When did the Mormon migration start?
When was the Mormon migration? 1846 For over 20 years, beginning in 1846 , Mormon pioneers migrated through the mid-section of North America in hopes of finding a new home in the west.
Why did many Mormons migrate to the western US?
why did many mormons migrate to the western United States? the belief that the expansion of u.s. throughout the American continents was both justified inevitable.
Why did the Mormons move to Utah?
The Mormons wanted to settle somewhere isolated where they could practice their religion without other people bullying them or interfering with their beliefs. They also wanted to settle in a place where there was no government to bother them. Young chose Utah and was one of the first Mormons to go there with a group of followers.
Who led the Mormon migration to Utah?
Young and the first band of Mormon pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah. For the first few years, Brigham Young and the thousands of early settlers of Salt Lake City struggled to survive.
Where did the Mormons march?
How many Mormons traveled to Utah?
What river did the Mormons cross?
When did the Exodus begin?
When did Mormons abandon their homes?
When did the Mormons reach Omaha?
How long did Brigham Young travel?
See 4 more
About this website
What was the Mormon migration and why did they migrate?
In June 1845 the leader of the Mormons, Joseph Smith, was murdered. Brigham Young became the new leader of the Mormons. Due to the hostility shown towards the Mormons, he decided they needed to move somewhere safer. Young decided to migrate to the Great Salt Lake, just south of the Oregon Trail.
Where did the Mormon migration begin?
Their leader assassinated and their homes under attack, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) of Nauvoo, Illinois, begin a long westward migration that eventually brings them to the valley of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Where did Mormons settle in the 1840s and 1850s?
Young, and 148 Mormons, crossed into the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. For the next two decades, wagon trains bearing thousands of Mormon immigrants followed Young's westward trail. By 1896, when Utah was granted statehood, the church had more than 250,000 members, most living in Utah.
Who led the Mormon migration 1846 47?
Brigham Young (Mormon leader) sent advance 'pioneers' ahead, to plant crops, build houses, set up staging posts for the travellers. The journey - the Mormons faced a journey of 2,250km, which made them 'weary and footsore'.
How long did the Mormon migration last?
Wagons collapsed, people died from exposure, and it took 131 days for the Mormon convoy to travel 310 miles to relative safety on the banks of the Missouri, where the river divided Nebraska and Iowa. Still, church members kept the faith throughout their tribulations.
When did the Mormon migration end?
The period of overland emigration of the Mormon pioneers is generally defined as 1847 through 1868. That is when organized companies traveled to Utah by wagon or handcart. After the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, Latter-day Saint emigrants who traveled to Utah generally came by train.
Why did Mormons migrate to Utah?
The Mormons, as they were commonly known, had moved west to escape religious discrimination. After the murder of founder and prophet Joseph Smith, they knew they had to leave their old settlement in Illinois. Many Mormons died in the cold, harsh winter months as they made their way over the Rocky Mountains to Utah.
Why do people leave the Mormon religion?
Other reasons for leaving may include a belief that they are in a cult, logical or intellectual appraisal, belief changes or differences, spiritual conversion to another faith, life crises, and poor or hurtful responsiveness by Mormon leaders or congregations.
What state has the most Mormons?
The center of Mormon cultural influence is in Utah, and North America has more Mormons than any other continent, although about half of Mormons live outside the United States.
What is the Mormon migration?
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as Latter Day Saints, who migrated beginning in the mid-1840s until the late-1860s across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah.
How many died on the Mormon Trail?
Bashore and Tolley analyzed 56,000 records of pioneers who traveled to Salt Lake City between 1847 and 1868. The researchers found 1,900 deaths during the journey or within the calendar year of arrival in Salt Lake, making the overall mortality rate 3.5 percent.
What is the difference between LDS and Mormon?
While most members of the Church do not mind being called "Mormons," a more formal way to refer to a person who belongs to the faith is "a Latter-day Saint," or "a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
When did the Mormon move west?
The well-organized wagon train migration began in earnest in April 1847, and the period (including the flight from Missouri in 1838 to Nauvoo), known as the Mormon Exodus is, by convention among social scientists, traditionally assumed to have ended with the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.
Why did the Mormons leave Ohio?
After his bank fails in the Panic of 1837, Joseph Smith flees Kirtland, Ohio, to avoid arrest and heads for Missouri to rebuild his religious community.
Why did Mormons drive out of Illinois?
After Smith's assassination, the agitation against Mormons continued. The conflict escalated into what has sometimes been called the "Mormon War in Illinois". Opponents of the Mormons in Warsaw and Carthage began to agitate for the expulsion from Illinois of the Latter Day Saints.
Why did the Mormon Trail happen?
In 1846, Mormons left Nauvoo, Illinois because of religious persecution and traveled across Iowa, ending in Winter Quarters, Nebraska. On April 5, 1847, an advance company led by Brigham Young set off from Winter Quarters on their trek across the country, (1,040 miles) to a new home in the tops of the Rocky Mountains.
The Mormon Migration 1846-47 | History | tutor2u
The Mormons were a religious group who practised a type of Christianity. However, they were targeted by other Christians who disagreed with Mormon practices such as polygamy. In June 1845 the leader of the Mormons, Joseph Smith, was murdered. Brigham Young became the new leader of the Mormons. Due to the hostility shown towards the Mormons, he decided they needed to move somewhere safer.
Mormons Tell Their Part of Western Expansion Story
Every Wednesday afternoon, 91-year-old Katherine Kercher dons a vintage skirt and joins her neighbor Lois Roos to tell the Mormon pioneer migration story at the city’s Museum of Western Expansion.
Latter-day Saints begin exodus to Utah - HISTORY
On this day in 1846, Young abandoned Nauvoo and began leading 1,600 Latter-day-Saints west across the frozen Mississippi in subzero temperatures to a temporary refuge at Sugar Grove, Iowa.Young ...
Founding of Mormonism
Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a vision that told him not to join any existing churches. Later visions (he claimed) helped him locate lost books that should be placed alongside the Christian Bible as inspired by God.
Mormon Migration 1800s
The Second Great Awakening: In the early 1800s, many new religious movements were born. Starting in the west, preachers created great excitement for religion. This excitement increased the popularity of traditional Protestant Christian denominations but also gave rise to new faiths.
Mormon Migration History
The history of Mormon migration in the 1800s is a story of religious tension and periodic westward movement until finally settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the time it took to get from New York to Utah, Mormons came into conflicts with outsiders, suffered internal divisions, and even lost their founder.
Mormons in Ohio
Shortly after founding the new religion, Smith convinced his followers to leave for Kirkland, Ohio in 1831. There, they built the first Mormon church. In Kirkland, Smith also founded a bank. During a national financial crisis in 1837, the bank failed.
Mormons in Missouri
In 1830, Joseph Smith proclaimed that the Mormons would be given the already settled land in Missouri by God. When this new group showed up, economically strong and believing divine ownership, conflict followed with existing settlers.
Mormons in Illinois
From Missouri, Joseph Smith led his followers to Illinois where he purchased the city of Commerce, Illinois in 1939. The Mormons renamed it Nauvoo, which meant "beautiful" in Hebrew. Although the Mormons would transform the swamps into a successful city, it was not to last.
Mormon Journey to Utah
The Mormons knew they had to leave Illinois, and planned to start their journey in the Spring of 1846. However, local disputes forced their hand. The Mormons began their harsh trek westward in February of that year. It was a difficult journey that tested their new leader.
Why was the Mormon migration successful?
The Mormon Migration succeeded because: Young carefully planned the logistics, ensuring there was enough supplies to last the journey.
Why did Brigham Young become the leader of the Mormons?
Brigham Young became the new leader of the Mormons. Due to the hostility shown towards the Mormons, he decided they needed to move somewhere safer. The Mormons were a religious group who practised a type of Christianity. However, they were targeted by other Christians who disagreed with Mormon practices such as polygamy.
Why did the Donner Party plan regular rests?
Young planned for regular rests to ensure travellers and cattle did not become exhausted. One of the Donner Party’s major problems was that their oxen became too exhausted to continue the journey.
What was the task of the Pioneer Band?
He sent a ‘Pioneer Band’ of 150 men and 70 wagons to be the first to travel to the Great Salt Lake. Their task was to find the best trail, and clear it for use. They also constructed crossings over rivers and planted crops.
Where did Brigham Young move to?
Young decided to migrate to the Great Salt Lake, just south of the Oregon Trail.
Was the Mormons safe in Mexico?
He believed the Mormons would be safe here as it was isolated and technically part of Mexico, not the United States. The Mormon migration is significant as Young successfully migrated thousands of Mormons to the Great Salt Lake, even though they travelled off the Oregon Trail.
How many groups were there in the Mormon migration?
The company was further divided into groups of 10 and 50 with authority and responsibility delegated downward.
What is the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel?
The Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel gathers information from journals, church history records, and other materials to locate the company in which an ancestor traveled across the plains to get to Utah. This covers known and unknown wagon trains from 1847 to 1868. It contains lists of passengers in companies as well as genealogical information about ancestors. It is the most comprehensive list of Mormon immigrants and the wagon trains that brought them to Utah.
Why did the LDS move to Illinois?
Since its founding in 1830, members of the LDS Church frequently had conflicts and difficult relations with non-members, due to both their unorthodox religious beliefs and the conduct of the church leaders and members. These and other reasons caused the body of the church to move from one place to another—to Ohio, Missouri, and then to Illinois, where they built the city of Nauvoo. Sidney Rigdon was the First Counselor in the church's First Presidency, and as its spokesman, Rigdon preached several controversial sermons in Missouri, including the Salt Sermon and the July 4th Oration. These speeches have sometimes been seen as contributing to the conflict known as the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri. As a result of the conflict, the Mormons were expelled from the state by Governor Boggs, and Rigdon and Smith were arrested and imprisoned in Liberty Jail. Rigdon was released on a writ of habeas corpus and made his way to Illinois, where he joined the main body of Mormon refugees in 1839. In 1844, Smith, and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob while in custody in the city of Carthage, Illinois. In 1846, religious tensions reached their peak, and in 1848 mobs burned the Latter-day Saint temple in Nauvoo .
What is the day of the pioneers?
The Mormon pioneers are celebrated annually on July 24 in the State of Utah, known as Pioneer Day. Salt Lake City also has the Mormon Pioneer Memorial Monument, where Young, Eliza R. Snow, and other Mormon pioneers are buried and where a memorial exists dedicated to all who crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. Additionally, the "Pioneer" (characterized as " Pioneer Pete ") is Lehi High School 's mascot. In some places, Mormons hold an event called "Pioneer Trek" for people who are ages fourteen to eighteen. In participating in the trek, the youth dress as pioneers and pack a few things to carry in handcarts. They go on a hike for a couple of days so they can experience what the pioneers had. During this multi-day event, camp organizers sometimes require youth to avoid the use of technology or anything that the pioneers did not have on their journeys, to enhance the experience.
How did the Great Basin affect the Church?
Financial resources of the church members varied, with many families suffering from the loss of land and personal possessions in Missouri, and Illinois. This impacted the resources and supplies each family could draw upon as they covered the more than 1,000 miles (2,000 km) to the Great Basin. Church funds were also limited at this time, but church leaders provided what funding and other material assistance they could to families and companies which were undersupplied.
Where did the Utes settle?
In 1849, Tooele and Fort Utah in modern-day Provo were founded. The settlement of Provo was particularly troubling to the Utes, since it was at the heart of their territory. Ute chief Wakara suggested the pioneers instead move into the Sanpete Valley in central Utah, where they established the community of Manti. Tensions in Fort Utah mounted after Mormons murdered Old Bishop, and Young ordered an attack on Utes, called the Battle at Fort Utah. This was shortly followed by the Walker War.
Where did the pioneers travel?
The pioneers traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the Great Basin using mainly large farm wagons, handcarts, and, in some cases, personally carrying their belongings. Their trail along the north bank of the Platte River and North Platte River and over the continental divide climbing up to South Pass and Pacific Springs from Fort John along the valley of the Sweetwater River, then down to Fort Bridger and thence down to the Great Salt Lake became known as the Mormon Trail .
What was the significance of the Mormon settlement in Utah?
Upon arriving in Utah, the Saints felt they had finally realized Young’s “long quest for a religious ‘home’” ( Arrington and Bitton 86 ). Not only did the migration embody a spirit of religious transformation, but the settlement itself became the culmination of Mormon religious life. In the first twenty years of settlement development, the church was behind every major establishment, constantly promoting self-sufficiency. One pioneer described the great basin as “a little world of blessings – a place where the streams have no communication with any Part of the World” (Farmer 49).
Who painted the Mormon battalion?
Featured Image: The Mormon Battalion at the Gila River in Arizona, a painting by George Ottinger (1833-1917). Used according to the Utah.gov terms of use.
What was the purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
Their movement was spurred by a search for freedom from religious persecution, a “place apart” to continue to grow in faith ( Farmer 19 ).
Is Utah a Mormon state?
This establishment of Utah as the hub of Mormon activity accounts for the fact that Mormon migration is not simply an event in history, but an ongoing movement to this religious site. The Mormon emphasis on the gathering doctrine, the location of Mormon leadership, and the many shrines in Utah still draw Latter-day Saint immigrants in. In a study conducted by Michael Toney and Carol Stinner, non-Mormons tend to enter the state with the intention of migrating out, while Mormons are far less likely to state an intention to out-migrate ( Toney, Stinner, and Kan 114 ). The Latter-day Saint migration has been one that has consistently shaped the American West.
Where did the Mormons march?from pbs.org
The first half of the journey was along the plains and easier going than the mountains that loomed up past Fort Laramie, Wyoming. But the Mormons kept going, marching by day and leavening the evenings with campfire dance and song. There was also much sickness.
How many Mormons traveled to Utah?from pbs.org
Over the next two decades more than 60,000 Mormons would journey to the Utah Territory; thousands came by wagon, and thousands more pulled handcarts across the harsh terrain. Many died along the way, and the survivors found the country they sought to escape would soon expand its borders to encompass them.
Why did Brigham Young become the leader of the Mormons?from tutor2u.net
Brigham Young became the new leader of the Mormons. Due to the hostility shown towards the Mormons, he decided they needed to move somewhere safer. The Mormons were a religious group who practised a type of Christianity. However, they were targeted by other Christians who disagreed with Mormon practices such as polygamy.
What river did the Mormons cross?from pbs.org
Wagon train crossing the Platte River 1840s-1850s. Courtesy: Special Collections Dept., J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah. They were a people who felt called by God, chosen to create a New Jerusalem. It was fitting, then, that in order to realize the dream, the Mormons endured a 1,300-mile journey of Biblical proportions. Time to Go.
What was the task of the Mormons?from tutor2u.net
Their task was to find the best trail, and clear it for use. They also constructed crossings over rivers and planted crops. This meant later groups of Mormons could travel safely. Young insisted on strict discipline. This meant there were no splits like there were in the Donner Party.
How long did Brigham Young travel?from pbs.org
Like many others in the pioneer band, Brigham Young came down with "mountain fever.". On July 24, after 111 days of travel, a wagon carrying the prostrate Young reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Looking out on the terrain, Young declared, "It is enough. This is the right place.".
How many men did the Pioneer Band send to the Great Salt Lake?from tutor2u.net
Young consulted with trail guides to find the quickest and safest routes. He sent a ‘Pioneer Band’ of 150 men and 70 wagons to be the first to travel to the Great Salt Lake.
What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of an index of pioneer immigrants with image links to journals, autobiographies, letters, and other narratives for the years 1840 to 1932. The immigrants were from the British Isles, Scandinavian, Swedish, and Netherlands Missions.
What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s migration record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family.
Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
Where are Mormons headquartered?
They primarily belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has more than 16 million members worldwide.
How many Mormons will be there by 2080?
Mormonism is thought to be a fast-growing religion. Some experts believe that if present trends continue, there could be 265 million Mormons worldwide by 2080. While the relatively new faith is still working to define its place as a major world religion, it’s likely to be a major contender in the coming years.
What do Mormons believe?
Mormons believe in the crucifixion, resurrection and divinity of Jesus Christ. Followers claim that God sent more prophets after Jesus’s death.
How many copies of the Book of Mormon have been distributed?
The book is divided into smaller books that read as narratives. The LDS church states that more than 150 million copies of the Book of Mormon have been distributed as of 2011.
Why do not all Mormon churches accept the label Mormon?
Not all Mormon churches accept the label "Mormon," because the term has at times been used in a derogatory manner, and it does not allow for the variety of beliefs that exist among churches that follow the Book of Mormon and the teachings of Joseph Smith.
What are the four books of Mormon?
Mormons embrace four different texts: The Christian Bible, The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. According to the LDS church, Adam and Eve lived in Daviess County, Missouri after being driven from the Garden of Eden.
How old do you have to be to be baptized in the church?
Children in the church are typically baptized at 8 years of age.
Where did the Mormons march?from pbs.org
The first half of the journey was along the plains and easier going than the mountains that loomed up past Fort Laramie, Wyoming. But the Mormons kept going, marching by day and leavening the evenings with campfire dance and song. There was also much sickness.
When did the Mormons reach Omaha?from pbs.org
Winter Quarters. All was well for a time in the area (near what is Omaha, Nebraska today) that the Mormons reached in June 1846. Local Native Americans were friendly, and Young decided they would remain in what became known as "Winter Quarters" until the following spring.
Why did Brigham Young become the leader of the Mormons?from tutor2u.net
Brigham Young became the new leader of the Mormons. Due to the hostility shown towards the Mormons, he decided they needed to move somewhere safer. The Mormons were a religious group who practised a type of Christianity. However, they were targeted by other Christians who disagreed with Mormon practices such as polygamy.
What river did the Mormons cross?from pbs.org
Wagon train crossing the Platte River 1840s-1850s. Courtesy: Special Collections Dept., J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah. They were a people who felt called by God, chosen to create a New Jerusalem. It was fitting, then, that in order to realize the dream, the Mormons endured a 1,300-mile journey of Biblical proportions. Time to Go.
What was the task of the Mormons?from tutor2u.net
Their task was to find the best trail, and clear it for use. They also constructed crossings over rivers and planted crops. This meant later groups of Mormons could travel safely. Young insisted on strict discipline. This meant there were no splits like there were in the Donner Party.
How long did Brigham Young travel?from pbs.org
Like many others in the pioneer band, Brigham Young came down with "mountain fever.". On July 24, after 111 days of travel, a wagon carrying the prostrate Young reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Looking out on the terrain, Young declared, "It is enough. This is the right place.".
How many men did the Pioneer Band send to the Great Salt Lake?from tutor2u.net
Young consulted with trail guides to find the quickest and safest routes. He sent a ‘Pioneer Band’ of 150 men and 70 wagons to be the first to travel to the Great Salt Lake.
Where did Brigham Young move the Mormons?
Brigham Young bases his decision to relocate the Mormons partly on Fremont's surveys. Mormon Developments. On July 24, 1847, after 111 days of travel, Brigham Young's advance party reaches a barren desert spot near the Great Salt Lake.
How long did the Mormons work on the Temple?
The Mormons toil on the large stone building from 1833 until 1836, dedicating one day out of seven to its construction. During the temple's consecration, hundreds report seeing angels and other miraculous visions. Many in the community are poor or have sold their assets to join.
What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830?
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 requires all Indians to move west of the Missouri River. Independence, just three miles from the river, is the western edge of American settlement and an early stop on the Santa Fe Trail -- and later the Oregon Trail. Mormon Developments.
Where did Joseph Smith live after the Book of Mormon?
Map: Forced Migrations | American Experience | Official Site | PBS. Soon after publishing The Book of Mormon in 1830, Joseph Smith left his home in Palmyra, New York with several dozen followers. Over the next fifteen years, Smith's Latter-day Saints would travel beyond the boundaries of the United States as they searched for a permanent place ...
When was the Book of Mormon first published?
On March 26, 1830, Joseph Smith publishes the first edition of The Book of Mormon. The book is a translation of golden plates that Smith reports to have dug up in surrounding hills. Smith says he was led to the plates and instructed by an angel, Moroni, in a series of visions.
Who was the governor of Missouri in 1838?
In 1838, Joseph Smith and the Ohio Mormons arrive. On October 27, 1838, Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs takes a dramatic stand to end violence.
Do non-Mormons believe in slavery?
Non-Mormons fear that the Mormons, who have formed a militia, will take their land. And although Smith's church officially supports slavery, other Missourians also oppose some Mormons' abolitionist sentiments. Following the Missouri Compromise of 1820, slavery is legal in the state, but the dispute over extending slavery to new territories is intense.
Where did the Mormons march?
The first half of the journey was along the plains and easier going than the mountains that loomed up past Fort Laramie, Wyoming. But the Mormons kept going, marching by day and leavening the evenings with campfire dance and song. There was also much sickness.
How many Mormons traveled to Utah?
Over the next two decades more than 60,000 Mormons would journey to the Utah Territory; thousands came by wagon, and thousands more pulled handcarts across the harsh terrain. Many died along the way, and the survivors found the country they sought to escape would soon expand its borders to encompass them.
What river did the Mormons cross?
Wagon train crossing the Platte River 1840s-1850s. Courtesy: Special Collections Dept., J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah. They were a people who felt called by God, chosen to create a New Jerusalem. It was fitting, then, that in order to realize the dream, the Mormons endured a 1,300-mile journey of Biblical proportions. Time to Go.
When did the Exodus begin?
Exodus, Part Two. In April 1847, an advance party of 25 wagons led by Young left the Winter Quarters and headed towards the Rocky Mountains. They traveled along the Platte River, creating a new route on its north bank rather than risk encounters with other settlers on the Oregon Trail.
When did Mormons abandon their homes?
In 1857 during the "Utah War," the Mormons abandoned their Salt Lake City homes as the U.S. Army approached, but returned to them unscathed and would never again be forced to flee for their lives and abandon everything they knew; for the first time, they had found a permanent home. Support Provided by: Learn More.
When did the Mormons reach Omaha?
Winter Quarters. All was well for a time in the area (near what is Omaha, Nebraska today) that the Mormons reached in June 1846. Local Native Americans were friendly, and Young decided they would remain in what became known as "Winter Quarters" until the following spring.
How long did Brigham Young travel?
Like many others in the pioneer band, Brigham Young came down with "mountain fever.". On July 24, after 111 days of travel, a wagon carrying the prostrate Young reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Looking out on the terrain, Young declared, "It is enough. This is the right place.".
Overview
Background of the migration
Since its founding in 1830, members of the LDS Church frequently had conflicts and difficult relations with non-members, due to both their unorthodox religious beliefs and the conduct of the church leaders and members. These and other reasons caused the body of the church to move from one place to another—to Ohio, Missouri, and then to Illinois, where they built the city of Nauvoo. Sidney Ri…
Vanguard company of 1847
Young organized a vanguard company to break the trail west to the Rocky Mountains, gather information about trail conditions, including water sources and Native American tribes, and to ultimately select the central gathering point in the Great Basin. The initial company would select and break the primary trail with the expectation that later pioneers would maintain and improve it. It was …
Travel conditions
The pioneers traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the Great Basin using mainly large farm wagons, handcarts, and, in some cases, personally carrying their belongings. Their trail along the north bank of the Platte River and North Platte River and over the continental divide climbing up to South Pass and Pacific Springs from Fort John along the valley of the Sweetwater River, then down to Fort Bridger and from there down to the Great Salt Lake became known as the Mormon Trail.
The ship Brooklyn
In November 1845, Samuel Brannan, newspaperman and small-scale publisher of the Mormon paper The Prophet (later the New York Messenger), was directed by church elders to charter a ship that would carry its passengers away from the eastern United States to California, which was then part of Mexico. Over the course of two months, Brannan managed to recruit 70 men, 68 women, and 10…
Later migration
After the initial departure of the Latter-day Saints living in Illinois and Missouri, converts to the church from other areas in the United States and from Europe followed the initial trail to join the main body of the church in Salt Lake City. Every year from 1847 until 1869, church members making this journey were formed into organized companies. Migration continued until about 1890, but those who came by railroad are not generally considered to be "Mormon pioneers."
Growth and development
The Mormons settled in the Salt Lake Valley, which at that time was used as a buffer zone between the Shoshones and the Utes, who were at war. Upon arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, the Mormons developed and cultivated the arid terrain to make it more suitable. They created irrigation systems, laid out farms, built houses, churches and schools. Access to water was crucial. Almost immediately, Young sent out scouting parties to identify and settle additional co…
Legacy
The Mormon pioneers are celebrated annually on July 24 in the State of Utah, known as Pioneer Day. Salt Lake City also has the Mormon Pioneer Memorial Monument, where Young, Eliza R. Snow, and other Mormon pioneers are buried and where a memorial exists dedicated to all who crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. Additionally, the "Pioneer" (characterized as "Pioneer Pete") is Lehi …