Salt Lake County, Utah Utah Territory after traveling what settlers later called Emigration Canyon. Brigham Young, their leader, declared "This is the place" after seeing the valley. Compared to eastern regions, it seemed arid and unpromising to some of the migrants. Settlers used extensive irrigation to develop agriculture and the flourishing, self-sufficient city, known then as Great Salt Lake City. Thousands of Mormons joined them in the next several decades. The county was officially organized on January 31, 1850, with slightly more than 11,000 residents recorded. Mormon settlements were scattered across the valley and beyond. They relocated the territorial capital to Great Salt Lake
Edward Hunter (Mormon) counselors for more than five years until Hunter formally called Leonard W. Hardy and Jesse Carter Little to these positions. As "ex officio" president of the church's Aaronic priesthood, Hunter laid the southwest cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 1853. Hunter died at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, and was buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Edward Hunter (Mormon) Edward Hunter, Jr. (June 22, 1793 – 16 October 1883) was the third Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1851 until his death. He served as Presiding Bishop longer