In short, the purpose of emmigrating was to find a safe place to practice their religion. The Latter-day Saints (Mormons) were subject to a great deal of persecution, and even mob attacks and murders, wherever they settled -- initially in New York, then Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The governor of Missouri even issued an extermination order authorizing the murder of Mormons in the state.
After the murder of their prophet and president in 1844, the Mormons emigrated along the Mormon Trail to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, which was mostly uninhabited by anyone, and began to settle the territory there.
The Mormons eventually settled in Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding areas.
The Great Basin area, near the Great Salt Lake. What is now Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Mormons went to Utah to avoid persecution by hostile mobs. They had been chased out of almost every city or state they had inhabited or founded. Some had been killed and Missouri even made it legal to kill any Mormon of any age if they didn't leave their property and much of their belongings and leave the state.
Early Mormons began a settlement called Voree (in what is now the city of Burlington) in Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan. This group eventually became cut off from the main body of the Church (largely because of their distance from Church headquarters) and has now become a separate Church. Ironically, they share the official name of the Church, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints", but are not connected with the 13 million member Church based in Salt Lake City. Members of this group are often called "Strangite Mormons". Or, perhaps you are meaning the other great lake... the Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, that the main body of Mormons settled, and are currently based, near. (You can learn more about the Strangite and the mainstream Mormon Church from the "Related Links" below.)
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
No.
Mormons founded Salt Lake City, Utah, the capital of Utah. Actually, they founded the whole state of Utah...
The Mormons went from Palmyra, NY to Kirtland, OH to Navoo, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, Utah
If you are referring to the Biblical city of Bethlehem in Israel, yes, there are a handful of Mormons in Bethlehem. Mormons are forbidden from proselyting in Israel, however, so it is difficult for the Church to grow there.
The link between the Mormons and Salt Lake City is that it was founded by Brigham Young and his followers, who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as Mormons. The Mormons settled in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 seeking religious freedom and established Salt Lake City as their new headquarters. Today, Salt Lake City remains the global headquarters of the LDS Church and is considered a significant cultural and historical center for Mormons worldwide.