Changes

<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596</ref>

<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596</ref>

The state's capital and largest city is [[Salt Lake City]]. The Great Salt Lake, located in northern Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere. <ref>http://www.utah.com/stateparks/great_salt_lake.htm</ref>

The state's capital and largest city is [[Salt Lake City]]. The Great Salt Lake, located in northern Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere.<ref>http://www.utah.com/stateparks/great_salt_lake.htm</ref>

The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee.

The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee.

==History==

==History==

The first permanent European settlement of Utah came in 1847 when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led by [[Brigham Young]], settled there, which ended their long westward trek to escape persecution. Peace would prove illusory, as relations with [[Native American]]s and white non-Mormons would turn sour. The infamous [[Mountain Meadows Massacre]] of 1857 led to over 100 deaths. <ref>[http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&locale=0 The Mountain Meadows Massacre]</ref> <ref>http://www.cesnur.org/testi/morm_01.htm</ref> Utah was admitted into the Union in 1896, after the Church banned [[polygamy]] on the basis that a new revelation from God had commanded this.

The first permanent European settlement of Utah came in 1847 when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led by [[Brigham Young]], settled there, which ended their long westward trek to escape persecution. Peace would prove illusory, as relations with [[Native American]]s and white non-Mormons would turn sour. The infamous [[Mountain Meadows Massacre]] of 1857 led to over 100 deaths.<ref>[http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&locale=0 The Mountain Meadows Massacre]</ref><ref>http://www.cesnur.org/testi/morm_01.htm</ref> Utah was admitted into the Union in 1896, after the Church banned [[polygamy]] on the basis that a new revelation from God had commanded this.

==Politics==

==Politics==

Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected [[President Bush]] by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004 and supporting [[John McCain]] in 2008. [[Salt Lake City]] is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal. <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/</ref> Both of the state's Senators ([[Orrin Hatch]] and [[Mike Lee]]) are [[Republican]]s, and two out of the state's three Representatives are Republicans. <ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=UT</ref>

Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected [[President Bush]] by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004 and supporting [[John McCain]] in 2008. [[Salt Lake City]] is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/</ref> Both of the state's Senators ([[Orrin Hatch]] and [[Mike Lee]]) are [[Republican]]s, and two out of the state's three Representatives are Republicans.<ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=UT</ref>

==Elected Officials==

==Elected Officials==