[Quorum of the Twelve] The First Presidency is reorganized, with David O. McKay President, Stephen L. Richards First Counselor, and J. Reuben Clark Second Counselor. Joseph Fielding Smith becomes President of the Quorum. (1)
-- Jul 20, 1951
Because the Korean War reduced the number of young elders being called as missionaries, the First Presidency issued a call for seventies to help fill the need. Many married men subsequently served full-time missions. (2)
Seventies and many married men were asked to serve missions because of missionary shortages during the Korean War. (3)
-- Sep 30, 1951
[U.S. Religious History] Billy Graham's "Hour of Decision" program first aired on ABC. (4)
-- Oct 11, 1951
[Joseph Smith] Marion G. Romney is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (5)
-- 1951
Church Membership at end of year: 1,147,157
New Converts : 35,843
Percent Change from previous year: 3.23% (6)
[Media] The Primary Association’s “Children’s Friend of the Air†was the first Church program to be regularly televised. (7)
-- During 1951-1961
[Periodicals] El Candil; Uruguayan Mission Montevideo, Uruguay SPANISH (Periodical) (8)
-- Feb 3, 1952
[Joseph Smith] Elder Joseph F. Merrill dies. (5)
[Quorum of the Twelve] Joseph F. Merrill dies. (1)
-- Mar 2, 1952
The new Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City was dedicated. Half the cost of the building had been raised by children of the Church through the continuing Primary penny drive. (2)
New Primary Children's Hospital dedicated. (3)
-- Apr 5, 1952
[Media] The priesthood session of General Conference was carried by direct telephone wire to buildings outside of Temple Square for the first time. (7)
Footnotes:
1 - 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)
2 - Church News: Historical chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
3 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
4 - Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline, http://bit.ly/Fwgbe
5 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
6 - 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
7 - The Mormon Channel: The Broadcast and Media History of the LDS Church Timeline, http://radio.lds.org/eng/about/media-timeline
8 - Ludlow, Daniel H. editor, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.4, Appendix 3: Church Periodicals
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
