"Mormon Springs" in Mississippi where some of the Mississippi Saints may have been baptized in the early 1840's. Link to Historic Marker Database site for more details: Mormon Springs Historical Marker (https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=270954)
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This page lists a series of articles and publications about the Mississippi Saints. These articles and publications provide a general overview of who the Mississippi Saints were as well as many details about their history, organization, hardships, and accomplishments. Sometimes referred to as the "forgotten saints," this small group of a few hundred members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accomplished many greats things in the migration of the Church to the west and colonization of many areas in a variety of western states. To learn more about the specific families associated with the Mississippi, please visit those pages using the drop down menus on this website.
Brief Summary:
In January 1846, Brigham Young asked John Brown to form a company of southern men to travel west in 1846 and to meet Brigham Young and the "main body of saints" along the Platte River that year. These men were to help provide security for Church leaders who had intended to migrate west during the summer of 1846. The southern group was to organize quickly and not bring families, unless they were ready to travel on short notice. Thus, John Brown and other men traveled without their families. Some of this security team had previously served as militiamen in Nauvoo IL in 1845, where they were part of the "Whistling and Whittling Brigade."
Southern saints who were ready to migrate along with their families in 1846 joined the John Brown company. However, they never encountered the main body of saints along the Platte River in 1846, as the main body ended up spending the winter of 1846-47 at Winter Quarters, and then went west in 1847. It was when the John Brown company arrived at Fort Laramie that they determined that the main body of saints were not on the trail west. At that point, John Brown's company was invited by the mountain man, John Richard (pronounced "Reshaw"), to turn south and spend the winter of 1846-47 in Pueblo (now Colorado). They, in turn, were also joined by members of the Mormon Battalion, who had learned of the settlement in Pueblo during a providential encounter with John Brown and seven others who had left the group in Pueblo and who were returning to their homes in the east in fall of 1846.
This 1846 John Brown company of pioneers is more generally known today as "the Mississippi Saints." The Mississippi Saints were actually composed of saints from three different states and ended up being organized into 3 groups: 1) those from Mississippi, under the leadership of William Crosby (who was elected to serve as the captain of the company); 2) those from Alabama, under the direction of John Holladay (counselor); and 3) those from Illinois (where John Brown's mother lived), under the direction of Robert Crow (counselor).
Almost all of the Mississippi Saints and the members of the Mormon Battalion who wintered in Pueblo, migrated to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Some of the Mississippi Saints and Mormon Battalion left Pueblo on April 17, 1847 and were in Fort Laramie in time to welcome Brigham Young's Vanguard Company of saints on June 1st, that migrated west in 1847. John Brown, who returned east in 1846, was a member of this vanguard company. Many of those that greeted the vanguard company became part of the advance group that entered the valley on July 22, 1847. The rest of the Mississippi Saints and Mormon Battalion left Pueblo on May 24th. This latter group made contact with the vanguard company on July 4th, and ultimately entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 29, 1847, five days after Brigham Young entered on July 24th.
The June 1977 issue of The Ensign magazine contains one of the early articles that introduced the Mississippi Saints to many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under the direction of Brigham Young, John Brown (one of the missionaries that served in the south in 1843 and 1844) helped gather these southern saints and lead them west as early as 1846.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/06/mississippi-mormons?lang=eng
In the February 2003 issue of The Ensign magazine, two articles introduce the Mississippi Saints and discuss their role as some of the colonizers sent by Brigham Young to settle the area that became San Bernardino CA.
"True Community: Latter-day Saints in San Bernardino, 1851-1857" by Marilyn Mills
"Mississippi Saints"
In 2015, the Brigham Young University Religious Study Center published a book entitled "Far Away in the West: Reflections on the Mormon Pioneer Trail." This book contains 12 chapters by various authors that document historic accomplishments of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that migrated west from about 1846 to 1868 along what is known as "the Mormon Trail." One of the chapters was written by Professor David F. Boone, who researched a broad range of writings about the Mississippi Saints and then wrote this detailed account of their history.
https://rsc.byu.edu/far-away-west/mississippi-saints-unique-odyssey-southern-pioneers
As Brigham Young's company, Mormon Battalion members, and the majority of the Mississippi Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, Thomas Bullock documented the names of Mormon Battalion and Mississippi Saints who entered the valley with Brigham Young's company or a few days after. Although family histories and other records vary on some of the names, Thomas Bullock's list is a valuable historical record. Images of Bullock's records are available in the Church History Catalog under the title "Names of Pueblo soldiers and Mississippi brethren, 1847." These documents can be found at:
https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record/ab774142-989d-4df6-a024-1f3a90e5bbd3/0?view=browse
The Church History Biographical Database of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides additional details about the Mississippi Saints Company.
Kristine Forbes felt the call to research many new sources as well as old sources about the Mississippi Saints, their history, their families, and the events that brought them together and led them west. Her work provides new insights through the breadth and depth of what new information has brought to light.
This work is not yet published on this site but will be soon.
Mike Emett posted a brief, but descriptive article on clio.com, entry 19010, about the Mississippi Saints and the Mormon Battalion spending the winter of 1846-1847 near Fort Pueblo, CO. This page contains links to other relevant websites, including some that are not listed here:
20 Jan 2018, by R. Scott Lloyd. The following is a very interesting Church News article on the migration of the various groups of Saints in 1846. There is a detailed timeline of the migrations of Brigham Young and the main body of Saints, the Mormon Battalion, the ship Brooklyn, and the Mississippi Saints:
In 1839, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints found success in Monroe County, Mississippi. The first missionaries were Elders Hunter and Clapp. Later, John Brown from Tennessee, made his way to this area. Amongst the early converts in the area were William Crosby and his sister, Elizabeth. John Brown married Elizabeth in 1844. A branch of the Church was organized. Some from the area moved to Nauvoo, IL, while others remained in Mississippi until they migrated west after the death of Joseph Smith in 1844.
A spring in Monroe County was used for many of the early baptisms. This spring has since become known as "Mormon Springs." The following two articles provide more details about the area now known as the "Mormon Springs Picnic Area." A marker to recognize the early events has been erected at the picnic area.
Emett , Mike. "Mormon Springs and the Mississippi Saints." Clio: Your Guide to History. October 27, 2015. Accessed July 17, 2025. https://theclio.com/entry/19001
Marsteller, Duane and Tracy, "Mormon Springs," HMdb.org, the Historical Marker Database, 2024, Accessed July 17, 2025. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=270954
In November 2021, Kevin and Denny Henson posted two podcast episodes on the Mississippi Saints. You can find out more about the Henson's and their work on the history of the Mormon Battalion by going to https://battaliontrek.com or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@battaliontrek1271 .
"Mississippi Saints" Part 1 – A Miracle Meeting on the Trail
Battalion Trek - Adventures and Aha Moments Hiking the Mormon Battalion Trail
What do southern belles and wealthy plantation owners have to do with the Mormon Battalion Story? Brent Holladay, descendent of one of the "Mississippi Saints", shares the fascinating story of how this well outfitted group come to be invited to winter over in Pueblo Colorado creating a major miracle for themselves and the Mormon Battalion. The photo for this episode is Brent's direct ancestor, Thomas Middleton Wiley Holladay and his wife Ann Horton Matthews. Thomas was John Daniel Holladay's son and was approximately 10 years old when his family arrived in Pueblo.
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/battalion-trek-adventures-and-aha-moments-hiking/id1573647781?i=1000542572497
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Ed1e7B1hO0RiKasvyjwek?si=b5c0fc484ba94c50
Mississippi Saints Part 2 – Tender Mercies, Sacrifice, Romance, and "Firsts" in Pueblo
Battalion Trek - Adventures and Aha Moments Hiking the Mormon Battalion Trail
Brent continues about Life in “Mormon Town”, recognizes more tender mercies, helps us contemplate the sacrifices of the early saints. We giggle about romance in 1846, and he spotlights some “firsts” that took place in Pueblo. The photo for this episode is provided in Brent's resouces and is titled: Pueblo Pioneers – William Johnson, Iva Melton, Laura Bell Note: Regarding the discussion about whether or not Pueblo was one of the first religious colonies in the west. It is our understanding that the Brooklyn Saints became part of the San Francisco community so Brent’s sources may be correct for another first in Pueblo.
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/battalion-trek-adventures-and-aha-moments-hiking/id1573647781?i=1000542574451
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lhzk2QXYH9mO3e6pDCskV?si=f7d36de26da84352
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