TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY: 03 July

[Hemidakota]

1834 - The Prophet Joseph Smith authorizes General Lyman Wight to give a discharge to every man of Zion's Camp who had proved faithful. The Prophet also organizes the Clay-Caldwell Stake, the first stake in Missouri, with David Whitmer as president and William W. Phelps and John Whitmer as assistant presidents. The Missouri High Council was organized with Christian Whitmer, Newel Knight, Lyman Wight, Calvin Beebe, William E. McLellin, Solomon Hancock, Thomas B. Marsh, Simeon Carter, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, John Murdock, and Levi Jackman as members. (History of the Church, 2:122-23)

1835 - Michael H. Chandler arrives in Kirtland, Ohio, to display four Egyptian mummies and some scrolls of papyrus containing hieroglyphics. They are later purchased by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and by revelation he obtains the Book of Abraham from them. (History of the Church, 2:235)

1841 - The Nauvoo Legion was "called out to celebrate our National Independence (the 4th being Sunday), and was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Joseph Smith, who made an eloquent and patriotic speech to the troops, and strongly testified of his regard for our national welfare, and his willingness to lay down his life in defense of his country, and closed with these remarkable words, 'I would ask no greater boon, than to lay down my life for my country.'" A dinner was then held in the grove attended by officers of the Legion, "and many others, with their ladies."

(History of the Church, 4:382)

2005 - The first meetinghouse in the African nation of Malawi, was dedicated in Blantyre.

2007 - More than 130 young single adults from the countries of Hungry, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania met for a five day conference in Budapest.