KEY EVENTS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

January 1832

• 5 Jan.:
• Key Event: Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer arrived in Missouri with revelation manuscripts.
• Significance: These manuscripts were for printing the Book of Commandments, helping establish an official scriptural record.
• 10 Jan. – D&C 73:
• Key Event: Revelation commanded Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to resume translating the Bible.
• Significance: Reaffirmed the importance of the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible.
• 25 Jan.:
• Key Event: General conference in Amherst, Ohio; Joseph Smith sustained as President of the High Priesthood.
• Significance: First time Joseph was officially recognized as the presiding leader of the Church.
• 25 Jan. – D&C 75:
• Key Event: Revelation calling missionaries.
• Significance: Gave specific instructions for missionary work and its organization.

February 1832

• 16 Feb. – D&C 76:
• Key Event: The Vision of the Three Degrees of Glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms).
• Significance: Replaced traditional Christian heaven/hell doctrine and introduced a more detailed view of the afterlife.

March 1832

• ca. March – D&C 77:
• Key Event: Explanation of Revelation 4–11 from the New Testament.
• Significance: Provided prophetic insights into apocalyptic symbolism.
• 1 Mar. – D&C 78:
• Key Event: Established the United Firm (a Church financial system).
• Significance: Helped organize economic resources to support missionary work and publication efforts.
• 7 Mar. – D&C 80:
• Key Event: Missionary call for Stephen Burnett.
• Significance: Showed that missionaries should preach anywhere the Spirit leads.
• 8 Mar.:
• Key Event: Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon appointed as counselors to Joseph Smith.
• Significance: First steps toward forming the First Presidency.
• 12 Mar. – D&C 79:
• Key Event: Missionary call for Jared Carter.
• Significance: Emphasized that those who obey will receive the Spirit.
• 15 Mar. – D&C 81:
• Key Event: Jesse Gause appointed as counselor in the presidency. Later replaced by Frederick G. Williams.
• Significance: Set precedent for leadership succession in the Church.
• 24–25 Mar.:
• Key Event: Mob attack on Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in Hiram, Ohio—tarred and feathered.
• Significance: Showed growing opposition to the Church.

April 1832

• 1 Apr.:
• Key Event: Joseph Smith traveled to Missouri.
• Significance: Strengthened leadership ties between Ohio and Missouri.
• 26 Apr. – D&C 82:
• Key Event: Revelation in Independence, Missouri; the United Firm formally established.
• Significance: Required leading brethren to consecrate their resources to build Zion.
• 30 Apr. – D&C 83:
• Key Event: Revelation on the rights of widows and orphans.
• Significance: Ensured that women and children were cared for within the law of consecration.

May 1832

• 6 May:
• Key Event: Joseph returned to Ohio.
• Significance: Continued efforts to strengthen Kirtland as a center of the Church.

August 1832

• 29 Aug. – D&C 99:
• Key Event: Missionary call to John Murdock.
• Significance: Commanded him to preach the gospel and care for his children.

September 1832

• 12 Sept.:
• Key Event: Joseph Smith moved to Kirtland, Ohio.
• Significance: This location became the Church’s headquarters.
• 22–23 Sept. – D&C 84:
• Key Event: Revelation on the Priesthood.
• Significance: Defined the two priesthoods (Aaronic & Melchizedek) and their authority.

October 1832

• Early Oct.:
• Key Event: Joseph Smith and Newel K. Whitney traveled to New York.
• Significance: Strengthened Church financial stability and missionary efforts.

November 1832

• 27 Nov. – D&C 85:
• Key Event: Letter from Joseph Smith to William W. Phelps about record-keeping.
• Significance: Taught that faithful Saints would inherit Zion, while the disobedient would be removed.

December 1832

• 6 Dec. – D&C 86:
• Key Event: Interpretation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
• Significance: Explained that righteous and wicked will grow together until the last days.
• 21 Dec.:
• Key Event: South Carolina threatened secession over federal tariffs.
• Significance: Fulfilled the first part of Joseph Smith’s prophecy on war.
• 25 Dec. – D&C 87:
• Key Event: Prophecy on war—predicted the U.S. Civil War.
• Significance: Foretold that war would begin in South Carolina and spread worldwide.
• 27 Dec.:
• Key Event: Conference of high priests in Kirtland.
• Significance: Strengthened Church leadership.
• 27–28 Dec.; 3 Jan. – D&C 88:
• Key Event: Revelation on light, truth, and the Second Coming.
• Significance:
• Ordered the building of the Kirtland Temple.
• Established the School of the Prophets for educating leaders.

Key Takeaways from 1832

• Theological Development:
• D&C 76 introduced Three Degrees of Glory.
• D&C 84 clarified the priesthood structure.
• D&C 87 prophesied the Civil War.
• Organizational Growth:
• Joseph was sustained as President of the Church.
• The United Firm was established to manage Church finances.
• The First Presidency began forming.
• Challenges & Opposition:
• Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered in Ohio.
• The Church faced financial struggles and mob violence.
• Kirtland as a Center:
• Joseph moved to Kirtland permanently.
• Plans were made to build a temple and start the School of the Prophets.