In the Beginning...A Brief History
August 28, 1879 Gainesville Branch organized
“In August, 1879, the work was first opened in Eastern Florida through the instrumentality of Elder Heman C. Smith and Priest David Donaldson. They went from Western Florida, where the work had previously been established, most of the way on foot. They made a beginning by hiring a hall for one night in Gainesville, that being financially all they were able to do. Then two prominent citizens, Judge Dawkins and Mr. Grissom, who before were unknown to the missionaries, stepped forward, paid for the night already occupied and engaged the hall for a week, inviting the missionaries to occupy. The result was that the Gainesville Branch was organized August 28, with eight members, Moses O. Howard, presiding priest, — seven of these new converts. Soon after the missionaries returned to Western Florida, and the following April Elder Smith was released from the Southern field, since which no especial effort has been made to prosecute the work in Eastern Florida.”
— excerpt from The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Volume 4—1873-1890, Chapter 16, Pages 278-279
January 1954 to July 1957
Informal group meetings in homes
September 1961 to March 1970
Gainesville Group organized and met until Hetheringtons moved away in 1970
1975
Gainesville Group resumed services in Campbells home
January 1, 1977
Gainesville Mission was organized
July 23, 1980
Purchased 2.1 acre church lot for $15,307
October 6, 1985
Voted to sell the church lot for $28,000 due to difficulty making payments, but contract fell through.
1993
Site plan approved for drainage, etc. Required special exception from county due to new requirements of 5 acre minimum with 360 ft. frontage.
1994-1995
Phase I of church building was constructed
Mid-1990s
Group, Mission, Branch titles were dropped and we became Gainesville Congregation
Summer 2009
Church mortgage was retired
Informal group meetings in homes
September 1961 to March 1970
Gainesville Group organized and met until Hetheringtons moved away in 1970
1975
Gainesville Group resumed services in Campbells home
January 1, 1977
Gainesville Mission was organized
July 23, 1980
Purchased 2.1 acre church lot for $15,307
October 6, 1985
Voted to sell the church lot for $28,000 due to difficulty making payments, but contract fell through.
1993
Site plan approved for drainage, etc. Required special exception from county due to new requirements of 5 acre minimum with 360 ft. frontage.
1994-1995
Phase I of church building was constructed
Mid-1990s
Group, Mission, Branch titles were dropped and we became Gainesville Congregation
Summer 2009
Church mortgage was retired
