
Why did the Mormons settle in the United States?
Many of the settlements established by the Mormon Church in adjoining states during the late 1870s were set up, in part, to provide safe havens for polygamists. In the 1880s, federal marshals arrested more than a thousand Mormon men. To escape the marshals, many families fled to Arizona, Mexico, Canada, and to the cover of south-central Utah.
Who were the Mormon pioneers?
Mormon pioneers. 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 across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah. At the time of the ceasefire and planning of the exodus in 1846,...
How many Mormons were in Utah when it became a state?
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.
Where did the LDS Church settle in the United States?
Church members eventually headed south into present-day Arizona and Mexico, west into California, north into Idaho and Canada, and east into Wyoming, settling many communities in those areas. Shortly after the first company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, the community of Bountiful was established to the north.

What cities were founded by Mormons?
These southern explorations eventually led to Mormon settlements in St. George, Utah, Las Vegas and San Bernardino, California, as well as communities in southern Arizona.
What was the Mormon settlement?
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.
Where were the most successful Mormon settlements?
While Salt Lake City, the headquarters of the LDS Church, is their most prominent achievement, many other settlements in the area were also very successful.
Which territory did the Mormons pioneer and settle?
After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 pioneers into Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
What state did the Mormons settle?
They had embarked on a treacherous thousand-mile journey, looking for a new place to settle the "Promised Land." On July 24, 1847, an exhausted Brigham Young and his fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley and called it home.
Do Mormons believe Jesus is God?
Mormons regard Jesus Christ as the central figure of their faith, and the perfect example of how they should live their lives. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead and a separate being from God the Father and the Holy Ghost. Mormons believe that: Jesus Christ is the first-born spirit child of God.
Did Mormons establish Las Vegas?
The history of the Las Vegas Mormon Fort began in 1855 when Brigham Young, the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City selected 30 men to establish a mission in the Las Vegas Valley.
Who settled Utah first?
(Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) The pioneers, led by Brigham Young, were the first non-Indians to settle permanently in the Salt Lake Valley. The founding group numbered 148, consisting of 143 men, three women, and two children.
What percentage of Utah is Mormon?
Statewide, Mormons account for nearly 62% of Utah's 3.1 million residents.
Where did the Mormon Trail start and end?
Mormon Trail, in U.S. history, the route taken by Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Great Salt Lake in what would become the state of Utah.
How many pioneers are Mormon?
Mormon migration Between 1847 and 1868, more than 60,000 Mormons made the journey, according to LDS Church history. Many traveled by wagon train; a few walked, carrying their belongings (and sometimes their family members) in wheelbarrow-like handcarts.
Why was the Mormon Trail established?
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.
Where is the biggest Mormon community?
At 253,015 square feet (23,505.9 m2), it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area....Salt Lake TempleSalt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the 10-acre (4.0 ha) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.Number422 more rows
Where are Mormons most prominent?
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. As of December 2020, the LDS Church reported having 16,663,663 members worldwide.
Where is the Mormon capital?
Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, state capital and seat (1849) of Salt Lake county, north-central Utah, U.S., situated on the Jordan River at the southeastern end of Great Salt Lake.
What percent of Idaho Falls is Mormon?
"Religion here is like gravity - it affects you whether you want it to or not," said Lee Nellis, a non-Mormon who works as a planning consultant for the city of Idaho Falls. Almost 57 percent of Bonneville County residents are Mormon. In rural counties, the numbers are even higher.
What happened to the Mormons in 1857?
Expansion came to a sudden halt in 1857–58 when the Utah Territory was invaded by the U.S. Army. False reports about the Mormons and about Brigham Young had reached Washington, and President Buchanan sent an army to crush a rebellion that didn’t exist. President Young quickly drew in the Mormons from all outlying colonies for their protection and to strengthen their own forces. With so much trauma in their history, the Mormons refused to be driven out again and were willing to set fire to all they had built rather than be thrust out again, leaving all their possessions to their enemies. Things were settled peacefully, however. The army realized there was no rebellion, and they did not attack. However, Brigham Young was replaced as governor, as was much of the government, so the U.S. government could feel it had more control. This occurrence crippled many of the outlying colonies, however, and expansion slowed down.
What was the cooperative spirit of the Mormons?
Brigham Young thus forbade the monopolization of land and natural resources. Those Saints who came later received the same freedoms of acquiring land and having water to work that land as the Saints who arrived first. In President Young’s words, “No man should buy or sell land. Every man should have his land measured off to him for city and farming purposes, what he could till. He might till it as he pleased but he must be industrious and take care of it.” This cooperative spirit extended to farming and livestock as well. One large area in each community was designated as feeding grounds. Most fields were fenced cooperatively as well. This made protecting both crops and livestock much easier.
What was the first settlement in the Salt Lake Valley?
The Saints’ first settlements in the Salt Lake Valley were on land that lay uncontested between two Native American tribes on the northern and southern ends of the valley: the Shoshoni and the Utes, respectively. The Mormons worked on peace with all of their Native American neighbors, and this friendship benefited both sides.
What were the Mormon settlements?
The larger chain of Mormon settlements, ranging from Canada to Mexico, were initially established as agricultural centers or to gain access to metals and other materials needed by the expanding Mormon population. The communities also served as waystations for migration and trade centered on Salt Lake City during the mid- to late 19th century.
When was the Mormon Corridor settled?
The Mormon corridor refers to the areas of western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who are commonly called " Mormons ".
What was the first Mormon colony in Mexico?
For his help towards the LDS settlers, the first Mormon colony in Mexico was named Colonia Díaz. This settlement was shortly followed by two additional communities, In March 1886, Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublán were established, with other smaller settlements emerging in future years.
What is the Mormon corridor?
The Mormon corridor is the areas of western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who are commonly nicknamed " Mormons " . In academic literature, the area is also commonly called the Mormon culture region.
Why is the Mormon belt called the Jell-O belt?
The Mormon corridor has been nicknamed the "Jell-O belt" due to the popularity of Jell-O in the region . One of the official pins for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City was a green Jell-O jiggler in the shape of the state.
What is the Mormon culture region?
In academic literature, the area is also commonly called the Mormon culture region. It has also been referred to as the Book of Mormon belt,, and the Jell-O belt, these being cultural references to the Bible Belt of the Southeastern United States, and the Book of Mormon, along with the perceived favor Mormons have for Jell-O.
How many colonies were there in 1867?
Western historian Leonard Arrington asserts that within ten years of the LDS arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, "...nearly 100 colonies had been planted; by 1867, more than 200; and by the time of (Young's) death in 1877, nearly 400 colonies.".
Who received copyright for the Book of Mormon?
June: Smith, who has completed the translation at Peter Whitmer's farm in Fayette, New York, receives a copyright for The Book of Mormon. Eleven witnesses will later sign statements that they have seen the gold plates from which The Book of Mormon was translated; three of them, including Harris and Cowdery, further assert that they saw an angel bearing the plates.
How many revelations did Joseph Smith have?
One hundred thirty eight of Smith's revelations are published in a book called Doctrine and Covenants. Included among these are the sixty-five revelations published in The Book of Commandments, plus seven "Lectures on Faith" prepared by Joseph Smith, which are not described as revelations. 1836.
How long did the Lamanites have peace with Christ?
Christ's appearance inaugurates a period of harmony with the Lamanites that lasts 200 years, but eventually the tribes fall into conflict again. 385 A.D. A Nephite prophet named Mormon has been writing the story of his people.
What is the first book of Smith's revelations?
The first collection of Smith's revelations is prepared for publication as The Book of Commandments.
Where did the Smith family move to?
1816. Following a third straight year of crop failure, the Smith family moves to Palmyra, New York, a town of 4,000 situated near the planned route of the Erie Canal. Palmyra lies within an area known as the "Burned-over District" for the evangelical fervor of its residents. 1817.
When did Smith get the gold plates back?
September 22: Smith gets the gold plates and interpretation device back.
What tribes did Lehi descend from?
Lehi's descendants divide into two tribes, the Nephites and the Lamanites, named after two of Lehi's sons. The Nephites, initially more prosperous and religious, become corrupt over time and are locked into centuries of warfare with the nomadic Lamanites, whom Mormons consider the ancestors of Native Americans.
Why did the Mormons settle in Utah?
Why the Mormons Settled in Utah. Young led the Mormons on their great trek westward through the wilderness some 1,300 miles to the Rocky Mountains—a rite of passage they saw as necessary in order to find their promised land. Young led the Mormons on their great trek westward through the wilderness some 1,300 miles to the Rocky Mountains—a rite ...
How many Mormons were in Utah in 1896?
By 1896, when Utah was granted statehood, the church had more than 250,000 members, most living in Utah. Today, according to official LDS statistics, Utah is ...
What was the Mormon practice of plural marriage?
Though Young eventually agreed to be replaced as territorial governor, the Mormon practice of plural marriage would delay Utah’s statehood for nearly four more decades. Congress began passing laws trying to get rid of polygamy (or bigamy, as it was then called) in the early 1860s.
Why were Mormons drawn to the Salt Lake Valley?
Despite warnings about the region’s unsuitability for agriculture and the hostile Native Americans living near the smaller , freshwater Utah Lake, the Mormons were drawn to the low population of the Salt Lake Valley. And the mountains ringing the valley were stocked with freshwater streams and creeks that could nourish crops, despite the saltiness of the Great Salt Lake itself. “It didn’t seem to be wanted by any other white people,” Bowman says of Young’s chosen spot. “There was not a large Native American presence, but there was the potential for agriculture, and for supporting a large population.”
How many miles did the Mormons trek through the wilderness?
Two years later, Young led the Mormons on their great trek westward through the wilderness some 1,300 miles to the Rocky Mountains—a rite of passage they saw as necessary in order to find their promised land. Young, and 148 Mormons, crossed into the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. For the next two decades, wagon trains bearing thousands ...
Why all the hostility against Smith and his fellow Mormons?
“They tended to vote in blocs, they tended to consolidate all their economic activity within their own communities. These kinds of things generated suspicion from people around them.”
When did Utah become a state?
On January 4, 1896, Utah became a state. A year later, when the church celebrated the 50th anniversary of Brigham Young’s arrival in the Salt Lake Valley—Young himself died in 1877—the newly completed Mormon temple in Salt Lake City was draped in American flags.
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 .
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 .
Where did the Brooklyn Saints settle?
He reported to Young about his group's successful journey and their settlement in what is today San Francisco, California. He urged the vanguard company to continue on to California but was unable to shift the leader's focus away from the Great Basin. Young also met mountain man Jim Bridger on June 28. They discussed possible routes into the Salt Lake Valley, and the feasibility of viable settlements in the mountain valleys of the Great Basin. Bridger was enthusiastic about settlement near Utah Lake, reporting fish, wild fruit, timber and good grazing. He told Young that local Indians raised good crops, including corn and pumpkins, but that there was ever-present danger of frost. The company pushed on through South Pass, rafted across the Green River and arrived at Fort Bridger on July 7. About the same time, they were joined by thirteen more members of the sick detachment of the Mormon Battalion.
Where did the Mormons come from?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with its origins steeped in the religious, social, and popular values of early 19th century rural New York , is perhaps the most American of religions. Following the 1844 mob slaying of their founder Joseph Smith in Carthage, Illinois, the Mormons were urged westward by a new leader, Brigham Young: away from the hatred, violence and dissension that had plagued the Saints for the previous 20 years. After consulting his advisors and the journals of explorers, Young concluded that the only place with enough open land to support his rapidly growing, mostly agricultural brethren was the little-known plateau and basin region between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. On July 21, 1847 the advance party, carrying an ill Young, looked down on the new home where "the Saints would find protection and safety." [ 1]
Who were the Mormons who settled in the High Valley?
Sent by the church to bring isolated bands of Utes and Paiutes to that peace council, a party of 22 men, including later settlers Albert Thurber and George Bean, was impressed by the high valley's abundant grass, timber, and game.
Why did the Mormons move south of Salt Lake City?
Convinced by mountain man Jim Bridger and others that north of the 42nd parallel (Utah's northern border today) was too cold for most crops, the Mormon leader determined that the thrust of new colonization should be south of Salt Lake. These efforts to concentrate the constantly arriving Saints in more southern settlements could also explain why Fillmore became the first territorial capitol. [ 2]
What were the conditions of the Mormon Corridor?
Along the Mormon Corridor, conditions were still less than ideal . The region's topography, aridity, and occasionally resistant Americans Indians restricted settlement to those few places were rivers could be diverted to irrigate fields. Even with the innovative system by which Mormons built and maintained cooperative irrigation projects, the amount of arable land was not enough to keep up with the needs of new arrivals and adult offspring, who were searching for their own lands. This second generation of Mormon pioneers, encouraged as much by personal ambition as by church directive, soon began piercing the barrier of the high plateaus in search of land previously considered inhospitable.
What is the history of Capitol Reef?
Capitol Reef's history is largely the history of Mormon settlement, not only because Mormons were the first Euro-Americans in the region, but also because their descendants make up most of today's local residents. Traditional Mormon attitudes toward the land have had a significant effect on Capitol Reef's administrative ...
What are the Mormon attitudes toward the land?
Traditional Mormon attitudes toward the land have had a significant effect on Capitol Reef's administrative and resource management decisions , and Mormon lifestyle s have altered the natural landscape into a cultural one.
How many babies were born on the Colorado River?
It is remarkable that no one was killed on this epic journey. In fact, three babies were born along the way.

Overview
History
The larger chain of Mormon settlements, ranging from Canada to Mexico, were initially established as agricultural centers or to gain access to metals and other materials needed by the expanding Mormon population. The communities also served as waystations for migration and trade centered on Salt Lake City during the mid- to late 19th century.
Communities in the generally fertile but relatively dry valleys of the Great Basin, Southeastern Ida…
Location
The Mormon culture region generally follows the path of the Rocky Mountains of North America, with most of the population clustered in the United States. Beginning in Utah, the corridor extends northward through western Wyoming and eastern Idaho to parts of Montana and the deep south regions of the Canadian province of Alberta. It reaches south to San Bernardino, California on the west a…
"Jell-O Belt"
The Mormon corridor has been nicknamed the "Jell-O belt" due to the popularity of Jell-O in the region. One of the official pins for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City was a green Jell-O jiggler in the shape of the state.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Salt Lake City is America's Jell-O-eating capital. Every man, woman and child in Salt Lake City buys two boxes of the stuff annually, or twice the national ave…
See also
• Belt regions of the United States
• Culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Latter-day Saint settlements in Canada
• Mormon colonies in Mexico
External links
• Map Gallery of Religion in the United States from American Ethnic Geography