LDS History, May 16, 1931

-- May 16, 1931
[Quorum of the Twelve] Orson F. Whitney dies. (1)

-- Sep 13, 1931
[U.S. Religious History] Still recovering from a nervous breakdown, Foursquare Gospel founder Aimee Semple McPherson married David Hutton; they divorced only four years later. (2)

-- Oct 8, 1931
[Quorum of the Twelve] Joseph F. Merrill ordained. (1)

-- Dec 11, 1931 - 6 April 1933
[1st Presidency Changes] Heber J. Grant Anthony W. Ivins Death of Charles W. Nibley (never ordained an apostle) (3)

-- 1931
Church Membership at end of year: 688,435
New Converts : 18,418
Percent Change from previous year: 2.75% (4)

All Church junior colleges, except Ricks, transferred to states. (5)

-- During 1931-
[Periodicals] "Church Section" in Deseret News (Changed to Church News, 1943) (News Paper); Salt Lake, City, Utah (6)

-- Jan 10, 1932
The first missionary training classes began, which were to be organized in every ward throughout the Church. (7)

-- Feb 4, 1932 - 1934
[Change in Presiding Church Patriarch Office] Nicholas G. Smith
(de facto Acting Presiding Patriarch) Son of Apostle John Henry Smith; grandson of Apostle George A. Smith; great-grandson of former Presiding Patriarch "Uncle" John Smith; was never officially called, set apart, or sustained as the Acting Presiding Patriarch, but carried out the functions of the office (8)

-- During 1932 February
The Lion House, home of Brigham Young and a noted landmark of Salt Lake City, was turned over to the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association by the Church for a social center for women and young ladies. Another of Brigham Young's homes, the Beehive House, was previously placed under the direction of the YLMIA as a girls' home. (7)

-- Apr 2, 1932
Church began reemphasis on living the Word of Wisdom, launching a campaign against the use of tobacco. (5)

-- 1932
Church Membership at end of year: 703,949
New Converts : 15,514
Percent Change from previous year: 2.25% (4)

[Quorum of the Twelve] Reed Smoot loses the election for the U.S. Senate. (1)


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 - Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline, http://bit.ly/Fwgbe
3 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
4 - 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
5 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
6 - Ludlow, Daniel H. editor, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.4, Appendix 3: Church Periodicals
7 - Church News: Historical chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
8 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Presiding Patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiding_Patriarch#Chronology_of_the_Presiding_Patriarchs_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/