We'll Find the Place: The Mormon Exodus, 1846-1848

by Richard E. Bennett

We’ll Find the Place tells the fascinating story of the Mormons’ exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, to their New Zion in the Westâ a story of a people’s deliverance that has never before been completely told.Following the journey of the original pioneer camp of 1847 to the Salt Lake Valley and concluding with the first conference of the church there in 1848, Richard E. Bennett shows the inner workings of the Mormon exodus by probing the minds and hearts of those who suffered and triumphed through this remarkably difficult hour in Latter-day Saint history.

A work many years in the making, We’ll Find the Place looks behind the scenes to reveal Mormonism on the move, its believers sacrificing home, comfort, and sometimes life itself as they sought a safe refuge beyond the Rocky Mountains. It is faithful both to the convictions of the early pioneers and to the records they kept.

Genres: History, Religion, Lds, Church

428 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Richard Edmond Bennett

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this just in time to celebrate Pioneer Day. I was happy to get a deeper perspective and overview of the Mormon exodus that happened between 1846 to 1848. I thought it really delved into Brigham Young, the challenges he faced and how he faced them. He was in charge but he wasn't in charge because he was the senior member of the twelve apostles but he wasn't yet the president of the church. Many members of the quorum of the twelve wanted to be equal to Brigham Young, they didn't think he had the right to tell them what to do, but someone needed to be in charge. Also the quorum of twelve were scattered all over the place without a quick easy way to communicate. Brigham Young had the challenge of getting the Saints to the SLC valley with all these challenges and more. I came to really admire his vision and leadership style. It seemed when Joseph Smith was the prophet individuals stepped up and financed the expenses of the church like publication of the Book of Mormon and building the temple but with Brigham Young there was no one that stepped up to finance the pioneers crossing the plains and the establishment of Salt Lake City. There was extreme poverty and many people went on poverty missions to raise money for the establishment and the exodus of the pioneers. This book also addressed some of the splinter groups and individuals that left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints like the Strangites, George Miller, and Sam Brannan. The one thing that I thought this book lacked was dates. I would like a month and year on every page. Sometimes I was reading and wondering what month this happened and I had to go back several pages to find the date. Overall it's a good read. I'm happy I found it and read it.

[Matthew Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good research on a time period not generally talked about in the Church. I learned a lot of interesting history that I will keep with me for a long time. It’s really amazing that the Church survived.
Anyway, it is more academic and not an “easy read”, but the subject matter kept me reading. I loved the many primary source quotes Bennett inserted throughout the book.
-Well researched and well organized-

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great research and well written. Even the chapter notes were interesting. Highly recommend

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for my prep for trek. Patting myself for making it through such an educational read, very glad I did.

[Jeff Crosby]

Pioneers.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb summary of the Mormon trek from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake valley.

[Schoppie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best account I have yet read about the Mormon trek across the Great Plains. Richard E. Bennett has an engaging writing style and deals with all aspects of the exodus - economic, social, political, and spiritual. The selection of the Salt Lake Valley as the new central homeland of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a process which occurred at the same time as the reorganization of the First Presidency, and the movement West is described as a process of refining for the rank-and-file members as well as the leadership. The author also weaves into the narrative the topic of the several splinter groups which came about during the years following the assassination of Joseph Smith, especially the group led by James Strang, and details how those groups influenced the actions of LDS leaders during the emigration. Wallace Stegner's "The Gathering of Zion" is a good account of the emigration, but Bennett's book is even more detailed and allows for an understanding of the Spiritual elements of the exodus and journey which Stegner's cynicism does not permit. Bennett's book is a wonderfully balanced and scholarly account of these events. If I had to pick one book to read on this topic, this would be the one!