Why were the Mormons important to westward expansion?

Answer 1

One way is by settling Utah. When LDS (Mormon) people first moved out there, it was actually considered outside of the US. Western territories could be brought into the US much more easily if there were US citizens living in the territories.

Also, many members settled California. When gold was discovered, LDS people were found to be generally loyal workers, not abandoning their employers to dig for gold. Also, as more people moved westward, they were able to restock with supplies obtained from already established communities in the Utah area.

Answer 2

The people of Illinois could no longer tolerate the Mormon presence in Nauvoo. The Mormons were given an ultimatum: leave Illinois peacefully or be driven out by force. The Mormons chose to leave peacefully. This was the second time they had been threatened with such violence. They decided to go somewhere there would be no neighbors to threaten them. They received permission from the federal government to camp on Indian land as they traveled west, and they finally settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley. At the time, experts believed that the Great Salt Lake Valley would not be able to support human civilization, but the Mormons made a good living there, primarily because they learned to store the mountain snow melt in reservoirs and use it to irrigate their crops during the summer.

Answer 3

Brigham Young reportedly entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 declaring it "the place" where the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a 'Mormons') would find peace and refuge from persecution and judgment. From this moment until his death in 1877 Brigham Young organized one of the largest colonizations by a single people in US History. Beginning along the Wasatch front in the current State of Utah, Young organized communities that eventually stretched from central Idaho down into what is today the northern portions of Mexico and from Nevada into Colorado and New Mexico. Many towns, villages and cities that still exist today were founded under Young's direction. Salt Lake City is just one example of how effective and successful many of those communities have become.

Answer 4

That's where the Salt Lake temple was built and the city grew around it. So without this temple Salt Lake City wouldn't be as popular since it was built first.

Answer 5

Because we were persecuted in the east and so we went somewhere where we could practice our religion without being threatened.