Latter-day Saint emigration in the 19th century was a carefully organized journey of faith, notwithstanding disasters like the 1856 handcart tragedy. Tens of thousands relied on systems like the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, the guidance of trusted allies such as George Ramsden of the Guion Line, and meticulous planning to navigate both stormy seas and the hardships of overland travel. In this interview, historian Fred E. Woods explores the logistical, spiritual, and human dimensions of this migration, revealing how faith and practical organization shaped pioneer emigration.
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The Gathering of Early Latter-day Saint Pioneers
Why did Latter-day Saints gather in central locations in the 19th century?
Two passages in Latter-day Saint scripture and a teaching by the Prophet Joseph Smith explain why 19th-century pioneers gathered in central locations:
Doctrine and Covenants 29:8
The decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked.
D&C 29:8
Doctrine and Covenants 38:31-32
And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless— Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high.
D&C 38:31-32
Joseph Smith’s Teachings
In addition, Joseph Smith, the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught the main reason God gathers his people in any age:
The object of gathering . . . was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house . . . for there are certain ordinances and principles that . . . must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.
Joseph Smith, June 11, 1843, in Wilford Woodruff, Journal
What was the Perpetual Emigrating Fund?
The Perpetual Emigrating Fund (PEF) was a 19th-century revolving fund established to assist Latter-day Saint emigrants in their journey to Utah. Those receiving aid were expecting to repay the loan.
Approximately 25% to 30% of European converts who made the journey utilized the PEF.
Today, the Latter-day Saints have another “PEF”: the Perpetual Education Fund. This contemporary PEF is a loan program that provides members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with assistance in their efforts to obtain advanced education and training to obtain better jobs and become more self-reliant.
It also operates on a revolving basis, with loan recipients making low-interest payments after graduating to help replenish funds for others in need.
Why did Church leaders begin to discourage the gathering around the turn of the 20th century?
They wanted to strengthen the Church in their local areas. There had been more plucking than planting, and after establishing the Church firmly in Utah, Church leaders encouraged Church members to grow the Church in the United States and worldwide.
In the early Church, there was one location to gather, where there was a Latter-day Saint temple. In modern times, hundreds of temples have been dedicated, announced, or are under construction.
Thus, there is no longer the need to gather in one central location to receive temple blessings, the greatest of which is a couple being bound together under proper priesthood authority for eternity rather than just “until death do us part.”
(There are now nearly 18 million Latter-day Saints in over 160 countries.)
Early Latter-day Saints Crossing the Atlantic
What were some of the dangers of the voyage across the Atlantic?
Disease might break out among passengers confined on vessels that sailed, with an average voyage of 54 days from Liverpool to New Orleans and 38 days from Liverpool to New York. There was also the danger posed by storms, especially during the sailing era before the transportation revolution of steam power.
However, it was remarkable that there is no record of any chartered Latter-day Saint vessel ever sinking during the entire 19th century while crossing the Atlantic.
Latter-day Saints attributed such success to divine intervention, but there were also practical factors to consider, such as the proper choice of sea-worthy vessels and proper hygiene.
Why were Latter-day Saints thought of as ideal passengers?
The captains and crews recognized that the Latter-day Saints had a superior standard of hygiene and order because they abided by the instructions of Church leaders and were aware of their safety record.
This was recognized by the British House of Parliament as well as Charles Dickens, who noted the Latter-day Saints “were in their degree, the pick and flower of England.”
Who was George Ramsden, and why is he held in high regard?
George Ramsden was the shipping agent for the Guion Line. He worked hand in hand with the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a quarter of a century and did not seek a written contract because of his high regard for the Saints.
He was a great advocate for the Latter-day Saints and enjoyed a good friendship among the Saints, though he himself was not a member of the Church.
Latter-day Saint Emigration in 19th-Century Missouri
Why was St. Louis, Missouri, significant in the story of Latter-day Saint emigration?
St. Louis, Missouri, was an important inland port for the Latter-day Saints, providing employment and supplies.
Because of the large number of church emigrants passing through this metropolis, a Latter-day Saint stake (ecclesiastical unit) was established there in 1854 to provide temporary housing for thousands of Saints who were temporarily housed there to earn sufficient funds to send them on to Utah.
What was the Saluda disaster, and how did the citizens of Lexington, Missouri, help?
The Saluda was an American steamboat that exploded in 1852 on the Missouri River near Lexington, Missouri (just east of Jackson County, MO). About 100 deaths occurred, including 26 Latter-day Saints.
Although there was an extermination order against the Latter-day Saints in effect at the time (issued by Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs in 1838), Lexington citizens rallied to assist the Saints by caring for their wounded, assisting with the burial of the dead, raising funds for the remaining travel to Utah, and even adopting a few orphaned children.
Referring to this compassionate service, the apostle Abraham Smoot said, “I shall never forget the kindness of the citizens of Lexington.”
Overland Travel of 19th-Century Latter-day Saint Emigrants
How did the Civil War affect Latter-day Saint emigration?
During the American Civil War, over 11,000 foreign Latter-day Saint converts on 32 voyages made their way to Utah (1861-1864) because they felt it was the beginning of the end and that they would only be safe nestled in Utah. Latter-day Saint emigration was at an all-time high.
Crossing the Atlantic could bring stress as Confederate vessels plied the Atlantic. One specific account noted involved a Confederate warship that approached an American vessel carrying hundreds of European converts.
Confederates allowed the ship to pass.
The crew warned, “Say your prayers, you Mormons, you are all going down.”
Fortunately, the Confederates allowed the ship to pass as they realized the passengers were primarily British citizens, and interference might create additional problems for them during the War, and if captured, there was no way to handle them.
On American soil, first-person accounts by European Latter-day Saints attest that the Saints feared the U.S. soldiers more than the Native Americans they would encounter on the Plains.
Some soldiers attempted to steal Latter-day Saint European female converts and to force passing emigrants into the military.
Pioneer emigrants told of cannon balls being fired over their heads.
Further, while passing through Missouri on the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad, pioneer emigrants told of cannon balls being fired over their heads.
In addition, some accounts note that emigrants were searched for gunpowder and made to swear an oath of allegiance at Fort Bridger before being allowed to go further west into the Utah Territory.
How were Latter-day Saint emigrants generally received upon arriving in Salt Lake City?
They were met by Church leaders, missionaries, family, and fellow Saints who helped with assimilation into their new life in an unfamiliar territory.
Most European emigrants assimilated quickly into the city and into the scattered communities where they found employment.
Some were employed in doing city public works to pay off their PEF debts.
How did the construction of railroads change Latter-day Saint emigration to Utah?
The completion of the transcontinental railroad reduced the time Latter-day Saint emigrants required to arrive in Utah. With the completion of this massive transportation project, passengers can now cross the United States in less than 10 days instead of several months.
What is Your Next Project?
The past five years (2020-2025), I have been focused on the scattering of the gathered. This research is being done via a massive website to be released in 2030 titled “Saints by State.” It will include all published materials on Latter-day Saint history as well as encyclopedic entries and thousands of oral history interviews for each of the 50 states. In addition, the website will be laced with documentary films to highlight states or regions throughout the United States.
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About the Scholar
Fred E. Woods is a professor of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, where he has taught since 1998. His research focuses on the history and globalization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a particular emphasis on maritime aspects of Latter-day Saint emigration and international migration in the 19th century. Woods spent 25 years working on the gathering of the scattered (1995-2025) which resulted in a website titled “Saints by Sea.” He is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles, and he has produced award-winning documentaries, including That Promised Day: The Coming Forth of the LDS Scriptures and The Latter-Day Saint Image in the British Mind. His most recent book, Ports to Posts: Latter-day Saint Gathering in the Nineteenth Century, draws on decades of research to illuminate the human, logistical, and spiritual dimensions of 19th-century Latter-day Saint emigration.
Further Reading
Learn more about the experiences of 19th century Latter-day Saint emigrants in these From the Desk articles:
- What Was Brigham Young’s Swift Pony Express?
- How Important Was ZCMI to Utah Pioneers?
- What Did Buffalo Bill Really Think About Utah Pioneers?
- Who Was Responsible for the 1856 Handcart Tragedy?
- Why Did Brigham Young Almost Get Rid of Tithing?
Latter-day Saint Emigration
Read what top scholars and publishers say about Latter-day Saint Emigration:
- Ports to Posts: Latter-day Saint Gathering in the Nineteenth Century (Bison Books)
- The Sail Before the Trail – The 19th Century Latter-day Saint Gathering to America (Y Religion)
- George Ramsden, the Guion Line, and the Mormon Immigration Connection (International Journal of Mormon Studies)
- East to West through North and South: Mormon Immigration to and through America during the Civil War (BYU Studies)
- Fred E. Woods and Thomas Farmer, When the Saints Came Marching In: A History of the Latter-day Saints in St. Louis (Millennial Press)
