The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California
[4] A Mormon immigrant company, under direction of Samuel Brannan, departed on the ship Brooklyn from New York on February 4, 1846 en route to the Great Salt Lake Valley via California.[6] During the early autumn of 1846, Brannan led 20 men to the San Joaquin Valley where they founded a Mormon farming village named New Hope Colony.[8] The first colonization from Utah to California came in 1851 when a company of about 450 saints and enslaved people under direction of Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles settled at what is now San Bernardino.The colony was the final settlement in a string of Mormon communities extending 800 miles (1,300 km) from Salt Lake City in an area known as Deseret.[11][13] Church president Gordon B. Hinckley attended the rededication of the historic Hollywood (now Los Angeles California) Stake Center on June 8, 2003.Church members throughout the state commemorated the anniversary with observances that included an exhibit at the San Francisco Maritime Museum,[15] performances of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Davies Symphony Hall,[16] dedications of plaques honoring the early settlers, and pioneer activities and parades.[17] In addition to commemorating the arrival of early Latter-day Saint settlers, as well as contributions to the development of the state, members throughout California donated many hours of service in community projects sponsored by wards and stakes, including gathering supplies and food for the needy; cleaning parks, beaches and roadways; painting and repairing homeless shelters, and cleaning up graffiti.In times of disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods, church members in California have donated countless hours of service, helping communities to recover.[21] In May 2003, hundreds of Los Angeles-area Muslims and members of the Pasadena California Stake joined in preparing emergency supplies for Iraqi families.