1. Nauvoo to The Great Salt Lake Valley
The Mormon Exodus
Nauvoo to The Great Salt Lake Valley

2. Joseph Smith
Leader & founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS)
Believed that Jesus came to the new world after his death
Wrote the book of Mormon
Claimed to have found 11 tablets of this story
He & his brother were killed in Carthage, IL by a mob
Brigham Young took the lead & led the Mormons to the Great Salt Lake Valley

3. Brigham Young Second Leader of the Mormons Led them west to Utah
Established the Winter Quarters (30th and State Streets)

4. The Mormon Deal Mormons wanted to worship in peace
U.S. Govt promised they could have a large piece of land west of the Wasatch Mts in Utah
1 req., they had to survey a route to the west & send their reports back
They led & opened a route to the west for everyone to follow

5. The Mormon Trail Young left Nauvoo, IL on 4 February 1846
The trail followed paths that trappers had made
Groups were made up of 10 to 100 families led by a “captain”
Groups could cover miles a day, (10-15 if pulling a hand cart)
Knowing that others would follow, groups planted food & left markers for water
The route is very similar to I-80

6. The Mormon Trail
The route was approx 1,032 miles (Omaha to Salt Lake City)
6,000 died (illness/accidents)
Each member of the group was req. to help out
No travel on Sundays
1846 – 1869 route in use
During the Winter months, Mormons camped in North Omaha (30th & State Streets)
This area was known as the “Winter Quarters”

7. The Mormons meet Peter Sarpy
The Mormons crossed the Missouri River at Bellevue and met w/ Peter Sarpy, the American Fur Trading Representative
Sarpy couldn’t help them-he sent them to the area of Florence
The Indians up there made a deal w/ the Mormons
The deal was they would show the Mormons how to grow winter crops and get fish
In exchange, the Mormons gave the Indians a cut of whatever they grew or caught

8. Winter Quarters
The Mormons crossed the Missouri River at Bellevue and met w/ Peter Sarpy
Sarpy couldn’t help them-he sent them to the area of Florence
The Indians up there made a deal w/ the Mormons
The deal was they would show the Mormons how to grow winter crops and get fish
In exchange, the Mormons gave the Indians a cut of whatever they grew or caught

9. The Mormon Trail Center
Located at 33rd & State streets
It’s Free!
Great displays!
Extra Credit Opportunity!

10. Gateways to the West LDS members settle in Kanesville, IA
Crossing the Missouri River was at 1 of 2 places, Omaha or Kansas City
You could trek cross country or float up the Mississippi to St. Louis then up the Missouri
Follow the Platt river valley west

11. Iowa & Nebraska settled
As Iowa is being settled, the Indians are getting pushed off their lands
White settlers felt the Indians didn’t deserve it – get going!
White settlers tell Logan Fontenell that more are coming
Logan gives up some, but not all of the Omaha lands in exchange that the Omaha get to stay put
The Omaha Indians are the only Indians to be still on their land today