The Mormons first moved from New York to Ohio in 1831. This was mostly for practicality, as there were a large number of new converts in Ohio. Shortly after the move to Ohio, it was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith that the Church would eventually build the city of Zion in Missouri. Small groups of people began to move to Missouri in order to establish Zion.
Before the city of Zion could be completed, the persecution and violence against Mormons in both Ohio and Missouri became so intense that they were forced to leave (in Missouri, the governor even issued an 'extermination order' against the Mormons - making it legal to kill a Mormon or drive them from the state by force). They moved to the western border of Illinois in the city of Nauvoo. The persecution and violence grew in Illinois as well, until 1844 when the prophet Joseph Smith was murdered. The local government then asked the Mormons to leave in order to maintain peace, and they began to leave the state in the early spring of 1845.
After wintering over and preparing supplies in Nebraska, the Mormons headed further west and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in the Great Basin in July 1847. At the time, it was Mexican territory, but the area was soon acquired by the United States in the Mexican-American war.
They didn't. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) was founded in 1830. The first move of the church was to Ohio in 1831, due to a large number of converts in Ohio. Mormons left Ohio both because they believed that Zion was in Missouri and because of persecution in Ohio. The Mormons were kicked out of Missouri by a government order after severe persecution. They then moved to Illinois where they again faced persecution and the government asked them to leave. Finally, in 1847, they arrived in what is now Utah (then part of Mexico) where they had more freedom to practice their religion without persecution.
The Mormons were searching for a place where they could practice their religion in peace and found that place in Utah.
Indian Removal Act
Both the Indian Removal Act and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the 'Mormon' church) began in the spring of 1830. The Indian Removal act sent many Native American Tribes west of the Mississippi River. These relocated tribes were encountered by the Mormons about 15 years later when the Mormons were forced west of the Mississippi River as well. The Native Americans felt sorry for the Mormons and helped them survive in the harsh west.
The signifigence of the Mormons moving west was for them to escape religious percsecution
the Indian Removal Act
The Mormons traveled west in wagons, with handcarts and later by train.
1830
The Mormons were searching for a place where they could practice their religion in peace and found that place in Utah.
The Mormons were being persecuted in the Eastern United States, and they decided to move West to form their own settlement, where they would be free to live as they pleased and according to their own religious rules, free from persecution.
Indian Removal Act
They moved there because they wanted to
Many of what are now the Western United States were settled by "Mormons." You may be referring to Utah, however, which was the primary destination of the move west.
Both the Indian Removal Act and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the 'Mormon' church) began in the spring of 1830. The Indian Removal act sent many Native American Tribes west of the Mississippi River. These relocated tribes were encountered by the Mormons about 15 years later when the Mormons were forced west of the Mississippi River as well. The Native Americans felt sorry for the Mormons and helped them survive in the harsh west.
Palmyra, New York on April 6th, 1830.
The South
Mormonism began in 1830, over 100 years after the pilgrims. Therefore the Mormons never had an opportunity to help them.
The LDS church was officially founded on April 6, 1830.