A look back » 2008 will be remembered as a time when things shifted in Utah: our leaders in significant institutions, our feelings of invulnerability to economic pain, our understanding of how the rest of the nation sees Utah.

Many of The Salt Lake Tribune's top 10 stories of the year largely reflect such change.

Four of the top stories relate to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its history, including the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Church members' involvement in California's Proposition 8, which banned any marriages not between a man and a woman, so outraged gays and their supporters that thousands of people protested at the Salt Lake City Temple and others around the nation.

And the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints saw Texas authorities raid their west Texas enclave, taking custody of hundreds of children and leading to criminal charges against some members.

The soulful tenor David Archuleta was a step away from becoming 2008's American Idol. The Utah Utes are going to the Sugar Bowl. The state went to a four-day workweek, and searing federal reports blamed the 2007 Crandall Canyon coal mine disaster on a mine plan that was "destined to fail."

But the biggest story of all -- one that affects the outlook and prospects of nearly every Utahn -- is the deteriorating economy.

1. The economy

Utah trailed much of the rest of the country as it plunged into recession.

What began with a downturn in residential construction more than a year ago resulted in job losses that amounted to 11,500 by Nov. 30.

At year's end, state officials were working on plans to raise $400 million to help Utahns get home loans and to grasp a share of the next federal stimulus package.

Faced with a projected $350 million budget deficit this year, state agencies were making cuts and looking at an even leaner 2009. Social service agencies saw mounting demand for food, shelter beds and rental assistance, while those with investments worried about their future worth. The one bright spot: Gasoline prices fell sharply by year's end.

2. The YFZ Ranch raid on the FLDS

Texas child welfare officials raided the Yearning for Zion ranch in Texas, home to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in April, taking 439 children into custody on suspicions the children were abused because polygamy is practiced by the group. Two months later, the Texas Supreme Court ordered the children returned to their parents.

A Texas grand jury indicted 12 men and a criminal investigation continues.

This month, Texas officials said they found evidence that 12 girls were "spiritually" married between the ages of 12 and 15.

A YFZ statement said the raid left hundreds of children and adults traumatized, desecrated the sect's temple and reduced a self-sustaining community to poverty.

3. LDS leader Gordon B. Hinckley dies

The 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, the faith's "great communicator," died Jan. 27 at age 97.

Nearly 20,000 church members, friends and dignitaries gathered for his funeral, where Hinckley was remembered as a holy, cheerful ambassador as well as a skillful manager. He had traveled the globe, visiting more than 150 countries and adding 77 temples in his 13 years as president.

He was succeeded by President Thomas S. Monson, 80, who became prophet, seer and revelator for the 13 million-member faith. Monson chose the first European member of the LDS First Presidency in modern times, Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of Germany, as his second counselor. Monson retained Henry B. Eyring as first counselor.

4. Proposition 8

The LDS Church waded into the national controversy over gay marriage when it encouraged members to support Proposition 8, the ballot measure that ultimately eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. By some measures, Mormons contributed as much as $22 million to the cause, and Utahns, $2.6 million.

Gay-rights supporters criticized the church's involvement in the California vote, and staged protests at LDS temples in California, New York, Arizona and Utah.

5. Crandall Canyon aftermath

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration reported nearly a year after the Crandall Canyon coal mine disaster that the mining plan was so poorly engineered that it was "destined to fail." Six miners and three rescuers died in August 2007.

The agency fined the mine operator and its engineering company. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah is conducting a criminal probe. Lawsuits brought by families of those who died and were injured are proceeding in state court.

Two monuments to the victims were erected, one at the mine site, the other on the edge of Huntington.

6. Shortened ?state workweek

In a surprise move, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. announced that 17,000 of the state's workers would move to a 10-hour, four-day workweek for a one-year pilot program. Huntsman touted a 20 percent savings on energy and a greener approach to government.

Many state employees, though, were upset that they had no say in the change and by the short notice -- six weeks -- to rearrange their personal lives.

A survey toward the end of the year showed increasing acceptance by employees.

7. Utes in Sugar Bowl

For the second time in four seasons, the Utes went unbeaten during the regular season and earned a prestigious and lucrative berth in a Bowl Championship Series game -- the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl against Alabama in New Orleans.

The Utes finished the regular season 12-0, with key victories over Michigan, Oregon State and TCU, as well as arch-rival BYU in a 48-24 blowout.

8. Larry H. Miller

Larry H. Miller, the businessman who rescued the Utah NBA franchise in the 1980s, was hospitalized for an extended period after a heart attack and diabetes-related setbacks. In July, his oldest son, 42-year-old Greg Miller, took over as chief executive officer of the vast enterprise his father built. It includes the Jazz, the country's 10th largest automobile dealership, Miller Motorsports Park, the Salt Lake Bees baseball team, television and radio stations, a chain of sports apparel stores, movie theaters and commercial real estate properties.

9. Public land leases

On Election Day, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said it would lease about 360,000 acres of public land for oil and gas drilling, including parcels next to national parks and Moab.

Pushback led the BLM to cut the lease list in half, but its auction just before Christmas was thrown into disarray when a University of Utah student bid and won leases on 22,000 acres, though he has no plan to pay the $1.8 million. He may face federal charges for his act of civil disobedience.

10. David Archuleta

David Archuleta, a shy 17-year-old junior from Murray High School, finished second in the country's most popular TV show, "American Idol."

Though he lost in the season finale, the show's producers decided to hold auditions for the 2009 season in Utah for the first time.

Archuleta released his debut album in November to mixed reviews but solid sales, propelled by his radio hit, "Crush."

The Tribune staff contributed to this report.