The Mormon Religion
The Mormon Religion, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, was founded on April 6, 1830, by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith had had visions as a teenager and in 1827 proclaimed that an angel had showed him buried gold plates which he then transcribed into the Book of Mormon. Faced with prosecution, Mormons moved farther and farther west, eventually settling in Nauvoo, IL. There they stayed, from 1839 till 1846, when rising tensions between citizens grew to a head.
On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by an angry mob.
Joseph's successor, Brigham Young, continued with Smith's plans to move West. Although by that time Mormon population numbered about 11,000, over 200 Mormon homes were burned in attempts to force the Mormons out of Nauvoo.
By 1846 the trek had already begun, with the Salt Lake region of Utah as its destination.
On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by an angry mob.
Joseph's successor, Brigham Young, continued with Smith's plans to move West. Although by that time Mormon population numbered about 11,000, over 200 Mormon homes were burned in attempts to force the Mormons out of Nauvoo.
By 1846 the trek had already begun, with the Salt Lake region of Utah as its destination.
The Split and the Trek
Brigham Young and 3,000 Mormons set out for Utah in February, planning to reach their destination within the year. However, unforeseen complications forced the Mormons to split their journey into two parts:
In 1846 the Mormons would journey to present-day Omaha, Nebraska, where they would stay to recuperate before setting out in 1847 for Salt Lake Valley. First immigrants improved the route for those to follow and also set up waystations such as Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah.
By the spring of 1847 over 400 Mormon pioneers had died to various causes. A hasty departure in 1846 had made the party disorganized and many important provisions had been left behind. However, this time was different. The group was more experienced and more organized. Not only that, but one of the few men who had seen Salt Lake Valley, Jesuit Father Pierre Jean de Smet, passed through Winter Quarters (present-day Omaha) and shared his valuable information about the territory with the Mormons. This preparation made the second leg of their journey much easier. Mostly, this part of the trek followed the Oregon Trail, before deviating at Fort Bridger and heading south into Utah. By July 24, 1847, the Mormon people had found a new home in Salt Lake Valley.
From 1846-1869, up until the completion of the transcontinental railroad, around 70,00 Mormons traveled across the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake Valley.
In 1846 the Mormons would journey to present-day Omaha, Nebraska, where they would stay to recuperate before setting out in 1847 for Salt Lake Valley. First immigrants improved the route for those to follow and also set up waystations such as Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah.
By the spring of 1847 over 400 Mormon pioneers had died to various causes. A hasty departure in 1846 had made the party disorganized and many important provisions had been left behind. However, this time was different. The group was more experienced and more organized. Not only that, but one of the few men who had seen Salt Lake Valley, Jesuit Father Pierre Jean de Smet, passed through Winter Quarters (present-day Omaha) and shared his valuable information about the territory with the Mormons. This preparation made the second leg of their journey much easier. Mostly, this part of the trek followed the Oregon Trail, before deviating at Fort Bridger and heading south into Utah. By July 24, 1847, the Mormon people had found a new home in Salt Lake Valley.
From 1846-1869, up until the completion of the transcontinental railroad, around 70,00 Mormons traveled across the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake Valley.
Other Facts About the Mormon Trail
--The trail was about 1,300 miles, roughly half the distance of the Oregon Trail
--When the Morman Trail followed the same path as the Oregon Trail, the Mormons travelled on the north side of the Platte River, while those on the Oregon trail stayed on the south side, in order to avoid competition for food and supplies
--the end of the Mormon Trail is considered to be at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
--While a part of the party had settled in Salt Lake Valley by July 22, Brigham Young did not arrive until two days later. This date was chosen as Pioneer Day, now a Utah state holiday
--From the Council Bluffs, Iowa to Fort Bridger, Wyoming the Oregon, Mormon, and California trails follow the same road, and so are collectively called the Emigrant Trail
--While origional Mormon settlers were from Utah, later on most emigrants to Salt Lake Valley were converts from Europe
--When the Morman Trail followed the same path as the Oregon Trail, the Mormons travelled on the north side of the Platte River, while those on the Oregon trail stayed on the south side, in order to avoid competition for food and supplies
--the end of the Mormon Trail is considered to be at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
--While a part of the party had settled in Salt Lake Valley by July 22, Brigham Young did not arrive until two days later. This date was chosen as Pioneer Day, now a Utah state holiday
--From the Council Bluffs, Iowa to Fort Bridger, Wyoming the Oregon, Mormon, and California trails follow the same road, and so are collectively called the Emigrant Trail
--While origional Mormon settlers were from Utah, later on most emigrants to Salt Lake Valley were converts from Europe