This did not put an end to Mormon ism. Smith was succeeded by Brigham Young, who early in 1846 left Nauvoo with others. In the spring of 1847 a company of 143 started through the wilderness, and on July 24 arrived at the valley of Salt Lake, which he de clared was the promised land. They made Salt Lake their place of settlement. Their new city became an important place on account of its position on the route of wagon trains to and from Cali fornia.
Brigham Young, on account of his great influence, was named governor of the territory, and Congress granted him $20,000 for the erection of public build ings and $5,000 for a library, but in 1854 the Government appointed Colonel Step toe as governor, and in 1857 A. Cumming in Brigham Young's place and sent him with 2,500 men to Utah. The expedition met with difficulties on account of the late season of the year and opposition on the part of the Mormons to having an army sent against them in time of peace, as they claimed that they had committed no hostile act against the United States Government. A peace com mission was sent to Utah, and the people, who had already commenced to move away from their homes (which they had prepared to burn on the entrance of the army), were induced to return. Young remained governor de facto during the Civil War, 1861-1865. He ruled the com munity with all the autocratic power of an emperor. Many missionaries were sent out, and the number of Mormons increased with great rapidity. In 1890
was issued the famous manifesto for bidding polygamy. In 1896 Utah became a State.
The membership of the Mormons is about 410,000, and there are flourishing communities in other countries besides the United States. Mormons express their belief in the Trinity, that men will be punished for their sins, that through the atonement of Christ mankind may be saved by faith, in repentance, in baptism, in the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. They believe in a church organization comprising apostles, proph ets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists; in the apostolic gifts of tongues, proph ecy, visions; in the power of healing; in the Bible as the word of God, and in the book of Mormon as the further word of God. In 1862 the Federal Government enacted a law against polygamy, but lit tle attention was paid to it, and not till twenty years later were severer stat utes passed against it. In 1884 the con stitutionality of the law was established by the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1887 the Mormon Church was disincorporated by Congress and its im mense property was confiscated with the exception of $50,000. Finally, in Septem ber, 1890, after the vast property holdings of the Church had been lost, President Woodruff issued his famous proclamation against polygamous marriages.