1820-1831

Foundation doctrines

1820

First Vision; nature of God. (JS History 1:11-20.)

1823 - Importance of this dispensation. (D&C 2.)

1828 - Reality of Satan; God's omniscience. (D&C 3, 10.)

1829 - The Grand Commission of this dispensation: "Seek to establish the cause of Zion." (D&C 6.)

1829 - Spirit of revelation clarified. (D&C 8,9.)

1829 - Doctrine of Missionary work. (D&C 4,11,12,15,16.)

1829 - Restoration of priesthood authority. (D&C 13.)

1829,30 - Doctrine of the Atonement of Christ. (D&C 18,19.)

1830 - Book of Mormon. (Doctrine of Christ - 1 Ne. 31:17-21; 3 Ne. 11 and 27.)

1830 - Organization of Christ's Church - fundamental doctrines affirmed. Duties of priesthood offices. (D&C 20.)

1830 - Role of the prophet. (D&C 21.)

1830 - Doctrine of common consent. (D&C 26.)

1830 - Ordinance of the sacrament. (D&C 27.)

1830 - Only the Church president can receive revelation for the Church. (D&C 28.)

1830 - Doctrine of the gathering; signs that precede the Second Coming. (D&C 29.)

1830 - The Book of Moses (June to December). Creation, Fall and Atonement; first principles and ordinances of the gospel; ministry of Enoch. (Moses 1, 8.)

1831 - Saints commanded to take care of poor and needy. (D&C 38.)

1831 - Doctrine of Christ defined. (D&C 39.)

1831-1839

Doctrines pertaining to the establishment of Zion

1831

Law of Consecration introduced; City of Zion to be revealed. (D&C 42.)

1831 - Signs of Second Coming; Redemption of Zion. (D&C 45.)

1831 - Gifts of the Spirit. (D&C 46.)

1831 - Location of the centerplace of Zion. (D&C 57.)

1831 - Zion to be redeemed "after much tribulation." Early saints to lay the foundation for Zion. (D&C 58.)

1831 - Law of the Sabbath. (D&C 59.)

1831 - Law of forgiveness. (D&C 64.)

1831 - The voice of warning to this dispensation. (D&C 1.)

1831 - Preparation for the Second Coming; Israel to return. (D&C 133.)

1832 - Vision of the degrees of glory. (D&C 76.)

1832 - Distinction between the lesser and greater priesthoods; oath and covenant of the priesthood. (D&C 84.)

1832 - Omnipotence of Christ; all kingdoms governed by law; signs of the times; order of resurrection. (D&C 88.)

1833 - Word of Wisdom. (D&C 89.)

1833 - Man's ultimate potential. (D&C 93.)

1834 - Zion not to be moved out of her place; Zion will be redeemed; Zion must be built on celestial law; Law of Consecration rescinded. (D&C 101, 103, 105.)

1835 - Revelation on priesthood. (D&C 107.)

1836 - Vision of the celestial kingdom. (D&C 137.)

1836 - Keys of dispensations restored in Kirtland Temple. (D&C 110.)

1838 - Doctrine of tithing. (D&C 119.)

1839 - Doctrine of priesthood. (D&C 121.)

1839-1846

Doctrines pertaining to eternal sealing powers

1840

First sermon on baptism for the dead. (History of the Church, 4:179,231, hereafter HC.)

1841 - Command to build Nauvoo Temple. (D&C 124.)

1842 - Sealing power of Elijah; doctrine of salvation for the dead; keys from past dispensations. (D&C127, 128.)

1842 - Book of Abraham translated. Pre-mortal life; foreordination of spirits; creation; second estate. (Book of Abraham.)

1842 - Organization of Relief Society for the "relief of the poor . . . and the exercise of all benevolent purposes." (HC, 4:567.)

1842 - The temple endowment. (D&C 124:41; History of the Church 5:1-3.)

1843 - Order of the resurrection; families to be re-united in the resurrection. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 295-96.)

1843 - Doctrine of exaltation. (D&C 131 and 132.)

1844 - Mission of Elijah; sealing power of the priesthood. (Teachings, pp. 329-331.)

1844 - King Follett discourse - doctrine of eternal progression and exaltation. (Teachings, pp. 342-362.)

1844 - Apostolic succession; keys given to the Twelve Apostles. (HC, 7:231-36; Times and Seasons 5:618-20.)

1845 - Greatness of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration. (D&C 135.)

1846 - Nauvoo Temple dedicated; more than 5,000 saints receive endowments in Nauvoo Temple before going West.

1846-1960

Doctrinal refinements by other Church presidents

1847

Revelation to President Brigham Young on organization of the saints for the journey West. (D&C 136.)

1877 - Reorganization of priesthood under President Brigham Young. (Messages of the First Presidency, 2:283-95, hereafter MFP.)

1880 - Pearl of Great Price canonized.

1882 - President John Taylor publishes Mediation and the Atonement, a commentary on the doctrine of the Atonement.

1882 - Revelation to President John Taylor on the organization of the priesthood. (MFP, 2:352-54.)

1890 - Revelation to President Wilford Woodruff rescinding the practice of plural marriage. (Official Declaration 1, Doctrine and Covenants.)

1894 - Revelation to President Wilford Woodruff on law of adoption - each man to be sealed to his own father. (MFP, 3:251-60.)

1899 - Revelation to President Lorenzo Snow reiterating law of tithing.

1909 - Statement by the First Presidency. (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund) on the origin of man.

1915 - Directive by the First Presidency to hold family home evening.

1916 - Doctrinal exposition by the First Presidency clarifying scriptural passages wherein Jesus Christ, or Jehovah, is designated as the Father. (See Articles of Faith, 42nd edition, pp. 466-73.)

1918 - Revelation to President Joseph F. Smith on the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead. (D&C 138.)

1936 - Announcement of Church Security Plan, now known as Church Welfare.

1938 - Church charter on religious education.

1942 - First Presidency statement on war.

1960-1992

Doctrinal developments by the First Presidency under Priesthood Correlation

1961-67 - Priesthood Correlation plan announced to Church. Established the home as "the basis for the righteous life." Four priesthood emphases during early period of correlation: missionary, genealogy (now family history), welfare and home teaching.

1965 - Family home evening established.

1967 - Appointment of regional representatives.

1970s - A correlated curriculum for children, youth and adults; prospective elders and MIA-Melchizedek Priesthood created.

1974 - Message by President Spencer W. Kimball to take gospel to all the world.

1976 - Two revelations canonized by common consent. (D&C 137, 138.)

1976 - Reconstitution of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

1978 - Family history name extraction started.

1978 - Statement by First Presidency on world religions.

1978 - Revelation extending priesthood to worthy men of all races. (Official Declaration 2, Doctrine and Covenants.)

1979 - Publication of the new edition of the King James Version of the Bible with new footnotes, chapter headings, a topical guide, dictionary, gazetteer, maps and excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation.

1981 - A new edition of the Triple Combination. (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price) published, containing minor changes and the two newly canonized revelations.

1981 - Mission of the Church announced.

1982 - Subtitle added to Book of Mormon, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

1984 - Area presidencies created.

1986 - President Ezra Taft Benson's message to the Church regarding the Book of Mormon.

1989 - Formation of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

1991 - Statement of the First Presidency on symposia - public versus private discussion of sacred matters.

1992 - Statement of the First Presidency regarding the King James Version of the Bible as the official text in English.