Because of the custom of polygamy (polygamy), Mormons had to leave the United States and settle far away in the Wild West. The Mormon leader, Brigham Young, had as many as 55 wives. It is estimated that about 70,000 Mormons went in caravans to the West. Today, Salt Lake City is the largest majority Mormon city in the world.
On July 24, 1847, Mormon settlers established their new capital on the shores of the Great Salt Lake on American Rockies. After the name of the lake, the new city was named Great Salt Lake City (later abbreviated to Salt Lake City). The Mormons were forced to relocate because they had not suffered in their previous home in Illinois. Namely, Mormons were founded by Joseph Smith in the eastern United States. He was the first leader of that church (president). Problems arose when Smith began to preach polygamy. Not many Mormons, let alone other U.S. residents, agreed with this practice.
Smith was eventually killed by a raging mob in 1844. It became clear to the new Mormon leader – Brigham Young – that Mormons would have to go to a safer environment, especially since Young himself was a pronounced polygamist (he had 55 wives). The Mormons filled their carts and headed west in a long caravan. Today’s Mormons compare this migration to the Exodus of the Chosen People from the biblical Book of Exodus, and Brigham Young is sometimes referred to as the Mormon Moses. On that day, the caravan reached the Great Salt Lake far to the west of the then United States. When Brigham Young saw a beautiful valley by the lake from the hill, he decided that the Mormons should settle there. It is estimated that about 70,000 Mormons came in caravans. Today, Salt Lake City is the largest majority Mormon city in the world.
Interestingly, Brigham Young also wanted to establish a Mormon state, called Deseret, but the American authorities refused and founded the state of Utah, which still exists today. Due to its majority Mormon population, the state of Utah is now the leader in the United States by some factors. For example, it has reportedly the lowest rate of poor children, the highest rate of giving money for charity, the highest rate of volunteer work, the lowest abortion per capita, the lowest percentage of children born out of wedlock, and the lowest number of teenage pregnancies ending in abortion.
