Christianity: The Mormon Treks
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was
founded in 1830. About 1,000 members of the church
(called “Mormons” after the prophet whose teachings
were revealed to Joseph Smith) migrated from New York
State to the Midwest to escape religious persecution. In
1838, internal disputes and conflict with non-believing
neighbors (“Gentiles”) led to a trek to Missouri and from
there to Illinois, where they founded Nauvoo. After
Smith’s death in 1844, Brigham Young led 16,000
Mormons to Utah, where he established Salt Lake City in
the proposed Mormon state of Deseret. In the late
1850s, after years of anti-Mormon conflict, the number of
settlements increased. In 1896 Utah was made the 45th
State of the Union.
1860
1850
1840
1830
• 1830 Fayette (New York): Joseph Smith (1805–44) and five others organize “Church of Christ”
Book of Mormon, as revealed to Joseph Smith by the Angel Moroni, son of the Prophet Mormon, is published
• 1831–37 Kirtland (Ohio): 2,000 converts are made, including Brigham Young (1801–77)
• 1831–39 From Kirtland, the Mormons migrate to Missouri, centering their community on Independence
• 1840–45 Settlement at Nauvoo (Illinois) by 10,000 Mormons
Gentiles kill Joseph Smith after he announces divine revelation that sanctions polygamy
Lyman Wright leads Mormon migration to Texas
J. J. Strang leads Mormon migration to Wisconsin
• 1846–48 Winter quarters established at the frontier of Iowa and Indian Country
• 1847 Settlement at Salt Lake City (Utah Territory) under Brigham Young. By 1870 the Mormons will
number 80,000
• 1847–51 Some members of the church migrate from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas (New Mexico Territory),
San Bernardino, and San Diego (California)
• 1857 “Mormon War” between the United States government and the Utah Mormons
NEW
YORK
Fayette
WISCONSIN
Winter
quarters
INDIAN
Salt Lake City
Kirtland
IOWA
ILLINOIS
Nauvoo
COUNTRY
CALIFORNIA
U TA H
T E R R I TO RY
OHIO
INDIANA
Independence
and Environs
MISSOURI
Las Vegas
San Bernardino
San Diego
NEW MEXICO
TERRITORY
TEXAS
The Mormon Migrations 1830–1851
Mormon settlements
The State of Deseret proposed by the Mormons