[Joseph Smith] Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 114, a revelation instructing David W. Patten to prepare for a mission the coming spring. (1)
-- 20 Apr. 1838
[Lucy Mack Smith] Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde leave Liverpool after baptizing about 1,500 in nine months. (2)
-- 22 Apr. 1838
[Lucy Mack Smith] Sophronia Coolbrith Smith, second of Don Carlos Smith and Agnes Coolbrith Smith's three daughters, is born at Norton, Ohio. (2)
-- 1838 26 April
Name of the Church specified as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (D&C 115:4). (3)
-- 1838, April 26
Name of the Church specified by revelation (see D&C 115: 4). (4)
-- 1838 April 26
While in Far West, Missouri, Joseph Smith presents section 115 of the Doctrine of Covenants, naming the church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". Also in this revelation, the Lord commands the church to build a temple in Far West. Work begins almost immediately. (5)
-- April 26, 1838
[Joseph Smith] Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 115, a revelation commanding the Church to build a house unto the Lord in Far West. (1)
-- 1838 April 26
[Joseph Smith] Revelation clarifying name of church and commanding Latter-day Saints to build a house of the Lord, Far West. (6)
-- April 26, 1838
[Revelations] Far West, Missouri. Doctrine and Covenants Section 115. Name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gather. Far West a holy city with house of the Lord. Begin on July 4, foundation next year. Settlements for other stakes. (7)
-- 26 April 1838
[Temple] Adam-ondi-Ahman Temple; Location: Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri; Notes: Site dedicated. Laid out by Brigham Young (although no cornerstones were laid). Never built because of 1838 Mormon War. Design was to be similar to Kirtland Temple. Site dedicated and temple announced on 26 April 1838 by Joseph Smith, Jr. (8)
-- April 27, 1838
[Joseph Smith] Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith spent the day working on a history of the Church from its beginnings, which would eventually be published as History of the Church. (1)
-- 1838 April 27
[Joseph Smith] Commenced writing detailed history of the church, Far West. (6)
-- 1838, April 27
[Joseph Smith] Initiates the writing of his history, published serially as the History of Joseph Smith in Church periodicals beginning in 1842; later republished as History of the Church. (9)
Footnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
2 - Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, Edited by Lavina Fielding Anderson, 2001, Signature Books
3 - http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
4 - http://scriptures.lds.org/chchrono/contents
5 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
6 - Joseph Smith Papers: Chronology for the Years 1832-1839
7 - http://saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml
8 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples
9 - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah
Clair Barrus
