What events led Mormons to move to Utah?
1 Answer
Religious Discrimination
Explanation:
Mormons at that time were discriminated because others viewed their religion as "odd." Predominantly because of Mormons support of polygamy (polygamy is where someone had more than one spouse). Mobs were formed and they attacked and persecuted Mormons. Joseph Smith, who founded Mormonism, was assassinated in 1844, which led to a new leader of Mormonism, Brigham Young (Brigham Young University is Utah is named after him).
They chose Utah because it was a desert. No one really wanted to move there, so Young announced to his followers that they were going to build a utopia where they could live without persecution. They called this place Zion. They traveled far and wide to Utah so that there would be little conflict between Mormons and the mobs.
Ranking members of the Mormon church declared that God told them they should settle on the Rocky Mountains. Smith said this before his assassination and Young continued this belief.
When they arrived in Utah, the land was hard to farm and to live on. They had to build irrigation systems, lay out farms, seek out a water supply, etc. This cause some tension with the local Native Americans, the Utes. Walker War was the result but it ended through negotiations.
Today, July 24th is celebrated in Utah as "Pioneer Day." Mormonism is still popular today in Utah, which is why Utah is one of the most conservative states in the country, voting on the Republican ticket consistently. The last time they voted Democratic in a presidential race was 1964.
It should be noted that the modern day Mormon church does not practice or encourage polygamy. In fact if a member of the Mormon faith is found out to be practicing polygamy, they will be excommunicated.
