-- During 1997
[Media] The Church first offers The Holy Bible in national television ads. (1)
10,500 seat E Center opens as the home of the Utah Grizzlies. (2)
[Utah] The $1.325 billion bid is awarded to Wasatch Constructions to reconstruct 17 miles of I-15, the main corridor around Salt Lake City. (2)
Utah celebrates its Sesquicentennial anniversary (150 year) since the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. This event included a variety of local activities plus the reenactment of the pioneer wagon trail from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley. (2)
-- Jan 4, 1998
Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society began coordinated study of the teachings of latter-day prophets. (3)
-- Feb 14, 1998-22
President Gordon B. Hinckley became the first Church president ever to visit West Africa during a nine-day tour of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. On Feb. 16, he announced plans for the first temple to be built in West Africa, in Ghana. (4)
-- 1998 14-22 February
[Hinckley] Toured five nations in Africa -" Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa -" speaking to more than 30,000 people; he became first Church president to ever visit West Africa (5)
-- Feb 16, 1998
[Hinckley] Announced plans for temple in Ghana, the first in West Africa (5)
-- Mar 9, 1998-15
President Hinckley addressed more than 53,000 members in 10 cities of northern Mexico: Hermosillo, Ciudad Obregon, Culiacan, Guadalajara, Torreon, Leon, Ciudad Victoria, Monterrey, Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez. (4)
-- Mar 26, 1998
The replica of the Joseph Smith Sr. family log home near Palmyra, N.Y., was dedicated by President Hinckley. The home was the location where the Prophet Joseph Smith was visited in his youth by the Angel Moroni. (4)
Grandin Print Shop dedicated. (3)
-- Mar 27, 1998
After 2 1/2 years of reconstruction, the Egbert B. Grandin Building, in Palmyra, N.Y., where the Book of Mormon was published in 1829, was dedicated as a Church historic site by President Hinckley. (4)
Replica of Smith family log home dedicated in Palmyra, New York. (3)
Footnotes:
1 - The Mormon Channel: The Broadcast and Media History of the LDS Church Timeline, http://radio.lds.org/eng/about/media-timeline
2 - History to Go, Utah Today, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/utahtoday.html
3 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
4 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
5 - LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president
Mormon History Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
