Mormon Springs, Mississippi

Coordinates: 33°49′35″N 88°17′44″W / 33.82639°N 88.29556°W / 33.82639; -88.29556
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Mormon Springs, Mississippi
Mormon Springs is located in Mississippi
Mormon Springs
Mormon Springs
Mormon Springs is located in the United States
Mormon Springs
Mormon Springs
Coordinates: 33°49′35″N 88°17′44″W / 33.82639°N 88.29556°W / 33.82639; -88.29556
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyMonroe
Elevation
266 ft (81 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code662
GNIS feature ID709363[1]

Mormon Springs is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Mississippi. Mormon Springs is located southwest of Gattman.

History[edit]

Mormon Springs is named for the nearby spring used to baptize local converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). On April 8, 1846, 43 people, led by John Brown, left Mormon Springs with the planned destination of the Salt Lake Valley.[2] Among the settlers was John Holladay and Hark Wales, one of the earliest African-American members of the LDS church.[3] The settlers became known as the "Mississippi Saints", and established one of the first settlements outside of Salt Lake City. This community became what is today Holladay, Utah.[4] The Mississippi Saints also became the first American settlers of San Bernardino, California.[4]

A post office operated under the name Mormon Springs from 1854 to 1860.[5]

A granite monument describes the history of Mormon Springs and the Mississippi Saints.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mormon Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Boone, David F. "The Mississippi Saints: A Unique Odyssey of Southern Pioneers". rsc.byu.edu. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Wales, Hark". exhibits.lib.utah.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "The Mississippi Saints". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Monroe County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Spotlight on historic sites: Mormon Springs". Church News. February 19, 2000. Retrieved August 27, 2023.