In 1846, Little met with United States President James K. Polk and former Post Master General, Amos Kendall asking for help for the emigrating members of the LDS church to the west.

In 1847, Little served as adjutant to Brigham Young who led a company of Mormon pioneers from Winter Quarters, Nebraska, to the Salt Lake Valley.

[4] Shortly after arriving in Salt Lake City, Little returned to the eastern United States and continued to act as a mission president.

In Salt Lake City he served as an attorney, sexton, marshal, tax appraiser, military officer and fire chief.

Little acted in this capacity until his resignation in the summer of 1874; he was eventually replaced in the presiding bishopric by Robert T. Burton.