| 1808 November 1 |
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Born in Milnthorpe, Westmorland, England, to James Taylor and Agnes Taylor.
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| 1819 |
Age 11 |
Moved with family to Hale (near Milnthorpe), where he helped work on a small farm left to his father by an uncle.
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| 1822 |
Age 14 |
Apprenticed as a cooper (barrel maker) in Liverpool, England. Within a year, his master's business failed and he returned home.
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| 1824 |
Age 16 |
Left the Church of England and became a Methodist.
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| 1825 |
Age 17 |
Became Methodist “exhorter,” or lay preacher. Received a strong impression that he would go to America to preach the gospel.
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| 1832 |
Age 24 |
Left England for Canada and commenced preaching.
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| 1833–1836 |
Age 25–28 |
Served as preacher in the Methodist Church in Toronto, Canada.
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| 1836 May 9 |
Age 27 |
Baptized by Parley P. Pratt.
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| 1836–1837 |
Age 28–29 |
Served as the Church's presiding officer in Canada.
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| 1837 |
Age 29 |
Moved to Far West, Missouri.
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| 1837 March |
Age 28 |
Met the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio.
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| 1838 December 19 |
Age 30 |
Ordained an Apostle at Far West, Missouri, by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball under the direction of Joseph Smith, who was in Liberty Jail.
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| 1840 |
Age 32 |
Arrived in Great Britain as a missionary. Was first missionary to preach the restored gospel in Ireland and on the Isle of Man. Oversaw the preparation and printing of the first edition of the Book of Mormon published outside the United States; also assisted in preparing a hymnbook and published several missionary pamphlets.
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| 1841 |
Age 33 |
Returned to the United States with several of the other Apostles.
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| 1842 |
Age 34 |
Appointed by Joseph Smith to edit the Times and Seasons, a Church publication. Also edited the Wasp (1842–1843) and then its successor, the Nauvoo Neighbor (1843–1846), both Nauvoo newspapers.
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| 1842 |
Age 34 |
Chosen to be a member of the Nauvoo City Council, regent of the University of Nauvoo, and Judge–Advocate in the Nauvoo Legion.
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| 1844 June 27 |
Age 35 |
Witnessed the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail and was seriously wounded during the attack.
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| 1846 |
Age 38 |
Helped organize the Mormon Battalion at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
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| 1846 |
Age 38 |
Went to Great Britain on a second mission with Parley P. Pratt and Orson Hyde.
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| 1847 |
Age 39 |
Returned to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, from England. Led a large company of Saints to Utah, arriving in October.
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| 1850–51 |
Age 42–43 |
Presided over missionary work in France and Germany. Near Boulogne, France, offered a prayer dedicating France for the preaching of the Gospel. Directed translation and publication of French and German editions of the Book of Mormon. Established and edited the first Church periodical in France, Ãtoile du Déseret (Star of Deseret). Published the first Church periodical in Germany, a monthly newspaper named Zion's Panier (Zion's Banner).
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| 1854–56 |
Age 46–48 |
Served a mission in New York. Superintended the affairs of the Church in the eastern states. Published a newspaper titled The Mormon.
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| 1857 |
Age 49 |
Returned to Utah. Elected Speaker of the House of the Utah Territorial Legislature
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| 1857–1876 |
Age 49–68 |
Served as a legislator for the Territory of Utah .
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| 1868–70 |
Age 60–62 |
Served as Probate Judge of Utah County.
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| 1876 |
Age 68 |
Elected territorial superintendent of schools.
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| 1877–1880 |
Age 69–72 |
Led the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve.
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| 1878 August 25 |
Age 69 |
Primary organization established.
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| 1880 April 6 |
Age 71 |
Proclaimed a Jubilee Year for the 50th anniversary of the Church. One-half of debts owed by the Saints to the Perpetual Emigration Fund were forgiven.
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| 1880 October 10 |
Age 71 |
Sustained as President of the Church. Pearl of Great Price canonized and new expanded edition of the Doctrine and Covenants published.
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| 1880 |
Age 72 |
Quorums of Seventy organized in stakes.
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| 1882 January 8 |
Age 73 |
Assembly Hall on Temple Square (Salt Lake City, Utah) dedicated.
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| 1882 |
Age 74 |
United States Congress passed the Edmunds bill, making plural marriage a felony and prohibiting polygamists from voting, holding public office, or performing jury duty.
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| 1884 May 17 |
Age 75 |
Logan Utah Temple dedicated.
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| 1885 January 27 |
Age 76 |
After receiving word during a visit to California that federal officials had ordered his arrest for practicing polygamy, returned to Salt Lake City.
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| 1885 February 1 |
Age 76 |
Preached his last public sermon and went into hiding.
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| 1885–1887 |
Age 77–78 |
Presided over the Church in exile.
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| 1887 July 25 |
Age 78 |
Died in the Thomas Rouech home in Kaysville, Utah.
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