The Mormon ExodusThe Mormon Exodus

Nauvoo to The Great Salt Nauvoo to The Great Salt Lake ValleyLake Valley

Joseph SmithJoseph Smith Leader & founder of the Leader & founder of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS)Latter Day Saints (LDS)

Believed that Jesus came to Believed that Jesus came to the new world after his the new world after his deathdeath

Wrote the book of MormonWrote the book of Mormon Claimed to have found 11 Claimed to have found 11

tablets of this storytablets of this story He & his brother were killed He & his brother were killed

in Carthage, IL by a mobin Carthage, IL by a mob Brigham Young took the Brigham Young took the

lead & led the Mormons to lead & led the Mormons to the Great Salt Lake Valleythe Great Salt Lake Valley

Brigham YoungBrigham Young Second Leader of the Second Leader of the

MormonsMormons Led them west to UtahLed them west to Utah Established the Winter Established the Winter

Quarters (30Quarters (30thth and State and State Streets)Streets)

The Mormon DealThe Mormon Deal Mormons wanted to Mormons wanted to

worship in peaceworship in peace U.S. Govt promised they U.S. Govt promised they

could have a large piece of could have a large piece of land west of the Wasatch land west of the Wasatch Mts in UtahMts in Utah

1 req., they had to survey 1 req., they had to survey a route to the west & send a route to the west & send their reports backtheir reports back

They led & opened a route They led & opened a route to the west for everyone to to the west for everyone to followfollow

The Mormon TrailThe Mormon Trail Young left Nauvoo, IL on 4 Young left Nauvoo, IL on 4

February 1846February 1846 The trail followed paths that The trail followed paths that

trappers had madetrappers had made Groups were made up of 10 Groups were made up of 10

to 100 families led by a to 100 families led by a “captain”“captain”

Groups could cover 25-30 Groups could cover 25-30 miles a day, (10-15 if pulling miles a day, (10-15 if pulling a hand cart)a hand cart)

Knowing that others would Knowing that others would follow, groups planted food & follow, groups planted food & left markers for waterleft markers for water

The route is very similar to I-The route is very similar to I-8080

The Mormon TrailThe Mormon Trail The route was approx The route was approx

1,032 miles (Omaha to Salt 1,032 miles (Omaha to Salt Lake City)Lake City)

6,000 died 6,000 died (illness/accidents)(illness/accidents)

Each member of the group Each member of the group was req. to help outwas req. to help out

No travel on SundaysNo travel on Sundays 1846 – 1869 route in use1846 – 1869 route in use During the Winter months, During the Winter months,

Mormons camped in North Mormons camped in North Omaha (30Omaha (30thth & State & State Streets)Streets)

This area was known as This area was known as the “Winter Quarters”the “Winter Quarters”

The Mormons meet Peter SarpyThe Mormons meet Peter Sarpy The Mormons crossed the The Mormons crossed the

Missouri River at Bellevue and Missouri River at Bellevue and met w/ Peter Sarpy, the met w/ Peter Sarpy, the American Fur Trading American Fur Trading RepresentativeRepresentative

Sarpy couldn’t help them-he Sarpy couldn’t help them-he sent them to the area of sent them to the area of FlorenceFlorence

The Indians up there made a The Indians up there made a deal w/ the Mormonsdeal w/ the Mormons

The deal was they would show The deal was they would show the Mormons how to grow the Mormons how to grow winter crops and get fishwinter crops and get fish

In exchange, the Mormons In exchange, the Mormons gave the Indians a cut of gave the Indians a cut of whatever they grew or caughtwhatever they grew or caught

Winter QuartersWinter Quarters The Mormons crossed the The Mormons crossed the

Missouri River at Bellevue and Missouri River at Bellevue and met w/ Peter Sarpymet w/ Peter Sarpy

Sarpy couldn’t help them-he Sarpy couldn’t help them-he sent them to the area of sent them to the area of FlorenceFlorence

The Indians up there made a The Indians up there made a deal w/ the Mormonsdeal w/ the Mormons

The deal was they would show The deal was they would show the Mormons how to grow the Mormons how to grow winter crops and get fishwinter crops and get fish

In exchange, the Mormons In exchange, the Mormons gave the Indians a cut of gave the Indians a cut of whatever they grew or caughtwhatever they grew or caught

The Mormon Trail CenterThe Mormon Trail Center Located at 33Located at 33rdrd & State & State

streetsstreets It’s Free!It’s Free! Great displays!Great displays! Extra Credit Opportunity!Extra Credit Opportunity!

Gateways to the WestGateways to the West LDS members settle in LDS members settle in

Kanesville, IAKanesville, IA Crossing the Missouri River Crossing the Missouri River

was at 1 of 2 places, was at 1 of 2 places, Omaha or Kansas CityOmaha or Kansas City

You could trek cross You could trek cross country or float up the country or float up the Mississippi to St. Louis Mississippi to St. Louis then up the Missourithen up the Missouri

Follow the Platt river valley Follow the Platt river valley westwest

Iowa & Nebraska settledIowa & Nebraska settled As Iowa is being settled, the As Iowa is being settled, the

Indians are getting pushed Indians are getting pushed off their landsoff their lands

White settlers felt the White settlers felt the Indians didn’t deserve it – Indians didn’t deserve it – get going!get going!

White settlers tell Logan White settlers tell Logan Fontenell that more are Fontenell that more are comingcoming

Logan gives up some, but Logan gives up some, but not all of the Omaha lands not all of the Omaha lands in exchange that the in exchange that the Omaha get to stay putOmaha get to stay put

The Omaha Indians are the The Omaha Indians are the only Indians to be still on only Indians to be still on their land todaytheir land today