History of Salt Lake City the Salt Lake Valley. At the time of its founding there were no Indians present in the Salt Lake valley. The first two in this company to enter the Salt Lake valley were Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow. These members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church") sought to establish an autonomous religious community and were the first people of European descent to permanently settle in the area now known as Utah. Thousands of Mormon pioneers would arrive in Salt Lake in the coming months and years. Brigham Young led the Saints west after the death
John Wells (Mormon) Wells stayed on as the second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of the church. Wells served as a general authority until the end of Cannon's tenure in 1938. Wells died in Salt Lake City, Utah of pylonephrosis, or pus buildup in the kidneys. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery. John Wells (Mormon) John Wells (16 September 1864 – 18 April 1941) was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1918 to 1938. Wells was born in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, England. In 1882, he became a member of the