Brigham founded State of Utah and University of Utah

A fascinating fact about Brigham Young is that he served as the governor when Deseret was founded in March 1849. Congress suggested drastically narrowing the state borders, and Utah Territory was founded the following September. Young was chosen as the new governor of the Utah Territory in 1850 when the United States had taken control of the Great Salt Lake Valley region following the Mexican-American War. His rule over the region was theocratic, with church beliefs superseding all other laws. Among other things, he maintained the restrictions on African American membership in the church and prohibited Black males from becoming Mormon priests.

Brigham Young and others believed that a university was required to prepare men and women as elementary school teachers due to the rising need for children's education. The University of Deseret began operations on November 11, 1850, at the residence of a local citizen named Mrs. John Pack without an official structure. For the duration of the first quarter, the Pack home continued to serve as the University of Deseret's temporary campus.

During the late 1860s, Utah experienced many changes. It was no longer isolated by the construction of the railroad. The expansion of the economy allowed for the building of the University of Deseret's main campus. The name of the institution was changed to the University of Utah by the Legislative Assembly in 1892.