Bellwork 9-2  What do you know about Florence, NE?

Bellwork 9-3  What major roadway follows the trail the Mormons took to Utah?  Why do we study the Mormons in Omaha history?  How are they historically significant to the city?

THE MORMON EXODUS Nauvoo to The Great Salt Lake Valley

Joseph Smith  What organization did Joseph Smith start?  What did he believe?  What happened to him?

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  Mormons look for a place that they can worship in peace.

The Mormon Deal  Who took over for Smith after his death?  Where did Brigham Young lead the Mormons?  How did the Mormons decide on settling in Utah?  What was the requirement of their land deal?

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

The Mormon Deal  U.S. Govt promised they could have a large piece of land west of the Wasatch Mts in Utah  1 requirement:  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

The Mormon Trail  Where did the Mormons originally leave from?  What trails did they follow?  How much land could a group of 10 to 100 families cover in one day?  What did people do for those behind them on the trail?  What route is similar to this today?

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 Mormon Trail  The trail followed the Platte River.  This route will be used by other travelers:  Gold Rushers to CO and CA  Oregon Trail  The route is very similar to I-80

Platte River Route Mormon Trail Oregon Trail I-80

The Mormon Trail  How long was the route from Omaha to Salt Lake City?  How many died on the trail?  What and where were “Winter Quarters?”

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 required to help out  No travel on Sundays  1846 – 1869 route in use  During the Winter months, Mormons camped in North Omaha (30 th & State Streets)  This area was known as the “Winter Quarters”

Winter Quarters  Who did the Mormons meet when crossing the Missouri River?  What Omaha area did this man send them?  What was the deal the Mormons set up with the Omaha Indians?

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 in Florence made a deal w/ the Mormons.  The Indians would show the Mormons how to grow winter crops and get fish  The Mormons gave the Indians a cut of whatever they grew or caught

The Mormon Trail Center  Located at 33 rd & State streets  It’s Free!  Great displays

Gateways to the West  Where did the members settle?  Besides Omaha, where else could the Mormons cross the Missouri?  What were the two ways to get west?

Gateways to the West  Latter Day Saints members settle in Kanesville, IA  North Council Bluffs  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 Platte river valley west

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 Fontenelle 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

Mormon Trail Letter  Grab a copy of Upstream Metropolis and read pages  Using your notes and information from the book, you will write a one page (minimum) letter from the perspective of a Mormon who traveled on the Mormon trail and is now in Desserette.