Utah Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

Immigrants in territorial Utah typically filed for naturalization in the probate courts from the 1850s to 1874. Because of the problems between the federal government and the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most members went to probate courts. The judges in the probate courts were usually members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which made it easier for other members to become citizens. From the 1850s to 1896 federal district courts were also used and other courts, such as county courts, were occasionally used for the naturalization process.  

Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who applied for naturalization during the 1870s and 1880s were often denied naturalization because of their belief in polygamy. This was seldom a problem after the Manifesto of 1890 that advised members to discontinue the practice of polygamy.