Mormon colonies in Mexico

The Mormon colonies in Mexico are settlements located near the Sierra Madre mountains in northern Mexico which were built by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning in 1885. Many of the original colonists came to Mexico in order to escape prosecution for the Mormon practice of plural marriage in the United States. The 8 towns making up the colonies were originally situated in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora, and were all within roughly 200 miles of the US border. By the early 20th century, many of these had reached a high degree of prosperity and cultural refinement. However, in the summer of 1912, the colonies were evacuated due to the anti-American violence incident to the Mexican Revolution and many of their citizens left for the United States and never returned. Some Latter-day Saints did eventually return to their property, but today only Colonia Juárez and Colonia Dublan in the Casas Grandes river valley remain active settlements. The Colonia Juárez Chihuahua México Temple, built in 1999, is located in Colonia Juárez, and is currently the smallest temple the LDS Church operates.

Early colonization

As early as 1874, Brigham Young, President of the LDS Church, called for a mission to Mexico. In 1875, missionaries set out with the dual purpose of preaching the gospel and locating prospective locations for Mormon settlements. The missionaries returned with positive reports the next year and another group was sent in October of 1876. In 1877, Young discussed the idea of colonizing parts of northern Mexico, but it was considered unwise due to the considerable danger from Apache raiders in the area. Young died later that year and was replaced by President John Taylor.

Taylor continued Young's policy of missionary work in Mexico, and through the early 1880's colonization was considered on several occasions without effort to begin the process. However, in 1882, the Edmunds Act was passed by the United States Congress. This was part of the by then 20 year struggle by the US government to curb the LDS practice of plural marriage in Utah Territory and other locations in the American West. Among other things, the law felonized the practice of polygamy and disenfranchised polygamists. As a result, over a thousand Latter-day Saint men and women were eventually fined and jailed. Some sent as far away as Michigan to fulfill their terms.

Members of the Pratt-Romney family have roots in these colonies, including both Marion G. Romney and George W. Romney having been born there.

Other areas

Many Mormon settlements in the United States are in areas that at one time belonged to Mexico, but nearly all of these were already part of the United States at the time of settlement. The exception is Salt Lake City itself, which was settled in the spring of 1847 and became part of the U.S. in 1848.

Book

Mormon Colonies in Mexico is also the title of a book by Thomas Cottam Romney. The book details the story of Mormons who sought refuge in Mexico after fleeing from US authorities for polygamy. The book is published by the University of Utah Press.

See also

• Jell-O Belt
• Mormon Corridor
• State of Deseret
• Mormon Colonies in Mexico
  
• Mormon Colonies in Mexico Wiki