Wheat crop failures in North Carolina prompted the family to move to Illinois near Lima before 1832. They farmed land there 25 miles south of Nauvoo.  In 1838 -1839 the Mormons were driven out of Missouri across the Mississippi river into western Illinois. George Garner was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1839. His wife Elizabeth died and is buried at Nauvoo,Illinois.
 In 1846 the Mormons were driven out of Illinois into Iowa and Missouri
 War Department June  3, 1846: to Colonel Kearney
"It is known that a large body of Mormon emigrants are en route to California for the purpose of settling that country. You are desired to use all proper means to have a good understanding with them to the end that the United stated may have their cooperation in taking possesion of and holding that country. It has been suggested here that many of these Mormons would willingly enter the service of the United States
and aid us in our expedition against California. You are hereby authorized to muster into service such as can be induced to volunteer,not, however, to a number exceeding 1/2 of your entire force.Should they enter the service they will be paid as other volunteers and you can allow them to designate, as far as it can be properly done, the persons to act as officers thereof."
The call was rather disconcerting. Eighteen hundred wagons were encamped in various places between Nauvoo and Council Bluffs.  A great number of single men had gone to adjoining states to look for work, the wages of which would aid the destitute families. Five hundred teamsters , the majority with families could hardly be spared. However it was too late in the season to move into the Rocky Mountains that year.The camps of Israel also needed funds and the saints were certain that they must remain on the plains in the winter of 1846-1847 which were Indian lands. The Indians were friendly with the Mormons but the Indian agents were not and the US government service would allow them to remain in Iowa and Nebraska encamped for the winter. The state of Missouri was agitated by the presence of Mormons along her northern borders and enlistment  in the army would dispell the fears. So despite the great hardship to the Mormons it would be in their best interest to volunteer  for one year of service. Brigham Young, Heber KImball, Parley Pratt, Orson Pratt and others went from camp to camp explaining the call.
On 2 July 10 Indian chiefs at Council Bluffs signed a treaty guaranteeing the Mormons the right to stop on their lands , to cultivate the soil and go without being molested. On July 16 the Mormons were given approval to reside in Pottawattie County,Iowa.
Brigham Young promised those who left their families that they would be provided for and the promise was kept.
 The Mormon Battalion was formed with George Garner and his brothers , William, David, Henry, Phillip and John enlisting.The women and children remained in Council Bluffs " Winter Quarters" . The Mormon Battalion marched from Ft. Leavenworth ,Kansas to Pueblo, Colorado to Santra Fe , New Mexico ; to San Diego by January 
From journals of some of the soldiers:
We traveled 25 miles this day across one of the most dreary deserts that ever a man saw,suffering  much from the intense heat of the sun and for the want of water. the grass not more than 2 inches high and literally dried up by the sun. the teams suffers from the sand. I drank some water today the buffaloes had wallowed in.. Saw many buffaloe today and many wounded by the battalion" Henry Strandage

" March ,march ,march is the daily task . Daybreak brings reveille ,sick or well must go either to roll call or the doctor. Next get your breakfast and strike your tents .. all day over the sands over hills and across valleys sometimes 12,15 or 18 miles Halt ,stack arms , pitch tents gather buffalo chips, get water, draw rations, cook supper ,eat, roll call and evening chores.Then go to bed and sleep on the rough ground and only one blanket and thin tent against the cold"  James A. Scott

They  disbanded in Los Angelos California, on Jan 29, 1847.So faithfully did the Battalion discharge their duties and so free of the vices of soldiers , great inducements were offered to get them to reenlist.Most went back to their families.In July 1847,they went back to SLC.
In September a small party returned to Williams ranch at Santa Ana del Chino under the leadership of Asahel A. Lathrop to purchase cattle and seeds. On 15 Feb 1848 they started for SLC with 200 cows ,pack animals 40 bulls. All the bulls but one ,100 cows all died of thirst or the Indians would sneak up and kill one of the cows .
In 1850 the Mormons left St Joseph Missouri for SLC . The train of 60 wagons were divided in groups of 10 to better forage food for the animals. George Garner was a captain of one of the 10 sections By hard driving he got his wagons to SLC two weeks advance of the others with the loss of 2 people to cholera and little interference of hostile Indians along the route.
George had taken a thresher to SLC to farm the new area. He sold the machine to purchase another team to join the large party under the leadership of Captain David Seeley and Jefferson Hunt for the long ox-drawn wagon trip to San Bernardino Valley to colonize new land.They arrived 20 June and settled at "Garner's Grove"
Later he took up government lands which he farmed and purchased 100 acres along the Base Line Road at Lytle Creek the floods of Dec 1861 and Jan 1862 ravaged his farm and tavern. Then he settled on the east side of town. Garner's Swamp is now Seccombe Lake.
In 1854 administration of justice came in for criticism. Conflict was common between squatters over land claims and rights to irrigation water. The court cases were "People vs George Day and George Garner vs George Day"
After the Mormon recall, the Garners decided to stay in San Bernardino Valley. In the fall of 1858 George Garner was elected second district supervisor but he attended only a few meetings. He resigned Feb 1859.Henry Roof was elected his successor. His brother John Garner served on the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors 1867-1875.
Brigham Young was pleased with the heavy equipment that George gave the community of SLC and awarded him a freighting business from Los Angelos to SLC.
Stage coaches made regular scheduled trips with passengers , mail ,wheat ,oats,eggs,butter ,cheese. the stages drawn by four horses stopeed at the Garner Hotel,located at the corner of First North and Second east in Payson , Utah at the hotel owned and operated by George Garner. A barn and corral at the south of the hotel was used by coachman and guests.
A bee association was formed in Jan 1882 George Garner had brought the first bees to Payson. Not knowing how to are for them the new owners let the bees escape to the mountains. Through the association they learned to care for the bees.
The family attended the funeral of Brigham Young and returned home. After the noon time meal, George decided to make a trip to the grist mill located a few blocks west of the hotel. He took the ten year old granddaughter with him. She begged to drive the spirited horses and he allowed her to do so. The horses became frighterned by a piece of paper blowing  along the street, the tongue broke,the horses plunged foreward and Mr. Garner was thrown out several feet as the horses were turning the corner. George Garner was seriously injured and died the same day.