Sunday School: Gospel Doctrine
Map 3: The Westward Movement of the Church

“Map 3: The Westward Movement of the Church,” Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide (1999)

“Map 3,” Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Class Member Study Guide

Map 3: The Westward Movement of the Church

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map, Westward Movement of the Church
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map, Westward Movement of the Church
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map of westward movement

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4

5

6

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Oregon Territory

California

Mexico

Indian Territory

Indian Territory

Iowa

Missouri

Illinois

Indiana

Ohio

Canada

New York

Pennsylvania

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Snake River

Great Salt Lake

Gila River

Rio Grande River

Pecos River

North Platte River

South Platte River

Canadian River

Arkansas River

California Trail

San Francisco

Sacramento

Los Angeles

San Bernardino

Mission San Luis Rey

San Diego

Fort Hall

Fort Bridger

Salt Lake City

Tucson

Santa Fe

Pueblo

Fort Laramie

Winter Quarters

Council Bluffs

Nauvoo

Far West

Fort Leavenworth

Independence

Liberty

Quincy

Fayette

New York City

Kirtland

Philadelphia

Washington, D.C.

The ship Brooklyn arrived in Yerba Buena (San Francisco) 31 July 1846

4 Feb 1846 voyage of the ship Brooklyn begins

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Map 3 Key

Mormon Battalion route

Westward route of the Saints

Route of the ship Brooklyn

  1. Fayette. The Prophet Joseph Smith left Fayette for Kirtland, Ohio, in January 1831. The three New York branches followed in April and May 1831 under the Lord’s command to gather (see D&C 37–38).

  2. Kirtland. The headquarters of the Church from early February 1831 to 12 January 1838, when the Prophet moved to Far West, Missouri.

  3. Independence. The Lord identified Independence as the center place of Zion in July 1831 (see D&C 57:2–3). Mobs forced the Saints from here in November 1833.

  4. Liberty. The Saints from Jackson County gathered in this area from 1833 until 1836, when they were required to leave.

  5. Far West. A refuge was established here for the Saints from 1836 to 1838. It was the headquarters of the Church for part of 1838. In 1838–39 the Saints were forced to flee to Illinois.

  6. Nauvoo. The headquarters of the Church from 1839 to 1846. About two years after the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum, the Saints moved west.

  7. Council Bluffs (Kanesville). The pioneers arrived here in June 1846. Members of the Mormon Battalion departed on 21 July 1846 under Lieutenant Colonel James Allen.

  8. Winter Quarters. The headquarters settlement for the Saints en route to the Salt Lake Valley (1846–48). The vanguard company under the direction of President Brigham Young departed in April 1847.

  9. Fort Leavenworth. The Mormon Battalion was outfitted here before starting the march west in August 1846.

  10. Santa Fe. Lieutenant Colonel Philip Cooke commanded the Mormon Battalion as it marched from here on 19 October 1846.

  11. Pueblo. Three sick detachments from the Mormon Battalion were ordered to recuperate in Pueblo, where they spent the winter of 1846–47 with Saints from Mississippi. These parties entered the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847.

  12. San Diego. The Mormon Battalion finished its 2,000-mile march here on 29 January 1847.

  13. Los Angeles. The Mormon Battalion was discharged here on 16 July 1847.

  14. Sacramento. Some discharged battalion members worked here and at Sutter’s Mill farther east on the American River, where they helped discover gold.

  15. Salt Lake City. President Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847.