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The Mormon Pioneers were members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints , who migration across the United States from the midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the State of Utah. The journey was taken by about 70,000 people beginning in April , 1847 , and ending with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 . Backdrop to the Migration Since its founding in 1830, members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints were often mistreated and persecuted by its neighbors. There was violence directed against the church, its members, and its leader, Joseph Smith . This among other reasons caused the body of the church to move from one place to another- Ohio, Missouri, and then to Illinois where church members build the city of Nauvoo . MIssouri Governor Lilburn Boggs issued an Extermination Order against all Mormons living in the state. In 1844 Joseph Smith had been murdered while in custody in the city of Carthage, Illinois . In 1846, religious tension had reached its peak and mobs burned the Latter-day Saint Temple in Nauvoo . According to church belief, God directed Brigham Young , Joseph Smith's successor as church leader, to call for the saints (as church members call themselves) to organize and head to west, beyond the western frontier of the Unted States. For his role in the migration, Brigham Young is sometimes referred to as the "American Moses." In July 1847 the first company reached the Salt Lake Valley. Upon seeing the valley, Young declared "This is the place." He said that he had seen the valley in a vision, inluding Ensign Peak and recognized the spot. Today a monument stands in the spot where he made his delcaration. Each year people were organized into "companies", each company bearing the name of its leader. The company was further divided into groups of 10 and 50 with authority and responsiblity delegated downward. Travel Conditions The material conditions of the church members varied as they covered the more than 1000 miles. Covered wagons pulled by oxen were common, but some people pulled or pushed handcarts (similar to wheelbarrows) holding all of their belongings. Others walked much of the way as family members rode in the carts. The pioneers traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the Great Basin using wagons, Handcarts , and, in some cases, hand carrying their belongings. Their trail along the Platte River and over the Sweetwater River became known as the Mormon Trail . Due to the weather in the American heartland, the best time to travel was April-September. Some companies however, got a late start resulting in disaster. The most famous of these are the Willie and the Martin handcart companies. Leaving Iowa in July, they did not reach Utah until November, suffering many winter deaths. More Migration After the initial departure of the Latter-day Saints living in Illinois and Missouri, converts to the church from other areas in the United States and from Europe followed the initial trail to join the main body of the church in Salt Lake City. Every year from 1847 until 1869 there were church members making this journey. The migration continued until about 1890, but those who came by railraod are not considered to "Mormon Pioneers." Settling the Desert Upon arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, the Mormons literally had to make a place to live. They created irrigation systems, made farms, built houses and schools. Later, Brigham Young directed satellite communities to be formed in all directions. Church members headed south into Arizona, West into California, North into Idaho and Canada, and East into Wyoming, settling many cities which are thriving to this day. Heritage The Mormon pioneer chapter is considered important to American history in general, but holds a special place to the church members of today. They view it not only as a journey across a wilderness, but also a great manifestation of spiritual faith. They hold dear those pioneers who gave up their homes to face such uncertainty in the name of their religion. Diary entries of pioneers display not only hardship but also a firm desire to follow God's will, exemplary faith in God and in their newfound religion. Many entries and stories also exhibit events which many consider to be miracles, many of which saved lives. In all, nearly 70,000 Mormon pioneers crossed the plains. Because of fatalities, suffering and sacrifices endured by these early Mormon Pioneers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers many of the graveyards and campsites along the trail to be Hallowed Ground . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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