The Church in Utah
When the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers began to journey westward, they did not know their end destination. But on 24 July 1847, when the wagons rolled out of the canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, their destination became apparent. "It is enough," Church President Brigham Young said as he viewed the valley below. "This is the right place. Drive on." Young named the area "Deseret," meaning honeybee, signifying the hive of activity that would soon inhabit the area. The President stayed only 33 days before returning to Winter Quarters in Nebraska to assist other families on their trek. At least 236 pioneer companies of approximately 60,000 pioneers crossed the plains for Utah. With time, they transformed the desert valley into the bustling and prosperous Salt Lake City.
Several historic sites exist in the state today, including Temple Square, visited by nearly 5 million people annually. From the Square, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a weekly broadcast from one of largest timber-roofed buildings in the world. The broadcast is the longest continuous broadcast program in the United States. In addition to the Salt Lake Temple, which took early members more than 40 years to complete, twelve other temples currently dot the state, with one under construction and two in pre-construction planning.
| Membership | 1,910,343 |
| Missions | 6 |
| Temples in operation | 13* |
| Temples announced or under construction |
3 (Brigham City, Payson, Provo Tabernacle) |
| Congregations | 4,834 |
| Family History Centers | 154 |
* The Ogden Utah Temple is currently undergoing renovation.
History of the Church in Brigham City
This temple will be a continuation of the dedicated sacrifices made by the Saints who settled and built the communities this temple will serve. The Box Elder area was traversed only by Shoshone Native Americans and mountain men when Brigham Young called settlers to journey 60 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Box Elder County began in 1849 when Orrin Porter Rockwell homesteaded near a spring which became Porter Spring. One year later, William Davis, James Brooks, and Thomas Pierce, found the land was rich with berries, fish, quail, hens and deer and decided to settle near Box Elder Creek, three miles north of the Rockwell Homestead.
It was along the banks of Box Elder Creek that the three pioneer families built Davis Fort (near Brigham City’s present day 700 North 400 West) and were joined by several other families. By 1852 there were 1399 individuals and 39 families living in Davis Fort. Unrest among the Ute Indians prompted Brigham Young to order the settlement to build and consequently move into Box Elder Fort in 1853. Settlers worked the land and held all activities within the fort boundaries.
In 1853 Brigham Young called Elder Lorenzo Snow, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to select fifty families to settle Box Elder. A more secure fort was built to house these new families near 300 North and 200 West. With the creation of Box Elder County in 1856, Elder Snow assumed the presidency of the Box Elder Stake of Zion.
Upon arrival Lorenzo Snow found the small settlement somewhat primitive compared to Salt Lake City. His only accommodation was a small adobe hut with dirt floors. Consequently, he built a home that was often used to entertain Brigham Young and tourists that would accompany him to see the northern settlements. In honor of President Brigham Young the town on Box Elder Creek was renamed Brigham City in 1855. Between 1855 and 1856 while the home was not yet finished, he had converted his larger room into a theater hall with a small stage. He organized a dramatic company that drew crowds of people to the extent that several performances were held so that everyone could attend.
In 1857 the Box Elder County Court House became the first public building and was often used as a theater and auditorium for church services as well as public meetings. The two story building is the oldest functioning court house in the state today.
The first industrial building was the Box Elder Flouring Mill, erected for the harvest. A flour mill was considered the foundation of a pioneer town. Frederick Kesler built several mills under the direction of Brigham Young in the Salt Lake Valley. After serving a mission in the East and having learned modern technology for various types of mills, Frederick returned and built the Brigham City mill on the north east corner of the city plat.
The development of Brigham City and Box Elder County came to a halt when word got out that the federal army was in route to Utah to stop the alleged “Mormon Rebellion”. On March 25, 1858 a mass meeting was held in Brigham City to discuss the move to Utah County for refuge. The northern settlement and Salt Lake Valley were abandoned. The new flour mill was dismantled and transported to Utah County one month prior to receiving the news that a peaceful settlement was made with the federal government. Shortly after, the Saints returned to their homes and the mill was moved back to Brigham City.
A site for the Box Elder Tabernacle to be built on the north-west corner of Main and Forest Streets was chosen in 1865. Excavation had already commenced when Brigham Young, traveling through Brigham City on his way to Cache Valley, told the brethren that they were building in the wrong location. He took them to a place called Sage Brush Square and told them that this was the place they should build their tabernacle. The building was completed and dedicated in 1890. However, the new Tabernacle burned to the ground, with the exception of four stone walls, on February 9, 1896 due to a furnace malfunction. Plans were immediately made to rebuild the tabernacle. Fund raisers were held, materials gathered and volunteer workers assembled.
After having made it through the initial settlement phase, Brigham Young encouraged the creation of communal cooperatives through out the various settlements to strengthen the economy, instill self sufficiency, and create Zion communities. The Brigham City Cooperative consisted of an association comprised of purchase shares from the local community. The association built a manufacturing enterprise and created the Brigham City Tannery. Abraham Hillam, a tanning trade expert from England, was selected by Lorenzo Snow to lead the operation. The Tannery produced high quality leather for boots, shoes, saddles, and harnesses. The association officially incorporated in 1870 as Brigham City Mercantile and Manufacturing Association.
Shortly after, in 1871, the association built a Woolen Factory entirely maintained by a cooperative sheep herd and cotton farm. Brigham City soon produced its own yarn, blankets, cloth, underwear, and men’s and women’s wear among other things. Through the economic panic of 1873 Brigham City became a cooperative model for other settlements in Utah as it withstood the recession and maintained self-sufficiency.
In 1877 Brigham Young began restructuring the stakes of Zion. He reorganized the Box Elder Stake and established many of the wards and branches in the stake which included communities from Malad, Idaho to the Weber County border. This marked the close of President Young’s public ministry. He passed away ten days later. Since the 1877 restructuring, Box Elder Stake has been divided and divided again until what was once one stake is now thirteen.
The Tabernacle was rebuilt more beautiful than its predecessor. President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the new building on March 21, 1897. A new pipe organ was installed in 1950 and the building was renovated in 1983. After the completion of this last renovation, President Boyd K. Packer, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles returned to the community he grew up in and dedicated the building.
Lorenzo Snow, Brigham City’s political and ecclesiastical leader, later became the fifth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898-1901. He died in Salt Lake City on October 10, 1901 at the age of 87 and was buried in the Brigham City Cemetery.
Through the early 1900’s private enterprise flourished in Brigham City. Local industries, farms and retail businesses kept the small agricultural town going until the construction of Thiokol Chemical Corporation’s Wasatch Division in 1957. As production increased, so did employment opportunities and the population of Brigham City.
Source:
Huchel, F. M. (1999). A History of Box Elder County. Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society.
