Answer:
In the 1800s, the Mormon religion faced intense persecution and hostility from the non-Mormon population in the eastern United States. The founder of the religion, Joseph Smith, was killed by an angry mob in 1844, and the Mormons faced further violence and discrimination in subsequent years. In search of a place where they could practice their religion in peace, the Mormons decided to migrate westward to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, which was then a part of Mexico. Despite the harsh climate and challenging terrain, the Mormons were able to establish a thriving community in Utah, which eventually became a state in 1896.