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An Invitation to Join the 
Mormon Battalion Association or Women's Auxiliary

P.O. Box 1983
Sandy, UT  84091-1983

Telephone (801) 256-0329
 

This is an invitation to join the modern Mormon Battalion Association in honoring the history and heritage of the original Mormon Battalion.

The present Mormon Battalion was chartered in 1954 at the recommendation of David O. McKay, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.  Our constant goal has been to preserve and understand the heritage of the original Mormon Battalion.  It is not necessary to be a descendant of an original Mormon Battalion member to belong to the modern Mormon Battalion.  The men, women, and youth of the present Mormon Battalion come from all walks of life. 

Anyone may join who:

• Has a sincere desire to honor the original 1846-47 Mormon Battalion through the Battalion, local companies, and affiliated organizations.
• Is at least 14 years of age.
• Is willing to work on Battalion related projects and activities.
• Is willing to participate in company or affiliated organization meetings and stay current on Membership Company Dues.
• Will never bring dishonor to the Mormon Battalion, past or present.
• When representing the Battalion as an officer or re-enactor, be willing to furnish your own authentic military uniform or costume, as specified by the Battalion and your company.

Welcome to the Mormon Battalion Association.

Our companies, Women's Auxiliary, and affiliated organizations seek to:

• Honor and teach the history of the Mormon Battalion, its members, and their accomplishments.
• Support scouting programs and provide special service for those becoming Eagle Scouts.
• Mark graves of original Mormon Battalion men, women, and children.
• Properly mark and preserve the Trail of the Mormon Battalion.
• Work to help fulfill the prophecy of Brigham Young, that the men, women, and children of the Mormon Battalion "will be held in honorable remembrance for ever and ever."

What was the Original Mormon Battalion?

The original Mormon Battalion was an all volunteer US Army infantry unit formed in 1846 at the request of Presidents James K. Polk and Brigham Young to serve in the Mexican-American War as part of the Army of the West.  It comprised five companies of 100 men each, accompanied by 32 women (20 hired as laundresses), over 50 children, plus civilian settlers, teamsters, and camp followers.

Mormon Battalion Accomplishments

• They performed the longest infantry march in American history, marching 2,000 miles from a mustering ground in present Council Bluffs, Iowa, through Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, down the Santa Fe Trail, and then across the desert southwest through Tucson, Arizona to San Diego, California.
• Upon arrival, they pacified California through public service projects, building community wells, buildings, and forts.
• They helped secure seven new states for the Union.
• They were involved in the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill that started the 1849 Gold Rush.
• Returning eastward from California to Utah, they blazed much of the California Trail later used by the majority of immigrants going west to California.
• They brought seeds and tree cuttings back to the Utah valleys which helped to the desert to "blossom as a rose."
• As experienced frontiersmen and militia, they led in the colonization of Mormon settlements, introducing large scale irrigation farming throughout the American West.
• They became a saving grace to church, family, and nation.  Their financial and physical sacrifice contributed significantly to the westward migration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

What does the Current Battalion Do?

• Strive to have the original Mormon Battalion Trail - the first wagon Trail across the Southwest to California - designated as a National Historic Trail.
• Mark the Mormon Battalion Trail with appropriate memorials and signs.
• Honor the pioneer women who went on the march or were left behind with children and families.
• Arrange and participate in activities, parades, monuments, and events deserving the attention of the Mormon Battalion.
• Memorialize original Mormon Battalion men, women, and children by providing suitable grave makers and services for descendants participating.
• At Courts of Honor for Eagle Scouts, present neckerchief slides to new Eagle Scouts, provide flag ceremonies if desired, and invite all to join the Mormon Battalion.
• Provide opportunities for historical and education enrichment, charitable service, and social activities within the church, community, and nation.

Click Here for the printable version (PDF) of the Application

Men and Women
Application for Membership
Mormon Battalion Association

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