The land around was treeless and desolate, and the ground so hard
that when they tried to plough it the ploughshare broke. Yet they
decided to make their dwelling-place amid this desolation, and in
1847 the building of Salt Lake City was begun.
At the beginning, troubles and trials were many. But with hard work
and skilful irrigation the desert disappeared, and fertile fields
and fair gardens took its place.
The Mormons now laid claim to a great tract of land and called
it the State of Deseret. And over this state Brigham Young ruled
supreme.
In 1850, however, the United States organized it as a territory and
changed the name to Utah. Utah is an Indian word meaning Mountain
Home. Of this territory Brigham Young was Governor, but other
non-Mormon officials were sent from Washington. Very soon there was
trouble between the Mormons and these non-Mormon officials and,
one after another, they returned to Washington saying that it
was useless for them to remain in Utah. For with Brigham Young as
governor it was impossible to enforce the laws of the United States,
and that their lives even were in danger.
But when there was talk of removing Young from the post of Governor
he was indignant. "I am and will be Governor," he said, "and no
power can hinder it until the Lord Almighty says, 'Brigham, you
need not be Governor any longer.
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