Following the murder of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith by a Nauvoo, Ill. mob in 1844, the church leadership was thrown into turmoil.

Anti-Mormon resentment was growing because of three major issues. First, the church members tended to vote politically as a block in local elections. Second, 10% of a member’s income was dedicated to the church. Finally, Smith had introduced the taking of multiple wives into the Mormon teachings.

The man who eventually rose to lead the followers was Brigham Young.