In late October, Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri issued a dramatic and controversial directive known as the 'Extermination Order.' This order declared that all Mormons in Missouri were to leave the state or be killed, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between the federal government and the emerging religious group known as the Latter Day Saints. By 1838, tensions had escalated significantly in the state, which had seen considerable Mormon migration since the church's founding in 1830. Economic competition, cultural differences, and objections to their religious practices contributed to growing animosity between the local Missourians and the Mormons.

Before the order, various conflicts had already occurred, including skirmishes between Mormon settlers and local militias. Governor Boggs' declaration was intended to restore order and appease the frustrated citizens of Missouri. The order was not just a legal statement but also an incitement to violence. Following this, Mormon homes were ransacked, and many were forcibly displaced from their properties.

As a response to the prevailing threat, leaders within the Mormon community, including Joseph Smith, began to organize their people for potential relocation. The aftermath of the Extermination Order saw hundreds of Mormons flee the state, eventually leading to large-scale migrations that would shape their history in the United States. Moving primarily to Illinois and later to what would become Utah in the late 1840s, the event fundamentally influenced the migration patterns and settlement strategies of the Mormons, transforming them into one of the more significant religious communities in the American West.