May 20

1831 – The Prophet Joseph Smith receives the revelation known as Doctrine and Covenants 51.  It contains instructions concerning the law of consecration.

1834 – Zion’s Camp traveled about twenty-five miles and encamped near Greenfield.  When possible, they travel along the national road but frequently have to take by-roads because of the mud.  The camp is visited by men who inquire who they are and where they are going.  They answer indirectly without giving any particular information about the Camp worried about spies from Missouri who could take word to the mobs on their strength and size.

1843 – The Prophet Joseph writes in a letter to the editor of the Times and Seasons about the meaning of the word Mormon.  He concludes his letter by stating “The word Mormon, means literally, more good’ (History of the Church, 5:400).

1947 – President George Albert Smith becomes the first Latter-day Saint leader to offer the prayer to open the U.S. Senate session.

1962 – The first stake in Massachusetts is organized in Boston.

1969 – Spain is dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by Elder Marion G. Romney.

1973 – The first stake in the Philippines is organized in Manila.

1993 – Lithuania is dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

2000 – The Tampico Mexico Temple is dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency.

2001 – The Perth Australia Temple is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

2002 – President Hinckley visits the Caribbean island of Trinidad and speaks to 900 people from Trinidad and several other islands.  He also meets with Patrick Manning, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

2007 – Two weeks after drawing criticism for remarks about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon religion not really believing in God, the Reverend Al Sharpton arrived in Salt Lake City to learn more about the Latter-day Saints. During his day and a half stay in Salt Lake City, he visited with Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, toured Temple Square, the Humanitarian Center, Welfare Square, and the Family History Center. He attended a Family Home Evening with the Becerra family and he also broadcast his national radio show on from Salt Lake City.

2018 – The Jordan River Temple was rededicated by President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the church’s First Presidency. Originally dedicated in 1981 by President Spencer W. Kimball, it was closed in 2016 for renovations, which included refreshing and modernizing the interior of the building.

2019 – President Russell M. Nelson meets with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern at her office in Wellington, New Zealand.

2020 – 128 years after it was closed and placed atop the Salt Lake Temple, the the First Presidency — President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring — donned masks and watched as Emiline Twitchell, conservator at the Church History Library, carefully opened the time capsule located in the capstone. Crews had removed the capstone — along with the angel Moroni statue that stood above it — from the central east spire of the Salt Lake Temple on May 18. Weighing 5,000 pounds or 2.5 tons and resting 160 feet high, both were carried through the air to the ground via crane for preservation and refurbishing.