May 19

1834 – Zion’s Camp “traveled thirty-one miles and encamped in Franklin township, Henry county, in the beech woods’ (History of the Church, 2:69).

1838 – The Prophet Joseph Smith and his party continue their travel north from Far West until they reach the Grand River.  They traveled up the Grand River for eighteen miles and arrived at Colonel Lyman Wight’s home.  Brother Wight lived at the foot of Tower Hill, named by the Prophet for “an old Nephite altar or tower that stood there.’  About half a mile away they chose a site for a city to be built on a hill called “Spring Hill.’ The city was named Adam-ondi-Ahman by revelation from the Lord received by the Prophet Joseph on this date and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 116.

1839 – After completing his business in Quincy, the Prophet returned to his new home and family on the banks of the Mississippi River near Commerce, soon to be Nauvoo, Illinois.

1842 – A special session of the Nauvoo City Council elects Joseph Smith as the city’s second mayor, replacing John C. Bennett, who had resigned two days previously.

1890 – The U. S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the clauses in the Edmunds-Tucker Act that allows the government to confiscate Church property.

1915 – President Charles W. Penrose of the First Presidency dedicates the cornerstone of the new Church Office Building that would later become known as the Church Administration Building, at 45 East South Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2002 – The Asuncion Paraguay Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

2007 – The BYU Lacrosse team won its third MCLA National Championship at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, Texas, by defeating Oregon. The final score was 16-9. Every player on the BYU team was able to play during the championship game.

2012 – The BYU Rugby team won its second national championship with a 49-42 win over Arkansas State.  BYU also capped a perfect 17-0 season.

2018 – President M. Russell Ballard and Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with local leaders of the Church in New Zealand and Australia. In Wellington, President Ballard said, “We are shepherding one another, and loving one another, along the covenant path. We are learning how to love as Jesus did.” He added, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of love, of repentance, of forgiveness, of changing lives for the better.”

2019 – The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was rededicated after renovation by President Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Also, President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to 700 Saints in New Delhi, India.

2020 – The First Presidency announced an  authorized a phased return to some of the faith’s weekly worship services and activities.  A careful, cautious reintegration of worship services and other meetings and activities will follow the lead of local governments in relation to the Covid-19 virus.