May 1
1831— Thompson, Ohio. Joseph Smith received D&C 51, a revelation concerning the responsibilities of Bishop Edward Partridge.
History of the Church, 1:173–74
1843— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith paid Lucien Woodworth monies toward the building of a hotel named the Nauvoo House.
History of the Church, 5:366, 372
May 2
1835— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith presided at a conference with the First Presidency, Twelve, part of the Seventy, and other elders of the Church.
History of the Church, 2:219–22
May 3
1834— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith presided over a conference of elders that discussed the name by which the Church was to be known.
History of the Church, 2:62–63
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to Barbara Matilda Neff.
Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee (2002), 597–98
May 4
1834— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith preached to the Saints under the shade of the new schoolhouse.
Memoirs of George A. Smith
1841— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to Oliver Granger.
Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee (2002), 527–28
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith met with Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Judge James Adams, Bishops Newel K. Whitney, George Miller, and William Law in the upper room of the Red Brick Store, where he gave them instructions on the priesthood and celestial marriage.
History of the Church, 5:1–2, 9
May 5
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith moved into the fifth week of dictating the translation of the Book of Mormon to Oliver Cowdery.
1834— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith started from Kirtland as the leader of Zion's Camp.
History of the Church, 2:63–69
1838— Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith learned from Brother Bailey that 200 families and wagons would arrive in three weeks from Canada.
History of the Church, 3:27
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith addressed a large company of friends at his home on the Saints' course of dealings with the national government.
History of the Church, 6:356
May 6
1832— Independence, Missouri. Joseph Smith traveled by stage to St. Louis, Missouri, on a trip to Kirtland, Ohio.
History of the Church, 1:271
1833— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith received D&C 93, a sublime revelation about mankind's eternal existence and relationship to God, and also D&C 94, a revelation about the construction of a house for the presidency and also a printing house.
History of the Church, 1:343–47
1834— Streetborough, Ohio. Continuing his trek with Zion's Camp, Joseph Smith went from Streetborough to New Portage, Ohio.
History of the Church, 2:64
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. An arrest warrant was served to Joseph Smith on complaint of Francis M. Higbee, but Joseph petitioned for and obtained a writ of habeas corpus answerable before the Nauvoo Municipal Court.
History of the Church, 6:356
May 7
1834— New Portage, Ohio. Joseph Smith and the Zion's Camp brethren prepared for their journey.
History of the Church, 2:64
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith commanded drills for the Nauvoo Legion throughout the day.
History of the Church, 5:3–5
May 8
1834— Chippewa, Ohio. Joseph Smith continued on the Zion's Camp march to Missouri.
History of the Church, 2:65
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith went before the municipal court on the case of Francis M. Higbee v. Joseph Smith.
History of the Church, 6:357 61
May 9
1831— Hiram, Ohio. Joseph and Emma Smith adopted the twin children of John Murdock, whose wife, Julia, died during childbirth.
History of the Church, 1:260
1834— Chippewa, Ohio. Continuing with Zion's Camp, Joseph Smith went from Chippewa to Wooster, Ohio.
History of the Church, 2:65
1838— Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith preached at the funeral of James G. Marsh, son of Thomas B. Marsh.
History of the Church, 3:30
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith blessed Elders Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith before their journeys to the eastern United States.
History of the Church, 6:362
May 10
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery ran out of supplies during the translation of the Book of Mormon and went to Colesville, New York, to obtain provisions from Joseph Knight.
Opening the Heavens, 93
1831— Hiram, Ohio. Joseph Smith baptized Luke S. Johnson.
History of the Church, 1:260
1834— Wooster, Ohio. Continuing with Zion's Camp, Joseph Smith passed through Mansfield on the way from Wooster to Richfield, Ohio.
History of the Church, 2:65
1839— Commerce, Illinois. Joseph Smith moved his family into a small log house purchased from Hugh White.
History of the Church, 3:349, 375
May 11
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith translated the end of the book of Helaman and the beginning of 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.
Opening the Heavens, 93
1834— Richfield, Ohio. On the Zion's Camp march led by Joseph Smith, Elder Sylvester Smith preached to the brethren, after which they received the sacrament and were joined by eight more men.
History of the Church, 2:65
1838— Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith attended the trial of William E. McLellin and Dr. McCord before the bishop's court. Both were excommunicated.
History of the Church, 3:31
May 12
1834— Richfield, Ohio. Zion's Camp, led by Joseph Smith, continued traveling through Indian settlements on the Sandusky Plains.
History of the Church, 2:65
1838— Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were suffering financially and did not have enough money to provide for their families.
History of the Church, 3:31 32
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith attended an overflowing meeting of the Relief Society.
History of the Church, 5:6
May 13
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. After Joseph Smith's brother Hyrum Smith arrived in Harmony, Joseph received D&C 11, a revelation admonishing Hyrum to be patient and to assist in the work.
History of the Church, 1:39–46
1834— Sandusky Plains, Ohio. Joseph Smith continued on the Zion's Camp march.
History of the Church, 2:65
May 14
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith translated the account of the appearance of the resurrected Savior in 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon.
Opening the Heavens, 93
1834— Belle Fontaine, Ohio. Joseph Smith continued on the Zion's Camp march.
History of the Church, 2:65–66
1838— Far West, Missouri. Joseph Smith plowed his garden.
History of the Church, 3:33
1841— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith received an agreement from Ebenezer F. Wiggins.
Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee (2002), 506–7
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith received word that Lilburn W. Boggs, former Missouri governor, had been shot at Independence.
History of the Church, 5:8
May 15
1829— Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist along the bank of the Susquehanna River at Harmony Township, Pennsylvania. This event is recorded in D&C 13.
History of the Church, 1:39–44
1834— Mad River, Ohio. Joseph Smith continued on the Zion's Camp march.
History of the Church, 2:66
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith published facsimile 2 and the remaining verses from the book of Abraham in the Church newspaper Times and Seasons.
History of the Church 5:11; 4:525
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith was visited at home by Josiah Quincy, former mayor of Boston, and Charles Francis Adams, son of United States president John Quincy Adams.
History of the Church, 6:377
May 16
1834— Between Springfield and Dayton, Ohio. Joseph Smith continued on the Zion's Camp march.
History of the Church, 2:66–68
1836— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith went from Kirtland to Fairport, Ohio, to meet their grandmother Mary Duty Smith and other members of the family.
Elias Smith's Journals, 1836–1840
May 17
1834— Wayne County, Indiana. Joseph Smith warned discontented Zion's Camp members about misfortune that would befall them if they did not change their disobedient behavior.
History of the Church, 2:68
1836— Kirtland, Ohio. Mary Duty Smith, Joseph Smith's 93-year-old grandmother, arrived in Kirtland.
History of the Church, 2:442–43
1843— Ramus, Illinois. Joseph Smith received D&C 131, a revelation containing requirements for obtaining the celestial degree of glory.
History of the Church, 5:392–93
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith was nominated as a United States presidential candidate for the National Reform Party at the Illinois state convention.
History of the Church, 6:386–97
May 18
1834— Richmond, Indiana. Joseph Smith's warning to the brethren in Zion's Camp concerning their disobedience was fulfilled when their horses foundered.
History of the Church, 2:68–69
1843— Carthage, Illinois. Joseph Smith dined with Judge Stephen A. Douglas and prophesied that the judge would aspire to the presidency of the United States, but that if he ever turned against the Saints, he would feel the hand of the Almighty.
History of the Church, 5:393–94
May 19
1834— Richmond, Indiana. Zion's Camp, led by Joseph Smith, traveled 31 miles, going from Richmond to Franklin, Indiana.
History of the Church, 2:69
1838— Spring Hill, Missouri. Joseph Smith received D&C 116, a revelation that identified Spring Hill as the site for the new settlement, Adam-ondi-Ahman.
History of the Church, 3:35
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith was elected by the Nauvoo City Council to replace the discredited John C. Bennett as mayor.
History of the Church, 5:12
1843— Richmond, Indiana. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to his wife, Emma Smith.
Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. Dean C. Jessee (2002), 340–43
May 20
1834— Franklin, Indiana. Joseph Smith led the Zion's Camp march from Franklin to Greenfield, Indiana.
History of the Church, 2:69–70
1843— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith sent an explanation of the word "Mormon" to the Church newspaper Times and Seasons in response to erroneous views held by "men that profess to be learned."
History of the Church, 5:399–400
May 21
1834— Indianapolis, Indiana. By temporarily dispersing, Joseph Smith and the Zion's Camp brethren passed through Indianapolis without problems.
History of the Church, 2:70
1839— Montrose, Iowa. With the First Presidency and several others, Joseph Smith rode out on a land excursion to view the territory for many miles in the regions round about Montrose.
Wilford Woodruff Journal vol. 1
May 22
1834— Indianapolis, Indiana. The Zion's Camp march, led by Joseph Smith, went from Indianapolis to Belleville, Indiana, and encamped near "a small stream of water in a grove."
History of the Church, 2:70
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith spent the day at home, watching for the officers from Carthage who were determined to arrest him.
History of the Church, 6:401–2
May 23
1834— Belleville, Indiana. Joseph led the Zion's Camp march from Belleville to Greencastle, Indiana, and they encamped about four miles from Greencastle after a hard drive.
History of the Church, 2:70
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith spoke with the Sac and Fox Indians who had arrived the previous day.
History of the Church, 6:402
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith prophesied to his brother Hyrum Smith that their enemies would lie about him the same as they had about Joseph.
History of the Church, 6:403
May 24
1829— Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania. A short time after Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Aaronic Priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood was also conferred upon them by the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John along the banks of the Susquehanna River between Colesville, New York, and Harmony, Pennsylvania.
History of the Church, 1:39–44
1834— Greencastle, Indiana. The ongoing Zion's Camp march, led by Joseph Smith, left Greencastle, crossed the Wabash River in ferry boats, and pushed on to the Illinois state line in Edgar County.
History of the Church, 2:70
May 25
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith baptized his brother Samuel H. Smith just 10 days after Joseph and Oliver Cowdery had received the Aaronic Priesthood and were baptized.
History of the Church, 1:44
1834— Edgar County, Illinois. Joseph Smith and the other brethren on the Zion's Camp march spent Sunday in camp, not on the road.
History of the Church, 2:70
May 26
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. The work of translating the Book of Mormon continued after Samuel Smith's baptism.
Opening the Heavens, 94
1834— Paris, Illinois. Joseph Smith demonstrated great care for the wild animals the brethren encountered on the Zion's Camp march and then tested the readiness of the brethren by sounding a false alarm.
History of the Church, 2:71–72
May 27
1834— Okaw branch of the Kaskaskia River, Illinois. As Joseph Smith's history records, he and the brethren of Zion's Camp experienced the protection of angels on their journey.
History of the Church, 2:73
1836— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith's grandmother Mary Duty Smith died.
History of the Church, 2:443
1842— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith stayed at home and took medicine for a bilious attack.
History of the Church, 5:21
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith, accompanied by friends, went to Carthage, Illinois, to attend the circuit court in answer to certain indictments against him.
History of the Church, 6:412–13
May 28
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith received D&C 12, a revelation to Joseph Knight Sr. about laborers wishing to assist in the vineyard.
History of the Church, 1:47–48
1834— Decatur, Illinois. Joseph Smith continued to lead the Zion's Camp march, as the men suffered from want of food and water.
History of the Church, 2:74
1843— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph and Emma Smith were sealed as husband and wife for time and eternity.
Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, 2nd ed.
May 29
1834— Decatur, Illinois. Joseph Smith organized a mock battle for the Zion's Camp marchers in order to alleviate growing tension and unrest due to low provisions in the camp.
History of the Church, 2:74–75
May 30
1831— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith received D&C 50, a revelation in response to Elder Parley P. Pratt's descriptions of strange spiritual manifestations that were sweeping through the Church.
History of the Church, 1:170
1834— Springfield, Illinois. Zion's Camp passed through Springfield, and Ezra Thayre administered his own concocted medicine to the sick horses.
History of the Church, 2:76 77
May 31
1829— Harmony, Pennsylvania. David Whitmer arrived, met Joseph Smith for the first time, and satisfied himself of the Prophet's divine inspiration.
Opening the Heavens, 94
1834— Jacksonville, Illinois. Zion's Camp moved on to Jacksonville after a man from Springfield, Illinois, gave Joseph Smith $100 for their march.
History of the Church, 2:77
1835— Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith spoke for three hours on the subject "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him."
BYU Studies, 33:3
1844— Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith administered to Sister Richards, who was sick and he issued a warrant for the arrest of Thomas B. Johnson for threatening the peace of the city.
History of the Church, 6:423 24
