“Here we will build a temple to our God.” Brigham Young spoke these words on July 24, 1847, after leading 3,000 Mormon pioneers from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake Valley. The historic 1,300-mile exodus earned Young the nickname American Moses. The founder of Salt Lake City was also the first governor of the Utah Territory (1851–1858). Below is Temple Square, a five-block area surrounding Salt Lake Temple (lower left).
