Nauvoo was the Latter-day Saints' home for seven years, but increasing conflict with their neighbors led church leaders to plan a departure in the spring of 1846. As Latter-day Saints gathered supplies, built wagons, and organized into companies, they hoped to establish a new community west of the Rocky Mountains. Threats of violence persisted, however, and Brigham Young moved up the departure of the first 2,000 emigrants, who felt compelled to leave in February despite the cold. Their journey began with a ferry crossing of the Mississippi River, the first of several river crossings, and when temperatures fell further and the river froze, 500 more people crossed and joined them. Because the departure was hasty, many were ill equipped for the road ahead, and winter weather worsened conditions so much that the first 100 miles took a month instead of the expected 10 days.