The choir that would later become the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has its first performance at a general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (29 days after the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley). (1)
-- During 1847 August
Arriving settlers form the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (2)
-- Oct 7, 1847
[Lucy Mack Smith] William is excommunicated from Strang's church for adultery and apostasy. (3)
-- Oct 31, 1847
[Heber C. Kimball] Arrives back in Winter Quarters. (4)
-- Dec 23, 1847
The Twelve sent forth an epistle to the Saints to recommence the gathering. (5)
[Lucy Mack Smith] Emma marries "Major" Lewis C. Bidamon at Nauvoo. (6)
[Lucy Mack Smith] Emma Hale Smith marries Major Lewis C. Bidamon at Nauvoo on Joseph's birthday. (3)
-- Dec 27, 1847 - 11 March 1854
[1st Presidency Changes] Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball Willard Richards First Presidency reorganized after deaths of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith (7)
-- Dec 27, 1847
[Brigham Young] Sustained as President of the Church at Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa. (8)
Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards sustained as new First Presidency at Kanesville, Iowa. (9)
Church conference sustained President Brigham Young, Elder Heber C. Kimball, and Elder Willard Richards as First Presidency. (10)
Brigham Young reorganizes the First Presidency, with himself as president, Heber C. Kimball as first counselor, and Willard Richards as second counselor. This is done in the Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The tabernacle is constructed in just two weeks and housed over 1,000 people for the ceremony. [1] (2)
[Heber C. Kimball] First Presidency organized; becomes first counselor to Brigham Young. (4)
[Quorum of the Twelve] The First Presidency is reorganized, with Brigham Young President, Heber C. Kimball First Counselor, and Willard Richards Second Counselor. Orson Hyde becomes President of the Quorum. (11)
-- 1847
Church Membership at end of year: 34,694
New Converts : 701
Percent Change from previous year: 2.06% (12)
[Deseret] Jim Bridger meets the Mormon pioneers and discusses the merits of settling in the Salt Lake Valley, draws a map on the ground depicting the region with great accuracy, and conveys to Brigham Young his misgivings regarding the agricultural productivity of the Salt Lake area. (13)
Footnotes:
1 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=036eb2987ff92110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRDvgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD
2 - Wikipedia, 19th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
3 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
4 - Kimball, Stanley B. (editor), On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball, Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1987
5 - Richards, Franklin Dewey and Little, James A., Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, Church Chronology, Ch.66, p.306
6 - Proctor, Scott and Maurine Jensen, editors, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother: Revised and Enhanced
7 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
8 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, Utah
9 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
10 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures.lds.org/chchrono/contents
11 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
12 - Wikipedia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Membership History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history
13 - History to Go, Trappers, Traders and Explorers, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/trapperstradersandexplorers.html
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
