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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

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