-- Apr./May 1831
[Lucy Mack Smith] A Mormon girl prophecies earthquakes in China. (1)
-- Spring 1831
[Joseph Smith] Joseph miraculously heals two women. (2)
-- 1/Apr 7, 1831
[Lucy Mack Smith] Martin Harris sells his 151-acre farm to Thomas Lakey for $3,000 to cover the Book of Mormon debt. By the end of the month, he settles some property upon his wife, from whom he separates, and leads several other families to Kirtland. Hyrum Smith leads the Colesville branch to Kirtland, departing from New York before the end of April. (1)
-- Apr 4, 1831
Edward Partridge is called to be the first bishop in the church. Sidney Rigdon anoints him an elder and sets him apart as a bishop. (3)
-- 1831 Spring
Parley P. Pratt, Leman Copley, and Sidney Rigdon visited Shakers near Cleveland, Ohio. (4)
-- Apr 7, 1831
Martin Harris sells 151 acres to Thomas Lakey for $3000 to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon. (5)
[Joseph Smith] Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith translated Matthew 9:111 in his work on the New Testament. (6)
-- Apr 9, 1831
Conference (Kirtland): John Whitmer appointed Church Historian. (5)
Letter to the editor from A. W. B. of South Bainbridge, New York reports Joseph's treasure seeking and trials. In the first trial, the court, "considering his youth, (he being then a minor,) and thinking he might reform his conduct, he was designedly allowed to escape." Then, in the summer of 1830 [July 1] Joseph was again arraigned on a misdemeanor. Oliver testified "that said Smith found with the plates, from which he translated his book, two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in silver bows. That by looking through these, he was able to read in English, the reformed Egyptian characters, which were engraved on the plates." Josiah Stowell testified that he and Joseph almost succeeded in treasure seeking, but "did not get quite to it!" Addison Austin testified 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.'" "Mormonites," Evangelical Magazine & Gospel Advocate (a Unversalist magazine published in Utica, New York).A. B. W. is mostly likely A[braham]. W. Benton. (5)
[Whitmer, John] Called by revelation as Church historian 8 March 1831; ordained contrary to his wishes 9 April 1831 in Kirtland. (7)
-- Apr 19, 1831
The Painesville Telegraph publishes a letter from Martin Harris that includes the earliest published version of the Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ. Joseph and Oliver are each "called of God and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church." (5)
-- Apr 30, 1831
Joseph and Emma's twins, Thadeus and Louisa, are born in the cabin but survive only 3 hours. (5)
Revelation: Joseph Smith Sr. and Ezra Thayer, and use of Frederick G. Williams' farm. (5)
Footnotes:
1 - Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, Edited by Lavina Fielding Anderson, 2001, Signature Books
2 - http://www.prophetjosephsmith.org/joseph_smith_timeline
3 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
4 - http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
5 - http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
6 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
7 - Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelation of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
LDS History
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Clair Barrus
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