This is a List of Mormon place names, meaning towns and other places named, in modern times, after places and people in the Book of Mormon, after Mormon leaders during the settlement of Utah, or after other elements of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' or other latter-day saint denominations' history. See List of Book of Mormon places for a reference list of locations mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and List of Book of Mormon people for persons mentioned therein. The intention is to list all places named (usually by Mormons) for specifically Mormon places and people, where those names are not otherwise generally known as Biblical (meaning from the Old and New Testaments) to non-Mormons.So this will include places named after Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet), but should not include places, if there are any, named after Lehi (Bible), a somewhat obscure place in the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. This does not include places generally known to be Biblical/Christian, such as most listed as biblical place names in North America. For example Goshen, is notably the name of a bible place, and was used as name for Goshen, Utah in Utah County, by the first LDS bishop of that area, Phineas Cook, but he named it after his birthplace, Goshen, Connecticut, according to Davidson. Which is named after Land of Goshen in Egypt, mentioned in the Old Testament, so Goshen, Utah is only indirectly named for a biblical place, and the biblical place is not specifically Mormon, so it is doubly not the type of place covered in this list.
According to John W. Van Cott in his 1990 work Utah Place Names, the Mormons named more places in Utah than any other group or individual in the state. (sourced mainly to Utah Place Names, by John W. Van Cott, 1990 edition) Salt Lake City Tribune author Davidson noted, in 2018, that "Utah cities and towns were named for at least five church presidents, 10 apostles, 11 stake presidents, nine bishops, two biblical figures and three Book of Mormon prophets, among other things." Similar general works for other regions, such as Idaho Place Names, identify numerous other Mormon place names.
Place names
The intention is to list all modern usages of place names that are clearly Mormon, to exclusion of other Christian place names. Those starred are from the Book of Mormon, or modern revelation.
Adam-ondi-Ahman* Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri, in Daviess County, Missouri, was named by Joseph Smith, who asserted it was where Adam, of Adam and Eve had set up an altar, after Adam and Eve had been expelled from the Garden of Eden. compiled by Bruce Satterfield, BYU-Idaho Professor of Religion Settlement there was challenged, and Joseph Smith and followers moved on to Far West.
Ammon* Ammon, Idaho, originally South Iona, the area was made a ward in the church in 1889 with Arthur M. Rawson as bishop, who renamed the town in honor of Ammon, a figure in the LDS book of scripture, the Book of Mormon.
Ballard Ballard, Utah in Uintah County, is named after LDS apostle Melvin J. Ballard
Bountiful Bountiful, Utah, named after Bountiful (Book of Mormon). It was the second city established by Mormons in Utah. Bountiful, British Columbia, also named after Bountiful. The town was established by Mormon Fundamentalists.
Brigham Brigham City, Utah, in Box Elder County, named for Brigham Young, second LDS church president. It was called Youngsville for two years before. Brigham City, Arizona, a nearby town is called Joseph City, Arizona
Cannonville Cannonville, Utah, in Garfield County, "Named for former apostle George Q. Cannon. Has also been called "Gunshot", as locals say "it’s too small for a cannon."
Cardston Cardston and Cardston County in Alberta are named for Charles Ora Card, sometimes known as "Canada's Brigham Young".Richard E. Bennett, "Canada: From Struggling Seed, the Church Has Risen to Branching Maple," Ensign, September 1988, p. 30.
Clawson Clawson, Utah, in Emery County, named for apostle Rudger Clawson, who had visited to organize a ward there.
Colonia LeBaron Colonia LeBaron was founded by a fundamentalist sect in Chihuahua, Mexico and named after the LeBaron family.
Colonia Mormones Colonia Mormones in Sonora, Mexico.
Cumorah* Cumorah, also known as Mormon Hill,A. P. Kesler, "Mormon Hill", Young Woman's Journal, 9:73 (February 1898)."Thomas Cook History, 1930", in Dan Vogel ed. (2000). Early Mormon Documents, vol. 3 (Salt Lake City: Signature Books ) pp. 243–50.Andrew Jenson, Conference Report (April 1917) p. 99. Gold Bible Hill,"A Looked-for Exposure: Secrets of the Original Mormon Bible", The New York Times, 1888-02-26.Bruce E. Dana (2003). Glad Tidings Near Cumorah (CFI, ) pp. 58–60. and Inspiration Point, is a drumlin in Manchester, New York, United States, where Joseph Smith said he found a set of golden plates which he translated into English and published as the Book of Mormon. Cumorah is a name found in the Book of Mormon, and given to the site by early Latter-day Saints. The Sacred Grove is nearby.
Cutler's Park Cutler's Park, in what is now Nebraska, was named in honor of Alpheus Cutler, who founded the site. Cutler was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, who was later known for being one of the master builders of the Nauvoo Temple and for establishing his own branch of Mormonism known as the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite).
Deseret* State of Deseret, provisional U.S. state which existed for two years Deseret, Utah, in Millard County Deseret (Book of Mormon) is the word for "honeybees" in land of the Jaredites, in the Book of Mormon. "Brigham Young wanted pioneers to be as industrious as honeybees and used the name in many places and ways. When Latter-day Saints first sought statehood, they applied using the name 'State of Deseret.'"
Draper Draper, Utah, in Salt Lake County, honors William Draper, the first LDS bishop of the city.
Enoch* Enoch, Utah after the Order of Enoch. Enoch, Texas, founded by LDS and named after the Order of Enoch. Samuel O. Bennion's organization of the Enoch Branch in 1911.Handbook of Texas Online - ENOCH, TXEnoch History The first Latter-day Saint settlers had arrived in 1906. In 1908 a Sunday School was organized at Enoch. In 1910 a building was built for the Sunday School. In 1930 it was only one of eight communities in Texas where the church owned a chapel.Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 130
Ephraim* Ephraim, Utah - the special significance here is that the Tribe of Ephraim is said to restore the gospel to the earth and many modern Mormons are said to belong to it.
Far West Far West, Missouri, in Caldwell County, Missouri, was a Mormon settlement, which grew as Mormons were expelled from the Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri area. Settlement there, too, was challenged, and many Mormons moved on to Nauvoo, Illinois.
Farr West Farr West, Utah, in Weber County, is named for Lorin Farr, first president of the LDS Weber Stake. It is also named for bishop Chauncey W. West, and is a nod to Far West, Missouri, an important previous Mormon community.
Fayette Fayette, Utah, in Sanpete County, is named for Fayette, New York. In 1830 the LDS Church was organized there.
Fielding Fielding, Utah, in Box Elder County. It was named to honor Mary Fielding Smith, mother of the sixth president of the LDS church, Joseph Fielding Smith. "It was named in part to honor the church president, too." Van Cott says it was named for the mother.)
Francis Francis, Utah, in Summit County, named for apostle Francis M. Lyman, as is Lyman.
Grantsville Grantsville, Utah in Tooele County, Utah, a city named for George D. Grant, who served as a colonel in the Nauvoo Legion.
Georgetown Georgetown, Idaho, renamed from "Twin Creeks" by Brigham Young for his friend George Q. Cannon in 1873, after the two had visited the colony together. (Credit partly to Idaho Place Names: A Geographic Dictionary, by Lalia Boone)
Hamblin Hamblin, Utah named for Jacob Hamblin
Harmony New Harmony, Utah, in Washington County, is named for Harmony, Pennsylvania, where Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, "and to signify harmony among early settlers."
Hawkins Hawkins, Idaho, possibly named after Sister Hawkins, LDS missionary
Heber City Heber City, Utah, named for apostle Heber C. Kimball. Heber "had baptized many of the city’s early residents as a missionary in England before they immigrated."
Henrieville Henrieville, Utah, in Garfield County, named for James Henrie, the first LDS stake president in its area.
Hinckley Hinckley, Utah, in Millard County, named for Ira Hinckley, a stake president in its area, and grandfather of future church president Gordon B. Hinckley)."
Hooper Hooper, Utah, named for William Henry Hooper, a member of the Council of Fifty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an early Utah delegate to Congress.
Hyde Park Hyde Park, Utah, in Cache County, is assertedly named for William Hyde, the first LDS bishop in its area It may also partly be named for London's Hyde Park.
Hyrum Hyrum, Utah, in Cache County was named for Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith's brother. A twin settlement was intended to be founded nearby and named Joseph, but it never happened.
Iona Iona, Idaho "Iona: According to the town’s own history book, Iona was named by LDS Church President John Taylor. He visited early settlers in the area, then known as Sand Creek, and apparently suggested the name “Iona”, claiming it was the name of a small town in Israel that meant “beautiful”." It is also the name of an island in Scotland.
Iosepa Iosepa, Utah, uses the Hawaiian word for "Joseph", and is named for missionary Joseph F. Smith who recruited Polynesians to settle in Skull Valley. Settlers included Samoans and Māori as well as Native Hawaiians. It was tough going. Later when Smith was LDS church president, returns to Hawaii were funded, and the town became a ghost town.
Ivins Ivins, Utah, in Washington County, is named for apostle Anthony W. Ivins.
Jacob Lake Jacob Lake, Arizona, named for Jacob Hamblin
Joseph Joseph, Utah, in Sevier County "Honors not Joseph Smith but rather Joseph A. Young, the first president of the LDS Sevier Stake." Joseph City, Arizona, a nearby town is called Brigham City, Arizona, named after the first two church presidents.
Kaysville Kaysville, Utah, honors William Kay, the first LDS bishop in its area. Early settlers, including Kay, wanted to name it "Freedom". "But Brigham Young asked, 'When did Bishop Kay’s ward get its freedom?' Young pushed the name Kaysville instead." also
Kimball Kimball, Alberta named after the ward which was named after the descendants of Heber C. Kimball.
Kingston Kingston, Utah, in Piute County, is named for Thomas Rice King, who was a Latter-day Saint bishop who moved from Fillmore to Piute County with his five sons and their families to establish a United Order.
Kirtland Kirtland, New Mexico is named for Kirtland, Ohio, where the LDS built one of their first temples and were expelled from.
Kolob* Kolob Canyons, named for Kolob, "a major star in Mormon cosmology, the center of the Universe" Kolob is mentioned in Book of Abraham, written by Joseph Smith, part of the Pearl of Great Price.
Lamoni* Lamoni, Iowa named after Lamoni, a king mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Formerly headquarters of the Community of Christ (RLDS)
Layton Layton, Utah, named for early bishop Christopher Layton.
Leavitt Leavitt, Alberta, adjacent to Cardston, was founded by Thomas Rowell Leavitt, another Mormon fleeing the U.S. federal crackdown on polygamy.Thomas Rowell Leavitt, Once Upon a Wedding: Stories of Weddings in Western Canada, Nancy Millar, 2000
Lehi*