Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, Companion to the PBS Documentary

by William W. Slaughter, Michael Landon

Beginning with their expulsion from Nauvoo in 1846 and for the succeeding twenty-two years, the migration of Mormon pioneers—some 70,000 of them—was a compelling saga of the settlement of the American West. Mostly poor, they traveled on ships, canal boats, trains, and riverboats, and then came on foot, in wagon trains and in handcart companies. Their story is told by two archivists with the LDS Church History Department in this beautiful book, filled with fascinating photographs.

Genres: History, Lds, Religion, Nonfiction, Historical, American History

204 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mary L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about the history of the trail used by the Mormon's and others in settling the West. Takes you to the point where the transcontinental railroad made the travel time go from months down to 8 days to cross the plains. The side bar notes bothered me a little even though they were very interesting--sometimes they came right in the middle of a paragraph and you had to go two or three pages to pick up where you left off.

[Darlis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book to go with a PBS series on the major migration trails of the Westard movement, although I only saw the Oregon and Mormon trail episodes and don't even know if the others were ever really produced. Anyway, I saw the show on the BYU Channel in the middle of the night last night and picked up the book this morning again for the first time in a while.

It is really a good history of the Mormon trek. It is fully of good historical documentation, stories, documents, drawings, photographs, etc. This is really a thorough compilation of the way west along this trail route. Great book to read or glance at in remembrance of Pioneer Day.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories. Many I hadn't heard before. It also talked about life after Nauvoo and where they made their camps and insight into how some of the decisions that were made, were made. Also talked about the nitty gritty of the migration west. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It you like church history, history, or had ancestors involved in the migrations west, you would probably enjoy this book.

[Troy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a very detailed perspective of the Mormon Trail, describing the various methods used for immigration between 1846 – 1869 (when the transcontinental railroad was finished). It followed many different trips taken by wagons, hand carts and foot and the various methods instituted by the church authorities for gathering the saints to zion. This book follows the PBS documentary. I learned a lot about church history and this early movement from this book.

[Allen Elggren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well documented, readable telling of the trek made by both my great grand parents. Never to be forgotten by their children, even though our children still think we came and slept in the wagons described here.

[Thumper · Rating 5 out of 5]

ah, yes....into geneology, but haven't jumped in with both feet just yet!! More than interesting to discover what hardships your early relatives endured and the accomplishments they achieved.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

C is writing a paper on the Mormon migration for school. We watched the movie and read the companion book. They both contained unique material and many personal stories that I really enjoyed.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I really enjoyed reading this book together.