Dual Perspective

A World and LDS History Timeline

One hundred years later, it is helpful to have a list of events important during 1914–1918. While the majority of these happenings were known to society at large, some of these were important only to members of the LDS Church.

1914

June 28 — Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austria–Hungary throne, and his wife are assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist in Sarejevo.
August 1 — Official outbreak of World War I. Germany declares war on Russia.
August 3 — Germany declares war on France.
August 4 — Germany declares war on Belgium and invades France. Britain and Canada declare war on Germany and Austria–Hungary in retaliation.
August 15 — Panama Canal opened to traffic.
August 23 — Japan declares war on Germany.
October 29 — Turkey enters the war alongside the Central Powers.
December 19 — Missionaries pulled from France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium, prior to WWI’s outbreak.
December 25 — Unofficial Christmas truce declared by soldiers on the Western Front.

1915

March 1 — British liner Falaba is the first passenger ship sunk by U–boats.
April 26 — Secret Treaty of London concluded between France, Russia, Italy and Britain.
April 27 — The “Home Evening” program inaugurated by the first presidency.
May 7 — British liner Lusitania sunk by German U–Boat. Loss of American civilian passengers creates US–German diplomatic crisis.
May 23 — Italy declares war on Austria–Hungary.
September — Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage is published.
Fall — First college classes taught at Ricks College (formerly Rick’s Academy).

1916

March 9 — Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New Mexico.
June 30 — The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve issue a doctrinal exposition clarifying the use of the title “Father” as applied to Jesus Christ.
September 15 — Tanks used for the first time in battle by the British.
November 7 — Woodrow Wilson is re–elected with a campaign slogan of “He kept us out of the war.”
November 28 — First German airplane air–raid conducted on Britain.

1917

January 19 — The Zimmermann telegram, in which Germany urges Mexico to declare war on the United States, is intercepted by the British.
February 3 — United States severs diplomatic ties with Germany after Germany resumes unrestricted U–boat warfare.
March 1 — Zimmermann Telegram is released to the American press.
March 15 — Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates as a result of Russian Revolution.
April 6 — The United States declares war on Germany and enters World War I.
April 6 — Opening day of the 87th Annual General Conference of the Church.
June 27 — Greece enters the war alongside the Allies.
October 2 — The Church Administration Building at 47 E. South Temple is completed.
November 11 — Bolsheviks overthrow Russian government and install a Communist one under Lenin.

1918

March 3 — Soviet Russia and the Central Powers of Germany, Austria–Hungary and Turkey sign a separate peace treaty.
May — The Relief Society, with First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric approval, sells approximately 200,000 bushels of wheat to the U.S. government to help alleviate wartime shortages.
May 25 — German U–boats appear in US waters for the first time.
July 16 — Former Tsar Nicholas II and his family are executed by the Bolsheviks.
October 3 — Joseph F. Smith receives a manifestation on the salvation of the dead and Christ’s visit to the spirit world after His crucifixion. This is ultimately published as Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
November 11 — Germany surrenders and signs the Armistice treaty. At 11 a.m. World War I concludes.
November 19 — President Joseph F. Smith dies at his home in Salt Lake City.
November 23 — President Heber J. Grant is ordained and set apart as the seventh president of the Church.

1919

January 18 — Peace negotiations start in Paris.
April — General Conference postponed due to nationwide influenza epidemic. Conference was held June 1–3.
April 28 — The League of Nations is founded.
June 28 — Treaty of Versailles signed between the Allies and Germany, officially ending the Great War (World War I).
October 10 — King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium attend a recital on Temple Square in Salt Lake City to hear the Tabernacle organ.
November 27 — Laie, Hawaii temple, the first outside the continental United States, dedicated by President Heber J. Grant.