Brigham Young and the Journey West: What Happened After Joseph Smith's Death

After the assassination of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young led the Latter-day Saints on an epic migration across the American frontier to establish a new home in the Great Basin.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 8, 2026

Branched from Who Was Joseph Smith: A Concise Biography

Quick take

After Joseph Smith's murder in 1844, Brigham Young assumed leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints amidst a succession crisis.
Facing intense persecution in Illinois, Young decided to lead the church en masse to the largely unsettled Great Basin, then part of Mexico.
The journey, beginning in 1846, was a massive, highly organized migration of thousands of pioneers seeking religious freedom.
This westward movement established Salt Lake City and laid the foundation for the modern LDS Church in Utah.

After the assassination of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), in 1844, Brigham Young emerged as the recognized leader. He then orchestrated one of the largest and most organized migrations in American history, leading thousands of his followers across the frontier to establish a new home in the remote Great Basin, in what is now Utah.

The Succession and the Decision to Move

Joseph Smith's murder in Carthage, Illinois, left the young church in a leadership vacuum. Several individuals claimed authority to lead, but Brigham Young, as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, asserted his claim based on his position and Smith's prior teachings regarding the Quorum's authority. Following a pivotal meeting in Nauvoo, Illinois, a majority of church members sustained Young as the new leader. However, the period after Smith's death saw an intensification of anti-Mormon sentiment and violence in Illinois. Facing escalating mob attacks and the threat of expulsion, Young made the difficult decision that the entire community must relocate to a place where they could practice their faith in peace and safety, far from existing settlements.

The Epic Trek Across the Plains

The exodus from Nauvoo began in February 1846, with the first groups crossing the frozen Mississippi River. This initial phase involved establishing temporary settlements, most notably Winter Quarters in present-day Nebraska, where thousands endured a harsh winter. Under Young's meticulous planning, the journey west was highly organized. Pioneers were grouped into companies, each with a captain, wagons, supplies, and specific duties. Young's advance company, numbering 148 people, set out in April 1847, blazing much of the trail. They reached the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, marking the beginning of permanent settlement. Subsequent companies followed over the next two decades, enduring incredible hardships including disease, starvation, and challenging terrain, but driven by a shared vision of a new Zion.

This monumental journey solidified Brigham Young's leadership and established the physical and spiritual center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah. It played a critical role in the settlement of the American West, transforming an arid desert into a thriving community through irrigation and cooperative efforts. For millions of Latter-day Saints, this migration, occurring primarily from 1846 through the 1860s, represents a foundational narrative of resilience, faith, and the pursuit of religious freedom.

How many people participated in the journey west?

Estimates suggest that over 70,000 Latter-day Saints migrated to the Salt Lake Valley between 1847 and 1869, with many more joining later. This makes it one of the largest organized migrations in American history.

Why did they choose the Great Basin?

The Great Basin was chosen precisely because it was remote, largely uninhabited by non-Native Americans, and considered undesirable for traditional farming due to its arid climate. This isolation offered the Latter-day Saints the religious freedom and protection from persecution they sought.

What happened to those who didn't follow Brigham Young?

While the majority followed Brigham Young, some members joined other leaders, such as Sidney Rigdon, who led a smaller group to Pennsylvania, or James Strang, who established a community on Beaver Island, Michigan. These groups eventually formed separate denominations from the main body of the church.

How long did the migration last?

While the initial journey by Brigham Young's company took about three months from Winter Quarters, the full period of organized migration using wagons and later handcarts continued for over two decades, until the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 made travel much easier.

Was it a single, continuous journey for everyone?

No, it was not. The migration occurred in waves, with thousands of individuals and families making the trek over many years. Pioneers often traveled in organized companies, and many spent time in temporary settlements like Winter Quarters before continuing their journey.

Sources

General historical accounts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.