Settlement FAQs

why was the mormon settlement of salt lake city successful

by Brock Ritchie Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The success of the Mormon settlement was largely down to the strict leadership of Brigham Young

Brigham Young

Brigham Young was an American religious leader, politician, and settler. He was the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877. He founded Salt Lake City and he served as the first governor of the Utah Territory. Young also led th…

, and the willingness of the group to respect his authority and work for the good of the whole community. Where did the Mormon community move and settle permanently?

Full Answer

Where did the Mormons settle in Utah?

Mormons settle Salt Lake Valley. After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Why was the Mormon settlement so successful?

The success of the Mormon settlement was largely down to the strict leadership of Brigham Young, and the willingness of the group to respect his authority and work for the good of the whole community.

How many Mormon pioneers were there in the Great Salt Lake?

After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Gazing over the parched earth of the remote location, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the pioneers began preparations for the thousands of Mormon migrants who would follow.

What are the achievements of the LDS Church in Utah?

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. The techniques of the farm village, plats, and the grid, were all important components for the initial establishment, and later development, of the uninhabited area.

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How did the Mormons make Salt Lake a success?

They built complex irrigation systems to give them access to clean water for drinking and to water their crops. They were divided into groups who each worked to produce specific products, such as crops or timber, and this was then divided amongst the whole community.

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. 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.

Who helped the Mormons move to Salt Lake City?

Brigham YoungAfter 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 pioneers into Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Why is Salt Lake City so Mormon?

Salt Lake City was founded on July 24, 1847, by a group of Mormon pioneers. (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.

When did the Mormon migration end?

Later migration 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."

Why is Mormonism significant to the history of westward migration?

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'. They endured 'stormy weather' in winter and 'excessive heat' in summer.

Why did the Mormons settle in Utah and build a community there?

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.

Why is Salt Lake City important?

The world capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), it influences the social, economic, political, and cultural life of the people in a wide area of Utah and bordering regions of Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming.

When did Mormons settle Salt Lake?

July 24, 1847Completing a treacherous thousand-mile exodus, an ill and exhausted Brigham Young and fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The Mormon pioneers viewed their arrival as the founding of a Mormon homeland, hence Pioneer Day.

Why can't Mormons drink coffee?

Mormons believe God revealed in 1833 the foods and substances that are good and bad for people to consume. Liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee were prohibited.

What percent of Salt Lake is Mormons?

Latter-day Saints make up about 49% (28% active) of the population in Salt Lake County, making it the fifth minority LDS county in the state, joining Carbon, San Juan, Summit, and Grand.

What is a trait of a Mormon settlement?

Settlement tactics included three main traits: the plat, the grid, and the farm village. The goal of these traits was to help foster equality, proximity to the church, organization and solidarity, and close family relationships.

Where was the Mormon migration?

UtahTheir 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.

Who led the Mormon migration to Utah?

Brigham YoungThey 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.

What were a few reasons that Deseret was able to flourish?

Mormons made Deseret flourish through hard work and determination. They carefully planned towns, such as Salt Lake City, and built irrigation canals for their farms. They taxed property and regulated the use of water, timber, and other resources. They founded industries so they could be self-sufficient.More items...

What was the Mormon village in Utah?

The Mormon village in Utah was to a degree patterned after Joseph Smith’s City of Zion, a planned community of farmers and tradesmen, with a central residential area and farms and farm buildings on the land beyond. Life in these villages centered on the day’s work and church activities. Educational facilities developed slowly. Music, dance, and drama were favorite group activities.

How did the missionaries travel to Utah?

At the same time, missionaries traveled worldwide, and thousands of religious converts from many cultural backgrounds made the long journey from their homelands to Utah via boat, rail, wagon train, and handcart.

How were Mormons better equipped?

Although the struggle for survival was difficult in the first years of settlement, the Mormons were better equipped by experience than many other groups to tame the harsh land. They had pioneered other settlements in the Midwest, and their communal religious faith underscored the necessity of cooperative effort. Basic industries developed rapidly, the city was laid out, and building began. Natural resources, including timber and water, were regarded as community property; and the church organization served as the first government.

When did Joseph Smith and Hyrum move west?

When Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his brother Hyrum were assassinated at Carthage, Illinois, in June 1844, Brigham Young and other Mormon leaders decided to abandon Nauvoo, Illinois, and move west. Their exodus began February 4, 1846.

What was the impact of the reports of Fremont and conversations with Father De Smet, a Jesuit missionary?

The reports of Fremont and conversations with Father De Smet, a Jesuit missionary to the Indians, helped to influence their choice to head for the Great Basin. An advance party, including three African-Americans, entered Salt Lake Valley July 22, 1847, and the rest of the company on July 24.

Who was the president of the Mormons during the Mexican War?

With the outbreak of the Mexican War, President James Knox Polk asked the Mormons for a battalion of men. Volunteers were recruited and the Mormon Battalion formed. During their famous march of 1846–1847 from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to San Diego, California, they forged a wagon route across the extreme Southwest.

Who are the two people who wrote the history of Utah?

BRIEF HISTORY OF UTAH. Ron Rood and Linda Thatcher. Utah’s thousands of years of prehistory and its centuries of known recorded history are so distinctive and complex that a summary can only hint at the state’s rich heritage.

How did the Salt Lake Temple help the Saints?

The construction of the Salt Lake Temple helped further motivate the Saints to establish an effective industrial base. Until the introduction of rail, teams of oxen hauled raw materials from the mountains, which was a lengthy and dangerous process. Young admonished his people to add their labor power to the Transcontinental Railroad lines, which would meet at Promontory Point. In 1862 Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act that would allow for the rail to reach the Salt Lake valley. Hon Farr, the Mayor of Ogden, in a speech, voiced his joy: “Hail to the great highway of the nations, Utah bids you welcome! Once the rail was introduced in the valley, seven additional lines were built to transport heavy materials, such as granite, from distant areas, as well as to transport people.

How was the Salt Lake Valley founded?

The Salt Lake Valley was founded first upon an agrarian system and later combined this with non-agrarian techniques by way of manufacturing and the use of the railroad. The early agrarian development began by appointing crews to “plow, plant, survey, build fences, saw timber, build a public shelter, and explore ".

Why did the Saints want to manufacture?

After basic agrarian settlement, the saints were in demand of goods that came from outside their territory, wherein there was a lack in purchasing power due to high transportation costs for goods produced outside of the valley, this pushed them into manufacturing closer to home. After conquering the desert in agriculture, the saints were confident in their own strength, courage, and leadership to succeed in the manufacturing industry. Infant industry occurred within the home level, when Brigham Young stated:

What was the driving force of the Salt Lake Valley?

The driving force in the settlement of the Salt Lake Valley was LDS Church, with most of the people living there being church members. This group was familiar with establishing towns, where they all lived and worked together, and promoted the concept of Zion. The motivation for Mormon migration was not wealth or fame, but religion. Since its earliest days, missionary work had been a prominent responsibility of the church and its members. Proselyting efforts to gain more followers and bring them to Zion played a critical role in the immigration to Utah, which provided manpower for settlement. The Perpetual Emigration Fund was established to finance the travels of converts to Utah. Young had envisioned that the “desert blossom as a rose, " and this vision was coming to pass as thousands of Americans, and foreigners alike, joined the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley and contributed greatly to their mission.

Why was the presence of the Saints in the valley important?

The presence of the Saints in the valley was useful in the concluding efforts of the Transcontinental Railroad, where Promontory, Utah served as the connecting point of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines.

How did the Saints and the 49ers benefit from each other?

The Saints and the 49ers mutually benefited from each other. The Saints received outside supplies, i.e. consumer goods and farm implements, and the 49ers received critical aid during their rest stop in the valley. The relationship between the two was generally positive, despite some accounts of conflict.

What was the gold used for in the Deseret Mint?

The gold was used to mint gold coins wherein the church used this for financing and to establish the Deseret Mint until paper currency was issued. 1849 brought the miracle of economic development that gold would contribute to in the valley.

What was the success of the Mormon settlement?

The success of the Mormon settlement was largely down to the strict leadership of Brigham Young, and the willingness of the group to respect his authority and work for the good of the whole community. History. Study Notes. White Settlement.

What was the challenge of the Great Salt Lake?

Edexcel. The area surrounding the Great Salt Lake was a challenging place to live. It was difficult to grow crops on the land and there was little shelter from the blazing sun. Yet, despite these challenges, the Mormons were still able to build a fruitful settlement.

How did the Mormons become self-sufficient?

The Mormons became almost entirely self-sufficient. They built complex irrigation systems to give them access to clean water for drinking and to water their crops. They were divided into groups who each worked to produce specific products, such as crops or timber, and this was then divided amongst the whole community.

What was the area surrounding the Great Salt Lake?

The area surrounding the Great Salt Lake was a challenging place to live. It was difficult to grow crops on the land and there was little shelter from the blazing sun. Yet, despite these challenges, the Mormons were still able to build a fruitful settlement.

Why did the Latter Day Saints migrate to the East?

Seeking religious and political freedom, the Latter-day Saints began planning their great migration from the east after the murder of Joseph Smith, the Christian sect’s founder and first leader. Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, in 1805.

How long did it take Brigham Young to travel to Utah?

After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Gazing over the parched earth of the remote location, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the pioneers began preparations for the thousands of followers of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) who would soon come. Seeking religious and political freedom, the Latter-day Saints began planning their great migration from the east after the murder of Joseph Smith, the Christian sect’s founder and first leader.

Who was the first governor of Utah?

By 1869, 80,000 had made the trek to their promised land. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore named Brigham Young the first governor of the U.S. territory of Utah, and the territory enjoyed relative autonomy for several years.

Who led the Latter Day Saints to Nauvoo?

On June 27, 1844, a mob with blackened faces stormed in and murdered the brothers. Two years later, Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, led an exodus of persecuted Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo along the western wagon trails in search of a sanctuary in “a place on this earth that nobody else wants.”. The expedition, more than 10,000 pioneers strong, ...

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Overview

Settlement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also called Mormons, Latter-day Saints, or Saints in the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding area or “the planning and founding of more than 500 communities in the American West, is regarded by many planning historians as one of the most significant accomplishments in the history of American city developmen…

Roots of settlement

The Church of Christ was the name of the original church founded by Joseph Smith in New York in 1830. Many of the early members, like Smith, came from the American northeast and therefore had been raised using the standard farming methods of the area, as well as typical methods for organizing towns and villages. Persecution, including mob violence, of church members caused Smith and his followers to move from place to place, building communities wherever they went. …

Central institution

The driving force in the settlement of the Salt Lake Valley was LDS Church, with most of the people living there being church members. This group was familiar with establishing towns, where they all lived and worked together, and promoted the concept of Zion. The motivation for Mormon migration was not wealth or fame, but religion. Since its earliest days, missionary work had been a promine…

Settlement

The Intermountain West was “drier and colder…more rugged… and less accessible,” making the geographical differences from the Mississippi River Valley, their former home, quite profound. With the Salt Lake Valley between the Wasatch Mountains on the east, the Oquirrh Mountains on the west, Traverse Ridge to the south, and the Great Salt Lake to the northwest, the valley provided the desired isolation from other settlers. The church leaders’ assessment of the area was “base…

Development

The Salt Lake Valley was founded first upon an agrarian system and later combined this with non-agrarian techniques by way of manufacturing and the use of the railroad. The early agrarian development began by appointing crews to “plow, plant, survey, build fences, saw timber, build a public shelter, and explore ". Their agrarian system was composed of proper irrigation for successful farming of staple crops. Since it was already late in the season, being July, plowing a…

See also

• Mormon pioneers
• Kingdom of God (Christianity)

Notes

1. ^ Deseret News Publishing Company
2. ^ Jackson (1994) pg. 23
3. ^ Hunter (1940) pg. 13
4. ^ Our Heritage (1996). pp. 5-19.

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