-- Nov 27, 1973
[Mark Hofmann] Hofmann called to serve a mission to the England Southwest Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He would served primarily in the areas of Portsmouth, Bristol, and Bath. (1)
-- Dec 26, 1973
President Harold B. Lee died in Salt Lake City at age 74. (2)
[Harold B. Lee] Harold Bingham Lee was the eleventh president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained president on 7 July 1972 and served until his death on 26 December 1973. This 538-day tenure is the shortest service by a Mormon Church president in history, this despite the fact that when he assumed the office at age seventy-three he was the youngest president of the church in nearly forty years. His major contributions to the church, as the first managing director of its welfare program and later as the organizer of the church correlation program, were made when he was still serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (3)
[Harold B. Lee] President Lee's impressive attainments resulted partly from his personal struggles. He had to overcome critics who were jealous of his "beyond his years" abilities; he learned to control a fiery temper and a quick, action-oriented disposition which early in his life offended some people. Especially in his later years, Lee was gentle in manner, compassionate, gracious, hospitable, and thoughtful of others. He was always a gentleman, impeccably dressed. At age seventy-four he served as though in the prime of life, with a rich, full voice and characteristic vigor. His sudden death on 26 December 1973 from cardiac and lung failure stunned the entire church. (3)
[Joseph Smith] After serving for little more than a year as president, President Harold B. Lee passes on. Spencer W. Kimball becomes president. (4)
-- Dec 30, 1973 - 23 July 1981
[1st Presidency Changes] Spencer W. Kimball N. Eldon Tanner Marion G. Romney Reorganization of First Presidency after death of Harold B. Lee (5)
-- Dec 30, 1973
President Spencer W. Kimball was ordained and set apart as the 12th president of the Church, with Presidents N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney as counselors. (2)
Spencer W. Kimball became President of the Church. (6)
[Quorum of the Twelve] The First Presidency is reorganized, with Spencer W. Kimball President, N. Eldon Tanner First Counselor, and Marion G. Romney Second Counselor. Ezra Taft Benson is President of the Quorum. (7)
Romney, Marion George: Second Counselor to Spencer W. Kimball in First Presidency 30 December 1973. (8)
[Spencer W. Kimball] Becomes President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with President N. Eldon Tanner as First Counselor and President Marion G. Romney as Second Counselor in the First Presidency. (9)
Tanner, Nathan Eldon: First Counselor to Spencer W. Kimball in First Presidency 30 December 1973. (8)
-- Dec 31, 1973
[Harold B. Lee] End-of-year statistics: 3,321,556 members; 630 stakes; 4,580 wards; 108 missions; 17,258 missionaries; 15 temples. (10)
Footnotes:
1 - Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,
2 - Church News: Historical chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
3 - Utah Historical Encyclopedia: Harold B. Lee, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/l/LEE%2CHAROLD.html
4 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
5 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
6 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures.lds.org/chchrono/contents
7 - 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)
8 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
9 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, Salt Lake City, Utah
10 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
