[Joseph Smith] Held church conference, Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, at which Frederick G. Williams was removed from the presidency and Hyrum Smith appointed in his place. (1)
-- 7 Nov. 1837
[Lucy Mack Smith] At a Far West conference where Joseph Jr. presides, Frederick G. Williams is replaced by Hyrum. David Whitmer is reluctantly accepted as stake president, while John Whitmer and William Phelps are sustained after confession. (2)
-- 10 Nov. 1837
[Lucy Mack Smith] Joseph Jr. leaves Far West for Kirtland. (2)
-- December 7, 1837
[Joseph Smith] Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith presided over a two-day conference of the Church in Far West. (3)
-- 1837 December 10
About this time Joseph Smith, Jun., arrived in Kirtland from Missouri. (4)
Joseph returns to Kirtland from Missouri. (5)
[Joseph Smith] Returned to Kirtland from journey to Missouri. Faced dissenters forming rival church, Kirtland. (1)
-- 10 Dec. 1837
[Lucy Mack Smith] Joseph Jr. arrives at Kirtland. The dissident movement, calling itself the "old standard" and organized as the "Church of Christ," is at its height in Kirtland. Public declarations against Joseph are made by Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, David Whitmer, John Boynton, and Warren Parrish. (2)
-- 1837, December 24
[Joseph F. Smith] Marriage of Hyrum Smith and Mary Fielding, Kirtland, Ohio. (6)
-- 24 Dec. 1837
[Lucy Mack Smith] Hyrum Smith marries Mary Fielding Smith. (2)
-- 1837 December 25
The first Conference of the Latter-day Saints in England was held in the Cock Pit, Preston. During this mouth a somewhat extensive apostacy took place in Kirtland. (4)
-- 1837 December 27
Brigham Young flee Kirtland, Ohio. His life was threatened for vigorously defending Joseph Smith. (5)
-- 1837
[Membership] Church Membership at end of year: 16,282
New Converts : 2,989
Percent Change from previous year: 22.49% (7)
Footnotes:
1 - Joseph Smith Papers: Chronology for the Years 1832-1839
2 - Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, Edited by Lavina Fielding Anderson, 2001, Signature Books
3 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
4 - Richards - Little, Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, Church Chronology, Ch.66, p.306
5 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
6 - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah
7 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history
Clair Barrus
