why might teh mormons have chosen a region that was isolated and a dry climate as a place to settle?

Answer 1

No where else to go, man

Answer 2

The Mormons had dispatched small parties to survey other
location sites once it became apparent that US Government
might seek out their works in American claimed territory.
US Army did indeed march upon the Mormons to force the
submission of a minority population under religious autism.

Mexico was a leading contender, initially, because it was over
a recognized International Border and a general population shift was not impossible. The fate of Post-Civil War slavery
immigrants was still fresh in memory as was an established
church influence at highest levels of Mexican Government.

Canada was also not receptive to the degree of autonomy desired by Mormon Leadership. It too had a standing army
to enforce nationalism.

Sandwich Island Royalty did not extend open arms either quite rightly suspicious of a growing Anglo-Saxon middle class in the Hawaiian Islands. Also, a Utah exodus would
not be able to ferry all property and persons by chartered
vessels any great distance. Both England and the USA
had previously stated interest in their citizens who resided
in these islands. Their Naval authority was a serious threat.

The inability to move its population to a safe refuge and that demonstrated desire of existing governments to ensure Mormon civil co-existence with a larger mixed population doomed their Kingdom of Zion. Only then did Statehood and USA citizenship begin to look attractive. Gentile presence in Utah was the result and not without continued resentments.

Answer 3

Because of the division of the followers after the murder of Joseph Smith as to who would be the successor as the leader of the movement, there was a body of the "12 Apostles", which by the argument of Young himself, controlled the movement for a while. When others besides Young abandoned Illinois and moved to other states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, to establish other organizations along similar theological lines, and the non-Mormon residents of Illinois became concerned about block-voting by the Mormons, which the non-Mormons assumed could lead to a theocratic government (non-separation of church and state), the Mormons had little choice except to go to a place where they were allowed to practice their religion without interference, thus their 'Exodus' to Utah. I am sure that the earlier uproar in Missouri about the militant nature of the Mormons when dealing with their neighbors, which the non-Mormons of Illinois undoubtedly heard about, did not help matters in the Illinois situation, either.
The history of the Mormon movement is a good read, there have been non-biased contributors to several websites, even Wikipedia.org, that tell the outline of the movement and the consequences.

Answer 4

In 1847, the first party of Mormon emigrants, led by Brigham Young, reached the Salt Lake Valley. This story of the thousand-mile Mormon exodus from the midwest to Salt Lake has become well-known as a tale of remarkable hard work, faith, and dedication. Upon reaching Utah, these hardy men and women prospered through their wisdom and industriousness in a place once thought too dry and desertous to support modern civilization.
Fortunately, these pioneers left a rich heritage which gives tourists today insight into these admirable traits. Utah is full of Mormon historic and cultural sites which continue to fascinate and inspire visitors more than 150 years after Brigham Young declared "This is the place."

Answer 5

The climate of Utah had nothing to do with why Brigham Young chose this desert as the home for Mormons in 1847. He chose it because it was more than a thousand miles from where non-Mormons lived (Mormons refer to non-Mormons as gentiles). He wanted to avoid more conflict with gentiles which had plagued the Mormons for more than 20 years and resulted in the death of the founder and prophet of the church, Joseph Smith. In fact, living in Utah caused great hardship for the Mormons for at least the first 20 years after their arrival. They needed to buy some manufactured products from the eastern part of the US in order to survive but produced little that was worth transporting a thousand miles by wagon for sale in order to get the money they needed to buy these manufactured products.

Answer 6

well the mormons in the 1850,s were like the jews in the 30,s and 40s they either left there homes on the own or were forced out at gun point.and would you want to go over the rockies in a covered wagon even though people did it in the 1860,s and 1890,s.

Answer 7

the Mormons where relocated to Utah because of their multiple wives and were meant to be isolated from other regions of the country. They kicked them out...just like Native Americans.

tisk tisk....but my Mormon friends don't consider that type of Mormonism "Mormon"

Answer 8

remember the israelites were led into a desert for 40 years !!
It isolated them and solidified their doctrine and unique practices. It has been the same for the mormon. Always remembering the name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints

Answer 9

Because it was isolated, no one else wanted to settle there, they could be left alone (they thought) to practice their faith without persecution.

Answer 10

because they were being harressed for their religious believes, suffering physicle attacks as well.