Who led the Mormon exodus to the Great Salt Lake?

The Mormon exodus to the Great Salt Lake Valley was led by Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This migration, which began in earnest in 1846 and culminated in 1847, was one of the most remarkable organized movements in American history. It was driven by a desire to find a place of refuge where members of the church could practice their faith freely without persecution.

Background: Persecution and the Need for Exodus

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in upstate New York. As the religion grew rapidly, so did suspicion and hostility toward its followers. The church faced significant persecution in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The situation reached a violent peak in 1844, when Joseph Smith was assassinated by a mob while imprisoned in Carthage, Illinois.

After Smith’s death, Brigham Young, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, emerged as the leader of the majority of Latter-day Saints. Under his direction, the church decided to abandon its settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, and seek a new Zion in the West—beyond the borders of the United States at the time.

Brigham Young: The Chosen Leader

Brigham Young was a skilled organizer, strategist, and speaker. After Joseph Smith’s death, many church members saw Young as the rightful successor. In 1847, he officially became the second president of the LDS Church.

Young believed that the Saints should migrate westward to find isolation and peace. He identified the Salt Lake Valley, then part of Mexico but remote and unpopulated by Euro-American settlers, as the ideal place. Though the region was dry and largely unknown, Young believed that with faith and hard work, it could become a flourishing refuge.

The Trek West

In February 1846, the first groups of Mormon pioneers began leaving Nauvoo, heading west across Iowa in covered wagons and handcarts. After enduring a harsh winter in what became known as Winter Quarters (present-day Omaha, Nebraska), the main body of pioneers prepared to move further west.

On April 5, 1847, Brigham Young led the vanguard company of 143 men, 3 women, and 2 children from Winter Quarters toward the Rocky Mountains. Traveling along what would later become known as the Mormon Trail, the group followed parts of the Oregon Trail and passed through Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah.

On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young—sick and traveling in a wagon—entered the Salt Lake Valley and declared, “This is the right place. Drive on.” That day has since been commemorated as Pioneer Day, a state holiday in Utah.

Settling the Salt Lake Valley

Upon arriving, the pioneers immediately began surveying the land, planting crops, and organizing a new society based on cooperative labor and religious principles. Brigham Young oversaw the construction of irrigation systems, roads, and buildings, including what would later become Salt Lake City.

Under Young’s leadership, thousands of additional pioneers followed in organized companies over the next two decades. By the time the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, more than 70,000 Mormon pioneers had migrated to the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding areas.

Brigham Young’s Legacy

Brigham Young served as president of the LDS Church until his death in 1877. He was also appointed governor of the Utah Territory in 1851. Known as the “American Moses,” Young’s leadership turned a dangerous and uncertain migration into the foundation of a thriving religious community in the American West.

His role in leading the Mormon exodus not only ensured the survival and growth of the church but also contributed significantly to the settlement and development of the western United States.

Conclusion

The Mormon exodus to the Great Salt Lake was led by Brigham Young, a bold and visionary leader who guided thousands of persecuted followers to a new home in an uncharted desert. His leadership laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most successful and enduring religious communities in the United States. Today, the story of this migration is remembered not only by the LDS Church but also as a powerful chapter in the broader history of American westward expansion.