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Captain Nathaniel V. Jones’s Report from the Las Vegas Mormon Fort-Mission Leading his fellow Mormons to the Great Salt Lake in 1846–47, church leader Brigham Young sought independence for his people. One way to achieve this was by leaving the borders of the United States—which proved a failure when the United States won the Mexican-American War and the area west of the Rockies in the process. When faced with this situation, Young planned the “Mormon Corridor,” a series of missions from Salt Lake City to San Bernardino that would enable members of his church to come in and out of what would become known as Utah personally or with supplies. Well aware of John C. Frémont’s report of his travels on part of the Old Spanish Trail in 1843–44, Young included Las Vegas as a location for a fort-mission to serve as a pit stop on the trail for travelers—imagine Las Vegas catering to travelers—and to teach religion and farming to the Native Americans in the area. At a meeting in April 1855, church elders made plans to send thirty missionaries to Las Vegas. Their leader, chosen by Young, was William Bringhurst, a longtime and respected church member. The group, arriving in Las Vegas on June 14, 1855, planned to settle at the Las Vegas Springs but found local Paiutes there. Unsure that the Paiutes would be friendly, Bringhurst led his mission four miles northeast to a natural bench, where they built the fort-mission. The mission proved short-lived for a variety of reasons. One was understandable to anyone familiar with Las Vegas during the summer: It was brutally hot. The local Paiutes stole some of their crops. At least as significant, though, the missionaries began bickering. While exploring the vicinity, they found lead at Mount Potosi. One of the means of independence for Mormons was the availability of lead for bullets, and Young saw an opportunity to foster that independence. He sent a Mormon bishop and veteran miner, Nathaniel Jones, to get the lead out—literally. Jones then argued with Bringhurst, who believed that the missionaries should concentrate on their mission, not on mining. Finally, they took the matter to Young, who dismissed Bringhurst and First Settlements, Territory, and Early Statehood 3 21 2 2 | u n c o v e r i n g n e v a d a ’ s p a s t sent the more agreeable Samuel Thompson to head the mission. Unfortunately for them, the lead proved worthless, and the mission remained divided. Today, the Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park includes the oldest building in the state, museum exhibits, a corral, and a replica of the creek that ran through the heart of Las Vegas until the twentieth century. The park serves as a reminder that the beginnings of Las Vegas were similar to those of many western towns—a settlement involving religion and an economy that was linked to travel. —Michael Green About the middle of February, 1856, Prest. Young informed me that I was called upon to go to the vicinity of the Las Vegas for the purpose of exploring that region in search of lead, as there had been some specimens sent to him from that quarter. He desired me to start as soon as I could get ready. Accordingly , I set off from this place (g.s.l. City) on the 15th of April, 1856, with the following letter of instruction from the president: President’s Office, Utah Territory, g.s.l. City. April 14, 1856. To the Bishops and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are beyond Cedar City. Beloved Brethren:—You are hereby authorized and required to use all reasonable exertions to furnish the bearer, Bishop Nathaniel V. Jones, with such men, animals, tools, etc., as he may call upon you for, to enable him to safely, diligently, and successfully accomplish the purpose of the mission upon which he is now sent, viz: to search for and examine into the location, quality and quantity of different ores and metals, as specimens of rich lead ore have already been brought to me from that region, and it is highly desirable that we be able to make our lead, copper, etc., at the earliest practicable date. Your brother in the gospel, Brigham Young. The brethren through the southern settlements responded promptly and cheerfully to my calls. At Cedar City...

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