Final answer:
The Mormon settlement of Salt Lake City was successful mainly due to the community's strong belief in community and hard work. This internal solidarity and the desire to create a religious haven in an isolated region helped them prosper despite external challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Success of the Mormon Settlement in Salt Lake City
The success of the Mormon settlement of Salt Lake City can be attributed to the strong belief in community and hard work. The Latter-day Saints, under the leadership of Brigham Young, were seeking a place where they could worship freely and build a society based on their religious principles. This belief was integral to their work ethic and communal living that underpinned their success in a harsh and unfamiliar territory.
Led by Joseph Smith and later Brigham Young, the Mormons migrated westward in search of a space where they could establish their religion without persecution. Their commitment to a tightly-knit community and social obligations, including a law of tithing, gave them a robust social structure to thrive upon. The Mormons' desire for autonomy and ability to establish independent institutions, despite facing skepticism and hostility, was critical for the prosperity of their settlement in Utah.
Despite initial challenges, such as the 1838 Mormon War and the murder of Joseph Smith, the isolation of the Utah Territory allowed these pioneers to create a successful settlement. The dedication to their faith and collective goals was instrumental in the survival and growth of Salt Lake City as the heart of the Mormon cultural region.