation on politics...

November 30, 1889

Judge Anderson denies immigrating Church...

December

December 23, 1889

Church-wide fast day on Joseph Smith's b...

 
 
 
 
 
 
1890
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1890

Church membership 188,000; Utah Territor...

February
March
April
May

May 19, 1890

United States Supreme Court sustains Edm...

June

June 1890

Secretary of State James G. Blaine draft...

July
August

August 1890

Frank H. Dyer resigns as receiver under...

August 3, 1890

Wilford visits Church members throughout...

September

September 24, 1890

Wilford meets with three apostles regard...

September 25, 1890

Wilford issues Manifesto on polygamy as...

October

October 6, 1890

Majority of members of the Church attend...

October 25, 1890

Wilford inaugurates weekday religious ed...

November
December

1891

January
February
March
April
May

May 9, 1891

Wilford meets President Benjamin Harriso...

May 29, 1891

People's Party is disbanded; Church memb...

June
July
August
September
October

October 19, 1891

Wilford testifies in court regarding pra...

October 25, 1891

Wilford's testimony to Church members an...

November

November 6, 1891

Wilford decides temple recommends will b...

December

1892

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

October 13, 1892

President Harrison asks for the prayers...

November
December

1893

January

January 5, 1893

Limited amnesty granted to former polyga...

February
March

March 4, 1893

Grover Cleveland inaugurated as the 24th...

April

April 6, 1893

Wilford dedicates the Salt Lake Temple a...

May
June
July
August

August - September 1893

Wilford attends World's Columbian Exposi...

September
October

October 17, 1893

Wilford meets with temple presidents to...

November
December

1894

January

January 12, 1894

Money taken by government under Edmunds-...

February
March

March 19, 1894

Wilford records dream about Benjamin Fra...

April

April 6, 1894

Wilford receives revelation regarding se...

April 8, 1894

Wilford announces end to practice of ado...

April 18, 1894

Wilford present at first endowment cerem...

May
June
July

July 17, 1894

President Cleveland signed the Utah Enab...

August
September
October
November

November 13, 1894

Wilford establishes the Genealogical Soc...

December

1895

January
February
March

March - May 1895

Eighth Constitutional Convention held; n...

April
May
June

June - July 1895

Wilford travels to Oregon, Washington, a...

July
August
September
October
November
December

1896

January

January 4, 1896

Utah admitted to the Union as the 45th s...

February
March
April

April 6, 1896

Wilford and Quorum of the Twelve Apostle...

May
June
July
August

August - Sep 1896

Wilford travels to Oregon and California...

September
October
November

November 5, 1896

Wilford changes fast day from the first...

December

1897

January
February
March

March 1, 1897

Wilford attends the celebration of his 9...

March 4, 1897

William McKinley inaugurated as 25th Pre...

March 12, 1897 - March 19, 1897

Wilford records his testimony (only know...

April

April 1897

Publication of Conference Report begins...

May
June
July

July 20, 1897 - July 24, 1897

Wilford joins 50th anniversary celebrati...

August
September

September 9, 1897 - September 25, 1897

Wilford travels to Oregon and California...

October
November
December

1898

January
February
March
April

April 10, 1898

Wilford's Conference address on his 1877...

May
June
July

July 24, 1898

Wilford dedicates Pioneer Park (site of...

August

August 13, 1898

Wilford leaves Utah for vacation in Cali...

September

September 2, 1898

Wilford dies from complications of a med...

October
November
December

1899

 
 
 
 
 
 
1900
 
 
 
 
 
 
January

1900

Church membership 283,000; population of...

February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
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