Founding of the Church of Latter-Day Saints

Latter-Day Saints, Founding of the Church of

April 6

April 6, 1830, is the day on which Joseph Smith formally established the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (also known as Mormons) in Fayette, New York. Three years later the anniversary of the Church's founding was celebrated for the first time, with a meeting of about 80 people on the Big Blue River in Jackson County, Missouri. After that, there were no "birthday" celebrations until 1837, when a general conference was held to conduct church business and to observe the anniversary. Eventually the idea of holding an annual conference became an established custom, and it was always scheduled to encompass the April 6 founding date.

CONTACTS:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
50 N.E. Temple St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
801-240-1000; fax: 801-240-1187
www.lds.org

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 260
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 94
DictWrldRel-1989, p. 423
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 196
RelHolCal-2004, p. 126

Celebration day: Apr 6