Church Membership at end of year: 61,082
New Converts : 4,044
Percent Change from previous year: 7.09% (1)
[Deseret] First paper mill brought to Utah. It was manufactured by Gavitt of Philadelphia. (2)
[Deseret] Sir Richard Burton visits Utah Territory in the summer of 1860. (2)
-- During 1860-1863
[Joseph F. Smith] Serves mission to Great Britain. (3)
-- During 1860
[OREGON TRAIL] 15,000 people escape the threat of Civil War by moving west. Silver strikes bring thousands to Nevada, including Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain). Russell, Majors, and Waddell begin the Pony Express from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Pony Express stops dot the Oregon Trail every fifteen miles; every other station is a stage stop. Sir Richard Burton, the English lecturer and explorer, visits Salt Lake City. (4)
-- Apr 23, 1861
First wagon trains sent from Salt Lake Valley with supplies to help bring immigrating Saints to Utah. (5)
Two hundred wagons, with four yoke of cattle each, carrying 15,000 pounds of flour, started for the Missouri river, to bring the poor of the Saints to Utah. (6)
-- Oct 18, 1861
Telegraph line reached Salt Lake City. (5)
President B. Young sent the first message over the overland wire to the U.S. (6)
-- Oct 24, 1861
The first telegram was sent to San Francisco. In the autumn of this year a large colony of Saints was sent to southern Utah. (6)
-- During 1861 October
The Transcontinental Telegraph is linked to Salt Lake City, Utah. Brigham Young and Abraham Lincoln are among the first to send messages with the new link. (7)
-- 1861
Church Membership at end of year: 66,211
New Converts : 5,129
Percent Change from previous year: 8.40% (1)
[Deseret] Crews working to complete a coast-to-coast telegraph line meet at Fort Bridger in Utah Territory. The first transcontinental telegram, transmitted from Sacramento to Washington, carries a message from the state's Chief Justice to President Lincoln. Completion of a transcontinental telegraph line signals the end for the Pony Express. (8)
Footnotes:
1 - Wikipedia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Membership History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history
2 - History to Go, Pioneers and Cowboys, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/pioneersandcowboys.html
3 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah
4 - Clackamas Heritage Partners, http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=107Itemid=75
5 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
6 - Richards, Franklin Dewey and Little, James A., Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, Church Chronology, Ch.66, p.306
7 - Wikipedia, 19th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
8 - Legends of America, Old West Timeline, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-TimeLine2.html
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
