TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 08 October

[Hemidakota]

1829 - The Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery purchase a large Bible from E. B. Grandin's bookstore in Palmyra, New York. It would later be used for the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.

1830 - The Prophet Joseph Smith receives the revelation recorded as Doctrine and Covenants 32. The early Saints had a great interest in teaching the remnants of the Lamanites, whose predicted blessings they had learned about through the Book of Mormon. Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson manifested a great desire to travel to the west to teach Native Americans the gospel and asked the Prophet Joseph to inquire of the Lord if the time had come to send missionaries among them. (History of the Church, 1:118-120)

1833 - William W. Phelps and Orson Hyde present a letter to Missouri governor Daniel Dunklin to request the governor supply troops to help the Saints recover their lost property in Jackson County, Missouri. In response, Governor Dunklin recommends the Saints seek redress through the court system.

1845 - Mother Lucy Smith addressed the last general conference held in Nauvoo, and the only conference held in the Nauvoo Temple. She shared a little history about her family and life, and expressed a desire to go West with the Saints if she is able. "I feel the Lord will let Brother Brigham take the people away," she stated, but then expressed a desire to be buried with her family in Nauvoo. She also shared she had finished writing her history and desired it be printed.

1847 - The last group of Saints arrive in the Salt Lake Valley during the first year of immigration. Known as the "Big Company," they brought the population of the Saints' new city to over 2,000.

1903 - George Albert Smith is ordained an Apostle. He becomes the first son to serve concurrently with his father, Elder John Henry Smith, in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

1928 - Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles born in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1961 - The Chilean Mission is organized.

1989 - An addition to the Chicago Illinois Temple is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

1992 - The African nation of Tanzania grants the Church legal recognition.

2000 - The new 21,000 seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, is dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley during general conference.

2005 - A 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan and India. Ten days later 80 tons of Church supplies arrived in Pakistan and $100,000 is donated to the Relief Fund in India. In November, the Church sent blankets and tents for the victims facing winter without adequate shelter. Overall, the Church sent over 400 tons of relief supples to the region.