The Mormons settled in Utah beginning in 1847, after mobs murdered the Prophet Joseph Smith and expelled the Mormon Church from Illinois. As they settled in Utah, the desert territory began to blossom. For nearly a decade the Mormons in Utah had relative peace and were free to practice their religion as they saw fit. Beginning in 1856, the Mormon Reformation, which was really just a renewed call for Mormons to live their faith, began. This was to call the Mormons out of spiritual laxity after a trying decade of being mobbed, driven, and suffering the physical trials of starting over in Utah. In 1857, their isolation ended.