Cast of Characters: Brigham Young - Real leader Mormon Emigrant 1
Mormon Emigrant 2 - can be same student - Narrator
Mormon Trail
Setting: Spring 1846, Nauvoo, Illinois 1846
Mormon Emigrant 1: I am tired of facing religious persecution. This is America. We are supposed to be free to practice whatever religion we want. Yet, we are facing serious violence from others. Over 200 Mormon homes, farms and villages have been burned.
Brigham Young: We should move West and create a new settlement where Mormon’s can practice religion in peace. Salt Lake City, Utah sounds good. We will leave in Spring.
Narrator: 3,000 Mormons in 500 wagons set out with Brigham Young, they left earlier than planned due to problems with a charter from the federal government.
Setting: Winter 1846, Missouri River,Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Mormon Emigrant 1: This is not going well.
Brigham Young: I don’t think we can make it to the Rocky Mountains before winter.
Mormon Emigrant 2: My family and I volunteer to help establish a settlement here. That way there will be a supply station for others that follow us. It will eventually become a city named Kanesville.
Setting: April 5, 1847
Brigham Young: Unfortunately, 400 of our members have passed away over the winter. But, Spring is here and with it comes a new opportunity to move on toward our goal. We will split into smaller groups. The first one will come with me.
Narrator: For much of the journey, Young’s train followed the route of the Oregon Trail, but is split off at Fort Bridger in Wyoming.
Setting: July 24, 1847 Salt Lake City, Utah
Brigham Young: “This is the place, drive on!”
Mormon Emigrant 1: We made it! We will immediately begin preparing our settlement. We will plant crops for the hungry settlers that are following us. Hurry men find quality timber to build our center for worship.
Narrator: From 1847-1869, 70,000 Mormons traveled the trail. A strong system was set up back and forth across the trail to provide supplies and a mail service.
•1830-1840’s
•Persecuted in East
because of their religion,
looking for isolation
•Brigham Young, leader
•For social reasons settled Salt Lake City
•Effect: moved families and the Mormon faith west