The Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF), established by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1849, provided economic assistance to more than 30,000 individuals who sought to settle in Utah and surrounding regions. The PEF used both Church assets and private contributions to aid impoverished converts to the faith when they moved west. As funds were limited, converts seeking aid were ranked by their useful skills and by the duration of their membership in the Church. Limits on funds led to innovative preparations and travel methods, including the establishment of handcart companies, to reduce expenses. Once established in their new homes, the converts were expected to repay the funds in cash, commodities, or labor, with minor interest. This way the fund could be perpetual and other