Fayette, New York

Fayette, New York, has become important as the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints(Mormon Church).

The first verse of Doctrine and Covenants 20 announces “the rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ] in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country … in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.”

The headnote to the next section, Doctrine and Covenants 21, declares that the Church was in fact organized on 6 April 1830 at Fayette, New York, “in the home of Peter Whitmer, Sen.” [D&C 21]

The specific laws under which the Church was incorporated seems to have been the laws of New York State. By 1784, the state of New York had already enacted a procedure for incorporating religious societies.