On February 4, 1846, members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began their journey west from Nauvoo, Illinois. After their leader, Joseph Smith, was assassinated, they established their community in the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1930 in New York. The church faced prejudice wherever it sought to establish itself. Smith faced controversy due to his beliefs that he was the prophet of God and his acceptance of polygamy. After moving around from Ohio and Missouri, the Mormons eventually settled in Nauvoo, Illinois.
In 1844, Smith announced his run for the presidency of the United States. His candidacy was opposed, and an anti-Mormon newspaper was created against his run. Smith was arrested after he assisted in destroying the newspapers. In June of 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered by a mob, and homes were burnt, and members were threatened.
Brigham Young was chosen to take over in Smith’s place as the leader. He decided Nauvoo was no longer safe for Mormons and was convinced they would never find peace in the United States. Young decided to move to the Mexican-controlled southwest. The group crossed the Mississippi River in frigid temperatures and eventually stopped for camp in Iowa. Throughout the journey, many migrants struggled with housing and food, and as a result, scurvy and malaria broke out. 600 people died before they reached the spring.
Due to the outbreak of war with Mexico, many Mormons were recruited to fight in the war. By July, 549 men made up the Mormon Battalion and traveled to New Mexico and California. Young continued his journey and reportedly said, “This is the place,” upon seeing the Valley. 1,600 people arrived in the Great Salt Lake that year; the following year brought 2,500 more. By 1877, the year of Young’s death, 100,000 people lived in the Valley.
By 1848, the Southwest became part of the United States following Mexico’s defeat in the war. However, throughout the century, Mormons continued to move into the region and thrived there. Utah became a state in 1896. By the 21st century, more than half of Utah’s population was Mormon.
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