Conveyance and Contribution : Mormon Scots Gather to an American Zion
History Scotland
July-August 2005
5
no.4
2005
48-54
In 1839 two Scotsman, Alexander Wright and Samuel Mulliner, who had been converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in Canada, returned to Scotland as missionaries. Through their efforts the first branch of the Church was established and, in September 1840, four Scottish members became the first to emigrate to the United States for the cause of Mormonism. Around 5,000 Scottish converts would end up heeding the call to gather with the Saints, first in Nauvoo and then the Salt Lake Valley. They gathered to Zion for temporal reasons (poverty and oppression in their own country), but also for the spiritual desire to meet and live with others who shared their faith. Excerpts from first hand accounts of these converts providing insight into their journies and reasons for gathering are provided.