Summary: Expanding The West Through Mormonism

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Expanding the West Through Mormonism The western expansion of America is mainly known only for its time period of wars and slavery/Native American conflicts. Very rarely is it that the peaceful, religious people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) are recognized to have been a crucial piece of this time. The beginning of the Mormon Church led to the Mormons' long trek to Utah. Upon reaching "Zion," (Utah), the Mormons had some conflicts with the U.S. government, which were solved quickly. Due to the Mormons, Utah became a state of the U.S. Brigham Young University is a major modern-day part of the Mormons' culture as well. However, it was the beginning of the Church that started it all. The Church of Jesus Christ…show more content…
territory as a result of the Mexican-American War in 1848. A year later, "The State of Deseret" was created, along with a written constitution and elected representatives. "The State of Deseret" petitioned the U.S. government to admit Deseret as a state. Instead, Congress made it a territory, named it Utah, and elected Brigham Young as governor. During Young's presidency as governor, the U.S. government found polygamy unacceptable. News of violence caused by Mormons reached the government, and though it was false, troops were sent to Utah in 1857. This marked the beginning of the Utah War. Determined to keep the peace, Young negotiated a peace settlement with the government in 1858. Mormons officially ended the practice of polygamy two years…show more content…
Brigham Young University (named after Brigham Young, of course) has been a major piece of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In the beginning, however, it was known as Brigham Young Academy. Brigham Young Academy was established on October 16, 1875. In 1891, the school was moved to the location it stands today, on University Avenue. The school's name was officially changed to Brigham Young University (its present name – also known as BYU) in 1903 as enrollment numbers sky- rocketed. In 1955, another Brigham Young University was established in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii. BYU's first doctoral program was inaugurated in 1957. Many years later, in 2000, Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho was transformed into a Brigham Young University. The LDS (Latter-Day Saints) Business College was established in 2004 in Salt Lake City, just a few blocks away from the Salt Lake Mormon Temple in Temple

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