Everything Everywhere Daily · Sunday, July 26, 2026
After settling the Great Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young proposed the formation of a massive state named 'Desert' to the US government. This was rejected, leading to the establishment of the Utah Territory in 1850 with Young as governor. Subsequent statehood proposals were repeatedly denied, primarily due to the Mormon practice of polygamy and the perception of Mormons as a foreign religious group and a powerful voting bloc.
“Seeing opportunity in 1849, Brigham Young proposed to the United States government that they form a new state called Desert.”
“As a consolation, the US government established the Utah Territory in 1850, and Young was appointed its first territorial governor.”
“In reality, the main reason why Utah's statehood proposal was rejected was most certainly because of the Mormons' religious practices.”
“The other main reason the state proposal was rejected was the practice of polygamy.”