Throughout their history the Mormons have had their fair share of troubles. In 1838 they had tried to settle in the state of Missouri but tensions were rising. In July of that year the Mormon preacher Sidney Rigdon had given two speeches that basically said that the Mormons were sick of being persecuted for their religion and would fight for their right to live in Missouri. On election day in August of 1838 in the town of Gallatin, Missouri the first real physical conflict between Mormons and citizens of Missouri broke out as one candidate declared that Mormons should not be allowed to vote. One of the Mormons in the audience declared his intention to vote and soon an all out brawl broke out. Stories and sworn affidavits from non-Mormons began to circulate that the Mormons were killing people and burning down public buildings and demanding that they be given the same civil rights as any other citizens. Many of these accounts were exaggerated but the Mormons were gathering, arming themselves, and preparing to fight for their rights. In October a state militia captain captured some Mormons while he was on a regular patrol. The rest of the Mormons responded by rescuing their fellow parishioners but in the process a report got back to the Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs that greatly exaggerated the damage and loss of life. Boggs had seen enough and issued the Extermination Order of 1838 that drove the Mormons out of Missouri.

The Mormons left Missouri and settled in a town they founded called Nauvoo, Illinois. Rigdon had fled Missouri and he and his people were allowed to settle in Quincy, Illionis. Mormon leader Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Missouri and was on the verge of death. Rigdon was allowed to buy property from Commerce, Illinios and the Mormons settled on that property and called it Nauvoo. Smith escaped prison in Missouri and made his way to Nauvoo to join his church. Nauvoo grew and was eventually chartered into a city run by Joseph Smith. They had two newspapers and a University. Many of the new residents were British because the Mormons had done some successful recruiting in England and those new recruits settled in Nauvoo. Problems began to rise for the Mormons in Illinois as well and a new face was rising through the ranks named Brigham Young. Joseph Smith tried to introduce plural marriages to the Mormon religion and this belief, along with fear of the Mormon’s new found power from surrounding Illinois cities, got Smith imprisoned again and eventually assassinated. With Smith gone Brigham Young took over and led the Mormons out of Nauvoo and to safety in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pioneer Day in USA is celebrated in Utah on July 24 to commemorate the day the Mormons enter Salt Lake City led by Brigham Young. Pioneer Day in USA is celebrated with fireworks and all sorts of outdoor festivities. However Pioneer Day in USA is also treated with great respect by the Mormons as it is also a day set aside for quiet prayer and reflection. Pioneer Day in USA is a day the Mormons use to remember the journey that brought them to their home in Salt Lake City, Utah.