WILFORD
WOODRUFF
6
JAN. 1 1847
TO
DEC. 31 1853
1847 to 1853/6 years
472 Pages
Wilford Woodruff
6
January 1st 1847
to
December 31st 1853.
I looked over my Journals commencing with AD 1834 ending
with AD 1846 Making thirteen (13) years during which time
I have travled sixty one thousand six hundred & ninety two miles
crossed the Atlantic Ocean four times travled through England
Scotland & Wales and on six Islands of the sea through (61.6.92)
twenty of the United States several times and the Canidas
Held one thousand sixty nine meetings. (1069) Held eighty six
(86) conferences. One hundred & twenty three councils (123)
Baptized six hundred & thirty four (634) persons and assisted
in the baptism of hundreds of others. was baptized for thirty
six Dead friends (36). Confirmed eight hundred & thirteen
(813). Ordained two Patriarchs (2) nine bishops (9) Three
High Priest 3. Three Seventies 3. One hundred fifty six
Elders (156) One hundred forty two Priests (142) sixty three Teachers
(63) and thirteen Deacons. (13) I have administered by anoi-
nting and laying on of hands unto three hundred and sixty
four sick persons (364) many of which were healed. I blessed
(194) one hundred and ninety four Children. . I Married seven
couple (7) I planted fifty one churches (51) esstablished
seventy seven preaching places (77). Had ten mobs rise against
me 10. I recorded thirty of the Prophet Joseph's sermons
(30) and twenty five of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles (25)
I wrote one thousand and forty Letters (1040). Recieved six hundred
& ninety nine letters (699) I collected for the building of the
Temples of the Lord in Kirtland & Nauvoo one thousand six
hundred seventy four dollars ($1674) also five thousand dollars
for assisting in the printing of the works of the Latter Day Saints
($5000) I procured two hundred & five subscribers for the
periodicals published by the Saints (205) I printed the
Times and Seasons And Neighbor in co with Elder Taylor two
years. I printed twenty five hundred copies of the Millen[ni]um
Star at Liverpool (2,500) and published three thousand copies
of the Book of Doctrins & Covenants (3000) and secured the
copy wright at Stationeres Hall London. I printed three
thousand hymn books (3000) and twenty thousand of
the Proclamation called the proclamation of the
Twelve Apostles. (20,000) During the above period
I was ordained to the office of Teacher, Priest, Elder
member of the second quorum of Seventies the first quorm
of seventies and one of the Twelve Apostles. Recieved
my anointing sealing & endowments from under the
hands of the Apostles Brigham Young & Heber C. Kimball
by order of Joseph the prophet
[5 blank lines]
I assisted the Twelve in ordaining about two hundred 200
Elders & seventies at one time in Nauvoo which was not
recorded in my Journal & not named in the above number
[FIGURE]
WILFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL
FOR
1847
~ Friday
^friday^ JAN 1st 1847 I spent the day aranging my Journals I spent
the evening with Mrs Woodruff and sister Taylor At a feast
prepared by Br and sister Smoot I administered to 2 that were sick
~ Saturday
2nd I spent the day at home Father Woodruff was sick
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I preached At Br Vancotts House to that ward
I laid hands upon one sick person and blessed one child
~ Monday
4th I spent the day at home, and evening at Br A. O. Smoot
~ Tuesday
5th I spent this day halling Hay I sent 3 bushels of Meal
in a large salt sack to Br Mercer in the upper Herd
I attended council with the Twelve in the evening
~ Wednesday
6th The coldest day we have had this year in the
morning the Thermometer stood 2 degrees below
zero I spent the day at home Attended meeting in the
evening And ordained A. O. Smoot A Bishop And then
Preached at Sister Taylors
~ Thursday
7th It was colder to day than yesterday it was 8 degrees below zer[o]
I spent the day at home And attended the High Council
in the evening. Retired to Bed And dreamed I was with
the Saints Among the Indians. in Peace but suddenly
one came at me in a hostile manner to kill me they shot
at us but no one killed And I awoke & it was a dream
~ Friday
8th It was 20 degrees warmer to day but still vary cold I run
my stove pipe through the roof & put some turf upon the House
Br Fowler returned home this evening being gone 20 da[ys]
Had putty good luck, considering all things He brought
Home 40 gal Honey, 900 lbs pork 40 lb lard 20 lbs Butte[r]
one yoke Beef Cattle and sundry other articles
~ Saturday
9th Mercury fell 10 degrees below zero we sold one ox
to Br Rockwood at 2 1/2 cts per lb his meat wait was 893 lb
Amounting to $22.32 1/2 during the evening I took a walk with
Elders Young, Kimball, H Stout & others conversed upon a
variety of subjects.
I went to bed; fell asleep
And dreamed some Indians came in to my house with Axes
with the intent to kill me I got away from them went
into the street And there two men one an Indian stabed me
with Knives in the side I Hollowed murder and some
came to my assistance And I awoke. these dreams mean
sumthing some person or persons are plotting against my
life And I am warned against the plots of my enemies
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I met the Saints in our ward O Pratt addr
essed them with an interesting discourse and I followed
we had a good meeting. I again attended meeting in the
evening And preached to the people and had the spirit of
God several of the brethren spoke. I spoke some upon
the resurrection
~ Monday
11th I met in council with the Twelve at Br Bensons and
spent the day we had a good time. we spoke upon the
principle of our lives being threatend by our enemies &
prayed that we might ever be deliverd from there hands
~ Tuesday
12th I spent the day butchering a fat ox we memet in
council with the Twelve
~ Wednesday
13th I cut up beef and pork today attended to the duties of the
family I attended a meeting in the evening at Br Ensigns
~ Thursday
14th I attended a council of the Twelve at Elder Kimballs
[FIGURES] we had an interesting meeting. A Revelation was
given concerning the organization of the Camp of
Israel which will be written on another page of this journal
~ Friday
15th I met in council with the Twelve at Br Bensons and
conversed about the organizing of the Camp of Israel
the time has now come when the Camp of Israel must be
organized according to the order and law of God for there
peace, safety, and salvation There are many things of Interest
transpire in the councils of the Twelve Apostles which I do
not write in this Journal as Elder Willard Richards is
presant at the councils, and is the recorder and historian of
the Church and writes all these things which will appear in
the general Church History. There was a severe snow storm
this day. At night I went into the Council House with President
Young & several Bishops and made doors and plastered up
the House and worked untill near midnight
~ Saturday
16th A cold day yet the sun shines pleasent I drew two loads
of hay and went into council at night with the Twelve
and the Presidents of the seventies and we had much
interesting teaching from President Young. The revelation
and word of the Lord recieved on the 14th was this
day presented before the High Council and accepted
it was presented to night before presidents of the seventies
and accepted by them. The question was asked
president Young if the quorums of seventies should
not be filled up while He said not while there was men
enough belonging to the quorum in good standing alive on
the earth their places should not be filled by others
while treating upon the principle of adoption he said some
men were afraid they would loose some glory if they
were sealed to one of the Twelve and did not stand
alone and have others sealed to them President
Young said there kingdom consisted of their own
posterity and it did not diminish that at all but
by being sealed to one of the Twelve but ownly
bound them by that perfect chain according to the
law of God and order of Heaven that will bind
the righteous from Adam to the last Saint and
Adam will claim us all as members of his kingdom
we doing [being] his children
He gave some interesting teaching concerning the rights
of men & the dealings of men with there wives and
children, the raising of posterity, purity, holiness &c
that if a wise and proper course was taken in the
begeting and raising of children that they would
soon become pure & holy and be administered
to by Angels &c and many other things did
the Apostle teach
~ Sunday
17th Sunday A cold day I preached to a congregation in
Bishops Everetts ward I attended council in the
Evening with the Twelve, High Council & Bishops and
had an interesting time two peaces was read from
Col Cane published in the Pennsylvania Papers, concerning
his stay among us
~ Monday
18th [FIGURE] Monday The Thermometer stood this day
16 1/2 degrees below 0 zero I think as cold weath[er]
as I ever experienced but as cold weather as it was
In company with several others I dug earth out of
the bank and coverd the roof of my house up
This was an important day in the history of this churc[h]
in one respect President Brigham Young met with
his company or family organisation or those who
had been adopeted unto him or were to be, & organized
than into a company out of which may grow a people
that may yet be called the tribe of Brigham. His
teaching to his company was much unto edifycation
I cannot now write but few of the words which he spake
He said no man should come into his company to work
iniquity they should break of from all there sins and
they did enter into a covenant with uplifted hands to
Heaven with President Young and each other to walk
in all the ordinances & commandments of the Lord
our God. President Young said that he new that any
man who would put his money to usury in the cause
of God would recieve an hundred fold and many things of
Interest was spoken President Young company numb[ered]
about 300 men
~ Tuesday
189th [FIGURE] {The tribe of Wilford Woodruff was organized this day.}
President Heber C Kimball organized
his family company this night at the
Council House consisting of about 200 persons
I Wilford Woodruff organized my family company
this night at my own house consisting of 40 men mostly
head men of families. Those that joined me entered into
a covenant with uplifted hands to Heaven to keep all the
commandments & statutes of the Lord our God and
to sustain me in my office the following are the nam[es]
of those who were present with me in this organization
Wilford Woodruff, Aphek Woodruff, John Fowler,
Abraham O Smoot, William C. A. Smoot, John Grierson,
Chancy W. Porter, John Benbow, Simeon Blanchard,
Jacob Burnham, Little John Utley Samuel Turnbow
Eligah F. Sheets, Jacob F Secrist, Benjamin Abers,
Andrew J Allen, Ezra Clark, Edward Stephvenson,
Zerah Pulsipher, John M Wolley Albert Dewey
Wm Stewart, Thomas Clark, Hezekiah Peck.
being 24 persons in all that were present, the remainder
were absent on business. we dismissed and parted in good
spirits & feelings I went to bed and fell asleep and dreamed
[FIGURE] that I was {[big] with child and} ready to {be delivered} which was a singular dream
~ Wednesday
Jan 20th I met in council with the Twelve at Br Kimballs
A part of the time was spent in appointing officers in the
organization of Presidents Youngs company. towards evening
Br Harrison Burgess arived from Nauvoo with the Mail
and all other business was laid aside to search for news
we recieved several bundles of news papers from nearly all
parts of the U.S.A. & many letters from friends abroad and
3 Nos of the Stars from Liverpool Edited by Elder O. Hyde
and we had quite a treat
~ Thursday
201st I spent this day in council with the Twelve and search-
ing out the news of the day. I attended the High Council in
the evening with the Twelve & Bishops but was quite unwell
with cold and sore throat
21st The following is a true copy of a Revelation given dated
Winter Quarters Camp of Israel Jan 14th 1847
[Doctrine and Covenants 136:1-10] The word and will of the Lord concerning the camp of Israel
In their journeyings to the west
Let all the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies
with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and
Statutes of the Lord our God: Let the companies be organized
with Captains of Hundreds, Captains of Fifties, and Captains of Tens
with a President & his two councillors at their head, under
the direction of the Twelve Apostles: And this shall be our covenant
that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord.
Let each company provide themselves with all the Teams, waggons
provisions, clothing, and other necessaries for the journey that they
can. When the companies are organized let them go to with
their might to prepare for those who are to tarry.
Let each company with their Captains, and Presidents, decide
how many can go next spring; then choose out a sufficient
number of able bodied and expert men, to take teams, seeds,
and Farming utensils, to go as Pioneers, to prepare for puting
in spring crops.
Let each company bear an equal
proportion, according to the dividend of their property, in taking
the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the families of those
who have gone into the armey, that the cries of the widow
and the Fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord against
this people.
Let each company prepare houses, and fields
for raising grain, for those who are to remain behind this season,
and this is the will of the Lord concerning his people; Let every
man use all his influence and property, to remove this people
to the place whare the Lord shall locate a stake of Zion;
And if ye do this with a pure heart in all faithfulness, ye shall
be blessed, you shall be blessed in your flocks, and in your
herds, and in your fields, and in your houses, and in your famili[es]
Let my servants Ezra T. Benson and Erastus Snow organize a
company, and let my servants Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodr[uff]
organize a company: Also let my servants Amasa Lyman and
George A Smith organize a company and appoint Presidents
and Captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens:
And let my servants that have been appointed go and teach
this my will to the Saints that they may be ready to go to
a land of peace. [Doctrine and Covenants 136:11-16]
Go thy way and do as I have told you; and fear not thine
enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my work.
Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time time, and if any
man shall seek to build up himself and seeketh not my council
he shall have no power, and his folley shall be made manifes[t]
seek ye and keep all your pledges one with another and covet
not that which is thy brothers. Keep yourselves from evi[l]
to take ^not^ the name of thy God in vane; for I am the Lord your
God, even the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham
and of Isaac and of Jacob. I am he who led the children
of Israel out of the Land of Egypt and my arm is streched
out in the last days to save my people Israel cease to contend
one with another. Cease to speak evil one of another.
Cease drunkenness, and let your words tend to edeyfing one
another. If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt
restore that which thou hast borrowed, and if thou canst
not repay, then go straitway, and tell thy neighbor lest he
condemn thee. If thou shalt find that which thy neighbor
has lost, thou shalt make diligent search, till thou shalt
deliver it to him again. Thou shall be diligent in preserving
what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for
it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward
If thou art merry, praise the Lord, with singing,
with music, with dancing and with a prayer of
praise and thanksgiving. If thou art sorrowful call on
the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may
be joyful. Fear not thine enemies for they are in mine
hands and I will do my pleasure with them. My people
must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to
recieve the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion.
And he that will not bear chastizment, is not worthy of
my Kingdom; Let him that is ignorant, learn wisdom
by humbling himself, and calling upon the Lord his God, that
his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened
that he may hear, for my spirit is sent forth into the wor[ld]
to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation
of the ungodly.
Thy brethren have rejected you and
your testimony, even the Nation that has driven you out; and
now cometh the day of their calamity, even the days of
sorrow like a woman that is taken in travel; and their
sorrow shall be great, unless they spedily repent! ^yea vary spedily^ for they
killed the prophets, and they that were sent unto them,
and they have shed innocent blood, which crieth from [Doctrine and Covenants 136:11-36]
the ground against them; Therefore marvel not at these
things, for ye are not yet pure: thou canst not yet bear
my glory, But thou shalt behold it, if ye are faithful
in keeping all my words that I have given you from the
days of Abraham Adam to Abraham; from Abraham
to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and the Apostles and
from Jesus and his Apostles to Joseph Smith, whom
I did call upon by mine Angels, my ministering servants
and by mine own voice out of the Heavens, to bring forth
my work; which foundation he did lay, and was faithful
and I took him to myself. Many have marvelled becaus
of his death, but it was needful that He should seal his tes-
timony with his blood, that he might be honored and
the wicked might be condemned.
Have I not deliverd you from your enemies, ownly in that
I have left a witness of my name? Now, therefore, harken,
O ye people of my church; and ye Elders, listen together
you have received my kingdom, be diligent in keeping
all my commandments, lest judgment come upon you,
and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over
you. [Doctrine and Covenants 136:36-42]
So no more at present Amen and Amen.
~ Friday
22ndd Friday I met in council with the Twelve
~ Saturday
223rd I spent the day at home But attended the council of
the seventies in the evening with the Twelve & the
quorum of the Twelve with President Young at the Head
set for going forth in the dance the persons that took
the floor to set the pattern were as follows Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball Wilford Woodruff & Ezra T Benson of
the Twelve, & Joseph Young & O. P. Rockwood of the
Seventies. After we were aranged on the floor President Young
Bowed before the Lord with his Brethren And dedicated
ourselves & the House & the meeting unto the Lord which
was set as A pattern we then went forth in the
dance And spent a few moments together had plesant
music we then dismissed & return home
~ Sunday
234th Sunday I preached in our own ward Administered
to 3 that were sick during the evening I Attended the
Marriage cerimony under the hands of president Young
Between Elijah F. Sheets & Margarett Hutchingson. I attended
the High Council in the evening & Had an interview with
Bishop Miller
~ Monday
245th I met in council with the Twelve & it was decided
that O Pratt go to Pisgah & Garden grove & E. T. Benson
go to Punkas to organize the saints And I act as
treasurer for Br Pratt while He is gone Mrs Woodruff
[FIGURE] and myself watched with Sister Sheets And I wrote
25th A letter During the time to Br Albert Stratton
~ Tuesday
26th I spent the day at home & night at Br Pulsipher
& had a plesent time in conversing about times in past
days
~ Wednesday
26 27th I spent the day at home & in the evening I attended
meeting with our ward & Br Taylors word together Br
Phelps addressed the meeting and I followed him & we
had a good time
~ Thursday
278th [FIGURE] This was a vary busy day I let Br Burgess have
my team to go to Hunsakers ferry I also fitted
out Br Luce with two teams to go after corn I paid
him $11 to buy corn with. we had a snow storm
during the night after aranging my business, in company
with Mrs Woodruff & Sisters Taylor & Smoot I went to
the Council House in company with the quorum
of the Twelve & Seventies, we spent the day in the
worship of God by prayer, singing Music & going forth
in the dance together before the Lord we were merry
and rejoiced before the Lord. The High Council met
at 6 oclok at 8 oclok The Twelve with their families
again met & went forth in the dance untill 2 oclok in
the morning & had a good time. {Joseph [Herring] who had threatened my life was there.}
~ Friday
289th I was unwell this morning George Miller started
this morning for Punka {Joseph [Herring] is threatening my life} to {[day] [illegible shorthand].}
I spent the day at home. During the evening I met
with some of the Twelve & with the singers & joined
29th In the singing, music & dancing and we felt to praise
the Lord in our hearts.
~ Saturday
29 30th I spent the day at home
~ Sunday
31st Sunday I preached in the morning to a congregation
in our own ward No 14th in the afternoon at the Council
House to President Youngs ward & others and had
liberty of speech. I attended council in the evening
with the High Council & Bishop's. I watched with Sister
Sheets in the latter part of the night and she died at
31st Monday 30 minutes past 3 oclock
~ Monday
31st ^Feb 1st^ Monday I spent a part of the day at Br Sheets
~ Tuesday
Feb 2nd I met in council with the Twelve at President
Youngs. He was quite out of health we recieved a mail
today of many papers and letters I attended the
[FIGURE] M. T. S. funeral of Sister Sheets. It was a cold day
~ Wednesday
3rd I spent the day at home and evening with Dr
Richards, Bishop Smoot, & others & at sundry places
~ Thursday
3 4th I spent the day at home. In the evening I
called my company together and organized them according
to the pattern given. I appointed with the voice of the
people A. O. Smoot capt of 100 Zera Pulsipher capt of 50
and John Benbow, E. F Sheets, C. W. Porter, John ^M^ Wooley,
Thomas Clark, David Evans, Robert C Petty and Andrew J.
Stewart captains of Tens. we had a good meeting I then
visited the meeting of the High Council herd President Young
deliver an address to the High Council and Beef committee
~ Friday
Feb 5th Friday
[FIGURE] This was an interesting day to the Camp of Israel
at an early hour the band of music entered my
carriage and rode through the city of winter
quarters playing so sweetly that it rend the air. the
quorum of Twelve set in council the fore part of the
day at 2 oclock AM [PM] The silver grays met at the Council
House the company of silver grays consisted of all
the old men in the Camp of Israel over 50 years
of age they were divided into 2 companies as the house
could not hold them all in one day, the quorum of
the Twelve met with them at the opening of the
meeting. Remarks were made by president Young
A hymn was sung and prayer by the Patriarch
John Smith after which they feasted together and
then they went forth in the dance praising God in their
hearts. It was truly an interesting sight to see the old
men and women some nearly a hundred years old go forth
and dance together in fulfillment of the ancient prophets
the quorum of the twelve spent the afternoon and
evening with them. Father and Mother Woodruff was
among the number. I spent the time plesantly
~ Saturday
6th I spent this day at home was quite unwell a part
of the evening with Dr Richards reading the news of the
day returned home and spent the night I got a letter
for Father Woodruff from [blank]
~ Sunday
7th Sunday I spent the day at home & met in council in
the evening with the twelve
~ Monday
8th I spent the day aranging affairs about the house
~ Tuesday
9th Br Fowler left for Mo today
~ Wednesday
10th I spent the afternoon & evening at the Council
House in company with Mr[s] Woodruff at the Bishops
meeting social recreation &c
~ Thursday
11th I spent a part of the day with the Twelve in council
we decided to send up 20 or 30 men to Lathrops Herd
~ Friday
12 I spent the day in assisting the company for in making
preperations to go to the Herd
~ Saturday
13 The company for going to the Herd consisted of about
30 men with 3 baggage waggons left the city about night
for their journey. the object of this journey was to go to
the Herd & visit the camp of the Soux Indians
and make a demand of them of some 20 horses which
they had stolen from our herdsman
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I attended meeting in the morning with Elder
G. A. Smith at Bishop Hunters ward Br Smith preached I
followed had a good time. At 1 oclok I met with Bishop
Spencers ward & preached to them; at early candlelight
I met with my own ward or Bishop Smoots & preache [page torn]
to them & had a good time
~ Monday
15th I met in council with the President & Council
captains of Hundreds, fifties, and tens, to further
the organization of the Camp of Israel I recieved an
appointment to go to Kegg Creek with Br Smoot to
organize the people ther one of the Chiefs of the Otoes
was present this morning. In the evening I met with
the quorum of the Twelve & others to learn to take the
proper steps in dancing
~ Tuesday
16th I have a vary severe cold & horseness this was one of
the most interesting days of my life I attended the family
meeting of President Brigham Young and he addressed
the meeting at great length during the day and evening
upon many interesting principles. There were present of
the quorum of the Twelve B Young H. C. Kimball
O. Pratt W. Richards W. Woodruff G. A. Smith A Lyman &
E. T. Benson. After singing and prayer by President Young
he arose to address the meeting & remarked that he
had invited the Twelve to be present though they
were not of his family. yet I wish them to act free and
speak such things as the Lord shall give them.
Let me state a principle by which you may contemplate
much. For the want of understanding many have suffered
jealeousies to arise which afflicted theire minds with [borrowed]
troubles and uneasiness fearing the Lord loved some others
more than themselves, this I have sinceeen in the church
ever since its rise. it was manifest in Kirtland when the
first Bishop was ordained this jealeous feeling was manifest
some wondered if the Lord would think enough of them
to ordain them a Bishop Father Morley and others that were
present can bare record of this fact. And when the Twelve
were chosen the same feelings exhisted & in fact I will not
except all of them for some of them manifested the same
feelings when the Bishops were ordained. this spirit has been
the overthrow of many in this church and in fact upon
this principle thousands have fallen in all ages. The Lord
gives to everry man all the power influence and authority
that he can wield in righteousness and all that his goodnes[s]
& faithfulness merits then why should jealousies arise or
what benefit can arise by suffering such feelings to exhist
none at all, but those that cherish such feelings commence
trying to pull down every one that is prospering or gaining
influence as Cain did instead of building up & nourishing
every promising tree & thereby prove himself worthy & show
to his brethren & to God that he loves the cause & by his
passive spirit that he is not ownly willing that others should
should prosper & gain influence & that he actually loves to
see them prosper for then he does all that he can through hims[e]-
lf, he helps advance it through others although they recieve
the honor of it and he still be aware of it such a man will
never be forgotten and to his honor glory and exhaltation there
shall be no end.
There is another principle that has caused
considerable uneasiness and trouble. ie the Idea of some mens having
more wives than one, such tremendious fears take hold of some
that they hardly know how to live still they cant die, begin to
whisper and talk around am actually afraid to go on a mission for
fear some man will be sealed to my wife, & when they return
home some will be babbing about, you dont know but what you
have got another mans wife, are afraid to speak to a young
woman for fear that she belongs to somebody els or for fear some
body els wants her. (others deny the faith as they think but they
never had much) and say that it is all of the devil &c such foolish-
nish ought not to be cherished among a wise & prudent people. Admitting
the Lord created the same number of women as men at the begining
and were commanded to multiply & replenish the earth & to fill
up the measure of there creation in righteousness; the question is
did they do it answer No, they soon disobeyed every commandme-
nt & plunged themselves into wickedness and rendered themselves
unworthy to raise up seed unto the Lord & in fact used every means
in there power to cut of[f] life & hinder woman answering the end for
which they were created; nine tenth of them would rebel against the
vary thing he was created to do. Hence you see the propriety of the
Lord's calling upon men who bears the priesthood to take to themselves
wives from among the daughters of men & raise up a righteous seed unto
him that he might fill up the measure of there creation and hasten
the consumation of his purposes in righteousness in this dispensation
according to his words previously spoken through his servents the
prophets. But those who suffer fears & jealouses to aris in there bosoms
either back right out or get to be mighty righteous & for fear that
they are sleeping with other mens wife—they kick up a dust or
broil at home & perhaps abuse there own companion through jealousy
then go off to some woman that does not understand what is right
or wrong & tell her that he has she cannot be saved without a man
and he has almighty power & can exhalt & save her & likely tell that
there is no harm for them to sleep together before they are sealed then
go to some doe head of an Elder & get him to say the ceremony, all
done without the knowledge of the authority of this Church.
this is not right, & will not be suffered. The God I serve will reward
every ^man^ openly without his being under the necessity of going secretly
& privately palming himself on the credulity of innocent ignorant
females. Such jealeousies do exhist & were I to say to the Elders
you now have the liberty to build up your kingdoms one half of
them would lie, swear, steal, & fight like the vary devil, to get men
& women sealed to them they would even try to pass right
by me & go to Joseph thinking to get between him & the Twelve
some have already tryed to used an influence against me. but such
jealeousies & selfishness shall be stoped & if the brethren do not
stop it I will blow it to the four winds by making them all come
& be sealed to me & I to my Father & he and all this church to
Joseph. when I go asstray & give wrong council & lead this people
astray, then is time enough to pull me down & then God will
remove me as he has done all others who has turned from
the faith. But to return, I have gatherd a number of families
around me by the law of adoption & seal of the covenant
according to the order of adoption the priesthood and others
have done likewise it being the means of salvation left to bring
us back to God. but had the keys of the priesthood been retained
& handed down from father to son throughout all generations
up to the present time then there would have been no nece[ssity]
of the law of adoption for we would have all been included
in the covenant without it & would have been legal heirs
instead of being heirs according to promise. the pristhood is
eternal without the begining of days or end of life as the Apostle
has expressed it but man through aposticy which is entire disobedi-
ance has lost or suffered the keys & privileges of the Priesthood
to be taken away from them & they left to wander in darkness
and practice all manner of wickedness untill thousands became the
vessals of wrath & were doomed to destruction for as long as men
are without the Priesthood they continue to wander from God
& never retrace their steps untill it is done by the priesthood, & the
Idea of the Saints being led by fals Prophets is just a notion accor-
ding to the light in which they view them all the fals prophets we
have are men who have turned aside from the truth.
The man is the head & God of the woman, but let him act like a
God in virteous principles & God like conversation, walk and
deportment & such men will continue to gain influence & power
and advance in glory to all eternity. But should they use there
power in wickedness as a tyrant they soon will be called to
render an account of their stewardship. if not found worthy
they will be hurled down to perdition & their family & kingdom
be given to another that is more worthy. Some say that a
woman cannot be saved without a man, neither can a man
without a woman. Br Joseph said he had taught the Twelve
all that he knew concerning the order of the kingdom but the
difficulty was they could not remember it as he told them, but
when it was necessary they would not be at a loss for under-
standing; & I bear record to the truth of his word before God
this day that I always had an understanding & evry thing
was brought to my mind just as he taught them to us. All the
ordinances of the Temple & building of the Alter &c. came to me just
right when they were to be attended to & could we now know
Br Hyde, Pratt & Taylor's feelings you would say that they could
read a man through as soon as they cast there eyes upon him.
The Apostle Paul while speaking of the Fathers & the Ancients
said that thay without us could not be made perfect there[Heb. 11:40]
was a lack in his day & still will be to all eternity untill the
chain of that Priesthood is restored & evry spirit take a taber-
nacle that was fore ordained according to the dispensation of the
will of God. I am entitled to the Keys of the Priesthood
according to linage & blood, so is Brother H. C. Kimball & many others
have taken Kingly power & grades of the Priesthood. this we
would have taught in the Temple if time had permitted.
Joseph Smith was entitled to the Keys of the Priesthood according
to blood still he was the fourth son. But when we get anot[h]er
Temple built then we will teach you concerning these things
suffice it to say that I will extend the chain of the Prist-
hood back through the Apostolic dispensation to Father Adam
just as soon as I can get a temple built. Jesus could have
restored the order of the Pristhood in his day & brought in
the Millenium if the people would have harkened to his inst-
ructions but they rebelled & would not, & it was for this
cause that Jesus told them that all the blood that had been
shed from righteous Abel down to Zechariah the Prophet should
be required at there hands.
I have a request to make of my family & that is that they
(esspecially old people) omit calling me their Father. Call
me Brother Brigham. I shall feel better when you do
for I do not consider that I am worthy of that appelation
Father in the Priesthood implies the great head, the term
would be proper to Father Adam. Jesus had reference
to the same thing when He told his deciples not to call any
man Father on earth for their Father was in heaven. [Matthew 23:9]
The seal of the covenant that I have been speaking off
to day was what the Apostle saw previous to the destruction
of the wicked when the Angel was commanded not to fear pour
out the vials of wrath on the wicked untill the saints were sealed
in thereir forehead & when this was done they all became Father
Adams family. Those that are adopted into my family & take me
for their councellor if I continue faithful I will preside over
them throughout all Eternity. I will stand at their head, and
Joseph will stand at the head of this Church & will be there
President Prophet & God to the People in this dispensation. when
we Locate I will settle my family down in the order & teach them
there duty they will then have to provide temporal blessings for
me instead of my boarding from 40 to 50 persons as I now
do. I will administer in spiritual blessings to them. I expect to
live in the house of the Lord & recieve & administer ordinan-
ces to my brethren & for the dead all the year round.
President H. C. Kimball arose & addressed the meeting at some
moments. Bore testimony that what President Young had
said was true & rejoiced to meet with them &c.
Br O. Pratt also addressd the meeting a few moments
bore testimony to the truth & also rejoiced to meet with
them. There was then an intermission untill after supper
The table was well furnished & supplyed. 40 persons could
be seated at the Table at a time. the men were seated to the
right with there companion oposite them. commencing with the
Twelve President Young at there head. then in order the adopted
children begining with the 1st that was adopted. the band
& choir kept their seats, & continued there sweet strains of music
while the guest were partaking of the rich festival. While at the
table Brother Thomas Wolsay & John ^H.^ Tippets entered the
house they came direct fromt the from the Mormon Battalion
280 miles south of Santa fe on the River Riogrand on the 10th
of Nov 1847. they piloted 56 sick men to Fort Purbolo whare
Capt Brown esstablishment were stationed from there
came in on Pack Mules were 50 days on the way. were taken
prisoners twice by the Indians, once was sentenceed to death
by the Pawnees were 30 days without bread & 5 days witho
ut much of any thing to eat. Brought a package of 137 letters
brought good account from fort Purbulow but rather
unfavorable from the Battalion their faces were covered with
hair & there persons resembled a mountaineer. it was a
miracle that the lives of the men were saved from the
Indians & cold. They were seated to the table in the
guarbd they arived in. their arival produced no small stir
through the camp. men & women came in all directions
to enquire after there friends in the Armey. After the men
were refreshed we went into council with them & they rehears
ed the situation of the Battallion that they had been on
half rations for three weeks when they left them & no pro[sp]- [page torn]
ects of more than half rations should they attempt to cross [the] [page torn]
mountains this winter. However report reached Sant[a fe] [page torn]
they arived that the Battalion had taken the Alpasio a strong
hold between the Riogrand and the Mountains without the
fireing of a gun. if this report is true the Bat[talion] will have an
abundance of support & likely take up winter quarters
many other remarks were made & President Young said that
if they had harkened to his council not a man of them would
have fallen but would have returned to their friends in
perfect safety.
At 7 oclok we returned to the Council
House. found the Saints rejoicing in what had heard through
the day. Elder Isaac Morley said that his soul was filled
with rejoicing to see the beauty & harmony of the family
connecting links of the Priesthood that had been taught
this day: And when I look at the family connexion
I cannot but acknowledge him my leader in all things
& he looking to Joseph the Martered Prophet who has gone
to prepare the way for us, and can do more for us than
he could do if he was here. This Pristhood spoken off
if from all Eternity & will lead to eternity & will exhalt
the Saints to be Gods through faithfulness.
President Young arose & continued his remarks upon the
law of adoption granted the brethren the privilege of asking
questions when they did not fully comprehend his meaning
The Lord introduced the law of adoption for the benefit of the
children of men as a school master to bring them back into the
covenant of the Priesthood. This Principle I am aware is
not clearly understood by many of the Elders in this Church
at the present time as it will here after be: And I confess that
I have had ownly a smattering of those things but when it
is necessary I will attain to more knowledge on the subject
& consequently will be enabled to teach & practice more and
will in the mean time glorify God the bountiful giver.
I have heard Elders say they were not dependant upon any
man, I then considerd & do now that it was saying more
than I can say, for I consider that we are all dependant
one upon another for our exhaltation & that our interest
is inseperably connected. (for example) what can my family
do without me supposing they were to all turn away from me
I hold the Keys over them through which they are to receive
there exhaltation. would they would not be like sheep without
a shepherd & would be devoured by the wolves, they certainly
would. then let us change the position, & say that I would
cut off all my family, then what glory would I have with no
body to rule over but my own dear little self. To tell you my feelings
I would rather be annihilated than to be in that situation. This
is another strong proof of the Apostles saying when they declaired
that they without us could not be made perfect. Neither can
you without me nor I without you be made perfect ie if we
are faithful & without faithfulness there is no perfection on any
consideration. This rule applyes to the whole human family.
This is the torment & misery of the disobedient spirits that they
cannot be made perfect, unless some scheme should hereafter
be introduced for their redemption. they are now without tabernacles
to dwell in ownly such as they have taken possession off unlawfully
[page torn] usurped power over. it being a part of their agency that was
[page torn] [bes]towed them which they used to the consumation of there unhappy
[page torn] [w]retched estate, it being the reward & fruits of there doings
having been given over to all manner of wickedness perm-
itted to afflict the handy work of the Lord untill they
fill up the cup of their iniquity & the Lord sayeth unto
them thou wicked & disobedient spirit thou shalt not have
power any longer to afflict my people or destroy the
works of my hands, you have forfeited your agency &
wrought thy fulness, depart hence to the pit that I have
prepared for thee, & this is there torment, that thereir power
& agency is taken away. they are left to regret that it was
through their own disobediance that they cut the thread of
there own salvation: the reflections of which ownly serve to
torture & increase there torment & that would be the situation
of my family should they cut themselves off from me. I use
my family for an example, not that I have the least fears
of their ever doing so, for I have none. I feel happy this
night because we are of one mind, still should I believe that we
were perfect & could not advance any further I should not be happy
but to the honor power & glory of the faithful there is no end.
For your satisfaction I will show you a rule by which you may
comprehend the exhaltation of the faithful. I will use myself
as a figure, & say that I am ruling over 10 sons or subjects
[page torn] [o]wnly & soon each one of them would have 10 men sealed
to them & they would be ruler over them & that would
make me ruler over 10 Presidents or Kings whareas I was
[page torn] [r]uler over 10 subjects ownly or in other words I ruled
over one Kingdom but now I rule over 10. then let each
one get 10 more then I would be ruler over 100 Kingdoms
& so on continued to all eternity & the more honor & glory that
I could bestow upon my sons the more it would add to my
exhaltations. but to clip the thread of your exhaltation then
whare would be your your glory: it would be like the fallen
angels or devils that kept not their first esstate but were reserved
in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great
day others fell from heaven were thrust down to hell;
but if wyou wish to advance hold up the hands of your file
leader & boast him a head. should you have ten legions of
trains following on after you, you should say to your file
leader push ahead for I am coming with my train boosting
him up at the same time instead of trying to pass by him
this would stimulate him & he would say come on my
boys I will travel as fast as you can & on we would go in
one solid train to all Eternity. Before I close I will answer
one question that has been asked me repetedly. Should I
[page covered] h[av]e a father dead that has never herd this gospel, would
it [page covered] [b]e required of me to redeem him & have him adopted
to some mans family and I be adopted unto my Father
answer No. If we have to attend the ordinances of rede-
[page torn] [m]ption for our dead relatives we then become their saviors
[page torn] [&] were we to wait to redeem our dead relatives before we
[page torn] c[o]uld link the chain of the Priesthood we would never
[page torn] [a]ccomplish it. Many other remarks were made & while
[page torn] [a]ddressing the females said Sisters if you expect to call me
[page torn] Br Brigham I want you to be cleanly keep your faces, hands
[page torn] [&] skin clean from head to foot your clothes dishes & houses
[page torn] [cl]ean also your children & teach them manners. & when
[page torn] [y]ou mix up Bread dont have a dozen flies in your tray
I know that the women generally rule there husbands
& the children their Mothers. But when a woman under-
takes to rule me I want her to be so secret about it that I
cannot catch her at it. Now I do not want the brethren
from my remarks to abuse thereir wives, but treat them
kindly: do there heavy luging but dont wash there dishes
as some men do. At the close of the remarks there was a
little exercise by music & dancing & the meeting was dismised
~ Wednesday
17th The family meeting of President Young met again to
day but Br Young himself spent an exceding sick day
was taken in the night & suffered much. Speaches were
made in the meeting through the day by Br Kimball & others
of the Twelve & in the evening Elder W. Richards addressed
the assembly & was followed by W. Woodruff G. A. Smith &
A. Lyman all of which spoke there minds in plainness
upon a variety of subjects esspecilally the necessit of union
at the close of the addresses there was some music & dancing
~ Thursday
18th I left winter Quarters in company with Br Smoot to go on
a mission to Kegg Creek Br Fowler returned the day before
with my team & I took it to go the journey we rode the first
day to Council Point Br James Alread was president of the
Branch & on our arival we found them assembled for a
meeting we attended with them. After it was opened I addre
ssed the meeting was followed with by Br Smoot & others I r[ead] [page torn]
the revelation & took a vote on it. I spent the night at [page torn]
Br Hydes distance of the day 20
~ Friday
19th I travled to day South of Musketoe Creek & spent the
night with Br Robert Petty distance of the day 15 m
~ Saturday
20th this day witnessed a vary disagreeable & tedious snow
storm I visited the Branch of the Church in the place & organ-
ized it according to the form or pattern Br Petty was
Capt of 100 mostly made up in that place. we then drove
our teem to Cegg Creek through the snow storm & spent
the night at Br A. J. Stewarts our horses suffered in the
storm distance of the day 12
~ Sunday
21 Sunday I met with the Branch on Cegg Creek & addres[sed] [page torn]
them in much plainness & was followed by Elder A. O.
Smoot & we rebuked & reproved some fals spirits that
was present we organised or took there names for organ-
ization & rode back to Br Pettys & spent the night w [page torn]
had about 2 feet of snow on a level to travel through
1◊ [page torn]
~ Monday
22nd It was a cold morning yet we returned home to
winter Quarters through the snow. 30 mile
I spent the evening in the Council House
~ Tuesday
23 I spent the day in council with the Twelve
~ Wednesday
24th I spent this day writing in my Journal
~ Thursday
25 I spent this day writing & held a council in the
evening with the Presidency of the 1st Division & captain
of the 5th hundred
~ Friday
26th I spent the day in aranging the papers of A. O. Smoot
Hundred and in the evening I met in council with
the Twelve whare a number of subjects was spoken
of and we recieved a visit from a man from New orleans
formerly he professed to be an Indian most of persons
believed him to be a descendant of Ham Br Hyde
baptized him in Nauvoo he was an eccentric charact-
er he was the most perfect natural musician I ever
saw on a flute, fife, sauce pan, ratler, whistle &c he was
invited into the council spent a few moments &
returned to Br Youngs. He married Br Stanton's daugh-
ter for a wife he went to Br Bensons to spend the
night we want to hear him make some music but
he was some disappointed angry & sullen & would not
make any music. His name was Wm Carey
~ Saturday
27th I called upon Br Young & soon the fluiter Br Carey
came in & felt much better than last night & made
the most music on several instruments of any man I
ever herd afterwards I met in council with the
1st division captains of Hundreds & 50s & much business
was done in the evening I met with my company of
there captains & had an excellent meeting. I had the
spirit of the Lord resting upon me & I addressed the
captains upon principle & their duty & had a good
time. I spent a part of the evening with Sister
Sheen & her family I herd much teaching from
Elder Kimball which was interesting
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I met with our ward & held a meeting
with the Saints, I spent the evening with the saints
& writing letters
~ Monday
March 1st 1847 This is my birth day I
am 40 years old this day
[FIGURES] I wrote 5 letters this day
sent by J. M. Grant to New
York to the following Persons Ezra Carter sen
Ilus F Carter, Freedom Moulton, Sarah B Foss
& Br Enion of Rock Ferry & Joseph A Stratton
of St Louis making & one to Br Cottom of St Joseph
making 7 letters in all. I recieved one letter from
[FIGURE] Br Cottam containing $1. I sold 10 bushels of corn
for 40 cts
~ Tuesday
[page torn] [2]nd I spent the day at home
~ Wednesday to ~ Thursday
[page torn] [3]rd & 4th I spent the most of the time preparing things
[page torn] for my Journey
~ Friday
[page torn] [5]th I met in council with the first division speaches
were made by several of the Brethren concerning our
location here our Journey westward President Young
said he should go as he was directed by the Lord &c
[page torn] [H]e requested the saints to be ready to start on nex the 15
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
[page torn] [5] & 6 was spent in council & labour
~ Sunday
7th Sunday I met with the saints in our ward
Bishop Smoot addressed the people concerning the
I followed him and requested the people that had
means to carry sumthing to the Bishop to the poor
to carry flour, meal, meat, coffee shugar &c & I promised
I would do the same we dismissed the meeting &
I called in to hear Br Kimball speak a few moments
I then went home & carried the Bishop 30 lbs flour
half bushel meal 4 lbs shugar 2 lb coffee & others
took him some things. Br Smoot & myself took some
of the things brought in & went to visit the sick we
called upon Br Bundy & Sister Cox both of which
were sick also Job Smith we anointed them with
oil lade hands upon them & prayed for them & left
them some provisions. I then visited Sister Harris
& administered to her with Br Phelps I spent the
night at Br Smoots untill bed time.
~ Monday
8th I met in council with the first division
~ Tuesday
9th I met in council with the Twelve & spent the
day together. while in council Br McCray & Lumero
arived from Nauvoo Bro McCray had been in prision
& many of the brethren were imprisioned & others hung
untill they were nearly dead, this was done by the mob
I spent the evening at Br Smoots & read a portion of
my Journal
~ Wednesday
10th I spent the day at home & met in council with the
Twelve at night
~ Thursday
11th I met in council with the Twelve & assisted Br
Richards to eat a Potatoe pie
~ Friday
12th I spent the day in preparing my carriage to go in
the pioneer company. In the evening I met at the
Council House with the Twelve & others & went forth
in the dance
~ Saturday
13th I spent the day in council with the Twelve
& captains of Hundreds for adopting measures for
the government of the people after we have left
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I met with our ward & spoke to the
people & was followed by Elders Pulsipher, Clapp &
Smoot. I called upon Br G. A. Smith several of
his family was quite sick & in a few moments
after we left, his mother in law sister Bigler died
in the evening I met in council with the Twelve
& High Council President Young preached loud to the
High Council after giving a decision upon the head of
Bishop John Murdock. He prayed that God would let him
live to see the day when the High Council would pass a righte[ous]
decision & have light & understand things
~ Monday
15th Monday night I met in council with the Twelve &
captains of Hundreds the meeting was addressed by
quite a number of elders President Young & others
~ Tuesday
16th Tuesday I spent the day at home preparing to start
on my Journey
~ Wednesday
17th I spent the day putting on my carriage top
~ Thursday
18th I was quite unwell I spent the day at home but went
to the Council House in the evening to a musical consort
but was so unwell I had to return home & go to bed
~ Friday
19th I spent the day choreing in the evening I attended a
council of the Twelve & High Council Br Brigham reproved & rebuked in the power of God
~ Saturday
20th I am some better to day are still preparing to go
on the Pioneer Journey. I attended the funeral of
Sister Phebe Traine who died yesterday there is now
much sickness & death in the camp
~ Sunday
21 Sunday the Camp of Israel met in a general meeting on the public
square President Young addressed the meeting & spoke upon a variety of
subjects. He said while speaking upon the spirits that we should prepare
our hearts to recieve the spirit of the Lord & we ought to recieve
any spirit that comes to us into our hearts enough to prove whether it
be good or bad then we should recieve the good & refuse the evil. He
reproved the people sharply for their stealing & other wickedness
for complaining & many things of interest was spoken unto us. I
met in Council with the Twelve at 4 oclok & spent a little
season in speaking upon the celestial law of the Kingdom of God &
our souls were made glad & we rejoiced before the Lord. we also
called into Br Bensons & spent a social hour, we then met with
the High Council but not much business was done. we had a
severe snow storm during the night
~ Monday
22nd It was cold this morning there was a meeting of the
Presidency & Captains of companys & resolved to stockade the
city of winter quarters & for the Twelve to go foreward to pick
out a resting place for the Saints. In the evening I attended a
Council of the Bishops & Twelve remarks were made upon a
variety of subjects Brother B. Young spoke upon the subject
of Patriarchal blessings & the blessing of children said that any
father who held the Priesthood was a Patriarch to his own family
& when he blessed his children it was a patriarchal blessing
If a man wrote the blessing of his children & could get the
Historian to write it it was well enough but the Historian
could not write all the children blessings in the Church
~ Tuesday
^[FIGURE]^ 23rd The Presidency & Bishops met to decide whare the lines
of the City should be I spent the day at work & writing
I recieved a letter from Br Ilus Carter
~ Wednesday
24th I spent the day at home
~ Thursday
25 I spent the day at work
~ Friday
26th The Camp of Israel held a public meeting to day & I
attended with the quorum of the Twelve much instruction
[page covered] [&] teaching was given. In the evening I met with my company
[page covered] [&] expressed my feelings to them concerning labouring together
[page covered] [f]or the season in raising grain & taking care of the families of
those who went in the Pioner company the spirit of union
prevailed among them. After this I met with the quorum of the
Twelve and Wm McCary the coolurd man met with them
showed his dody [body] to the company to see if he dhad not a rib gone &c
~ Saturday
267th I attended the funeral of sister Burnham & took the
family to the grave after the return Br G. A. Smith had
my team to go to the grave to bury one of his family
during the evening I took a ride out with my family &
friends around the city & down the river Bank I wet
my feet & returned home
~ Sunday
28th Sunday a fine day the Camp met at the public stand
& was addressed in the morning by Brs Young, Kimball
Pratt, & Benson. in the afternoon we partook of the sacram[en]t
& was addressed by Brs, Woodruff, Smith, Lyman, Richards
Phelps & B. Young, the first time the sacrament had been
administered to the Saints in a general assembly in winter
quarters. we had a good time of it. In the evening I
visited the sick and administered to 5 persons among
whom was Br McCaslin & Sister Porter both vary sick. I
attended the council in the evening with the High Council
& twelve & Bishops, I then returned home & spent the night
~ Monday
29th I met this morning with the Presidency, captains
of Hundreds & Pioneer company to prepare for starting
it was finally agreeed that all that were ready start for
the horn to morrow morning. it is fine good weather I maid
a dbed this morning for sowing salit. two mules were hitched
to a Blacksmith shop & puled it down the timbers fell upon
several at work in the shop. A large stick fell upon the
head of Br Little John Utley & was a wonder that it had
not broke his head & neck both, it injured him severely
He was carried into the house several of us laid hands upon
him & I prayed with him.
~ Tuesday
30th I spent the day at home & I was in council in the evening
~ Wednesday
31st I spent the day writing I met in the evening in council
with the Presidency & Captains of Hundreds expressed my
feelings with many others upon the subject of blockading this
city & uniting together in there labour in cultivating the earth
President Young also made some remarks upon the same subjet
at the close of this council the quorum of the Twelve met
in Council & resolved that Br W. W. Phelps go to the east &
procure a printing Press & type & recieved recommendations
to that effect
~ Thursday
Aprail 1st [FIGURE] I set for a portrait to be taken by Major to be put in
a work with others of the Twelve. In the afternoon I met in
council with the Twelve Elder J. A. Stratton was present had
just arived from St Louis gave an account of his procedings
there which was satisfactory we herd all the names read in the
St Louis Branch. We recieved a mail of papers containing the war
News &c. which we read with interest we had a council in the evening
~ Friday
2nd A portion of the pioneers commenced removing the out house
into a line in the City I spent a part of the day at the office reading
the News & a part of the day in Journal writing. I also wrote
an Epistle to my family & the captains of my company giving
an account of my affairs which I leave behind
~ Saturday
3rd It was a busy day with me preparing to start on the journey
we are now about to start on the pioneer Journey
to go to the mountains of Israel to find a location as
a resting place for the saints while the Judgments
of God are poured out upon the earth & the burthen
& cares of the churches & my family rest with great
wait upon my mind. I have never felt more wait
upon my mind at any time while leaving my family
to go on a mission than now. My prayer to God is
that He will sustain myself & family to meet again
on the earth as he hath done in the many mishoions I
have taken on the earth in the vineyard of the Lord
I assisted Br Richards in the evening to pack up his
waggon
~ Sunday
4th Sunday I went to the river in the morning &
baptized 3 persons ofmembers of Br Deweys family
I also confirmed them. I did not attend
meeting in the morning but attended in the after
noon Br Young addressed the meeting also Lorenzo
Young & A Lymy good instructions were given
I spent the evening picking up things for starting
~ Monday
5th A hard rainy morning we were intending to start
this morning but shall not in consequence of the rain
~ Tuesday
6th April 1847 we met in Public Conference this morning
in winter quarters not much business was done the sun
shone bright, the Heavens smiled upon us our hearts were
made glad President Young spoke to the peo[p]le good doctr-
in, the conference voted to sustain the quorum of the
Twelve in their place, the Presidents of the Seventies of, the
Seventies Bishops &c. I spent the afternoon in preparing to
start as I expect it will be the last day I shall spend at home
for the presient
~ Wednesday
7th, I took my leave of my family & friends & started
with my company of Pioneer waggons & in all & left
winter quarters for the Journey when we were
on the top of the ridge west of the City I took a
view of the place & looked at my wife & children
through my glass I then led the company to the
old camp ground from thence on the Punkaw
road about 7 miles & camped for the night about
10 miles from Winter quarters we had excellent
stables for our horses in a valley near a small stream of
water we had not been camped long before Br
Pratt & his company arived & vary soon President
Young & his company so we all camped together about
25 waggons. It was a vary windy night 10 m
~ Thursday
8th In the morning we arose & took breakfast. A squirrel
was killed it being the first game killed in the camp of the
Pioneers I moved that as it was the first fruits of the
game that it be offered to the Priest. It was presented
to President Young for his breakfast. President Young
in company with Father Morley & others went to the old [campground]
to pick them out a place for a farm. I with several
others spent the day hunting & caught nothing but
weary limbs & weat feet. we saw 7 or 8 deer. & geese
ducks cranes &c but could not get any. As I returned
in the evening I understood tha P. P. Pratt had arived in
winter quarters from his mission in England & tha President
Young O. Pratt & others had gone back to the City to see
him. distance of the day 12 m
~ Friday
9th I monted my horse in the morning & started back
to winter quarters to see Br Parley the Twelve my
family &c. Mrs Woodruff was at our camp yesterday while
I was out hunting & left a letter for me In answer to
one I wrote her the day before. Before I got to the
city I met the Twelve I was within half a mile of home
yet I turned about with them & came on to the camp
harnessed up our horses & drove untill dark towards
the horn. & camped for the night distance 10 m
Br Young & Kimball camped several miles behind us
~ Saturday
10th We started early in the morning & drove to the
horn & crossed it with all our teams on a raft before sun
set. it is about 12 rods across the stream whare we rafted
it is in sight of the Plat. distance of the day 25 miles
~ Sunday
11th Sunday we crossed over about 20 waggons in the
morning & then President Young & Kimball arived with
there companies & we continued to cross them untill
they were over There was one brother quite sick in
the night Br Benson & myself lade hands upon him &
prayed with him & he recoverd, we moved down our
encampment 2 miles & spent the night
~ Monday
12th The encampment moved up the platt 14 miles. the quorum
of the Twelve & others crossed the Horn & returned to the
City of Winter quarters on the Missouri River 4 of us
followed an Indian trail & cut off about 15 miles it
was about 20 miles the way we went & 35 in the way the
waggons went. I again met with my family & spent the
night the distance of the day 20 miles
I attended a meeting in the evening with my company
the Twelve held a council but I was not present
~ Tuesday
13th I was vary busy this day I painted one waggon to take
away to sell. I got another horse to take with me
on the journey. I was in council with the quorum of
the Twelve untill midnight Elder John Taylor was
with us he arived in the city in the evening on his
returned from England we were all glad to meet
with him once more. He brought the following instru-
ments foor our use on this pioneer Journey two sextons
two Byrometers, two artificial Horison, one circle of
Reflection one telescope [blank] all of which
were exhibited to us in the evening & boxed up so that we
could take them along. I spent the remainder of the night
at home the last night I shall spend at winter quarters for
a long time
~ Wednesday
14th After getting all things in readiness to leave I called
my family together & blessed my wife & childrens
and left them in the hands of the Lord. I bid farew
ell to father Woodruff & family and all around me
& took my leave of winter quarters & in company
with Elders O Pratt, Lyman G. A. Smith E. Snow & others
we again took the indian trail & rode through the
prairie to the Elk Horn & went over on a raft & camped
two miles below the ferry. & we had a splendid
supper composed of fried, cat fish, pork, beans, short
cake, honey comb, coffee, milk &c &c we all eat vary
harty, had prayers & retired to bed 25 miles
~ Thursday
15th
Professor Pratt took an observation this morning
for the correct time. we had a good breakfast
soon Br's Young, Kimball. Benson, Whitney & many
others came & crossed the ferry & we all moved up
to the general camp on the Platt River 9 miles
we found the camp vary busy in blacksmith work &
getting ready to continue the Journey. we spent the
night at this place. during the evening Br Little arived from
the eastern states in our midst. When he arived at winter
quarters findeding we he had left he followed us post haste
& leaving all things behingd him he over took us this
evening. He gave us news of the eastern churches spoke
of many friends among wholm was our friend col
Kane who had remembered the qQuorum of the Twelve
& others by forwarding a variety of Presents to us. He for-
warded to us me a Patent Life Preserver & Stop compass
Br Little spent the night in camp
~ Friday
16th Brother Little, P. Rockwell & J. Reading returned
to winter quarters the camp continued up the Platt
4 miles & camped & turned their horses upon
an Island of cottonwood & rushesh. the wind
blew exceding hard during the night. Before we left
this morning the camp came together, and was
organized for Journeying as a military body into tens
50 & 100s. Col Markham & A. P Rockwood was appoin-
ted Captains over A Hundred & 4 Captains of fifties
& Captains of tens. I was appointed Capt of ten
the following are the names of the persons belonging
to my ten W. Woodruff J. S Fowler J. Burnham,
O. Pratt, Joseph Egbert, John M. Freeman. Marcus B
Thorp, G. A. Smith, George Wardle. Being 9 in all
the camp consisted of 73 waggons & 143 men
3 women & 2 children making 148 souls in all
~ Saturday
17th We travled 8 miles & camped in the edge of a grove
of cottonwoods to spend the sabbath in the afternoon
the organization of the camp was finished in the follow
ing order B Young Lieutenant General. Stephen
Markham Colonel. John Pack 1st Major. Shedrich
Rounday 2nd Major
The rigment be divided into tens under the folloing
Captains
Wilford Woodruff Capt of 1st company
Ezra T. Benson 2nd "
Phineas H Young 3rd "
Luke Johnson 4th "
Stephen H Godard 5th "
Charles Shumway 6 "
James Case 7 "
Seth Taph 8 "
Howard Egan 9 "
Appleton Harmon 10 "
John Higby 11 "
Norton Jacobs 12 "
John Brown 13 "
Joseph Matthews 14th "
Orders from Gen Young was for the whole
regment to Journey in a copacked body as we
were in an indian country for evry man to carry
his gun loaded for the cap locks to be shut onto a
peace of buck skin with cap handy to slip on in
an instant in case of an attacked. for flint locks
with cotton or tow in the pan, & a powder flask handy
to prime quick, the object of this caution is to prevent
accident. and for every man to walk beside his
waggon & not leave it except he is sent away.
strict rules & disipline are necessary while travling
through a hostile indian country, some traiders
came down from the Pawnees & camped with us
over night, they had a plenty of boffaloo meet
dried & gave us what we wished. they informed
us we were within two days drive of the whole dody [body]
of the pawnees, we camped here in a line for the
sabbath
~ Sunday
[FIGURE] 18th Sunday I wrote a letter home to Mrs
Woodruff by Br Eames who wished to return back
I perused several papers to day. but did not find
much news. Br O Pratt took an observation of his Barom-
eter. President Young called the captains together &
gave them instruction to travel in the morning two
abrest & let all who were not driving teams carry
their guns & walk by the side of the waggons let
no man go away hunting to get of sight of the camp
The bugle was to be blown at half past 8 oclok at
night when all was to go to prayers in their several
waggons & retire to bed by 9 oclok. The bugle
will blow at 5 oclok in the morning to arise & pray
& two hours will be allotted the camp to dress pray
cook eat feed horses harness &c & start at the blowing
of the bugle at 7 oclok this is the order of
the camp Travellers have freequently spoken
of the Platt River in relation to it I will
It is the most singular river I ever beheld. it is from
a quarter to half a mile wide & its shores & bed one universall
body of quick sand it is a rapid stream yet many places
a person can wade across it frequently nearly the whole
bed of the river is covered with but few inches of water
& at other places it is deep & rapid not withstanding
it is quick sand horses & cattle can walk down to edge
of the river & drink like walking on the edge of a smooth
sea beach & some times while walking on the apparent
hard beach or bed of the river a man or horse will sudd-
enly sink into the quick sand & the more he struggles
to get out the more he will sink & will soon perish of
assistance is not near, whare many horses & men have
been lost in this way on the Platt. whare we have
spent the Sabbath a man could nearly wade across
the river. we do not travel on Sunday but pitch
our tents Saturday night or encamp in the waggons
& we do not move untill monday morning this is the
order of the camp
~ Monday
19th It was quite cool in the morning. the bugle blew
at 5 for prayers & 7 for starting we travled two
abrest men walked by the side of their wagons, we
bore a notherly direction untill about noon when we reac
hed the north bend of the Platt. Prosfessor Pratt look an
observation & found it to be in, Lat. 41 27 5 the crossing
place of the Horn was in Lat. 41 16 24 making the
North Bend of the Platt 10 1/2 miles north of the ford
we formed into a circle at noon & bated while nooning
Elder Little arived with P Rockwell & two others they brought
the mail I recieved two Letters one from L Hardy of Mass who
informed me that Milton Holmes father & Mother was cut off
from the ^Church^ & he with them turned Strangites and that Aphia
his wife was a great apostate O, Milton Holmes how hast thou
fallen. the other letter was from Mrs Woodruff, which I read
with interest. Br Little brought many things that the Colonel
Kane sent as presents to the 12 & others I recieved a. stop box
Marriners compass small enough to carry in the pocket it
was a splendid present. May the blessings of God be
upon the head of Col Cane for his good feelings towards
the servants of God. during thi we camped at night
near a grove of timber on the bank of the Platt
we formed a circle from edge to edge of the bank
of the river the river on one side was our defence
we drove the tongues of our waggons out ward &
fore wheel of each waggon was placed against the
hind wheel of the waggon before it and all the
horses & cattle taken inside the circle so that we were
secure against the Indians. the river was about one
mile wide whare we camped & on the north side joinin-
g our encampment it was deep & rapid, the face of
the country during to days travel was on the south
side of the river high bluffs runing precpeitately to the
river on the north side which we travled a level prairie
without any bluffs about 2 miles from the river a rise
of table land about 10 feet & continues of a level
no timber except patches on the river soil sandy 22 mi
~Tuesday
20th A hard wind through the night. this morning fair
but strong SW wind it covers our waggons with sand
& dust while journeying the soil is universally
sandy on the banks of the Platt the grass is now
about 4 inch high scattering not half feed. their are
many waterfowls about the Platt such as ducks geese
brant but the most numerous of all are the sand Hill Cranes which
flye in large flocks on evry side of us. 25 minutes past 7 we
started on our Journey, 2 1/2 miles came to another grove of small
& large cottonwoods covering about 40 acres, it was about
5 miles to the table land which was now rising into a bluff. Here
the road runs 20 degrees south of west bending to S by W, one mile
in which distance we passed 3 Islands in the Platt covered with
timber the largest about 10 acres & their continues a chain of
Islands for miles on the river & some timber on the south
side of the Platt. we came to shell creek 3 miles from our
encampment 1 1/2 miles to the right of shell creek is a prairie
dog village covering about 6 acres of ground. this Creek is timbered
ownly by a few scattering willows the river runs about
parallel with the river its general barings are abouc east &
west after crossing the shell creek bridge the road runs
about S.W by W 60 degres west of south for about 15 miles
the Platt is skirted with timber. Professer Pratt & myself
went forward of the company to take observation we traveled
about 13 miles & stoped bated horses took observations &c
while on the road we freequently see gopher hills from
one to 6 feet in circumference diamiter & from 3 inch to
2 feet in highth some resembling a potatoe patch which
makes it rough waggoning over them with the exception
of this it is the best road on the north side of the Platt
river I ever travled being a level dry hard road. our
standard Thermometer stood to day at 1 oclok 94°, / the
company approached us & we continued on 5 mile & the
whole encampment came up & we encamped for the night
in a circle, cut down cotton wood trees to feeds the
horses on the bark they will knaw off the bark from
brouse limbs & sticks 10 inches through as readily as they
would eat corn we have had to feed upon cotton wood
all the way thus far we give each horse also about 2 quarts
of corn per day. Our fisherman drew a net this afternoon
& broat into camp 213 fish Buffalo & Carp which was
divided in the Camp we had a Buffalo would weigh 10 lbs
a Carp 2 lbs & had a good supper. The Platt was a mile
wide whare we camped including an Island opposite of
us with timber the distance of the day 18 miles
~ Wednesday
21st Cloudy with a light sprinkle of rain wind
in the east our road runs west to begin with
the ox teams started at 7 oclok the horse teams
at 8, 15 minutes to 9 an Indian appeared on a
mound mounted on a poney about 5 miles fro
us he went out of sight & again appeared
He then approached the camp full speed was
met by the brethren & shook hands was son
followed by others were 8 in all they went
through the encampment & then returned
with us the road runs 20 degrees south of
west 7 miles then turned 10 dgress North
of west at half past 12 we came in sight of
70 Indian Horses & Mules soon we came in
sight of a large Pawnee Indian village on the
north side of the lou fork & also a large one on
the south side of it. we drove on by the villages
& they soon began to sally out to come to us. we
camped in a half moon the bank of the river
forming a parallel line in front the indians to the
number of about 200 on the south side of
the river came down to the shore some waided
over about 75 came into camp including the
grand Chief of the Nation with many war chiefs
we met them before we left the ground & made
them presents of about 4 lbs of tobacco 15 lbs lead
powder fish hooks beads flour salt &c but still
they were not satisfied considering our num
bers they thought they ought to have had
more & when we left the ground they appeared vary
dissatisfied we however harnessed up our teams & drove on
to looking glass creek & camped at its mouth for the night
upon the bank of the loop fork after our horses were turned
out we were called together & in consequence of the dissat
isfaction of the Indians a guard of 100 men was called
for the quorum of the Twelve with nearly the whole
camp volunteered to stand guard one half the fore part
of the night & the other the latter part we had a picket
guard also of 5 men & mules at a time I with my mule
was on picket guard. we had hard wind & rain in the
afternoon which continued a part of the time while I
was on guard I rolled myself up in my buffalo & let the wind
& rain beat onto me we were releaved at about 1 oclok
& went to rest. But no Indians appeared during the
night
~ Thursday
22 we crossed the looking glass 15 minutes to 9, & then
continued a westerly course there were a good many auter
on the looking glass. we arived at Beaver Creek at 12 oclok there
are some Beaver on this creek ^about one mile above its mouth^ Professor Pratt took the meridian
observation of the sun by the sextant for the Lat which was
found to be 41° 25' 15". Also found the magnetic needle
to vary about 12 degrees east. And found the barometer at half
past 12, 28. 711, the attached Thermometer standing
at 68° and the detached thermometer at 67° & also took an obser
vation of the sun for the ^true^ time in the morning it is 10 miles
between the two creeks which we travled this forenoon. we
crossed Beaver creek at half past 2 oclok, the road runs about
south west. the water was about to the deds [beds] of our wagg-
ons it was a rough steep bank to come out of about 12
men hitched a hook & roap to the tongue of each waggon
& puled them up; Beaver Creek is lined with scattering
timber cottonwood & willows, we travled 7 miles &
came to the Pawnee Mishionary station & camped for
the night the road was Bluff was skirted with some
Oaks on the North side of the road in the hills, we kept
out a gard through the night as we were in danger
of the Sioux on one side, and the Pawnees on the other
President Young addressed the Camp. & told them
when they left in the morning not to take away any
thing ownly what they brought with them unless it was
sold them by Brother Case who had had charge of the
Station for a long time & the goverment was owing
him a good deal & if he felt disposed to sell any thing
that he had in his possession & report to Goverment
he could do so. during the evening Professer Pratt
took made some observation at 15 m pas 7 oclok the
barometer stood at 28.7 inches attached Thermometer
64° detached Thermometer 60° North wind & fair
the same Also at 8 oclok 52 m found the double altitude
of the pole star to be 80° 20' 35" from which the
lattitude was deduced viz. O, Pratt. Also took the angular
distance of sun & moon for the Longitude at Beaver Creek ford also
the altitude of the moon for the tru time
~ Friday
23rd At 6 oclok O Pratt made a barometrical observation
mercury standing at 28.697 inch attached Thermometer
36° detached thermometer 34° vary little wind from
west fair. Also took an altitude of the sun for the time, and
also A Meridan Altitude of the sun for the latitude found it
to be 41° 24' 29". While wattering the horses
at a creek at the station last evening Brother G. A. Smiths horse
mired & pitched foreward & Jumped onto him trod upon his
feet & breast & held him fast in the mud untill I caught
him by the bit & backed him off I was fearful he was badly
injured but at last found that he was but little hurt
[FIGURE] This was a day of adventures to the pioner camp in
the morning 12 of us started on horsback to search
out a ford across the dangerous difficult & troublesom loup
fork of the Patt river we went down the stream some
distance & several men waided across the stream & found
the water so deep & so much quick sand we concluded
to drive Hier up to the old Pawnee village so we returned
to the camp harnessed up our horses, my gray horse named
Titus had the belly ake or bots yet I started out with him
& the camp drove up with some little difficulty to the
old Indian village or a little below it & men commenced
searching out a ford & found the whole bed of the river
one universal dody [body] of quick sand which if a horse or
waggon stoped it would begin to sink down we
had two channels of water to cross with a sand bar in
in the middle the deepest water was from 3 to 4 feet deedp &
vary rapid & about 300 ^yards^ strait across some places of quick
sand was found so soft as to sink man or beast instantly in
& the more he strugled to get out the more he would sink
but we calculated to avoid such places as much as possible
As I was forward with my 10 or the first ten it fell to me to
make the trial professor Pratt having a strong pair of horses
went forward and I followed him I had two yoke of
cattle & my horses on my carriage with about 10 hundred
on I immediately saw as soon as I started that the cattle did
but little good were slow & in the way we would stop & bgin
to sink I Jumped out of my carriage into the water up
to my waist about 10 men came to my assistance with a
drag roap & hitched to the oxen & assisted me in getting
across the first stream but with great difficulty I
stoped on a sand bar out of water my horses & waggon im-
mediately began to sink & by treading the ground a little it
would become a perfect quagmire. but though we were
sinking in it the men had to leave the waggon whare it
was for O Pratt in trying to cross the second stream had
sunk into a bed of quick sand and all men had to go to his
relief to get his horses & waggon out the horses were taken
from the waggons the load taken out & carried to shore by
hand & the waggon drawn out by by the help of men
I took off a part of my load or most of it in a boat
& went through the second stream empty & got out two
other waggons done in the same way but it was so terri-
fic the rest of the camp would not follow suit. so their
were 6 men of us in all to spend the night to gether without
horses & waggons to guard against the whole Pawnee band that
were camped below us on the same side of the river should they
feel disposed to come upon us, there numbers were not known
but it was supposed they numbered over 600 warriors, we
divided our company which made ownly three of us on guard
at a time Br Pack O. Pratt & myself went on guard the
fore part of the night although I had been in the water
during the afternoon I stood guard in my wet clothing one
half the night & slept in them the other half, we had not more
than got our position for the night untill we were joined by
5 men who crossed the river in a boat were sent over by
President Young to assist us which made eleven men
instead of 6 so we divided our force accordingly. the
night past off in peace & no disturbance. distance from the
Missionary station to the ford 4 miles 4 miles
~ Saturday
24th A plesant morning Professor Pratt took an observation
on the south bank of the fording place on the loup fork
4 miles from the Missionary station, took a meridian
observation of the sun for the Lattitude found to be
to cross the ^41° 22' 37".^ The camp now wer busiy in concocking plans
to cross the river the[y] drew together timber & rails to build
two rafts & began to put it together but some of the Breth-
ren made another trial to cross with waggons by putting
on several hors & mule teame they went a little hier up
than we did & got over with much less difficulty & the
more the ground was trod in the water the smother & harder
it grew, so the whole encampment turned there waggons
back to the ford & abandoned the raft & by unloading one
half of there baggage could cross in safety & the whole
encampment came over in that way by doubling teams
& going back & forth untill all were over each captain
with his ten assisted each other over, & so in this
way all Israel who were present went over (not Jordan)
but the Loup fork of the Platt river in safety without
damage to man or beast & we felt thankful in our hearts
to our God for his mercies unto us & that we were on
the south side of the river. we all loaded up our waggons
& drove 4 miles & camped for the Sabbath on the
bank of the stream After our waggons were placed
the Twelve & took a walk on the high table land to
make observations with our glasses of the sourrounding
country. Professor Pratt made a barometrical observation
at this place at 15 m past 7. Barometer stood at 28.56 inch
attached Thermometer 564° detached Thermometer 61°.5
~ Sunday
25th Sunday a plesant morning. The order of the camp
is that there be no fishing, hunting or labour of any kind
on Sunday except such as is actually necessary. 4 antelope
appeared before us on the plain on the opposide side of
the river we could see them with the naked eye
but far more clearly through our spy glasses, there
sides & belly were white & backs brown these were the
first antelope I ever saw. about 10 oclok also 4 Elk appeared
on the opposite side of the river which we looked at with our
glasses these were the first Elk also I ever saw. the day was
mostly spent in resting man & beast untill 4 oclok, the camp
gathered together for a meeting & were addressed by a number of
the Brethren among whome was G. A. Smith & B. Young
who spoke upon principle upon breaking off the yoke from
the saints some pretended to say that the Twelve were
oppressing the People but is it so no, but if most men that
are on the earth those in the Church not excepted should
rule & lead this Church they would have many yokes
put upon them that we are all the while trying to take
off their shouldiers. many other good things were said
the guards were placed out as usual to guard the camp
during the evening a company of hunters were appointed to go
foreward of the camp to ketch game there were 7 hors-
eman & 10 footman the quorum of the Twelve also had the
privilege of Joining the hunters when they please. ^A^ Meriardian
Alt of the sun gave for the Lat 41° 20' 31".
~ Monday
26th Early in the morning before the break of day 2 Indians
crept upon their hands & knees approaching the camp to
steal some horses they got within 3 rods of the guard before
they were discovered. they first thought them to be wolves
& snaped ^at^ them they rose up & run & two of the guard fired
at them & 4 others rose up out of the grass making 6 in
all the bugle was sounded and all arose up to arms not know-
ing but there was a large party nearby but we saw
no more. I started out in the morning with the hunters
we saw 8 deer 4 antelope but caught nothing we
travled 8 miles & camped for noon, on the opposite
side of the river we saw through our glasses the
relicks of an old Indian town. we saw 8 trails
leading to it with 6 & 8 abrest each in the afternoon
we travled we travled 7 miles & camped on clear
creek with a hard gravel bottom the first one
of the kind we had met with on the road. we
killed one wild goose & saw fresh buffalo signs
whare we camped this was the first signs of the kind
we had seen on the road. the travels to day was like
a level desert except except the dividing ridge betwen
the two rivers the grass was dry & sandy mostly level
& nearly without water we travled to day from 10 to 20 degrees
west of south we camped under a high bluff in a half moon Brs
Young, Kimball, Richard's, & myself went on to a high bluff to view
the country yust [just] at dusk a tremendious alarm was given thro-
ugh the camp that Indians had cralled up & taken Porter
Rockwell & his horse & made off with him many men mou-
nted there horses & made off with ^after^ him with all speed but
it was soon discovered that Rockwell was in the camp but
two horses were gone Dr Richards & Br Littles & about 20
men mounted & armed went in search of the horses but found
them not it was believed the Indians took off the horses 15 miles
distance of the day. Lat of this place is 41° 17' 21"
Barometer 28.445 inch attached Ther 85° detached Ther 87° S.S.W. wind fair
~ Tuesday
27th O. P. Rockwell & 3 others went again in search of the lost
horses & were gone all day we continued our Journey
a south course to try to get on the platt river, we
came on to some beautiful green grass & saw a great
quantity of buffaloo sign but found no wood or water
travled 12 miles & bated our horses in a green valley
Just as we were starting in the afternoon we rose
a small bluff & saw two antelope before us in the valley
Brs Young Kimball & myself were together Br Brown & another
Brother was on another side of the hill & saw him also Br
Brown first fired upon him another man & myself fired
also we all hit him with our balls but he did not fall
we rode up to him & cut his Throat to bleed him
& he run about 10 rods & fell this was the first antilope
we have killed he was dressed & put on board of the
waggons & we continued on in a short time we
saw 3 more at the top of a mound looking at us Br
Brown & myself went after them but they went onto
the flats & we could not get to them so we left them
turned about 10 degreeds east of South went to a Creek
& camped our cattle & horses were vary dry not finding
any water through the day, we had a heavy storm of
Thunder lightning wind & some little rain which lasted
about an hour. A rifle went off in Br Brown waggon
by accident the ball went through a bag of cloths
(set it on fire) through the waggon) & broke a leg of
a fine horse which broke up one team. in the edge of the
evening O. P. Rockwell & the Brethren with him returned
& reported that the Indians had stolen the two
horses & they were attacked by 15 Indians who were
in ambush in the grass they came upon them determined
to take their horses from them they kept them off
by their rifles & Pistles the Indians were armed
with guns & Bows & when they found they could not
skare the Brethren they then professed friendship to get
to them but the Brethren were resolute & determined
not to move but to fight first though ownly 4 to 15 men
the Indians finally rushed upon them to ketch the
horses by the bit & the Brethren drew their pistols upon
[page torn] [t]hem determined to fire & do their best & the Indians
seeing their determination broke & run but fired their
guns upon the Brethren & the balls whisled around them
but no one injured they did not fire upon the Indians
not wishing to kill them if they could help it. distance of the day 20 m
16 miles s w of from our last station, about half way between the
loup fork & Platt rivers, the meridian alt. of the sun gave for
the Lat 41° 9' 26". 0h 30m Bar stood at 28.053
Attached Ther 87° detached Ther 88° S.S.W. wind fair
~ Wednesday
28th at 6 1/2 At 6 1/2 A.M. Bar. stood at 27.968– Attached Ther.
59°.5 detached Ther. 60° wind N.N.E. fair a plesant
morning 160 miles from the Patt River on Plain kreek we travled
to grand Island & camped on its banks for nooning I went
out with the hunters caught nothing but one wolf & a goose
in the afternoon we travled 6 miles & camped on wood
creek formed a circle put our horses inside & had good defense
we saw many deer in the afternoon run across on the Island
President Young thought it not prudent to travel up the
Island hunting lest we get into an Indian ambush 15 m
~ Thursday
29th A cool morning the camp started at 5 oclok without
feeding, drove 3 miles stoped & bated & breakfasted the hunters
went up the Island. Grand Island is well supplyed
with rushes & cotton wood; wood creek is heavily wooded
for this country we are begining to get a good bide of
grass for our horses & cattle Professor Pratt at 7h 30m AM
took a Bar. observation on wood creek at our camping place
Mercury in the Bar. standing at 27 inch 27.979 inch
Attached Ther. 61°.5 detached Ther. 60°.2. S. wind fair.
We travled 8 miles & nooned. Travled in the afternoon
10 miles & camped on the borders of grand Island, the
Island at this place was thickly coverd with rushes upon
which we fed our horses I went out with the hunters
we saw about 30 antelope & 8 deer the antelope
would play around on the large plains & keep out of our
way so we should not shoot them they mostly went
towards wood creek which we had forded in the morn[i]ng
& left to our right the ford was good. we shot 4 geese
I shot two of them & one deer but did not get the deer
we find places on the main land bordering upon grand
Island coverd with white substance resembling salt
& taste quite saltish. we camped for the night
distance of the day 20 m
~ Friday
30th O Pratt took observations on the north bank of
the Platt river 17 miles from the last station
at 6 1/2 A.M. of the barrometer mercury stood at
27.716 Attached Ther. 50° detached Ther. 48°
S.E. wind fair. At noon Lat 40° 42' 37". At 6 1/2 PM
17 miles west of morning station Bar. 27.933 Inch
Alt. Ther 43°.5 deta[ched] Ther. 41°.5 North wind fair
we travled to day 16 miles & camped without wood
or water the wind blew hard in the evening. the
Ther stood at 41°. the grass was short affording but
little feed 16
~ Saturday
May 1st 1847 [FIGURE] This was an interesting day
to the hunters of the Camp of
Israel. It was vary cold Ther stood
at 30° with strong North wind
the hunters put out & the camp
started on the Journey. Before breakfast travled 6 miles
& camped on the Prairie in sight of a herd of buffalo of
200 feeding on the bluff to our right. three ownly of the
hunters started out after them they rode near them &
left their horses & cralled upon them to get a shot but they
frightend the herd & they run away. A little previous to the
main herds being seen 3 bulls were discoverd on the
bluff O. P. Rockwell & two others went after them &
wounded two but got neither of them we had not
travled more than 2 miles before we discoverd another
large herd of about 200, 5 miles ahead of us the hunters
got together held a council & waited untill the camp all
came up we were determined to get some of the buffalo
if possible we travled together untill we were within one mile
of the buffalo we then made a halt, & 15 hunters started out
Amasa Lyman & myself of the Twelve made two of the numb
ber we all travled together on to the bluffs within a few rods
of them & there divided out into companies Br Grover &
Luke Johnson went together into the bluffs O. P. Rockwell
& Br Brown took the entire left & so we divided into compa-
nies on the right left & center I was in a company in the
centre of the herd & we all made a charge upon them from
the bluffs & rushed on to the Plain, the herd run vary fast
down the ruff bluffs into the plain but when we came up to
the plain we soon came on to them each company singled
out his game we made choice of Cows generally then rushed
up by the side of them & fired upon them with our Pistols
such as horse Pistols Rifle Pistols &c which are much better
to carry than rifles as they are vary cumberson in runing the first
that we gave chase to was a Buffaloo Cow with her calf I
rode by the side of her & fired two balls from my Pistols
into her. the other Brethren with me also fired into her
untill we killed we cut her throat I then run my
horse to the assistance of another Party who had wounded
one & that one was also soon dispatched. I then saw
O. P. Rockwell. had 3 bulls at bay on the Prairie Br Pack &
myself run our horses to his assistance & Br Kimball came up at
the same time we surrounded them & commenced firing
upon them they bolted ahead I put spirs to my horse
& run in ahead of them was in about one rod of them
they all Pitched at ^me^ & gave me chase for fight & I had to
be quick to get out of their way but soon cleared them
two of them broke for the bluff Br Brown put for them
Rockwell, Kimball, Pack & myself stuck to the old bull I
fired 2 balls into him, Br Kimball one, Br Pack one & he fell
dead, & we cut his throat, & also shot a clalf that was
with him, the two that had left us that Brown was
after was in the bluffs more than a mile from us Br
Kimball & myself gave chase to them & as we got in
about 20 rods of the bluff we saw two come out &
run for the main herd we gave chase for a while
but they were fresh & my horse had run near 10 miles
in the chase so we gave up the persuit I returned to Br Brown
in the bluffs & found that one of the bulls he had given chase to
was near dead had lain dead down but Br Brown had no more
Powder or Ball but before I arived he had got up & run
into the herd on the bluff, so we all returned on our chase
ground to gather up the meat, we had killed in all 3 cows one
bull & 5 calves making 11 in all. Br Solomon Hancock went
out in the morning on to the bluffs to kill buffalo on foot
He did not come in at night we felt concerned about him
early in the morning he came in, had killed a 3 year old cow
& watched it over night to keep the volves from eating it
3 wolves came upon him he shot one the rest run
away this made 12 buffalo in all that the hunters
killed to day which we considered was doing vary well
considering that we were nearly all strangers to that mode
of hunting as but vary few of us ever saw a wild
buffalo before in our lives we dressed out meat & waggons
came from camp to take it in. A part of this chase was
through one of the largest Prairie dog towns nearly ever
seen it was nearly ten miles long & 2 wide & full of
burrows nearly evry rod & great danger of a horse steping
into them & falling, there was no accident happened
at all to any one which was truly a blessing my horse stumbled
on[c]e & come nigh falling but no harm done this was
the first buffalo hunt I ever took part in or saw
we travled to day with the camp 18 miles
we discovered Indian fires on the south & west of us
~ Sunday
2nd Suunday All were busy cooking & saving there meat
in the afternoon we moved up 3 miles for better feed &
camped by the side of a large slew of water our camping
place last night & this morning was at the head of Grand Island
Professor Pratt took an observation for the Lattitude & found
it to be 40° 41' 42" this agrees with Freemonts obervation
within 2 miles & his was on the south side of the river which
was 2 miles south of our camping place we came through another
large dog town to day, soon after we camped a herd of
buffalo came from the bluffs to the river to drink
within about 2 miles of us & then returned to the bluffs
some were anxious to go after them, but as it was
Sunday Br Young thought it best to let them be
untill tomorrow the Indians set fire to the Prairie
before us which burnt rapedly over a large region of
country Brs Young Kimball & several others went
several miles in the evening on our road to examine
the fire & other things. distance 3 miles
~ Monday
3rd The hunters were called together in the morning
20 in number to go into the bluffs for a still hunt for
bluffs buffalo & other game we started out with
two waggons to bring in the game I had taken a
severe cold & setled in my side whare I was hurt
last fall & it made me sick & I was not able
to go out yet I started with the company as I
was among the hunters I had Jar[r]ed myself
badly in my hard buffalo chase on Saturday & I now
was feeling its effects at the same time the hunters
started. Another company was formed to go & explore out
the rout & see if we could get grass for our horses as the
Indians had been burning it up for several days. We went
into the bluffs & seperated into two Parties 10 in each
& we travled some 10 miles back & & forth over the hills
& saw no game except antelope & wolvesNo I felt so
unwell I concluded to go back to camp. A Lyman &
3 others were with me. we set down upon the edge
of the bluff in sight of the camp to rest ourselves & we
saw a company of 20 horsman approaching ^us^ from the
camp in haste bearing a red flag when they got within
half a mile of us we trailed our arms & went down
to meet them. they informed us that the party that
went up the river had come upon an encampment
of about 400 Indian warriors. A party of about 100
had followed them down a ravene to cut off their
retreat probably with the Intention of rob[b]ing them
of their horses & clothing & would take life if they could
not do it with out & this company of horsman
had come to us to call in the hunters to camp so
we went in the hunters in coming in with the
horsman came across a herd of buffalo & brought
into camp 3 calf, & 4 antelope they kept out a good
guard during the night & we had no disturbance the
cannon was fired twice early in the morning to let
the Indians know we were awake. I had a vary
severe night with my side was in much pain we
had some ^a great^ dew & frost during the night. 12
~ Tuesday
4th Thermometer stands at 33° this morning I feel
some better than I did last night we started on
our journey this morning 5 waggons a breast which made
5 roads this was to be in readiness in case of an attack from
the Indians we travled 3 miles & saw some waggons on the
opposite side of the river. going down the Platt soon one of the
men waded the Platt & came to us, to see who we were. He info-
rmed us they were traders from fort Laramee he had been
there 3 years had not tasted bread for 2 years, was 16 days from
Laramee the grass was green & good on the south side to that
fort but burnt of on the North side He waided the Platt to
come to us a mile across it & did not go but little above his
knees He would take letters to us to Sarpee who lived near
winter Quarters so the campe stoped & wrote 52 letters to
our familys I was ahead of the company with O Pratt taking
observations & did not know untill the time was nearly up
I then in great haste scribbled a few lines to my wife An epistle
was written to the Church &c. Three Brethren accompanied the
Frenchman accross the Platt to the other men was 9 in all
had not seen an Indian since they left Laramee, stated their
was a ferry at the fort &c agreed to take our letters safe
we drove on 3 miles more & bated our teams untill the Brethren
returned they made a report to the camp of what was
said to them a Council of the whole camp was then called
to deside whether we would cross the Platt or continue up
the North side of it we were convinced that it wood
be better for us as a company to cross the river or [illegible]^take^ the
old travled road to Laramee as their was good grass on
the way on that side while the Indians were burning
it all off on the North side of the river where we were
travling but when we took into consideration the
situation of the next company & thousands that would
follow after & as we were the Pioneers & had not our
wives & children with us we thought it best to keep on
the north side of the river & brave the difficulties of
burning Prairies & make a road that should stand as
a permanant rout for the Saints indipendant of the
old emigration rout & let the river seperate the emigrating
companies that they need not quarrel for wood grass
or water & when our next company came along the grass
would be much better for them than it would on the
south side as it would grow up by the time they would get
along. A vote was called & it was unanimous to go on
the north side of the river. So the camp again moved
on, but during the nooning Col Markham drilled the men
in a military capacity, they unshiped the cannon & carried
it on wheels, the Frenchman informed us that he never
saw so many Buffalo ogn on the rout this year they had to
stop several times to let the herd pass so they could get
along, we saw many deer & antelope to day & also wolves
and a few buffalo one large bull came across the
river to us, we rode onto the bank before him & he run
clear back again upon a loap & again crossed below us
we camped at night at a gravel creek or slew a large
herd of buffalo lay but a short distance before us
we travled in all to day 9 m 9 miles
~ Wednesay
5th I was quite sick with the diaree the change from
salt to fresh meat is affecting a number in camp
The 400 Indian warriors that was supposed to be seen
on the 3rd proved to be fals the man was frightened
at a herd of antelope & supposed them to be Indians
we had to keep a guard out this morning to keep
a herd of buffalo from mixing up with our cattle
we have had vary strong south wind for 2 days,
two buffalo bulls at noon were approaching the
herd of cows & men went out & drove them off
we rode up within 3 rods of one that was asleep &
stoped & looked at him for some minutes he awoke &
shook himself & loaped off we met a large herd
in the afternoon the Brethren killed one cow
5 calves & brought a bull calf into camp a live
with the intention of raising it, it would drink
water out of a pail they had some sport in triying
to make it suckle a cow it would try hard to bunt
the men & dogs over & some got hard raps I have
been obliged to keep my bed a part of the day have
suffered much with bowel complaint, when we
stoped for night we soon found ourselves in
the midst of grass on fire & had to return back
one mile & camped on a spot of ground on the bank
of the river that was just burned over & no feed
except small patches some took there horses on an
Island near & cut down cotton wood for them
we travled to day 15 miles
~ Thursday
6th I was some better this morning we had some rain last
night I had a poor nights rest. we started early this
morning without feeding (except a little corn) as there was
no grass & travled 3 miles & got beyond the fire left it in our
rear & stop to bait & breakfast on a good spot of grass, this
morning the herds of buffalo speck the plains on both sides
of the river and antelope in great abundance some of
which run into camp, the buffalo calf is dead this morning
that was brought into camp alive last night we continued
our journey saw many herds of buffalo antelope & one large
herd of elk a young buffalo clalf came into camp & followed
us we gave him some milk & left him we travled 10 miles
& nooned on the prairie. we scarsly meet with any timber
now, two antelope were killed this forenoon but as we have
so much meet in camp it is thought best not to kill any more
buffalo untill we need it or any other game. we were visited at
noon with many buffalo Dr Richards G. A. Smith & myself walked
up quite near several buffalo herds & exhamined them through
our glasses they were sheding their coats one bull had a mat
of wool swining by his side, like a loose robe, our herd of
cows started to run among the buffalo & President Young
run his horse to seperate them & had great difficulty in doing it
He lost a spy glass in the chase worth $40, the Brethren
hunted for it a long time but could not find it we
continued to journey among the herds of buffalo & we
are not out of sight of them at all they have eat the
grass out to such a degree that our cattle & horses can
get but vary little to eat we camped near a herd at
night that reached as far as our eyes could extend
there were thousands in it distance of the day 20 m
~ Friday
7th A meeting was called one of the herdsman recieved
a sharp reproof for neglecting the cows yesterday a teem
was called for to take the canon we had an exceding
cold north wind to day we travled 6 miles & camped upon
the bank of the river I should judge we saw 10,000
buffalo to day we came near large herds with a greater propor
tion than usual of calves, yearlings & two year olds we saw
several large ones mired, dead, wolves had commenced eating
some of them we could see wolves upon evry hand
following the herds of buffalo to eat those who die of
wounds, accident or poverty. we had some rain in the
evening. President Young & others rode out in the 6 mile
evening to search out the road a few miles forward &
for the first time on the journey saw & killed a polecat or
skunk. The Rigment was called out in the evening & drilled
Arms inspected &c & found in good order. It was supposed an
Indian was seen crossing the river in the night but was stoped &
did not get ashore
~ Saturday
8th A plesant morning. not so cold & winday as yesterday
we did not start untill 10 oclok as our teams wanted rest
as they could not get much as the buffalo had eat all the feed up
Br Wm Clayton prepared a mile gage on his hind waggon
wheel to know how far we travel, I rode forward to day with
the Twelve & others & of all the sights of buffalo that our eyes
beheld was enough to asstonish man thousands upon thousands
would crould together as they came from the bluffs to the
bottom land to go to the river & slues to drink untill the river
& land upon both sides of it was one dark spectacle of moving
objects it looked as though the face of the [e]arth was alive &
moving like the waves of the sea. Br Kimball remarked
that he had herd many buffalo tales told but he never expe-
cted to behold what his eyes now saw the half had not been
told him we saw many dead scattered about & many
wolves following the herds, when we stoped at noon many of
them walked along by the side of our waggons so that
we might easily have shot them down, O P Rockwell did
shoot one through the neck & she droped dead it was a
two year old heifer & good meet there were a great num[ber]
of calves & young cattle in the herds we saw to day we saw
had great difficulty in keeping our cattle & horses from going
among them for if they once get mixed with a herd
it is almost impossible to ever get them again. we
travled to day untill we came to the bluffs that made
down to the river & camped for the night distance 11 1/4 mi
I went onto the top of the highest bluffs that were near
us & took a survey of the surrounding country with our
glasses there being present B. Young H. C. Kimball W Woodruf[f]
& G A Smith the whole sourrounding country north east & west
as far as our vision could extend looked as rough as the sea
in a storm of ridges & valleys of mostly sand with scarcely
any green thing upon it except a little scattering grass &
the Spanish soap root such as the mexicans use for washing
with instead of soap the top resembles a pine apple the
most of any thing I ever saw I brought in one root 24
24 inch long 2 inch in diameter I pounded a little of it up
& it would fill a dish with suds like soap
~ Sunday
9th Sunday As we had no feed around us we took up
[FIGURES] our teams & passed across the bluffs
4 miles & camped for the day I wrote 2 letters one to
Br Ferguson & the other to Br Bevin for Br Wolley to
take with him to Purbelo we had a meeting & a good
one the spirit of God rules over the camp. Peace quietn[ess]
& contentment seems to pervade almost evry breast. the
Twelve met & thought it best for the Brethren not to start for
Pueblo untill they arive at Laramey. In the evening I rode
with the Twelve & others 4 miles up the river & returned we
saw large herds of buffalo come to there watering places
to drink, some geese, cranes & one pole cat 8 miles
~ Monday
10th A cool morning. Before leaving the camp ground a letter
was written to the next camp put into a small box nailed
to a post 12 feet long one end put firm in the ground the
other end erect in the air as a guide bord containing the follo
wing words. Open this box and you will find a letter.
316 miles to winter Quarters, Pioneers. Lattitude 41°. (our
friends no doubt will be glad to get the letter as it contains
an account of our Journey.
We travled 6 miles & nooned then travled 4 & camped for
the night our teams are some weak in consequence of not
getting grass for several days as it was eat out by the buff
alo there was one buffalo, one deer & one hare brought
into camp by the hunters to day, & distributed among the
men in camp we have what fresh meat we want daily
the grass is some better to day not but few herds of buff-
alo on our rout, today we passed through some miles of
dead grass which we set on fire to have new feed for
the next company it made a great fire indeed we get
our distance daily now of our travel from a mashine
fixed to a waggon wheel which gives the true distance
we camped to night by an Island of cotton wood 10 m
~ Tuesday
11th quite warm to day we travled 5 miles & made a short halt
then travled 3 1/2 miles & camped a little below the junktion of
the Noth & south forks of the Platt River I felt quite unwell the
use of fresh meet does not as yet agree vary well with me 8 1/2 miles
we see but few buffalo today some antelope & Deer &c
Professor Pratt informed me that he took an observation for
the Longitude May 7th on the opposite bank of the Platt from
whare Freemont gives the Longitude in his travels Professor Pratt
made the Longitude to be 100° 5' 45" making it two seconds of
a degree less than Freemont ownly about 10 rods which was vary
close calculating. He also found the Lat 1/2 a mile west of this nights
encampment to be 41° 7' 44"
~ Wednesday
12th A cool morning. Mercury stands at 41, we had a strong
S. wind through the day we travled 8 miles & nooned we then
travled 4 miles & camped for the night on the bank of
the North fork of the Platt I rode onto the bluffs to take a
survey of the country which was about 3 miles from the
river & we found both on the hills & flatts through the
day, travel that we were traveling over the Soux hunting
ground there had been a large band from 500 to 1000 we
should judge from there signs over the ground from 8 to 10
days before us, they took the brains out of the large buffalo
generally their hides & some of the meet & broke up the
bones for the marrow, 20 100 calves were found dead in one
place with nothing taken but the tongues, legs to the knee
& entrails another place 35 calves were found dead
& washed in heaps whare the buffalo had been chased
acrosse the river & run over the calves in rising the
bank of the river. I found on the bluff their
medicine bag tied to a stick 6 feet long stuck up in the
bank it was what is called kinikinnick composed of
tobacco & bark to smoke I also found a saddle tied to a large
buffalo dung I supposed to show the next party which
way the buffalo had gone I left my horse in the valley
to feed while I went onto a bluff to see the country &
he started off not seeing the camp took the back tract
& I had to run after him & while following him,
I run through the great Soux encampmen whare
they had had there lodges while on their hunt I left
my gun there & followed my horse untill I overtook
him with the assistance of Br Fowler who came out from
the encampment & stoped him I then rode back got
my gun examined the ground & should judge their
had been 500 lodges there was acres of ground cove[re]d
with buffalo wool whare they had dressed there skins
they left much stuff scattered over the ground such
as peaces of dressed buffalo & wolf skins mogascins [moccasins]
&c I brought in a good dressed white wolf skin
distance of the day 12 mil
I could see the bluff between the forks of the river
about 10 miles above us the bluffs that I passed over
to day were more fertile & covered with more grass
than any I had seen on the Platt before a young
buffalo was killed & brought in in the evening
~ Thursday
13 Many of the Brethren went out to visit the Indian
encampment & brought in mogasens, parts of robes
leather &c, we have a strong cold nort[h] wind to
day, we travled to day 11 miles & camped on the
west bank of a stream about 12 rods wide with
good ford that empties into the Platt this is nearly
opposite the first bluff that is formed between
the two forks of the Platt, the grass was better th[an]
it had had been, the bluff here for the first time
on the north fork comes hold to the river so that
we have to go over the bluffs with our waggons
there is one thing concerning the Platt river which
is worthy of note, which is not characteristic of any
other river that I have any knowledge of in the world
it is much of the way a mile in wedth & generally
coverd with water but vary shallow when a South
wind blows hard the water all rushes to the north
shore untill one would suppose there was a great rise
in the water let the wind shift & bolow hard from
the North & the watter immediately leaves the north
shore untill one can walk across two thirds of the
river on bare ground & the river constantly ebs &
flows like the tide just according as the wind blows
I went onto the bluffs hunting buffalo in the evening saw
several small herds President Young gave the stream
we camped on the name of the bluff fork.
I dreamed last night we had arived at our journey end
whare we were to build up a stake of Zion. As we came
unto the place there was an open vision of a temple
presented before me I asked some brethren that stood
by me If they saw it they said they did not I gazed
upon it & it was glorious it appeared as though it was
built of white & blue stone the sight of it filled me
with Joy and I awoke, & behold it was a dream 11 m
~ Friday
14th I went out early in the morning to hunt some
buffalo I cashed myself in the bank & a large herd
came along, but their old bulls was out as a rear &
front guard & there was none of their young cattle
near enough for me to shooht so they past by I saw
some more coming I way laid them they proved to
be 7 bulls I fired at the youngest one while [he] passed by
but missed him I then returned to camp took
breakfast had a hard shower of rain & some words
with Br Fowler & started out again hunting Br Higby
soon Killed an antelope that was put on board
of a boat called the revenue cutter Phineas Young
& myself went out together waited for buffalo &
antilope I finally got lost among the bluff, but
found my way out again Br Phineas shot
an buck antilope & I carried him into camp
there was 3 antilope & one buffalo bull killed. some of the
hunters thought they herd Indian guns on the opposit side of the
river during the night an Indian cralled up to a pair of mules
that was tied togeth[er] & made a grab to ketch them they sprung & got
away from him one of the guards shot at him & he run all horses
were then brought into the circle & the cannon prepared for firing
but seeing no more it was not fired travled 8 miles
~ Saturday
15th A vary cold North wind & rain we however travled
about 3 miles & camped in the best grass we had found on
the road, most of our road this morning was over & through the
bluffs as they come again bold to the river a large number of
barefoot tracks was seen this morning under the bluff on the
bank of the river, supposed to be the Indians that came down
last night to steal our horses, the rain stoped in the afternoon
& we drove 5 miles & camped on the prairie. distance 8 miles
we saw the bluffs dotted over with buffalo I went out with
some others to hunt them I could not get within about 30
rods of them I shot at the neck of one & the ball went into his
sholdier which crippled him but he hobbled away with
the herd & I did not get him but there were a number
of hunters among the herds & one of them killed a fat
buffalo which was brought into camp. the bluffs again come
down to the river a short distance before us
~ Sunday
[1]6th Sunday still cloudy & cool wind. I did not feel vary
well this morning and did not rise untill 7 oclok which was
two hours after the time when I got out of my carriage
I found all five of my horses standing at the stakes while
all the other horses of the encampment had been feeding
two hours. It was Br John Fowlers business to let them
out but he did not get up untill half an hour after I
did. He Is destitute of the spirit or principle that a faithf-
ul man or servant should possess and it makes it
much harder upon me in the care of the teams &
business than it would if I had a true & faithful man
with me Br Burnham does our cooking which
keeps him vary busy & he has the hardest time of it
as much of the time he has nothing but buffalo dung
to make a fire of we are now in a place whare we are
proving ourselves & if we are not faithful we shall come under
condemnation. I rode out to day with Brothers Young
Kimball, Benson Rockwell & Stephens 4 miles over the bluffs
to pick out a road for the camp to go across to get again on
the bottoms we found a road through & returned to the
camp I picked up a young hare which Br Young took in to
camp, we saw herds of buffalo while coming in. Br
Glines went out hunting & shot an antelope & one buffalo
though it was against the rules of the camp & council of
his captain to go hunting on Sunday. we had a good
meeting in the afternoon Br I opened meeting by Prayer
Brs Richards Markham Rockwood & Kimball spoke
& the laws of the camp were read & a good spirit preva[iled]
the channel of the teaching was to harken to council & sustain
the Heads of the Church & go & do what was said unto us
& it would prove a blessing unto us 8 mi
~ Monday
17th It is much more warm & plesant to day than usual our roa[d]
hads been hard to day we came 2 1/2 miles through sandy bluffs, we
again struck the bottom 4 1/2 miles from our camping place but
the bottom was much softer than usual & many slues to cross
we crossed about one dozen streams to day of vary clear water
that come from springs in the bluff from 1 to 10 feet across
them which run almost on the top of the ground without
any bank at all, with hard sand or gravel bottom, the water
however was not as cold as spring water generally is, the
hunters brought in 3 buffalo & it detained the camp some to
get them in, President Young was not pleased with it as
we had so much meet in camp already & they went out
without council. we saw vary large droves of deer to day in
the bottoms the most we have ever seen any day on the road
A young Fawn was picked up & brought into camp & kept
we travled in all to day 12 3/4 miles
I led the camp mostly through the bluffs in the morning before
Before Brothers Young & Kimball came up we rode together
all day picking our roads
~ Tuesday
18th The camp was called together or the captains of companies
& President Young sharply reproved, the hunters for shooting
so much meet when it was not needed & detaining the
camp or for taking life any more than could be helepd and
also the horsman for their indiferance in picking out the
road he said there was but two that had rode thant manifested
any interest in helping him get the camp along. He
spoke vary sharply upon the indiferance of men, & they
rejected the meet when it was brought into camp &c
the camp started out after the meet was disposed of
& the hunters or horsman went forward to pick out the
road instead of going hunting I did not hear a gun fired
on the road during the day Amasa Lyman was one called
by name & reproved for not paying any attention to seeking
out the road, but he was with us to day in that business
we rode 6 miles & cnooned we rode in the afternoon
9 3/4 miles & camped for the night distance of the day 15 3/4 m
~ Wednesday
19th we crossed the worse sand hill bluff of about one
mile that we have crossed on the journey & what made it still
worse the rain was pouring down upon us continually we travled
about 1/2 mile on the flat & camped untill the rain was over for
the time being we started again at 3 oclok but it soon began to rain
again hard we travled untill 5 oclok & camped for the night on the bank
of the river we travled 8 miles by the wheelometer 8 miles
I rode forward during the day in the rain & picked out the road
we had the most water fall during the day and evening that we
have met with on the whole journey
~ Thursday
20th we came 7 miles & camped for our nooning on the North
side of the Platt opposite Ash Creek that comes through the
bluffs to the Platt on the south side of the river whare the
Origon road first strikes the north fork of the Platt several
of the brethren went over in a boat that we were taking with
us & exhamined the rock bluffs, road, creek, &c & returned
with some ash. rock, wild curands & cherry &c we came
on 8 3/4 miles & camped for the night we crossed a large
creek about 12 rods across it which we supposed it to be
a creek that Glos Cload called the Rawhiyde we had a
vary good road most of the day on the bank of the
River, we have passed a good deal of rock bluff on both
sides of the river, & some on the south side of the river
was formed into natural terrices, rotundas, squairs &c 50
or 100 feet high looked liked good foundations to build
forts & fortications & strong holds upon they resemble
the work of art & look some like the old castles
of England & Scotland they were level on the top. A short
distance above Ash Creek there is a beautiful ceder Island
in the river which is a good beacon to show travelers wha
res the oregon road strikes the river. we have had
a cool, windy, cloudy day whole distance 15 3/4 m
Brother Egbert drove Br Pratts carriage tongue into
the hind end of my carriage & broke in the end bord
& the water came in when it rained so that it wet my
again things & to day Br Fowler run his waggon into
it again to day but when I spoke to him about it he denyed
it which caused some words between us. we had some
little rain to day. The bluffs on the opposite side that I have
described above are named Castle Bluffs & the stream that was called
rawhide is called Castle Creek
~ Friday
21st Before we left the encampment Br Clayton put up a guide board
with the following inscription for the benefit of the next camp
from winter Quarters 409 miles from the Junction 93 1/4 ceder
bluff 36 1/2 Ash Hollow 8 miles, & 133 from Fort Laramee
we travled to day 7 1/2 miles & nooned in the afternoon 8 m
& camped for the night. we saw 8 or 10 buffalo today but
have not seen but few for several days we saw some deer &
antilope to day I killed a bagger with the jaw bone of a
buffalo. Just as we got to a camping place two Indians came
from the bluffs riding towards us & made signs for us to come
to them several of the brethren went, it was a Sioux Indian & his
wife they talked by signs awhile & went away distance of the day 15 1/2 miles
~ Saturday
22. The brethren found a part of a petrified leg bone of a Mamouth
it was from the knee joint downward the piece was 17 inch
long. 11 inches wide & weighed 27 lbs. we travled to day 7 1/2
miles & onooned & in the afternoon 8 miles & camped for
the Sabbath, whole distance of the day 15 1/2 m
our road has been vary strait to day but we came over 2 1/2 miles
of the worst bluff sandy & hilly that we have past on
the rout. we have also past several large creek beds of
dry sand, the bluffs on our rout to day have presented
the most singular natural senery that I ever beheld in
my travels on the earth. It has the greatest appearance
of the old walls & ruins of the castles of Europe from
the size of chimneys to 100 feet square or more, bodies
of earth & rock that appears as though it was formed
out of clay stand erect scattering through the bluffs
from 10 to 100 feet high, with perpendicular
sides as strait as walls of a building while all
the earth around them have been washed away
to their base with rain & time. A spring of cold
water was found in the top of one of these peaks
apparently in a small basin of stone. there are
considerable number of rattle snakes come out of
these bluffs I sayw near a dozen to day a good
share of the rout this afternoon the face of the
earth is barren almost destitute of grass
~ Sunday
23rd ^Sunday^ In company with B Young & the Twelve we visited the
top of two of the highest bluff ruins that lie opposite our
encampment which were truly a curiosity. O. Pratt took a
barometrical observation on the ownly tree which was red ceder
on the top of the ruins or bluff which we visited we had
a fair view of chimney rock from whare we were. I
carried a bleached buffalo bulls head on to the top &
wrote upon it with a pencil our names & distances from
several places for the benefit of the next camp while
Br Fairbanks [blank] was on one of these bluffs he
was bit with a rattlesnake & became vary painful before
he reached camp the Brethren commenced giving
him such things as they thought best. And he soon was
better. The camp met at half past 11 ooclok. E Snow addressed
the Meeting & spoke well. President Young then addressed the
camp in an Interesting manner, said he was satisfyed that
the Lord was with us & Leading us had never seen a company
of people more united than the camp had been thus far on the
journey, that we should pluck the fruits of this mission to all
Eternity that he had many things to teach us but could not
do it ownly in a stake of Zion. But he was well satisfyed
with himself, his brethren the Twelve & the camp at large one
thing he would say to the praise of all, that was not one
had refused to obey his council on the road. His peace with
God was continually like a river & he felt that the spirit of
peace rested upon the whole camp. many good things were
said. Several other brethren followed him after which
meeting was dismissed. we intended to have rode out in the
evening, but we saw that a storm was gathering, & it soon
began to blow vary hard about as much as we could do to
save our waggons bows & covers from being smashed
the hard wind continued for about an hour then it commenced
raining & which lasted about one hour accompanied with some hail
it turned vary cold I had fears that some of our horses would
perish with the cold as such changes were freequent in this
region Mr Sarpee related a circumstance that transpired sev
eral years since at about this place on the 22nd of May one
day earlier than this while travling down this fork of the platt
it was warm weather the grass 10 inch high it began to rain
some in the afternoon & turned cold in the evening & before
morning 16 of his best horses were frozen to death by the side
of the waggons & his boates boats froze into the Ice in the river
the changes are vary great in this country & when I see it
turning so cold I coverd all my horses with blankets that
I coudld I got up several times in the night to see to then
It rained occasionally in the night. the horses shook with
cold but morning came & all was alive as soon as they were
let loose they run to warm themselves.
~ Monday
24th It was a cold morning yesterday morning the Thermometer
stood at 52°, at noon 82, & this morning 38 accompanied with
north wind, we travled 10 miles & nooned. I dreamed this mor-
ning that some Indians came into camp in a friendly manner
& stole 6 horses before our eyes & rode off we gave them
chase on horsback & I awoke.
As soon as we camped
this noon two Indians came to the camp they were Sioux
they were well dressed & clean we gave them some dinner
& showed them an Indian dog that had followed us several
days but the dog would not follow them they soon left the
camp. Chimney rock still grows plainer to our view
we drove in the afternoon 6 1/2 miles & camped near the quick
sand mountain that run in a ridge from the river back that
apparently had been heaped up by the wind I rode about
two miles forward to find grass and a camping place and on
my return I saw about 30 Soux Indians Plunge their horses
Into the River on the opposite side & make towards us I rode
with several others to the river & met them as they came
out they shook hands with us, vary friendly, the Chief
unfurled a large American Flag with the Eagle stars & stripes
& presented me a Letter. It was written in french we
however made it out, they were all well dressed the Chief
was dressed in a military coat. the Brethren from Camp
brought a white flag & stuck down by the side of theirs
they wanted to go into Camp we proposed for 5 of them
to go & the rest to remain in Camp but they all wiched
to come so we let them. we gave them supper they
remained about camp all night, but were good & stole
nothing. distance of the day 16 1/2 —
~ Tuesday
25th The Sioux are in camp this morning we gave them
Breakfast they stayed with us untill we started some little
traiding was done they were men women & children they
crossed the river when we left & behaved well we drove
2 miles & dbated our horses, then drove untill 1 oclok & nooned
then drove untill 6 oclok & camped for the night distance 12 m
I was unwell had the Rheumatism in shoulders & back & teeth ake
had to keep the carriage I read Hastings account of Calafornia
He tells some great stories about California & oregon we camped
within about 4 mi[l]es of Chimney rock
~ Wednesday
26th we travled 6 1/4 miles & nooned in good grass about 2 miles
above Chimney rock we travled in the afternoon 6 1/4 miles
& camped for the night. The hunters brought in four Antelope
we passed much good grass to day. I rode to day with Br Kimball
& Benson to look out the road I have during the last two days
read Mr Hastings account of Oregon & upper Calafornia. He has
greatly exhagerated the account of upper Calafornia.
Just before camping at noon while travling on a smooth prairie
an accurance took place which liked to have proven of serious
consequence to our camp. An Indian Horse that was bought of the
Sioux ran away with a whi singletree to his heels & gave a trem-
endious fright to the cows, oxen & horses that were attached
to the waggons and in an instant a dozen or more waggons
were darting by each other like lightning & the horses & mules
flying as it were over the ground some turned to the right &
some to the left some run into other waggons, the horse & mule
that Br Fowler was driving leaped with all spead, with Br
Little hold of the lines & Br Fowler hold of the bits they darted
by my carriage like electricity & came within one inch of a
collission with my wheels if they had locked we should have
been a wreck another waggon followed by in the same manner
with a pair of Mules & one yoke of cattle upon a keen run which
would also have smashed my carriage if they had hit it but
my own horses by this time started to run but was soon
held up by the driver, Br Fowlers waggon continued to rooll
regardless of rough or smooth ground for about fifty rods &
he draged the whole distance by the bit which was the
case with many others, but all was soon stoped & returned
to there lines without any accident to any team or waggon
which appeared to me truly a miricle William Smoots team
run away also with great speed. It give us sumthing of an
Idea what an Indian yell would would do in such an encamp-
ment with teams hitched to waggons. A person can hardly
concieve of the power that is manifest in animals esspecially
mules when in such a fright. But I felt thankful that no
accident happened.
By an Imperfect measurment, by a Trigonometrical observation
by the Sexton Professor Pratt made the Chimney rock to be 260 feet
above the level of the river. distance of the day 12 1/2 m
~ Thursday
27th we started 15 m before 8 oclok travled in a strait line 8 mile
& nooned in good grass Br Kimball & myself picked the road
in the foornoon & it was left to me in the afternoon & I piloted
the road in the afternoon as strait as any road that had been
made on the whole rout & picked out a camping ground on
the bank of the river in good feed we travled 5 3/4 miles 13 3/4
It should be understood that we are piloting a road for
the House of Israel to travel in for many years to come
therefore it requires the greater care. The hunters brought
in 5 Antilope to day. we camped at half past 4 oclock
opposite Scotts Bluff at Lattitude 41º, 50', 52." the wedth
of the river 772 yards a wind soon arose accompanied by
thunder & lightning we had but little rain.
~ Friday
28th A cold rainy morning the camp concluded not to start
untill it stop raining. so we started at 10 oclok & travled 11 1/2
miles & camped for the night on the bank of the river it was a damp
cold day we passed alongside of a clear strem of water with some
beaver dams & houses upon it at one place it raised the water about
two feet which was lined with fish a good share of which was
speckled trout so the brethren informed me this is the first strea-
m I have met with containing trout since I left the New
England States. Therefore I name it trout creek it was not more
than 3 miles long it arose from a large pure spring. it was but a little
above Scotts Bluffs [FIGURE] distance of the day 11 1/2
during the evening President Young called at my fire & seeing
several of the brethering playing dominoes in a waggon near
by began to teach by saying that the devil was getting power over
the camp that for several days past nearly the whole camp had
drank into a spirit of card, checker, & domino playing & dancing
& the spirit of folley & if they did not spedily repent their
works, labours, & journey would be in vain that we should
not accomplish the object for which we had come but should
be thwarted in it. He said the Camp did not quarel any to be
shure for the devel would not set them to quarreling as long
as he could draw them away gradually from duty & fill them
with nonsens & folley, for the devil was vary cuning in dra-
wing away the people of God. I felt the force of his remarks
& thought them necessary. during the evening I went in to
the doctors waggon, read a chapter in the Book of Mormon
& prayed with them. After which B Young H. C. Kimball
W Richards E. T. Benson & W. Woodruff met in council
in Br Youngs waggon & Br Young wrote some of the
word of the Lord concerning the camp & expressed
his views & feelings concerning the camp that they must
spedily repent or they would be cursed, that they were
forgetting their mission & he had rather travel with
10 righteous men who would keep the commandments
of God than the whole camp while in a carless manner
& forgetting God, we stayed untill 10 oclok & retired to
rest
~ Saturday
29th A cold rainy morning. At 10 oclok the horn was blown
to gather up the horses & cattle which took more than an hours
after which President Young called the camp together and
required each Captain to seperate or calle out his men & when
it was found all was present except two who had gone a
hunting he then addressed them, sumthing in the following
language, I think I will take for my text to preach my sermon
from, I am about to revolt from travling with this camp
any further with the spirit they now possess, I had rather
risk myself among the savages with ten men that are men
of faith, men of mighty prayer men of God, than to be with
this whole camp when they forget God & turn there hearts
to folley & wickedness, yea I had rather be alone, & I am
now resolved not to go any further with the camp unless
you will covenant to humble yourselves before the Lord &
serve him & quit your folley & wickedness, for a week past
nearly the whole camp has been card playing, chequres
& dominnoes, have occupied the attention of the brethren
& dancing, & Nigering & Hoeing down all has been the bet
continually, now it is quite time to quit it, & there has been
trials & law suits upon evry nonsensical thing & if these things
are suffered to go on it will be but a short time befor you
will be fighting knocking each other down & taking life
& it is high time it was stoped, I do not want to hear any
more such reportts as I herd last Sunday. of mens going to
meeting & preaching to the rest after he had played cards
untill meeting time, you are a putty set of men going
to seek out a location among the mountains for a resting place
of the Saints, even the whole Church of God who have been
driven out from the gentiles & rejected of them and after
you have esstablished a location you are then going out to preah
the gospel, seal salvation upon the House of Israel, & gather
the nations. How would you look if they should know your
conduct & ask you what did you do when you went to
seek out Zion, & find a resting place for the Saints whare
the Standard of the Kingdom of God could be reared & her
banners unfurled for the nations to gather unto, dut you
spend a good deal of your time in dancing pitching quare[l],
Jumping wrastleing &c yes, yes, did you play cards, dice
checkers & dominoes O! yes, what could you do with you-
rself, why you would shrink from the glance of the yeyes
of God Angels & men even wicked men, then are you
not ashamed of yourselves for practicing these things
yes you are & you must quit it. After speaking sumwhat
lengthy upon these matters he called the Twelve together
the High priest, Seventies & Elders, & found to be 8
of the quorum of the Twelve. 18 High Priest. 80 Seventies
& 8 Elders after which President Young said unto the
Twelve If you are willing to humble yourselves before
the Lord & covenant to do right & walk humble before
him, make it manifest by raising the right hand
when each one raised their hand, the same question
was put to the High Priest, Seventies, Elders & Members
& all universally covenanted with uplifted hand to humble
themselves before the Lord repent of their sins & keep
his commandments. President Young then spoke of those
who was not in the Church as there were sum present that
they would be protected in their rights but they must
not introduce wickedness in the Camp for it would not
be sufferd. He then spoke of the standard & ensign that
would be reared in Zion, to govern the Kingdom of God
[FIGURE] and the nations of the earth for evry nation
would bow the knea & evry tongue confess that
JESUS was the Christ and this will be the
standard. The Kingdom of God & his Laws & Judgment in
{the hands of his servants Ahman Christ} And on the standard would be a flag
of evry nation under heaven so their would be an invitation to all
Nations under heaven to come unto Zion, the Saints would have
to keep the Celestial law, and all nations & religions would
have to bow the knee to God and accknowledge that Jesus was
the Christ, but they would not be under the necessity of
being baptized or embracing the Gospel of Christ, but
they must acknowledge the right & reign of Christ
then if they felt disposed to reject the gospel & be damned they had
a right to, & the Saints or inhabitants of Zion had no right to take
from them their religion or persecute them on account of it or
trample upon their rights any way, neither should other nations
or religions trample upon the rights & privileges of the Saints who serve
& obey the Lord of [and] Keep his Commandments neither would that
be suffered as it has been in times past. And upon this principle
all men or religions may dwell with us in peace, if they will
keep the outward laws of the kingdom of [God] so as to acknowledg his
name & his right to reign & let us keep the law of the gospel &
obey his commandments undisturbed. After making other rem-
arks he left the meeting in the hands of the rest of the Twelve
Elder Kimball followed & remarked that what President Young said
it was the word of the Lord unto him & was just as much binding
upon him as though it was a written Revelation and it was just
as much binding upon the whole camp as it was upon him & urged
the Saints to give heed to the teachings that were given.
O Pratt followed & said that if the Saints had leasure hours
that they could spend them to much better advantage than playing
Cards as there was a world of Knowledge to be obtained & evry leasure
moment should be improved in storeing the mind with some sciensce or
learning some good principle and acknowledged the teachings we
had recieved to be of the Lord
W. Woodruff arose & said he had some things in his heart he
wished to say, that a burned child dreaded the fire. He had not
forgotton his journey in the Camp of 1834 and should he
live to the age of Matheusala he should not forget the hour when
the Prophet & Seer Joseph Smith stood upon the waggon
wheel & addressed that Camp & said that because they had
not harkened to his Councel but disobeyed, & transgressed
from time to time, that the die was cast & Judgment
must come that we should be visited by the destroying Angels
And so we were & more than twenty of our numbers
fell by the stroke & we all suffered much in our feelings
And I pray the Lord I may not see another such a time
And I would now advise my brethren to be careful in keeping the Coven[an]t
ywe have made lest by & by the word of the Lord come unto us as in
the days of Joseph & we cannot escape his judgment. I would
advise all the Brethren who have got cards to burn them up for
also checkers & dominoes, for if you keep your covenants you
have made you will have no time to use them & they will be
useless lomber on your hands. if you keep them for your children
they will ownly prove, a curse to them. And my prayer to God
is thayt we all may be enabled to keep all our covenants
with the Lord & each other I rejoice that the watchman
upon the walls or in our mids are quick to comprehend & warn
us of evil & reprove us when wrong that we may de saved & do
the will of God
Br S. Markham arose confessed his sins for card playing on sunday
before he went to preach & asked forgivness, then the camp
dispersed to there waggons & we all started on our journey
Br G. A. Smith & myself went together to pilot out the road
we travled 8 1/2 miles & camped for the night in good feed
though the whole Country was vary barren that we had
[page torn] [come] through. we passed today through layers of good
sand stone in the edge of the bluffs one large rock resembled
the hull of a steemboat loaded with freight so I named it
Stone Steem boat bluff. it commenced raining before we
camped it was vary cold, distance of the day 8 1/2 m
during the evening Br B. Young went out with the Twelve
& had Prayes
~ Sunday
30th Sunday we set this day apart for Prayer & fasting, in
the morning I shaved & washed all over & anointed my head &
put on clean clothing, read a chapter in the Book of Mormon
& humbled myself before the Lord & poured out my soul in
prayer before the Lord & his spirit desended upon me &
I was blessed. I spent some time in writing my Journal. The
camp had a Prayer meeting, in the morning & met again in
public Meeting, President Young in company with the quorum of
the Twelve & a few others went into the vally of the hills & according
to the order of the Priesthood prayed in a circle & Porter &
Br Carrington watched to see that no Indians come upon us, we had
a good time, there was a heavy storm appeared but it mostly went
around there was but little rain whare we were, we returned to
our waggons & took some refreshment having eaten nothing during
the day, soon the Son came out plain & plesant. In the evening I
went out 2 miles with the quorum of the Twelve onto a high
bluff & had a good views of the Black Hills also Prayers
~ Monday
31st There are many portions of this country vary barren we travel
over several miles at a time of level prairie with little or no grass upon
it in this ground we find great quantities of the Prickelly pair &
they are an excellent plant to eat though coverd with thorns like
needles which have to be carefully paired off with a knife & fork
they are quite delicious have a little tart but vary plesant
we had a plesant morning, our cattle was strayed so far it
took about 2 hours to get them up & get ready for starting
we however started at 8 oclock & travled 9 1/2 miles & nooned on a
green flat most of the ground through the day was vary barren
grass is again getting vary scarce Br Pratt took an observation,
& found the Lattitude to be 42º 4' 30" we travled in the after-
noon 7 1/4 miles & camped upon the bank of a creek about 15 or
20 miles below Laramie the hunters brought in one long tailed
deer saw several Elk & Antilope but got none of them I went
forward to pick out the road through the day I felt some unwell
with teeth ake & canker in my mouth. distance of the day 16 3/4
I would here mention that which belonged to the mornngs account
that there was a crust of frost over the grass the Thermometer
stood at 35, at 5 oclok, we passed to day a grove of large
cotton wood but the Sioux had wintered in it & cut down
the most of it for brows & wood, we are begining to
come to wood more plenty but the Camp has had much
difficulty to obtain wood to cook with for the last
weeks as we had neith[er] timber nor Buffalo chips. the
men would follow the river bank all day & Islands
to pick up any wood sticks barks or chips that might
chanced to have lodged on the bank by the flood or
that the Indians may have left, but it is now
to be readily obtained it is supposed that the creek
we camp on to night is the rawhide
~ Tuesday
June 1st 1847 A fine pleasant morning, I had suffered much
from the tooth ake of late, I went, before starting on the journey
to Luke Johnson a dentist & got my tooth part of it dug out is &
broke of[f] & left the stump in my Jaw which pained me through
the day we travled 6 miles & nooned whare we had but
little feed, we travled in the afternoon [blank] miles & camped on
the bank of the platt opposite of Fort Laramie within
1 1/2 miles of the fort. when we arived we saw some men
approaching us from the fort when they arived on the
bank we found them to be a part of the company of
the Missisippi Brethren who had been to Pueblo through
the winter, Brother Crow & his family 7 waggons & 14 souls
were the individuals who were at the fort they soon stood upon
the bank of the river we lanced [launched] our boat & crossed the stream to them
several of the brethren went over to them among whom was Br Brown
that led up the same company to this place last year, they were truly glad
to meet, No one can imagin the joy of friends on meeting each other
under such circumstances away from the abodes of white
men whare they are ownly visited by Savages. Br Crow came across
& met in Council with us. And informed us that the remainder
of the Missippi company with the portion of the Mormon Battalion that
was at Pueblo would start for Laramie about the first of June
& follow our trail onto Calafornia. He informed us of 4 of the breth-
ren who had died one of which was Arnold Stephens, had herd
nothing of the main body of the Battlion. He soon returned home
& the camp met together, President Young suggested the propriety
of our leaving all our plows at the fort except such as we
should want to use immediately when we got there, to do up our Black-
smithing, Burning Coal, mending waggons &c as soon as possible
so that we could go on our Journey as spedily as possible, a
company was appointed to do herding & to attend to all these branches
of business, we then retired to rest I am quite unwell &
have been for several days I have canker in the mouth, bleed at
the noose, do not rest well nights distance of the day 12 m
~ Wednesday
2nd In company with the Twelve & others I crossed to the river
to visit the fort & those who inhabit it we exhamined fort St John
which is now evacuated but the walls are standing the diment-
ions of St John are 144 by 132 outside, the Inside of the fort
contained 16 rooms, 7 rooms on the North west & 7 on the South
east one on the South, the largest on the north 98 feet long 47 wide
the Oregon trail runs one rod from the S.W. cornor of the fort
we next visited Fort Larimie now occupied by 38 persons
French mostly, who have Married the Sioux Mr Burdow is the
superinteder this fort is 168 by 116 outside, theer are 6 rooms
upon two sides, & 3 rooms upon the north & 3 upon the south
uccopied by stores blacksmith & dwellings it is quite a plesant
situation for a fort. Mr Burdow was a, Frenchman and a
Gentleman. He recieved us kindly and invited us into a large
setting room on the north side of the Fort, elevated about 10
feet from the ground, a flight of stairs leading to it gave us
any information he could in relation to our rout. Also fur-
nished us with his flat boat on reasonable terms to assist us in ferr
ying the Platt. He informed us that Gov Boogs & his men
had much to say against the mormons & cautioned him to
take care of his horses cattle &c lest we should steal them
[page torn] [to prej] gudice him against us all he could he said
that Boggs company was quarrelling all the time & most
of the company had deserted him. He finally told Boggs & co
that let the Mormons be as bad as they would they could not
be any wors than he & his men were. He had a number of
Soux women & children around him while we were there
About 20 of the Sioux men, women & children came with
Peltry to the trading House. Provisions of all kinds were
vary high & goods at the store flour 25 cts a pound tobacco
$1.50 cts per lb. After conversing with him for a length of time
we got into the flat boat about 20 of us & went down the
Laramie fork to its mouth about 2 miles, & up the platt half a mile
to our camp. After dinner we met in council & there decided
that Azama Ameza Lyman go to Pueblo with several other
brethren to meet the detachment of the Battalion that was there
for them to come as soon as convenient to Laramie & follow
our trail to Calafornia. I finished the letters to send to
Bevien & Ferguson I picked some greens & had a good dinner
of then though I am not well to day
~ Thursday
3rd A vary winday day we commenced before sun ris to ferry
over our boats my ten was the first that went over the wind was
favorable we saw 3 men arive on pack horses last evening
at the fort on the oregon road we ascertained this morning they
were from St Josepheth they report 2000 waggons on the road
to Oregon from St Joes they are divided into companies of 20
to 50 waggons & that they will arive here tomorrow the first co
Mr Burdow called down to see us cross today. we set up our
Blacksmiths shops in the old fort to do our work. & made fires to do
our washing Br Burnham done my washing to day the fisrtst time
I have washed my clothing since I left winter quarters. Br
Frost set 6 shoes for me today & 2 for Br Smoot. In the evening
I walked up onto the highest peak around us, in company
with the Twelve & others we took a vew of the surrounding
country on our return to the camp we visited the Indian
& French burying ground the Indians were laid up upon
a staging about 10 feet from the ground, the French were
buried in the ground strong pickets around with a cross
at the head being Catholics, snow was discovered upon the
mountains through glasses
~ Friday
4th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters to day one to Mrs W.
& one to Aphek Woodruff A. O. Smoot & J Benbow &
left them in the hands of Mr [blank]
who keeps the store & acks as post Maste[r]s. He appeared
vary friendly said he would for ward our letters that wer[e]s
to go to winter Quarters to the care of Mr Sarpee & those
that were to be deliverd to the Mormon Camp would deliver
them to the leader of the Camp on our arival. He truly
manifested much friendship towards us. Professor
Pratt took observations at the fort for the Longitude
at the fort.
I conversed with a mountaineer who had wintered at
the great Basin of the Salt & Eutau lakes & he recommends
the country vary highly for a healthy fertile country
the Lakes & streams abounding with trout & other fish
A good supply of shugar maple & other timber before we
left. Br Clayton erected a guide board on the north side of
the river containing the following information which he
took from his journals on the distances which was correct
as it was obtained from the wheelometer
543 1/4 miles from Winter Quarters 227 1/2 miles from the
Junction of the Platt. 142 1/4 miles from Ash Hollow
70 1/4 miles from Chimney Rock and 50 1/2 from Scotts Bluff.
we left the Fort & started on our Journey we took the right hand
road up up the platt & travled 8 1/4 miles & camped for the night, the
travel now appears to be attended with a good deal of interest
as we begin to ascend the black Hills which are universally coverd
with pine & ceder we saw one vary high peak coverd the top
with snow Br Robert Crow joined us which added to our compa
ny 9 men 5 women 3 children 6 waggons 13 yoke of oxen
20 cows 3 bulls 10 young cattle and horses which makes in the
whole Camp 148 men, 8 women, 5 children, 79 waggons
96 horses 51 Mules, 90 oxen, 43 cows 3 bulls 9 calves, 16 dogs
and 16 chickins
I was in great pain in the afternoon & night with the nervous head & teeth ake 8 1/2
~ Saturday
5th
we have freequent slight showers yesterday & today while among the
hills I was sum better today we had quite a rough road today
we travled up & down the hills untill we arived at what is
called the warm spring which is at the fork of the two
roads that comes from Laramie we here nooned & visited the
head of the spring which was quite warm for drinking water
It boiled out of the bluff & made a little rivulet about 4 feet
wide & 3 inches deep it was clear soft water but no warmer
than I have freequently found water in rivulets exposed to the
sun the bluffs, peaks, & hills begin to be more lofty as we got
into the hills we are begining to come to an elk, bear & mountain
sheep country, we saw their signs to day we came in the foornoon
6 1/2 miles making 15 miles from Laramie to the springs soon
after we arived the first company of Moissouri emigrants came
up 12 waggons of them. Professor Pratt took an observation
for the Lattitude at the head of the warm spring & found it to be
42º 15' 6" we travled in the afternoon 10 1/2 miles & camped
on the west side of a small pure stream of water in good feed
the Missouri company camped 1/4 of a mile below us on the same
stream, they started this morning from the fort & took the
South road which is 5 miles nearer than the North road which we
took & a much better road. distance of the day 17 miles
~ Sunday
6th Sunday this day was also devoted to prayer & fasting, the
Missouri company that camped near us started on this morning
I am still troubled with the teeth ake. the camp met for
a prayer meeting at 8 oclok the spirit of the Lord was with
the people, the Camp also met for a preaching meeting at 11 oclok
we had a shower of rain & the meeting closed another company
of Mo waggons of 20 passed us it soon cleared off & the camped
moved forward 5 miles & camped for the night on Bitter C
Creek whare the road leaves the creek for the hills we camped
between between the two Mo encampments one each side
of [page torn] waggons in one & 20 in the other and a plenty of grass 5 [m]
~ Monday
7th The two companies started out before us this morning
we travled 7 3/4 miles & nooned on a small creek which
scarsly afforded water for our stock & but little grass, while
here another Mo company of 13 waggons passed us we were in
fair view of Laramie Peak with its top coverd with snow,
I found an abundance of sweet thisaly in the bitter creek
bottom whare we camped last night much of the shrubery
which we past to day was the black currand & goosbury
we travled this afternoon 5 1/4 miles & camped for the night on
the Horse shoe Creek in the most splendid feed we have met
with on the journey the other three companies went ahead
Hors shoe Creek is heavily timbered with cotton wood Ash
& willow it is quite a large Stream I went to fishing with
a hook & line to see if I could not get some trout but I
cought nothing, the Black Hills are a good deal timbered
with pine. The Hunters brought in two black tailed deer
& one antilope to night, distance of the day 13 mils
Professor Pratt took several barometrical observations at Larimie
during 3 days & found the highth above the level of the sea to be
4090 feet, the Tattitude was 42º 12' 13". By a mean of
six six sights with a good sextant the Longitude west from
Greenwich was in time 6h 56m 47s.5 equal to 104º 11' 53"
Lat. of the warm springs west of Laramie 42º 15' 6"
~ Tuesday
8th we travled 6 3/4 miles & nooned upon a small creek
with little water & fair grass we formed a company of
men & went forward of the teams & cleaned the road of
stone we used pick axes, bars, spades &c it was a great
help to our week waggons the road was exceding hilly
& mountaineous, in the afternoon we travled 8 3/4 over
the most mountaineous road we have had on the rout
we then deesended into a valley & camped for the night
on Labont Creek with an abundance of timber water
& good grass. we saw nothing of the Mo companies
Br John Higby went forward hunting & saw them
when they started out, & they had such strife one with
another in trying to start first they did not stop to
milk their cows, & in clearing up their breakfast they
stewed their meal, salt, bacon, short cake, Jonney cake
beans & other things upon the ground through their
encampment & when we came up 3 wolves were
feeding upon the fragments I picked up a pocket knife
& spoon left upon the ground.
When we came
over the high hills to day it was so cold it pierced
us like winter when we reached the valley we
found fires the companies in advanced had built
we piled on the wood, soon got warm an antelope
lay before us the hunters had brought in we carved it up
with our knives & stuck it on sticks & roasted it on the
fire & it satisfyed our appetites finely without salt
Some traidere came into camp from the mountain
on their way to the fort G A. Smith sent a letter
by them back to the fort distance 15 1/2 m
during the evening we visited the traiders & got some inform
ation from the salt lake country which was flattering or good
account was given of it
~ Wednesay
9th We started at 5 oclok & drove one mile into better feed
& turned out our teams, the brethren traided some for robes
mogacines, & skin shirts & pants with the Hunters who camped
near us and at about 7 oclock 15 waggons of our party was chosen
to go forward to make a boat to ferry the Platt; they went forward
we followed them, the traiders started at the same time soon another
party of traiders over took [us] who were direct from Santifee they
informed us the Mormon Battalion was at Calafornia went in
Jan & that Capt Brown was in Santafee for money for the detach
ment & would come on as soon as possible we travled 11 1/4 miles
& nooned in a valley without watter, in the afternoon we trav
led 8 miles & camped upon A'la'preel Creek when we rode up
to the Creek we overtook our little pioneer company that we sent
on In the morning to built the boat, the Missouri company was also
in sight notwithstanding their exhertion to get ahead of us, our
detachment followed the Mo company how far they travled I know
not our Hunters killed two black tailed deer & one antilope
yesterday & an antilope today I am still troubled much with the
teeth ake with the exception of this I feel vary well distance 19 1/4
~ Thursday
10th In company with G. A. Smith I went forward to a large
creek 8 3/4 miles from our camping place Here we overtook the Mo
Company they were about 4 miles from our camp we nooned upon
this creek, in the afternoon we reached the platt river &
camped upon deer creek, 9 miles whole distance of the day 17 3/4
I examined a splendid grind stone queyry on the east side
of the road as it leaves the hills & strikes the platt At was
30 rods long above the ground & could readily be got at the
grit, was fine & nise the Hunters brought in two antilope, we
have good feed & our horses & cattle are gaining. In the after-
noon Presidents Young & Kimball rode with us. our detac-
hed company camped last night withe fore most company
& we have not herd from them since. Br Carrington
found a vary extensive coal bed in this creek one layer
of about 10 feet thick another 5 feet length not known
but was examined for 20 rods or more the specemins of
coal produced wer excellent, the Twelve walked on to the
river bank examined the river, feed, &c had prayers
& returned. At the blowing of the horn I did not feel
much like retiring to bed so I walked 1/2 a mile from the
camp on the bank of Deer Creek & found Br Clayton
fishing with a hook. He had caught about two dozen good
fish. Another Br Harmon had caught some they resem-
bled the eastern Herrin, they were about to leaves & they left
their lines for me to fish with so I sat down for half
an hour musing alone as unconcerned as though I had been
sitting upon the banks of Farmington river, vary suddenly
I herd a rustling in the bushes near me & for the first time
time the thought flashed across my mind, that I was in
a country abounding with the griselly, bear wolves & India-
ns, and was liable to be attacked by either of them ant any
moment & was half a mile from any company & had no weapon
not even enough to have defend myself against a badger
& I thought wisdom dictated for me to return to camp so I
took up my polls & fish & walked leasurelly home & retired
to rest which closed the business of the day
~ Friday
11th we rode 9 miles & camped upon the Platt bottom
for nooning, we travled in the afternoon 8 miles & camped upon
the bank of the Platt within a short distance of the Mo
camp who were trying to ferry over their waggons, they reported
our camp to be at the ferry 10 miles or so above us, the
hunters brought in 13 antelops. the Mo company had killed 3
buffalo. A young antelope had hid behind a bunch of sage
to keep out of the way of the hunters I discoverd him & crawld
up & caught him in my hands but he gave such a spring he cleared
himself from me.
we rode our horses into the river to day
several times to se[e] if we could find a fording place but we could
not find any as the stream had risen by the melting snows of
the mountains, we passed some snow to day on the highest
peaks distance of the day 17 m
~ Saturday
12th I started in the morning to go forward in company
with Br A. P. Rockwood who was riding President Young
Stud when suddenly he sprung upon my horse but
instead of striking my horse he took my knee into his
Jaw & bruised me considerable sunk one tooth to
the bone through three thicknesses of clothing &
one of them buck skin G A Smith & myself then
rode on to the ferrying ground & found our detachment ferrying
over the Missouri Company they paid the Brethren
$1.50 cts per each waggon & load, & paid in flour at $2.50
per cwt, generally flour is considerd worth at the forts through
this country at least $10 per cwt. It was difficult getting
over the river they carried the goods over in a boat &
drew the waggons over by hand with ropses but when the
curant struck them they would freequently rool several
times over in the watter & smash their bows out they also
came near drowning their horses and one man would have
been lost if the brethren had not picked him out with
the boat, we saw also on the road whare the company had
a run away of their teams a horse came runing among them
& frightened their oxen and they all started to run two
run up onto a bank & turned both waggons over with
women & children in & bruised them much, smashed jars
crockery, dishes, boxes & sundrys to peaces. one team run
into the river & would probably have drowned & lost all
had not a little boy jumped out beside the off ox which
frightend him & he out run the other hawed off & run
onto a sand bar he however kicked the boy against the
wheel & the wheel knocked [him] down into the water which
hurt him, but the seene ended without any loss of life.
The Blacksmiths had been to work for the Missouri Company
got flour money &c the company of 5 traiders had camped
near the brethren. Our hunters had been busily engaged in
getting game, they had killed 5 fat buffalo 4 bear one
old she bear & 3 cubs, & shot at 2 griselly bear but did not
get them those killed were the black bear. saw a plenty of
antiope deer Elk & Mountain Sheep the mountains near
us abound with bear & other game I found some buffalo meat
the hunters were not agoing to save, so I cut out of the hump
of a buffalo about 40 lbs of good fat stake & spread it
to dry also tryed out about 8 lbs of good tallow
I visited the traiders camp they also was drying fine fat
Buffalo, one of the bears feet that was killed measured
7 1/2 inches long 5 inch wide 2 1/2 inch thick two toe nails 2 3/4 inch
long 3/4 inch wide. Our Hunters brought into camp 8 antilope
the camp came up & camped within one mile of the ferry ground
in good feed had travled 11 1/4 miles 11 1/4 m
~ Sunday
13th Sunday A vary warm day the camp met for prayer
meeting at 9 oclok. O. P. Rockwell, Brown, and another
man were out all night hunting. One of the men of the camp
started out at dark to go to the mountain to get some snow
the distance looked so short he said he could go & return before 8 oclok
& was foolish enough to make a bet of one dollar upon it, but he did not
get to the mountain by 8 oclok & about 10 oclok a company of hors-
man was sent out with a bugle after him fearing the bears would
eat him up.
We had a meeting at 10 oclok H. C. Kimball addressed
the meeting in an interesting manner, & was followed by Br Young
who spoke upon the liberty of the gospel, showed what it done
for us, saved us daily, exhaulted us to glory immortality & eternal
life brought us evry good thing, but in doing this it did not
do away with the law of God or the dictation of the Almighty
Some thought they wanted their liberty to curse, swear, stray
whare they were a mind to, run over the mountains, not regard
the laws & rules of the Camp, but would that be liberty, not it
would lead to death & not life, the man that left the camp & went
to the mountains last night, had he have met a bear he would have had
the liberty to have run for his cli life, clumb a tree or been destroyed
The way to worship God the most acceptable is to do each day the
vary things that will bring the most good to the human family
there is a great differance to be seen between us as a camp & the
Missouri companies that are going the same road or a part of the way
they curse & swear, rip & tare, & are a trying to swallow up the earth, but
though they do not wish us to have a place on earth the earth will soon
swallow them up & they will go to the land of forgetfulness, while the
Saints if faithful though they should suffer some privations here will
ultimately inherit the earth & increase in dominion power & glory untill
the Lord shall say to them, go to now make your thousands of worlds
& people them & make such laws to govern them as you are a mind
to for I Know you have no disposition to make any laws but those
that are good, for you always desired to do good on the earth, &
many other goodly words did he say unto our edefycation. He was
followed by O Pratt who exhorted us to give head to the teaching
we had herd & to improve our time in treasuring up usful knowledge
that we ought not to spend a moments time needlessly. Meeting
dismissed and the Twelve, Colonels, Captains, &c of the Camp
met at the Presidents waggon to consult upon what measures
to adopt to get across the river it was finally agreed to go immedi-
ately to the mountains with a waggon & team for evry two tens
& get poolls & lash two or four waggons abrest to keep them
from turning over & float them across the river with boats &
ropes, so a company of horsmen started for the mountains & teams
draw the polls. In the evening the flour meal & bacon was
[page covered] [d]istributed through the Camp equally that had been recieved
[page covered] [fr]om the Mo company for ferrying them over, it amounted to
[page covered] 1/2 lbs of flour 2 lbs of meal & a small peace of bacon to each
[page covered] [in]dividual in the Camp. It looked as much of a miricle to me
to see our flour & meal bags replenished in the midst of the black
Hills as it did to have the Children of Israel fed with manna
in the wilderness. [Exodus 16:30] But the Lord has truly been with us on this
journey we have had peace & union in our midst, our horses & cattle
have been wonderfully preserved from death & accident on the
way & our waggons from breaking down. Great good will grow out
of this mission if we are faithful in keeping the commandments of God
I have taken great delight of late in reading the book of Mormon seeing
the great & glorious things revealed & recorded in that book & that we are
now trying to fulfill the great things or some of them that Lehi Nephi
Alma, Moroni, Isaiah and many other prophets had in view in the last
days in building up Zion, redeeming Israel, warning the Nations &
sealing salvation upon the meek of the earth & laying a foundation
that the earth may be prepared for the coming of the Mesiah.
~ Monday
14th At day light the two first tewo tens were called togethe
to make arangments for crossing. The Proposal was made in the
camp to lash 4 waggons together & float them but the curant
was so strong many did not like that moad we appointed Br
Grover as our Captain to direct the rafting over we finally con-
cluded to put our polls into a raft carry our goods over in a
boat & put our waggons onto a raft we commenced at 5 oclok
& at 9 AM. being 4 hours we had landed eleven waggon loads
of goods upon the North Shore with the little leather boat &
during the day we got over all the waggons belonging to our
tens being Eleven in all, and all of the rest encampment being
twelve tens ownly got over the same number that we did that
they floated therirs their waggons they floated their waggons
by tying from two to four together but they turned clear over
each other bottom side upwards & back again broke the bows covers
& boxes to pieices & lost ploughs axes & Iron that was left in the
boxes., most of our Company was in the water from morning
to night & all was vary weary when the work was done, we
saw a heavy storm approaching us, we had just drawn Dr Rich[ards]
two waggons to his goods on the shore & loaded them into his
waggons with all speed Just got through as the storm struck
us I sprung into my carriage & tied all down tight but the ra[in]
wind & hail beat upon me so heavy that I had to lay out most of
my strength to hold my waggon cover on both hail & rain came
insid my carriage untill my bed & things were nearly drenched
it ownly lasted 7 minutes but was vary severe most of the wagg-
ons & goods were more or less wet our horses run two or three
miles in the storm when it was over I crossed the river & went
after them, tied them up returned back & went to rest vary
weary, but had some plesant dreams.
~ Tuesday
15th It is vary windy to day & our companies cross the river vary
slow. Another Missouri company has come up with us. I felt
somewhat unwell to day with the exposers of yesterday & the te[eth]
ake
~ Sunday
16th About 20 men went down the river to day & dug out
two large canoes to cover over to make a ferry boat o◊t
to ferry over the large companies of emegrants that have ariv[ed]
& are on the way President Young thought it wisdom to
to leave a number of the brethren here & keep a ferry
untill our companies came up emegrants will pay for ferrying
$1.50 cts per waggon pay in flour, at cows, beans &c flour at $2.50 per
cwt cows $10. the brethren also made two new rafts & got quite
a number of our pioneer waggons over. I was quite unwell a part
of the day with ague in the face I walked out however with O Pratt
about 3 miles onto some of the bluffs to view the country we saw
mountains to the North towering into the clouds, we judged they were
not much short of 100 miles from us. we had our guns with us &
hunted some I shot one antelope cut his throat with a bullet &
he fell dead in his tracts. Br Pratt shot at another but did not
get him. this was the first antelope I ever Killed, I tried to back
him in to camp but could not do it well so I got two men to help
me. we had some heavy squals of wind & some rain in the
afternoon. In the evening many of us went over the river to
tie up our horses & when one company was coming back in the
leather boat they filled it half full of water & came near
sinking
~ Thursday
17th Early this morning we swam our horses over the river, one
mule came near drowning by being tangled in a rope but the
curant carried him ashore & he made a live of it, the men
went to work to finish their ferry boat while the men contin
ued to cross waggons on the raft. All of our company got over
to day & the brethren crossed some of the Missourians, Some of the eme
grants report 1000 waggons between Laramie & this place & there compan
ies are ariving daily at the fording places, Brs Young & Kimball got
over to day & we all moved our waggons once more into a circle. this
is the 6th day since our arival to this place which is the longest hender-
ance I ever saw at a ferry or crossing a river. Our brethren run the
the ferry boat all night to cross the Missourians but did not get
over but few waggons. I am still in much pain with the teet[h] ake &
sore lips & mouth. I had the privlege of milking a Mo cow which gave
me a plenty of milk for Supper & breakfast
~ Friday
18th We are still ferrying over the gentiles. Another large company
arived to day. Bro Frosst mad me some nails & set two shoes for me
on my Saddle Horse, we commenced gathering cattle at 10 oclok
& harnessed but did not start at all, but turned our teams
again, as all were not ready. We held a council in the
after noon & resolved to leave 9 men to tend the ferry
to cross emegrant companies & also our brethren who
should come after us, the men were chosen & we
met with them again in the evening, one Brother had petiti-
oned to stay that President Young wished to go along with the com-
pany his name was Glines he did not manifest a good spirit
& Br Young reproved him. He then delivered a short lecture
which was interesting & instructive, and said that when he
gave a man council he did not want him to reject that
council or to bring up many arguments to try to alter it for
when a man did it I will turn on my heel & leave him. He
sayes there is another principle that has tried many in the Church
because more will follow me than some Young Elder who
has not proved himself but if he was to try to gather to
himself the fruits of the labours of the Twelve & other men
would that be right. No he would be pulling back that that
[page covered] [w]as before him but let the Elders do as I have done & my
[page covered] B[r]ethren the Twelve & other faithful men go and preach the
[page covered] [g]ospel for years & do the will of God & you would have a train
following you even the fruits of your own labour & you would
be putting them after you, & not drawing back that which is
before you, the Lord is determined to esstablish his kingdom in
the last days & He will have a faithful diligent & obedient people
and He chastizes the Saints to keep them humble & make them do
thereir duty if we had not been mobed & afflicted but always
been in prosperity we should have been lifted up in the pride of
our hearts & not gathered together & built up Zion as we ought to
have done, so that these trials will work together for our good.
Instructions was also given to the Brethren who were to tarry to keep
to gether & be united, divide the means equally among yourselves
according to your labour, let each essteem his brother as himself. In no
wise retain that which belongeth to the traveller, steal not at all, be
careful of the lives & property of those you ferry over, & forget not
your prayers keep together & come up with the next company of Saints
The following are the names Thomas Grover, John S. Higby, Luke Johnson, Wm Empy
Edmond Elsworth, Benjamin F. Stewart, Francis Pomeroy, James Devonport, Appleton
Harmon. Thomas Grover was appointed captain
~ Saturday
19th we parted with the brethren who were to att
end the ferry & the camp moved on having been
one week we travled through a barren country
to willow springs ^a spring of water^ & nooned being 12 miles, we
past the red butes & many rough picturesque
sceneries & camped at night by the poison waters
travled 9 1/2 miles in the afternoon whole distance 21 1/2
Our camping place for the night was the most wretched of any ground
we have found on the way President Young thought it might properly
be called Hell gate. All the water tasted as though it run through
a bed of salt, salts, saltpeter, sulpher the it was naucious horrible
the ground in the valleys & marshes was apparently one half of it
composed of the saline floresance or salty substance of which this
country abounds. Our horses & cattle being thirsty drank a
little of the watter & quit it some of the cattle got badly miered
in the marshes. The traiders informed us these grounds wers
poison & would kill cattle but ours did not drink much or feed
long we tied them up. The hunters brought in one buffalo &
one deer & 3 antelope
~ Sunday
19 20th Sunday we hitched up early in the morning without feed
or watering & left our encampment of death, poison waters,
salt marshes &c & rode 3 miles to a good camp ground & sweet
water & turned out & bated 2 hours & took breakfast. this
camp ground was on the willow spring branch about 3 miles from
the head, President Young wished me to go on about 15
miles & look up a camp ground for the night, so I went forw[ar]d
G. A. Smith went with me to the head of the willow springs
we there found a doctor belonging to a Missouri company who
had been doctoring a sick family in a company that was
forward. He was of opinion that the willow springs were
still 10 miles ahead which was incorrect as he was then
sitting at the head of them. Br Smith stoped with the
dDr to wait for our waggons to come up & I rode on alone
After travling several miles Br John Brown came up
with me & we rode on together over a sandy barren, sage
country to a creek of good water containing some small
fish about 10 miles west of the willow springs we arived here
at half past 1 oclok we turned out our horses to bait & tarried untill 4 oclok
watching for our company to come in sight, but we could see no
waggons but saw two horsman approaching us, we waved a small
flag for them to come to us supposed they were some of our company, but
they were two hunters Capt Smith & another man from the Mo co
mpany carrying in buffalo meat to there camp they thought we were
Indians in the distance & made off. I mounted my horse & put after
them & soon overtook them, and made inquiries about our camp
they said they had not seen it, but had seen a company of about
a dozen waggons coming by themselves, I then concluded our camp
had stoped at the willow Springs, so Captain Smith who was the
leader of the Mo Company invited us to go on & camp with them for
the night as they did not expect to go but a few miles further than the
creek we were now on. As it was 5 oclok & we could see 5 miles on
the road back & no waggons in sight I concluded our company would
not come on & if they should they would go no further than the
creek so we accepted Capt Smith proposal & went on with him
to spend the night with his camp dut insted of his going but little
distance he continued on mile after mile & could neither find feed
or water except the salt & alkalie ponds & lakes untill we struck
the sweet water river at Indipendance Rock which is so noted
in Freemonts Journal & other travellers which was about 12 miles west
of the creek before spoken off their oxen had tiered out having
travled about 27 miles & much of the road vary sandy & we had
road about [FIGURE] 30 miles and was quite weary, the sweet water is
truly sweet to man & beast after travling through so
much ground coverd with salt, perlash, and alkilie water as is found
on the way we turned out our horses in good feed got supper which
was bacon, buffalo, corn bread, coffee Milk &c then lay down
upon the ground & spent the night under a tent with the Missour-
ians but did not rest well. I found a great differance between the
Missouri emigrant companies & our own, for while the men, women
& children were all cursing, swaring, quarelling, scolding finding
fault with each other & other companies, there was nothing of the
kind allowed or practiced in our own camp. But to return to
our camp I will say at a late hour they came up to the Creek that
we left back 12 miles, & grass being poor continued on 4 miles
west of the creek & camped for the night they travled 20 miles
while I travled 30 miles. 30 miles
The camp not finding me at the creek nor hearing from me
at all felt some alarmed lest I was lost, or got into trouble with
the Indians or some difficulty they blowed their bugle &
watched for me untill midnight & finally fired there cannon
while I was camped 10 miles from them not thinking that I
was giving them any trouble
~ Monday
21st 1847
June [FIGURE] INDEPENDANCE ROCK I arose early this morning
took breakfast and in
company with Br Brown
we rode clear around Independance Rock I should
judge the distance to be about 3/4 of a mile, we exhamined the many
names & lists of names of the trappers, traders, travellers, & emegrants
which are painted upon those rocks nearly all the names were put
on with read, Black, & yellow paint, some had washed out & defaced
the greatest number was put on within a few Years some of them
were quite plaim of about 30 years standing nearly all the Comp[anies]
pass by put some of their names on the rock After going around and
exhaminedng it we staked our horses and mounted the rock I
went forward & gained the highest point of the South end of the
Rock which containes the names. After exhamineing it I then went to
the North end which is the highest part of the rock, here is an opening
or cavern that would contain 30 or 40 persons and a rock stands on the
highest peak of about 3 tons wait. we got upon this rock & offered up
our prayers according to the order of the priesthood, we prayed earnestly
for the blessings of God to rest upon President Young & his brethren
the Twelve & all of the Pioneer Camp & the whole Camp of
Israel & House of Israel, our wives & children, & relatives
the Mormon Battalion, all the Churches abroad and that the
Lord would hasten the time of the fulfillment of his prom-
ises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Lehi, Nephi, Alma, &
Moroni and all the sayings of the Lord of the Lord concerning
the building up of Zions in the last days and avenging the
blood of the Prophets and while offering up our prayers
the spirit of the Lord desended upon us and we truly felt
to rejoice & while we were attending to our prayers the Missou-
rians was burying a woman a little distance from the
rock by the name of Rachel Morgan 25 years of age being
the third one of the family buried on the road they were
supposed to be poisoned by cooking in new copper vessels
After surveying the rock what we wished we again
desended to the ground. I was the first Latter Day Saint
that ever went onto that Rock or offered up prayers according to the
order of the Priesthood. We had a view of our camp from this rock and
expected they would noon there so we mounted our horses & concluded
to examine the country in the regions round about we rode to the North
East about 5 miles went to the top of a high bluff and saw the camp
in motion we then rode to the foot of the Mountain to the N.W. & followed
under the foot of the mountain all of the way to the Devils gate through
which the Sweet water runs, while taking this circuitous rout
we passed a salt lake covering about 50 acres of Ground, we spent
but few minutes at the Devils gate at this time & hurried on toback to
the Rock as our camp had come up but before we could get to them
they had camped half a mile east of the Rock I met Br Young
going up to the Rock I related to him my travels since I left the camp
He asked me to go back with him to the rock, so I told turned out my
horse having rode all of 20 miles during the forenoon exhamining
bare rugged rocks & barren grounds & salt ponds &c and I returned
with President Young W. Richards G. A. Smith & others & we again
ascended the rock together & spent about half an hour upon it &
returned to camp mounted our horses & rode to the Devils gate which
is the name of the channel through the Mountain through which the
sweet waters run. It is 5 miles from Indipendance Rock &
while approaching this place from the rock as is the case while approa[ch]-
ing the foot of any mountain through this country a person is
greatly decieved in the distance for while An object appears but a mile
ahead of you you will have to ride 5 or 6 before you can reach it
we rode as far as we could into the gate hitched our horses & walked
into about the centre of the cavern. This opening or Devils gate is
400 feet high perpendicular Rocks 120 feet wide & 50 rod's long
& the water rushes through it with a roar, the rocks are compo[se]d
[page worn] [of] coarse grey granite with a vein of black trap rock runing
through it we spent about half an hour visiting this place then had to
back out & ride around it on the south side some of the footman
walked over the top of it we camped for the night on the bank of
the sweet water about one mile west of the Devils gate the camp having
travled during the day 15 1/4 miles and I 30 miles. Distance 15 1/4 m 30 miles
A guide board was put up at the gate saying it was
175 1/4 miles from the Fort Laramie, & 50 1/4 from the ford
22nd or ferry of the Platt River
~ Tuesday
22nd we travled 10 miles & nooned. Br Lorenzo Young broke an axeltree
of his waggon which detained the camp some, two more Missouri companies
overtook us at noon, the camp started on & Brs Young, Benson Little
& myself, went back to meet Lorenzo & help him get up his waggon &
we were behind all the afternoon. A company that arived at noon
informed us that a man was drowned at the ferry after we left in
trying to swim his horses across & they had not found his body when
they left, two men also got some alarmed at the Indipendance
Rock by a large griselly bear they stoped to put their names on the
Rock & the company left them they started to follow on, one man
was on foot & the other on a horse & were met in the road by a griselly
bear who made a tract 10 inch long, they had no weapons not even a knife
the Bear sat up & looked at them a few moments & walked off & they
came along, the griselly bear are more apt to attact men than any other
kind.
We travled in the afternoon 10 3/4 miles & camped at the foot of
a mound about 200 feet high, on the bank of the Sweat water
Br Kimball & mysel went to the top of it & looked down upon the
camp & it look heavenly. we offered up our prayers & the spirit of the
Lord rested upon us we descended again to the camp the moon shone
beautiful. during the evening the brethren put in a new axeltree into
Br Lorenzo' waggon. distance of the day 20 3/4 miles
~ Wednesday
23rd We travled in the forenoon 8 1/2 miles & nooned by the Sweet water
with the mountains piled up near by us our road to day has been
through a level, sandy, barren sage region for a mountain country
we travled in the afternoon 8 1/2 miles & camped on the bank of the Sweetwater
whare the road leaves it for about 20 miles across the sandy sage plains
without water or feed, we had excellent grass for our camp at night
we are in plain view of the Rocky Mountains at the pass & beyound
we had a vary sandy draging road all day whole distance 17 miles
~ Thursday
24th We travled to day 5 miles & came to the frozen or Lee spring
and stoped and exhamined it & found the spring to be strongly impregnated
with sulpher so much so it could not be drank the water would boil up
out of a peace of bog ground yet all around it it was so cold that after
removing the turf about 6 inch a solid body of Ice was found about 18 inches
thick some of it we cut up with axes & spades. near this was small ponds
[page covered] [of] water salt & saltpeter & sulpher & peotash seemed to be in the body of
the water, pure perlash was found in such quantities on the edges of
these waters that the brethren gatherd pailfulls of it [to] raise bread with
others would fill their cups with salt so pure from other mixtures that
they used it we travled from this place 12 3/4 miles & camped upon the
bank of the Sweet water two days 18 miles from the foot of the pass
[page covered] [3] companies camped near us to night, this is the last time we shall see
the sweet water on this journey we did not bait to day but camped
at 4 oclok whole distance of the day 17 3/4 miles
Br Youngs team run away with a waggon I cought them by the
bit just as they were about to plunge into the stream
Soon after we camped Br Holman was driving up the horses
with his gon in his hand. He went to punch a horse with the
musel of his gun the lock caught in his cloths & discharged
into the best horse the best horse there was in camp owned by
president Young called his John Horse. He lived a few hours
& died there are many accidents happen in that way by
caring loaded guns with caps upon their tubes.
~ Friday
25th we travled 8 3/4 miles & nooned upon a branch of
the sweet water in as good grass as we have had on
the way early in the afternoo we began to ascend the high
est & longest hill that we have passed over on the jou[r]ney
we travled about 5 miles before [we] reached the top on the
way up the brethren found snow banks 20 or 30 rods
long from 5 to 10 feet deep about 1/4 of a mile from
the road they brought some to me & I ate some
the road was vary rocky a part of the way over the
hills. we passed by 3 Mo camps who had passed by
us we travled in the afternoon 11 1/2 miles & camped
for the night on a small branch of the sweet water
the chain of the wind River mountain seemed
quite near us & covered with vast quantities of
snow & we are so near the top of the mountain
& surrounded with snow that the air feels like
winter whole distance of the day 20 1/4 mi
our teams fed upon white clover to night we are
nearly at the head of the sweet water
~ Saturday
26th We started this morning at 8 oclok & travled untill 1 ocl[ock]
& nooned again on the branch of the Sweet much larger tha[n]
original stream in consequence of the melting of the vast bod[y]
of snow on the wind river range, & the hills that surround us
the watter run into many of our waggons; whare we camped
at noon there was a large quantity of strabury vines in bloo[m]
& white clover we travled in the forenoon 11 miles & in the
afternoon 7 3/4 miles & camped again upon the branch of the
sweet water that we nooned upon, we camped opposit the
table rock & near the summit of the South pass or dividing
ridge and I was quite asstonished at the road & country
to day considering that we were crossing what is called the
south pass of the rocky mountains it was the best road we
had for many days & had it not have been for the wind
river range of mountains full in view on our right & the
tabl coverd with eternal snow, & some snow banks 10 fe[et]
deep by the side of the road as we passed along & the table
rock on the left I should have thought myself travel[in]g
over the beautiful prairies of Illinois & Missouri except the
country was coverd with more sage that prairie grass
the road for many miles & also the valley of or plain of
beautiful grass lying North of table rock was perfectly
strewn with vary handsom cornelian stones I saw
more in one hour this evening than I ever saw during
my whole life either in the rude state or polished
& set in breast pins in all the jewellers shops I ever saw
in my travels in the world from the sice of a goose
egg to a pea. distance of the day 18 3/4.
Elders Kimball Pratt G. A. Smith & Brown continued on to take an
observation with the Barrometer on the dividing ridge & they con-
tinued on to the waters of the green river 7 miles from us that
run into the pacific while we were on the Sweet water that runs
into [t]he Atlantic; they supposed we should come on to them and
as they did not return several of us mounted our horses to go in
search of them soon after we started we met Br Kimball
on his return after us. He informed us that the Brethren
were camped with about one dozen men from Oregon on
there way to the States & they would stay together over night
[FIGURE]
During our travels to day I walked most of the way with Profess-
ors Pratt, & Carrington and our conversation turned upon the
subject of the original formation of God, Angels, men, & Devils
the begetting of Spirits in the eternal world, & who by, the beget-
ing of children on the earth, the Death of men & children & the
resurrection of all. Each one gave his views, opinions, & reasonings
& many interesting remarks were truly made. And any person
who should chance to read these lines I wish them to understand that
the Ideas given upon these points were not given as doctrin but opi-
nion untill sumthing better should present itself or be decided by
revelation. One of the most important Items If true was pre-
sented by Professor Pratt upon a subject that heretofore has ben
entirely out of the reach of all mankind from the days of Adam
to the present time as far as is revealed to us. It was upon the subjec
of the original formation of the first God, we all admitted in the
first place that which we believed to be an important truth ie the eternal
duration of matter spirit, intelligence in some form or other we also
agreeed in the opinion that Neither God nor man always had from
all eternity the same formation that they now have but did exhist in
some form for if we admitted the fact that one being exhisted in
the present form all might have exhisted in the same form as well as
one, then the question arose how did God recieve his present formation
the answer given by Professor Pratt was sumthing in the following
language. He sayes I t[h]row out my Ideas not as doctrin but for you
to look at. you know when a Chemist goes to work to analize or
try new experiments they often have to try many times before they
get a thing perfect & take certain processes which are unnecessary and are
afterward laid aside and pursue the most perfect course that can be
obtained. It may reasonably have been the case with the first being
formed which may be called God. As eternity was filled as it were
with particles of intelligence who had there agency, two of these
particles in process of time might have joined their interest together
exchanged ideas & found by persueing this course that they gained
double strength to what one particle of intelligence would have &
afterwards were joined by other particles & continued untill they
formed a combination or body though through a long process yet
they had power over other intelligences in consequence of their
combination, organization, & strength and in process of time this
being body or God seeing the advantage of such an organization
desires company or a companion and having some experiance
goes to work & organizes other beings by prevailing intelligences to
come togeth & may form sumthing better than at the first
and after trials of this kind & the moust perfect way sought
ought it was found to be the most expeditious & best way to recieve
there formations or bodies either spiritual or temporal through
the womb
~ Sunday
June 27th 1847 Three years ago this day the Prophets Joseph
and Hyrum Smith were martered.
Though it was
Sunday morning we harnessed up our teams & drove 6 miles to
the place whare Brs Pratt & Smith camped in company with
Mr Harris who has been a traider & trapper in the rocky mou-
ntains & travled through Oregon & Calafornie 25 years we found
him to be a man of much experience & knowledge & acquaintan[ce]
with the Country. He brought a file of Oregon Papers & one
Published by S Brannon of Calafornia many of us had
much conversation with him about the Country He spoke
unfavorable of the Salt Lake Country for a settlement but
spoke of other places not far off that were good. He said we
generally could go through the pass as late as November
but should we get blocked in with snow we would would
find a small stream of water 4 or 5 miles from the Devils
gate near Independance rock this stream is 5 miles west of
the gate follow that up a short distance & it would lead
to a road that crosses it to the west which would lead to a
through a large plain following to the mountains whare
there is but little snow when you come to the pass or
hill get onto some of them & you will see a large
bute leave it to the [blank] hand & follow down [blank]
And it will lead into the open
valleys see * below
It is 275 1/2 miles from fort Laramie to the South pass
At 9 oclok this morning I passed the dividing ridge
that seperates the dividing waters of the Atlantic
and pacific we camped at noon on muddy creek
the waters of which run into the green river & the
pacific I drank its waters for the first time in my
life that I tasted of waters runing into the pacific
we had a warm dusty day I conversed considerably
with Mr Harris about the country we camped at
night upon dry sandy whole distance 15 1/4 mil
* 3 miles above the gate look to the South you will see an open pass in
the Mountains go through that & let your Course be west till you top
the hill out of the great plain, then look to the south you will see a
square bute leave that to the left go on & cross the green River then let
your course be west to Bridgers Fort, (And I think) he said we should
go by blacks fork
~ Monday
28th we parted with Major Harris after doing some traiding with
him He promised to meet us again on bear River, we travled to
little Sanday & nooned the stream was high, in the afternoon
we travled 2 miles & met Mr Bridger of the fort on the way
with two other men going to fort Laramie. He was expecting us & was
to have an interview with President Young & the Twelve and also we
wished to have an interview with thehim. So we immediately turned
onto the creek we nooned on & camped for the night & Mr
Bridger & his men camped with us, we met in council & spent
some hours in conversations, we found him to have been a great
traveller and a great knowledge of nearly all Oregon & Calafor[nia]
the Mountains, lakes, Rivers, Brooks, springs, valleys, mines, ores, &c &
ie if what he told us was true. He knew of gold, silver, copper, lead, coal
Iron, Sulpher & Salpeter, mines. He spoke more highly of the great
[page covered] [Basin] for a settlement than Major Harris did, that it was his [page torn]
& if this people settled in it he wanted to settle with them, there [page torn]
but one thing that could operate against it becoming a great gra[in] [page torn]
country & that would be frost. He did not know but the frost would
effect the corn. He said there was a spring at the end of the Salt lake
that produced both hot & cold fresh water, & hot & cold salt water
out of the same hole or spring, & formed a large body of verdegreece [verdigris]
below which the Indians get to paint skins, arrors &c. He informed
us whare to find a mine of silver & lead ore on big timber Creek we
conversed about a great variety of things. He said he was ashamed of
the Maps of Freemont for he knew nothing about the country
ownly the plain travled road, that he could correct all the maps that
had been put out about the western world. He said if we wanted
any of his services to let him know, the American fir Company had
paid him $2000 dollars per year while in their employ. He spent the
time conversing untill 10 oclok, we then retired to bed several of
the brethren bought dressed deer skin shirts & pants of [him] then they
would swap an outside dress for one Hickory or Checked shirt.
We had good grass & water & plenty of musketoes to night dis 15 1/2
~ Tuesday
29th we parted this morning with Mr Bridger who remarked that
it would not be prudent to bring a great population into the
bason untill we ascertained whether grain would grow or not
we travled on to big Sandy 8 miles & nooned it was a vary hot
day, these streams are now up but during Summer they become
entirely dry, we nooned two hours & then drove onto the bank
of the Big Sandy 15 3/4 miles & camped for the night this campground
is the last time we meet with Big Sandy 8 miles east of the ferry
on green River the road to day, as has been the case through a
great portion of this country has been over a hot sandy desert with
scearsly any green thing except the various species of the wild sage
from 6 inches to 8 feet high with stocks from 1/4 of an inch to 4 inches
in diameter we have to use it for firewood & it makes quite a good
substitute. O. P. Rockwell & myself went forward to pick out a camp
ground we was ahead about 6 miles of the camp when we found
one which was the first place we could get grass for 15 miles
from whare we nooned, it made the longest days journey
we had made on the whole route. I returned to meet the c[amp] [page covered]
about 4 miles & was informed that Br Fowler was vary sick
& in my carriage I went back & met him & found him in great
distress in his head, back, & bones through out. He complained bitt
rly of the jar of the waggon. And finally was out of his head &
became wild. I did not get into camp untill near 9 oclok, I then
commenced doctoring him with composition, tea, pills &c & he
soon began to get better & had a comfortable nights rest distance of the day 23 3/4
~ Wednesday
30th Br Fowler was some better this morning seemed to be threatned
with the ague kept his bed & rode in the waggon, we travled
8 miles & camped upon the bank of the green river at the ferry & the
afternoon was spent in building a raft as the river was high it
could not be crossed ownly upon rafts or boats. It was 235 1/2 miles
from the fort Laramie to the South pass of the rocky mountains
During the afternoon the arival of Elder Samuel S Brannan from
the bay of San Francisco was anounced in camp, we were truly glad [to] [page covered]
meet with him that we might hear from him & the Saints who w[ere] [page covered]
with him. He gave us an account of there landing their travels & t[he] [page covered]
present settlement which was 200 miles up the river from the b[ay] [page covered]
[page torn] [The]y were putting in wheat & preparing for us He had come all
[page torn] [the] way with ownly two men to meet with us. the Saints were
[page torn] [se]ttelled with & the Mormon Battalion was 400 miles from him
[page torn] [H]e said Br Pratt was doing well. The inhabitants of one whole Island
numbering 3000 had imbraced the faith he told us many inter-
esting thigs & we were truly glad to see him distance of the day 8 m
~ Thursday
JULY 1st We tried this morning to swim our cattle over the
river but had great difficulty in it. About 15 persons have been
taken sick within a few days with fever ague &c which is said to
be common to emegrants coming from the snowy mountains to the
plains or valleys whare it is hot wether, Br Fowler is better to
day some others of the sick are better some are worse. each
division made a good raft yesterday & are lanched this morning
Brother Brannon brought a file of his papers that he is publishing
with him to camp & a letter to Br Fowler from his wife. He also
informed us that Captain Sutter was vary friendly & wished us
to come & settel near him. He informed us that he saw more
timber on green River whare we now are than he had seen on
his route since he left Calafornia He came through a par[t] of
Oregon. We are now in Calafornia. We got over 10 waggons to day
among others my own so we camped over night on the south
bank of the green river
~ Friday
2nd Two rafts have been runing through the day & most of
the waggons have been brought over we swam our horses &
cattle over this morning though with some difficulty, we
held a council in the afternoon with the Twelve &
4 men was appointed to return to meet the camp & pilo[te]
them up, Br Brannan was with the council, we each one
wrote our views concerning the council to be given to the camp
it is an exceding hot day, and both man & beast are much annoyed
with musketoes. Several salmon trout were caught at the mouth of
a slue on green river near the ferry one weighing 7 1/4 lbs. Several
of the brethren gathered a quantity of salaratus from the salarat[us]
bedes about 3 miles east of the indipendance rock near the road &
thought it answered as good a purpose as the manufactured article
for raising bread & family purposes
~ Saturday
3rd A light sprinkle of rain, cool, cloudy & high winds, so they could
not finish ferrying, the pilots are preparing to start back to meet the
companies I wrote a letter by them to Aphek Woodruff A O. Sm[oot]
[FIGURE] and John Benbow, the wind laid & we finished ferrying in the
evening & the whole camp moved 3 miles & camped A guide board
was put up a mile from the ferry saying [FIGURE] 340 mile from
Fort Laramie
~ Sunday
Sunday Independance July 4th 1847 A meeting was held
last evening & the 4 men were appointed as pilots to go back
& meet the company were called upon to start this morning
to go on their journey. I accompanied Presidents Young
Kimball Richards & others to the ferry to put them across
[page torn] [t]he river & when we arived at the river we saw 13 horsman
[page torn] [o]n the opposite bank, with therir baggage on one of our rafts
[page torn] [B]ut to our great joy who should they be bout our Brethren
[page torn] [b]elonging to the Mormon Battalion who volunteered into the
[page torn] [se]rvice of the U.S.A. one year ago this month & belonged to Capt
Browns Detachment who had been at Pueblo through the winter
Br A Lyman who we sent unto them had reached them & infor-
med them whare we are & the whole detachment of 140 of the
brethren were within 7 days drive of us, we drew up the
raft & crossed them all over but one who returned with our
pilots to meet the companies when we met it was truly a harty
greeting & shaking of hands. they accompanied us into camp and all
were glad to meet, this small detachment had come on to m
meet some hors thieves who had stolen about a dozen horses from
them they had overtaken them & got all but one He had gone
on to Bridgers fort & they calculated to follow him & get their
horse they spent the night in camp with us, among the names
of those who died was Mervin Blanchard who drove team for
me last summer. But I must stop writing the Musketoes have filled
my carriage like a cloud and have fallen upon me as though they intende
to devour me. I never saw that insect more troublesome than in certain places
in this country several traiders passed by our camp just at night
~ Monday
5th we left the green river (which are the head waters of the
Coloradoe,) & drove 20 miles & camped on blacks fork there is neit[h]-
er food or water since we left the green river to this place but is
similar to the last 200 miles. A sandy desert coverd with sage, but we
find good grass on the Streams. most of the day was vary hot
& dusty yet towards night we saw a hard shower of rain some
wind towards the mountains a few drops reached us in this coun-
try it rains about the mountains but not much in the valleys &
plains. distance of the day 20 miles
~ Tuesday
6th A warm windy dusty day, man & beast harnesses & waggons were
all coverd with dust we crossed black fork at 9 oclok, muddy fork at
10 & camped on the west side of Hams fork at 5 oclok we did not
noon at all today whole distanc of the day 18 miles
The sick in camp are most universally getting better, the face of the
country is the same to day as usual barren, sand & sage, with occasionally
a sprinkling of flowers some vary beautiful, the country during the last
weeks drive has appeared vary destitute of game none to be seen except
occasionally an antilope one was killed yesterday
~ Wednesday
7th We crossed hams fork and drove to Fort Bridger & in the regi
on of the fort before we got onto our camping ground we crossed
more than a dozen trout brooks, the water run swift but clear, hard,
cold, gravelly, bottoms. the brethren cought several brook trout the
first I had seen since I left England the whole region of country
all up & down these streams were covered with grass knee deep, 10
of the battalion found a hors thief at the fort who had assisted in
stealing 10 of their horses they had got all but two, & the man said
they had gone to Oregon. we saw about a dozen traiders lodges about
the fort the fort was merly a small traiding post ore one duilding
not large distance of the day 17 3/4 miles
~ Thursday
8th [FIGURE] The calculation was to spend the day at the fort, as soon as I
got my breakfast I riged up my trout rod that I had brought with me
from Liverpool, fixed my reel, line, & artificial fly & went to one
of the brooks close by camp to try my luck cetching trout, the men
[page covered] [a]t the fort said there were but vary few trout in the streams, and
[page covered] [a] good many of the brethren were already at the creeks with their rods
[page covered] [&] lines triying their skill baiting with fresh meat & grass hoppers, but
no one seemed to ketch any, I went & flung my fly onto the wat[er]
And it being the first time that I ever tried the artificial fly in
America or ever saw it tried, I watched it as it floated upon the
water with as much intens interest as Franklin did his kite when
he tried to draw lightnigng from the skies. And as Franklin recieved great
Joy when he saw electricity or lightning descend on his kite string in
like manner was I highly gratifyed when I saw the nimble trout
dart my fly hook himself & run away with the line but I soon
worried him out & drew him to shore & I fished two or three
hours includind morning & evening & I caught twelve in all
and about one half of them would weigh abought 3/4 of a pound each
while all the rest of the camp did not ketch during the day
3 lbs of trought trout in all which was proof potsitive to me
that the artificial fly is far the best thing now known to fish
trout with. In the afternoon I went to Bridgers House & traid[ed] [page covered]
off my flint lock rifle for four buffalo robes the robes were
large & nice well tan[n]ed or dressed. He called the gun $20 & the
robes $5 each, the articles generally at Bridgers fort were at least
one third or one half higher, than at any other traiding post in
America that I ever saw. His robes were $5 buck skin shirts $6
pants $6 dressed skins $3 &c while at fort hall, doe skins 50 ct
Buck 75 Elk $1 Shirts & Pants $1.50, Robes $2, &c
Professor Pratt took observations at fort Bridger in Lat. 41º 19' 13"
Highth above the sea 6665 feet
~ Friday
9th I arose this morning quite unwell, felt threatend with
the camp fever, yet I mounted my horse and rode untill 10 oclok before
starting however I was called upon to administer to Br Carter who
was taken with the fever there are new cases evry day in camp. I
took to my bed at 10 oclok with distressing pain in my head, back, joints
bones, marrow, & all through the system attended with cold chills &
hot flashes through the body, and we travled 13 miles over as bad a road as
we had had on the journey, which makes it exceding painful to the sick, the
day seemed excedind long to me when we stoped at night I took composi
tion, cayenne and a dose of vegitable pills and I had a better nights
rest than I expected distance of the day 13.
~ Saturday
10th I felt quite feeble this morning but felt that my fever was broke
we travled up & down some of the steepest hills we have found on the
journey & the longest, we passed through a valley 6 ", miles long grass knee
deep strong mineral springs, any amount of copper, lead, & coal, & lime &
great stone on each side of the valley it is an 18 mile drive without water
that can be drank there are a number of springs in the valley but
they run through mineral beds and are not good to drink, we camped
for the night 1 1/2 miles from bear River. by the best spring of water
we had found on the route & a small stream near by. An Indian
came from Bridgers fort & travled with us & camped with us for the
night, camp fires were discovered about 3 miles from our camp G.A.S
& others went over to them, and found it to be Mr Miles Goodyier
& several others with him some were from Calafornia going ba[c]k
to the States. Mr Goodyier goes by the name of Miles though it is
his Christian name he has setled at the Salt lake has a garding &
vegitation of all kinds he says doing well. He spoke of 3 rods
to the Lake, & talked about the country the Missourian that wa[s]
going to the States came through the 80 miles drive without wate[r]
or grass had to leave 5 of his mules on the road could not get
[page covered] [his] own through, this is on the Calafornia road. The subject a
was brought up again concerning the emigrant company who pe[rished] [page covered]
in the Mountains last winter they were mostly from Independance
Clay County Missouri and were a mob company & threatned to drive
out the mormons that were in Calafornia & started for Calafornia with
that spirit in there hearts but it seemed as though they were ripe for
judgement the snows fell upon them 18 feet deep on a level & they
died & eat up each other about 40 persons perished & were mostly
eat up by those who survived them Mrs L Murphy of Tenn whom
I baptized while on a mishion in that Country but since apostitized
& joined the mob was in the company, died or was killed & eat up
her bones sawed to peaces for her branes & marrow & left strewed
upon the ground
distance of the day 18 miles
whole distance from Bridgers fort to Bear River 32 1/2 miles
Br Luce was taken vary sick this afternoon there are new cases daily
It is vary severe but does not generalal last the brethren more than 2 or
3 days.
Three griselly bear were seen by the brethren to day some
were within a few rods of them dut they made of & did not give
battle which they are more apt to do than any other bear
~ Sunday
11th Sunday we spent the day in camp some of the brethren rode
out to seek out the road & found a mineral tar spring it run
pure tar or substance that looked like tar quite as thick
& black. some thought it was oil it had a strong smell
& was 1 1/2 miles south of our camp several of the brethren
thought of getting it to tar waggons with
~ Monday
12th [FIGURE] I started early in the morning & rode to bear
River and for the first time I saw the long looked
for Bear River valley yet the spot whare we stuck it
was nothing vary interesting there was considerable
grass in the valley & some timber & thick bushes on
the bank of the river my object in visiting the
river before the camp was to try my luck in ketching
trout as it was a stream famed for containing that
kind of fish it was cloudy & cool but I found
it a difficult stream to fish in with the fly in
consequence of the thick underbrush I fished several
hours & had all sorts of luck good bad and i
indiferent I some of the time would fish half an
hour & could not start a fish, then I would find an
eddy with 3 or 4 trout in it & they would jump at
the hooks as though there was a bushel of trout in
the hole, and in one instance I caught two at a time
I fished some of the time on horsback riding in the
middle of the stream which was about 3 rode wide
& when I could not desend longer in the stream
for swift & deep water I would have to plunge
my horse through the bear thickets which was
hard work to penetrate and I knew not at
what moment I would have a griselly bear upon
my back or an Indian arrow in my side
for I was in danger of both some of the time
I would have a dozen bites at my hook in one
& nearly drown 3 or 4 trout & not get one. I fin[ally] [page covered]
wound up my fishing & started after the camp
Having caught [ink blot] troot in all the camp travled
9 miles & nooned in a valley I found President
Young vary sick with the fever. The camp started on
But President Young being so sick concluded not to move from whare
He was Brs Kimball, Benson, Rockwood & others stoped with him with
there waggons, we drove without any road over Hills & dales had to
make our own road as we went along, we camped at night in Mathews
valley by the side of Reddings Cave, this cave is about 20 feet wide
at its mouth 7 feet high & 30 feet long, at the back part of the cave
Are large wolf dens or other Animals the cave is composed of
light coulored sand stone vary somft many of us cut our name
in it there are many curious rocks that surround it we passed
by A mountain of pudding stone composed of gravel sand
sement &c its spires were reaching up like the pyramids of Egypt
The valleys begin to grow more fertile & the Air more pacific than in
the wind River country. Professor Pratt informed me that his
Barometrical [FIGURE] observation made the south pass to be 7085 feet
above the level of the sea. Also it was 280 miles from Laramie
the distance of the day 16 3/4 mile
~ Tuesday
13th I arose quite unwell this morning sore throat, mouth, lips &c
several Brethren went to meet President Young the camp lay
still waiting for him to come up, Br Kimball came to camp at noon
And A council was called of the whole camp & Resolved that
O Pratt take A company of about 20 waggons & 40 men & go
on to the canion make the rode as they go & if they could not
go through the canion to find Smiths cut off & make a road over
the mountain that we need not be hindred when we come along
there was 23 waggons in all & started At 1 oclok. the Hunters
brought in 12 Antelope ^yesterday^ & to day 10 we have found but little game
for many days untill yesterday & to day. President Young is
better to day but will not move untill tomorrow. In the Afternoo[n]
Elder Richards & myself walked out to search for springs or
water & talked over old times my mishion to Fox Islands
And his labours in Preston & our mishions in England together
~ Wednesday
14th I Rode in the fore part of the day back back 7 miles to visit Br Young
Dr Richards G. A. Smith the evening before went out together & Pray
before the Lord for the Recovery of Br Young & we felt a testimony
that thatHe would begin to recover from that hour. And when I
Arived whare he was I found him much better in health & quite
chearful, But I found Br Rockwood much the sickest man that
had been in camp I tarried with them untill near night Assisting
the sick & then returned back to our encampment travled 14 mil
during the evening we also went out & Prayed for Br Rockwood
& felt convinced we should find him better in the morning
~ Thursday
[page covered] [l]5th I started early in the morning with my carriage & H[orses] [page torn]
[page covered] after President Young & Br Rockwood I was two hours [driving] [page torn]
7 miles to their camp made up the bed in the waggon & took
them both in I found them much better in health & t[hey] [page torn]
thought they could ride As my carriage was the easiest veicle [in] [page torn]
camp so all the waggons started & drove to our camp & the sick were
refreshed by their ride And After making A short halt the whole [camp] [page torn]
drove 4 1/2 miles further & ca[mped for the] night I drove 18 1/2 m and cam[ped] [page torn]
~ Friday
16th I took Brs Young & Rockwood into my carriage & drove on
with the camp 6 1/2 miles & nooned in the same valley which we nam
ed Mathews vale we travled in the Afternoon 9 1/2 miles with per-
pendicular Rocks on one side & steep Bluffs on the other thousands
of feet high we had a bad road for the sick to travel in &
wearied Br Young out & He was sick at night. for several mil[es]
on the North side of the Road we discoverd A dark substance
Runing out of the holes of the Rocks which congeled it had
some the Appearance of gum myrr or opeum ownly it was
hard & bitter As Allows we could could discover it for
10 miles ain places along on the rocks distance of the day 16 m
I went to webers fork 1 miles from our encampment & coug[ht]
one trout for Br Young
~ Saturday
17th Br Young is vary poorly this morning. 9 of our horses lost
among whom is two that Br Fowler drives, we start out
& drive 3 miles on webers fork & camp A number of trout was
caught by the Brethren some that would weigh A lb Br Young
was wors & could not Journey & we stoped & camped for
the day the Horses were found 10 miles back. I fished with the
fly & cought several trout. The Twelve with somo others went out
together & prayed in due form for Br Young & all the sick & had a
good time. distance 3 miles
we rode to the canion in the night 8 miles whole distance 16
~ Sunday
^18th Sunday spent the day Holding meeting^
198th 41 waggons went on this morning among whom was Dr
Richards & G. A. Smith 15 waggons remained with President Young
Among the number was two of my own. In company with
H C Kimball E T Benson, & H Egan I rode over the mountain
called Pratts Pass with the company that went on & returned
to camp it was A Hot day. several Brethren cought some trout
t[h]at would weigh near two lbs each I cought 2 with the fly but
t[h]ey did not seem to take it well in that stream, we moved
our camp 2 miles 2 miles
whole distance that I travled during the day 25 miles
during the evening I went onto A High hill with Brothers Kimball
& Benson & had prayers together & A good time conversed much
upon the things of the Kingdom of God
~ Monday
2019th we started early in the morning & rode with the Presid-
ent 5 miles & stoped & took Breakfast Br Youngs fever is
still on him but He stood the mornings ride well I carry
him in my carriage. we are now travelling through Pratts
Pass to avoid the canion, we travled After the mornings Halt
10 miles over the worst road we have had on the Journey the who[le]
distance of the day was 15 miles
~ Tuesday
we camped at night on A trout creek about 10 feet across
it we found 3 waggons that had stoped on this creek in consequence
of t[h]e sick. Brs. Sherwood Johnson & Dewey were so sick they
could not Journey & we camped on the same ground with them
Sherwood & Johnson were Baptized for their sickness & I confir[med]
them. Br Young stood the Journey well considering the hard road
He was quite weary come night. Several of the Brethren caught
some small trout in the streame we camped on Br Fowler dished
some o[f] his waggon wheels, & G A. Smith who was in the company [page covered]
[page covered] dis[he]d two of his stoped & burned coal & set the tyre. This mo[rning] [page covered]
Br [Pr]att [page torn] & company was ownly 8 miles ahead of whare we ca[mped] [page covered]
~ Wednesday
201st we set the tire on one wheel of Fowlers waggon we remain
in camp to day in consequence of sickness, Brs Kimball, Benson &
Lorenzo Young went through the canion of Ogdens fork which is [the]
name of the creek we camped on, the rout we are taking is Reeds
Pass which we have named Pratts Pass in consequence of his going
on to make the road. It is A Hot day, the report is we have a
rougher road on ahead than any thing we have met with, the country
is vary mountaineous rough & steep many of the springs we meet
with on the way are saltish or mineral. The stream we are on [is] [page covered]
Ogdens fork. In the afternoon I waided the creek two miles & fished
with the fly down to the mouth of the canion I cought 8 trout
there is none vaury large in this part of the stream 1/4 of a lb was as
large as we caught
~ Thursday
22nd we travled 8 miles to day on Ogdens fork ^webber river East Canyon Creek^ & camped on the creek
whare the Pratts Pass leaves the fork for good & turnes to the west
we crossed the creek eleven times in going 8 miles & the worst
8 miles we have had on the journey. Br Case smashed one of his hind
waggon wheels to peaces, & we had to wait 2 hours to bring his wag
gon up & continued the Journey drawing the exeltree on a pole I
caught 2 trout in the creek while waiting, the sick stood the
Journey better than we expected considering the road
~ Friday
23rd We Left Ogdens fork ^webber river East Canyon Creek^ & travled to the west 5 miles up
Hill an exceding hard hill to clime, 5 miles brought us to the sum
mit of the Hill we then descended the Hill 6 miles through
a thick timberd grove of Aspen & spruice Balsom &c the tim[ber]
had been cut out out of the road yet it was full of stumps
& it kept evry teamster vary busy to dodge the stumps &
not break his waggon. One man turned over his ox waggon
& smashed the top all to a reck there was two children
in the waggon but they were not Hurt. the last 6 miles was
as bad as any thing we had found. Having travled 5 miles
up hill & 6 down total 11 miles we nooned by A splendid spring
in A small Birch grove, we saw more timber during this half
days travel thain we had seen in a month, & the valley both
ascending & descending was extremely fertile & coverd with
vegitation even to the top of the Hills. At the spring whare [we] [page covered]
nooned we were met by Brothers Pack & Mathews from
the forward camps they brought A letter to us, & informed
us it was ownly 10 miles to the valley of the Salt Lak[e]
or great basan & 14 to their camp they had explored
the country as far as possible & had made choice of a spot
to put in seeds they considered it the greatest grea[z]ing [page torn]
country in the world but was destitute of timber as [far] [page torn]
as they had been, several fine streams of fresh wa[ter] [page torn]
putting through the valley. After nooning we travled [up] [page torn]
another vary tedious Hill & down it into a valley [&] [page torn]
camped for the night, with Hills miles high on [each] [page torn]
side of us I clumbed to the top of one hill over 2 m[iles] [page torn]
High was in a high state of perspiration when I [reached] [page torn]
the top of it. whole distance of the day 15 m
~ Saturday
[FIGURE] JULY 24th 1847
This is an important day in the
History of my life and the History of the
Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day
Saints. On this important day after trav[eling]
from our encampment 6 miles through the
deep ravene, valley, ending with the canion
through last creek we came in full view
of the great valley or Bason [of] the Salt Lake
and land of promise held in reserve by the hand of GOD for a rest-
ing place for the Saints upon which A portion of the Zion of
GOD will be built. we gazed with wonder and admiration upon
the vast rich fertile valley which lay for about 25 miles in
length & 16 miles in wedth clothed with the Heaviest garb of
of green vegitation in the midst of which lay a large lake of
salt water of [blank] miles in extent in which could be seen
large Islands & mountains towering towards the clouds also the
glorious valley abounding with the best fresh water springs
rivlets creeks & Brooks & Rivers of various sizes all of which
gave animation to the sporting trout & other fish while the
waters were wending there way into the great salt lake; our
hearts were surely made glad after A Hard Journey from
Winter Quarters of 1200 miles through flats of Platt Rivers
& steeps of the Black Hills & the Rocky mountains And burni
ng sands of the eternal sage regions & willow swails & Rocky
canions & stubs & stones, to gaze upon A valley of such vast
extent entirely surrounded with a perfect chain of everlasting
hills & mountains coverd with eternal snow with there
innumerale peaks like pyramids towering towards Heaven presen
ting at one view the grandest & most sublime scenery probably that
could be obtained on the globe. Thoughts of pleasing meditations
ran in rapid succession through our minds while we contemplated
that not many years that the House of GOD would stand upon
the top of the Mountains while the valleys would be converted into
orchard, vineyard, gardings & fields by the inhabitants of Zion &
the standard be unfurled for the nations to gather there to
President Young expressed his full satisfaction in the Appearanc
of the valley as A resting place for the Saints & was Amply
repayed for his journey.
After gazing awhile upon the scenery
we travled across the table land into the valley 4 miles to the
encampment of our Brethren who had arived 2 days before
us, they had pitched there encampment upon the bank of two
small streams of pure water & had commenced plowing
had broke about 5 acres of ground & commenced planting
potatoes. As soon As we were formed in the encampment
before I took my dinner having 1/2 a bushel of potatoes I repai
red to the ploughed field & planted my potatoes Hop^e^ing wi[th] [page torn]
the blessings of God at least to save the seed for another
year. The Brethren had damed up one of the creeks & dug
A trench & by night nearly the whole ground was Irrigated
with water we found the ground vary dry. towards evening
In company with Brs. Kimball Smith & Benson I rode several
miles up the creek into the mountain to look for timber in
the country &c there was A thunder shower & it rained near
ly over the whole ^valley^ & also it rained some the fore part of the
night we felt thankful for this As it was the general corect
opinion th[at it] [page torn] did not rain in the valley during summers distance [page covered]
~ Sunday
July 25 Sunday This is the first Sunday that the Latter Day Saints
ever spent in the great bason ^salt Lake valley^. we washed shaved & cleaned up &
met in the circle of the encampment. Meeting was opened by the
bishops & G A Smith preached ^the first sermon while standing upon the cannon^ An interesting discourse & was followed
by H. C. Kimball & E. T. Benson all of which spoke unto edifycation
An intimission of 2 Hours met again at 2 oclok the Bishops broak
bread to the congregation. I then Addressed the Brethren was followed
by O Pratt & W Richards all of which expressed the gratitude
of our hearts to our Heavenly Father for leading us to so goodly a land
& exhorted the Brethren to Harken to council do away with selfish-
ness live humble & keep the commandments of God that we may
prosper in the land, several other Brethren also expressed their
feelings & there was one universal feeling of satisfaction thwith the
valley, evry man that spoke upon the subject said they were
Joyfully disappointed that the whole appearance was Altogether
better throughout the valley than they had Anticipated or even
dreamed of. At the close of the meeting President Young though
feble Addressed for A few moments And Informed the brethren
[FIGURE] they must not work on Sunday that they would loose
five times as much as they would gain by it & they
must not hunt or fish on that day And there should not any
man dwell among us who would not observe these roles they might
go & dwell whare they pleased but should not dwell with us
He said that no man should buy any land that come Here that He
had no land to sell neither should He buy any but evry man should [have]
his land measured of[f] to him for city & farming purposes what
He could till & He might till it as he pleased but He should
be industrious & take care of it He also warned the Saints against
keeping any thing that did not belong to them that if they followed
this course it would leek out & they would stink in the norstrils
of Jehovah Angels & the Saints & though they might live with the
Saints & die with theym they would be damned at last & go to
Hell for they were thieves & nothing but burning through Hell
would clens them. He remarked there would be a meeting evry
Sabbath in thatis place or whareever we stop. Council was
also given to tie up our Horses at night
~ Monday
26th Monday The camp in general was busily ingaged in plowing &
planting corn & other seeds. ten men including the Twelve were appo
inted to go on an exploring expedition. I took President Young into
my carriage & travled two miles towards the mount^a^in & made choice of
a spot of ground for our garding with a small rivlet runing throug[h]
it sufficient to irrigate it which I named guarding creek we then
returned to camp & went North of the camp about 5 miles & we all
went unto the top of a high Peak in the edge of the mountain which we
considerd A good place to raise An ensign upon which we named ensign
Peak or Hill ^I was the first person that Ascended this Hill^ Brother Young was vary weary in climing the Peak He
being feble, we then desended to the flat—started north to visit some
hot sulpher springs but we returned two miles to get A drink of cool
water & then went back 4 miles to the springs we found them vary
warm but not hot, 3 or 4 of the springs ished [issued] green water & formed
substance below that looked like verdigreese. After visiting them we
returned to camp quite weary. Brs Mathews & Brown returned to ca[mp]
had crossed the valley in the Narrowest place opposite the camp to the
mountain on the west found the valley about 2015 miles across passed
over A river 4 miles from camp about 8 rods wide which we saw fr[om]
ensign Peak we also had A good view of the salt lake through our glasses
& many rivers & creek runing through the valley the whole distance of the
day was 20 m
~ Tuesday
27th I took President Young in my carriage & started for an explo
ring expedition. Br A Lyman came into camp this morning &
informed us that Browns detachment of the Battalion would
be with us in about 2 days. Br Lyman with all of the twelve
in camp with several other Brethren started with us on our
exploring expedition being 8 of the Twelve & 6 other Brethren
among whom was Br Brannan from Francisco Bay being 14 of
us in all. We started for the purpose of visiting the salt lake & mou
ntain on the west of the valley we travled ^2^ miles west from
the Temple Block & come to the Utah outlet of the Utah lake
we then travled ^14^ miles to the foot of the Bluff or mountain
on the west of the valley whare we found a fountain of fresh
water some brackish the land was not near as fertile on the
west side of the valley as on the east. And lbut little fresh wate[r]
as far as we went while the east side of the valley is as well
wattered as any land I ever saw. we took our dinner at the fresh
water pool & then rode 6 miles to a large rock on the shore of
the Salt lake we here ^we^ made A Halt. And all went into the salt
water & we made up our minds at once that the great salt
lake ought to be added as the eigtht wonder of the world, the
watter was quit warm And was impregnated with as much
salt as could possibly be dissolved in water ist was so strong
that if A particle got into the eyes nose or mouth it would
strangle & put one in pain no person could possibly sink in it
A person would float & rooll on the top of the water like A dry
log & while standing to our waist in water we could not get
our knees to the bottom but would rise to the top like a
cork, we found the most beautiful white salt that I ever saw lying
in bunches on the shore whare the water dryed away, the whole
dBody of the water will make at least 3 pints of the best quality of
white salt to one gallon of water. After spending an hour at this place
we rode south on the lake shore about 4 miles & then returned 10
miles to our place of nooning & camped for the night the whole
distance of the day which I drove my carriage from camp 40 mil
~ Wednesday
28th After having camped all night in the open air we arose refres-
hed by sleep. I having lost my carriage whip the evening before 4 miles
back I started in the morning on Horsback to go back after it, as I
got near the place I discoverd two objects appear on A ridge before me
About 1/2 a mile distant I at first took them to be bears but after approac[h]
ing a little nearer I discoverd about 20 objects appearing over the Hill I
soon saw that they were Indians And as I was unarmed & over 3 mi
from camp I did not consider it prudent to go among them I wheeled m[y]
Horse & started on my return in a slow trot as soon as I started back
they called to me & one mounted his horse & came After me with all spe[ed]
when He got within 20 rods of me I stoped & met him the rest followed
on I found them to be Utahs & wanted to trade I informed him by
signs that our camp was near so he went on with me to camp, what we
have seen as yet of the Utahs they appeare friendly & not disposed to steal
from [us] though they have A bad name from some of the mountaineers. He
stoped in camp awhile & wanted to smoke the pipe of peace but we soon
started on & He waited for his company to come up, we travled about
10 miles south under the mountain on the west side of the valley
the land lies beautiful but we could not [page covered]
soil as on the east, we then turned our course & returned toward
camp we had to travel 20 miles across the vale to get to the ford of the
Utah outlet we here stoped eat & drank & returned to camp quite weary
Having travled during the day about 30 miles
we saw on the west side of the valley about 75 or 100 mountain
goats, sheep, Antilope &c in flocks playing about the Hills & valley.
[FIGURES] After we Arived in camp President Young called a council of
the quorum of the Twelve there being present B Young
H. C. Kimball, O. Pratt, W. Richards, W. Woodruff G. A. Smith
A Lyman & E. T. Benson. we walked from the north camp to about
the centre between the two creeks when Prest Young waved his
hands & said here is the forty Acres for the Temple (we had conve-
rsed upon the subject of the location for the Temple previous to this)
& the city can be laid out perfectly square North & South, east &
west. It was then moved & carried that the Temple lot contain
40 Acres on the ground whare we stood. It was also moved &
carried that the city be laid out into lots of 10 rods by 20 each
exclusive of the streets & into Blocks of 8 lots each, being 10
acres in each block & one acre & a quarter in each lot. It was also
moved & carried that each street be laid out 8 rods wide &
that there be a side walk on each side 20 feet wide & that each
House be built in the centre of the lot 20 feet from the front
line that there might be A uniformity through out the city &
President Young remarked that He wished but one house built upon
A lot & they being in the centre if they took fire they would not
burn up their neighbors And if any man wants A Market to hous
it upon his own lot & not lay out publick grounds for markets & let
every man cultivate his own lot & set out evry kind of fruit &
shade trees & beautify the city. It was Moved & carried that
there be four public squares of 10 Acres each be laid of in various
parts of the city for public grounds. This was in Lat 40º 45 44
At 8 oclok the whole camp came together on the same ground &
passed all of the above votes unanimously as they are recorded
& when the business part of the meeting was closed President
Young arose And addressed the assembly in a vary interesting mann[er]
upon a variety of subjects. Previous to this the whole assembly voted
that there be a committee to superintend the laying out the city &
that the Twelve be that committee & that they manage the whole
affair.
President Young in his address to the Saints remarked that
He was determined to have order in all things & righteousness should be
practized in this land. That we had come here according to the direction
& council of Br Joseph Smith before his death & that He would still have
been alive if the Twelve had been in Nauvoo when He recrossed the river
from Nauvoo Montrose to Nauvoo. He spoke of the Saints being driv[en]
from place to place, And said the ownly way Boggs, Clark, Lucas,
Benton, & all the leaders of the mob could have been saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus would have been to have come forward voluntari[ly]
& let their heads been cut off & let their blood run upon the ground
& gone up as A smokeing incens before the heavens as an atonement
but now they will be eternally damned. Also said all the governors
& Presidents of the U. S. A Had rejected all our petitions from first
to last, that when the Saints were driven from Illinois & perish
as it were on the prairies then President Polk sends for a draft of
500 men to go into the Army what for, that they might be wasted
[page covered] be [wasting] & it was that [page covered]
entirely wasted away as A people, if the brethren had not gone
they would have made war upon us & the Govr. of Mo would have been
ordered not to have let us cross the Missouri & the raising of the Battalion
was our temporal salvation at the time & said Polk would be damned
for this act & that He with many of the goverment men had a hand
in the death of Joseph & Hyram & that they should be damned for
these things & if they ever sent any men to interfere with us here
they shall have there throats cut & sent to Hell, And with uplifted
hands to Heaven swore by the Gods of Eternity that He would never
cease His exhertion while He lived to make every preperation & avenge
the Blood of the Prophets & Saints, that He intended to have evry
hole & corner from the Bay of Francisco to Hudson bay known
to us And that our people bwould be connected with every tribe of
Indians throughout America & that our people would yet take their
squaws wash & dress them up teach them our language & learn them to
labour & learn them the gospel of there forefathers & raise up children
by them & teach the children & not many generations Hence they will
become A white & delightsome people & in no other way will it be done
& that the time was nigh at hand when the gospel must go to that peop-
le. He said He long spoken of giveing a lecture to the females & when He
got time He intended to do it. He spoke of the duty orf man to his God
that He should love him with all of his heart soul, mind, & strength serve
& obey him, And that the woman in like manner ought to obey her husban[d] [page torn]
& not to have A woman every time A man steped out be A watching him
as uneasy as A fish out of water & as soon as he returns O whare have
you been, & what have you been about, & why did you not get back before
& many other things that was none of her business. Her business is to tak[e]
care of her children keep herself clean & House & keep my close [clothes] clean
Instead of that the Husband asks whare is the children the wife will say
O dear I dont know I was so concerned about you I have not thought
about the children, they are probably to some of the neighbors.
He remarked
that when we become settled here He intended to have A school for his
own family & all others might do the same if they chose or Join togeth
er And a tutor ought always to be with the children & not let them
get out of their sight & when they get weary of runing about in the
House & garding let the tutor go with them to the public walks & keep
them out of the streets & see that they do not sware & take the nam[e] [page torn]
of God in vain.
He spoke upon the subject of raising children[,] spirits
taking A tabernacle He said that every spirit was pure when it first entered
the body, but many persons have been ruined in consequence of the
Mother giving way to temptation & fretfulness while in the state of child-
bearing And the Husband ought to be vary tender & kind to the woman
while in that state And the Mothers mind ought to be excercised i[n] [page covered]
good things during the whole time & be calm & composed that what
ever temptation the mother should give way to would effect the child
in after life. many other principles was spoken of By President Young of interest
~ Thursday
29th President Young with his brethren the Twelve & others mounted
our horses & started to meet with the Battalion under the command of
Captain Brown, we met with some of them about 4 miles from
camp we were truly glad to meet with them we continued on up
& soon met with Capts Brown, Higgins, Lieut Willis & the train follo-
wing them we exhamined A good grind stone quiry while on the wa[y] [page covered]
up. I soon met with Br Bevin who went from my family into the
Army there was About 140 of the Battalion And a company of
about 100 of the Missippi saints that came with them from Pueblo
being about 60 waggons in all 100 Horses & Mules & 300 Head of cattle
which added greatly to our numbers we had A Heavy shower
of rain while we were in the canion which sent down the water
in the creeks from the mountain's with a rush & roar like thunder
resembling the opening of a flood gate the first rush of the water
came down with a front 3 feet High, some of the waggons had to
stop untill it feell which was but a short time the shower spread
over A good share of the valley whare we were setled, we returned
with the company at there head & march into camp with music, they
took upon there quarters between our two camps on the bank of
the creek. While we have been exploring the camp has been busy
in farming puting in potatoes, corn, beans, peas, buckwheat, &
preparing A garding for garding seeds & will go to work to prepare
a peace for turnips our garding to day was diveided off as each ten
had need, our distance of travel to day was 12 miles
In the evening Br Young with the Twelve walked up to the warm
springs about 1 1/2 miles from the Temple Block we went in & bathed
it was quite as warm as we could endure & be comfortable those
springs are healthy for the sick & diseased
~ Friday
30th [FIGURE] We met in council this morning with the Twelve & Captain
Brown, Higings, Willis & others & Herd the statements of the
officers concerning the Battalion & there situation represented
counsil was given by President Young to the officers what course
to persue. It seemed wisdom for Capt Brown & others to go to the
Bay of San Francisco & report himself & men & the state they were
in Br Brannan would go as there Pilot much conversation took
place during council of interest, Dr Sanderson was spoken of who
had been with the Battalion And it was believed he had tried to poison
the Brethren to death, & that He would be rewarded for his crimes
After the council Broke up we mounted our Horses & rode north
to the warm springs Also visited the Hot spulpher spring 4 miles from
the Temple block it ishues out from under A rock A large fount
ain of water forms A pool about 2 rods square 5 feet deep is
[h]ot [page torn] enough to cook an egg in few moments we could hold our
fingers in it about 10 seconds. After viewing it a while we returned
to camp, I then visited the soldiers camp & allso our planted
ground I found some of our potatoes had rotted some was coming
up our corn was up also beans I returned to camp & had a visit
from Br Dexter Stillman. He wished to come into my family also
Br James Bevin wished to returned again to my family as He
was with me hwhen He went into the Army.
At 8 oclok All the camps met together & was Addressed for more
than an hour by President Young in An interesting manner clot[hed]
with the spirit of God. He expressed hif [his] feelyings freely concerning the
treatment of the government towards us in the same manner as He
did on the eve of the 28th. He informed the Brethren that there going
into the Armey proved our temporal salvation at the time for
the Governor of Mo had already recievied orders not to let our
people pass the Mo river if we did not enlist, the goverment intend
to diestroy us from off the face of the earth but through the Blessing
of God we are here and I thank my Heavenly father for it and
He knew we should prevail Zion would arise the Judgments of
God would be poured out the Blood of the Prophets would be ave[nged]
& their cup would be filled double unto them. And if we were fait[h]
ful we should yet have Brs Joseph & Hiram & many of the Sain[ts]
in there resurrected Bodies with us on earth & when we died s[hould]
not sleep but a little time but should come forth out of our gr[aves] [page covered]
with Bodies that no mob could kill. We were much edifyed wi[th] [page covered]
all the remarks He made. the meeting opened with A shout of
Hosannah to God & the Lamb repeated three times with its Amens
Br Young said the Ancient of days was not as far off as many
supposed. At the close of the meeting I returned to rest meditating u[pon] [page covered]
what I had herd An appointment was made for the Battalion to
prepare A Bowery on the Morrow for our Sabbath Meetings. 18 [miles]
~ Saturday
31st Saturday I spent the morning in writing, the Battalion we[nt] [page covered]
to work at the Bower, our camp sowing & planting. About noon
a company of about 20 Utahs visited our camp there seemed
to be two parties of them they came to trade with us & whi[le] [page covered]
traiding deerskins for powder & lead &c one Indian str[uck] [page covered]
another one over his head with his gun & broke it the old c[hief] [page covered]
whiped them both, & during the Afternoon the one that h[ad] [page covered]
the gun broke over his head stole the other ones Horse & put
out with it soon the Indians found it out & put after him
followed him into a canion & shot both him & his horse dea[d] [page covered]
& returned to our camp with the Horse that the Indian sto[le] [page covered]
the Utahs appear vary friendly to us as yet, there was A ru[m-]
our to day that the Indians intended to come & ask pay for
their lands, Br Young has expressed his opinion that we
should not buy any land of the Indians but as the Lord
made the land there was enough for both them & us, that [we] [page covered]
would teach them to labour & cultivate the earth Br Pratts
opinion was that we should not feed them at all untill th[ey] [page covered]
had done sumthing for it so as to begin right with them & teac[h] [page covered]
them industry.
During the evening I went down to the
Utah outlet with several of the brethren & drew a net 4 ti[mes] [page covered]
& caught one fish, they needed a boat & could not get m[any] [page covered]
fish without it. travled during the day 123 m
~ Sunday
August 1st Sunday. The congregation of the Saints assemb[led] [page covered]
under the Bower on the Temple lot at 10 oclok meeting opened
by singing & prayer Br Kimball Addressed the meeting for a
while & expressed his feelings upon a variety of subjects af[ter] [page covered]
which Br O Pratt preached A discourse upon the prophecies
of Isaiah & others concerning the building up of Zion in the la[st] [page covered]
days & thought many of those prophesies alluded to us in our pres
ent position such as Zion should be a city sought & not forsa[ken] [page covered] [Isaiah 62:12]
& that the munition of rocks should be a defence unto them [Isaiah 33:16]
the Lord sware that their corn & wine should no more be given
to their enemies, [Isaiah 62:8] & that the house of God should be built up[on] [page covered]
the tops of the mountain [Isaiah 2:2] &c He had the spirit of preachi[ng] [page covered]
& we were all edifyed, when He closed Dr Richards read a
letter from the commanding officer of the Battalion who
had gone with them to the Pacific spoke in the Highest term[s] [page covered]
of praise of them in all their procedings. Also A letter
from Captain Hunt on the 3rd of Feb was read. Br Kimb[all] [page covered]
made some remarks concerning our traiding with the India[ns] [page covered]
that we ought to Harken to council & keep our amunitio[n] [page covered]
& not trade with them at all at present the Indians left
our encampment in the night & whether they stole any thing
or not we do not yet know. Congregation came together aga[in] [page covered]
at 2 oclok the Bishops broke bread to the congregation Dr Richa[rds] [page covered]
read the revelation given at winter quarters & the whole s[illegible] [page faded]
recieved it with A universal vote Br A Lyman Addressed the meeting
at length & spoke to edifycation after which some business matters
were brought up & it was decided to commenced Building our Houses
for those who were to tarry through the winter of Dobies instd
of timber & put the buildings together in stead of a stockade
for a defence against the Indians. And all oxen that are to
go back this season should start one week from tomorrow
& various orther matters were attended A vote was taken to
cease entirely traiding with the Indians & have no intercourse
with them at all. we also decided to form all the encampme[n]ts
into one. In the evening the Twelve met & decided for Br Benson [page covered]
go back & metet the camp, & 3 others go with him to get the mail &
[page covered] [b]ring word concerning them.
~ Monday
2nd [FIGURES] Br Benson starts for the camp to day I wrote A letter to
Father Woodruff by him we commenced to day to lay out the city
plott commiencing with the Temple Block, we formed our whole enca
mpment to day into one circle, on forming our temple block of
40 acres it was so large we held a council to see if it was not wisdom
to reduce it one half the size several expressed their opinion upon
the subject, G. A. Smith believed if we done it we should be sorry
afterwards would rather enlarge than diminish it, Br Kimball though[t] [page covered]
if we let it be as it was & set it out to shrubery we should not
be sorry Br A Lyman said G. A. Smith had spoke his mind &
all our minds seemed to run in about the same channel, the
President said we could eisier diminish than enlarge it afterwar[d] [page covered]
& finally decided to let it remain as it was, we also walked
upon a peace of table land above east of the camp & took a view
of the table city ground which presented a grand prospect to
our view. In the evening I went to the warm sulpher springs
& bathed with Dr Richards G. A. Smith & others
~ Tuesday
3rd Our ten sowed our Buck wheat to day a little over one bushel
on two acres, O Pratt one third, G. A. Smith one third, & W Woodruff
one third, mine to dbe divided between A. O. Smoot Br Dewey &
Aphek Woodruff. All the encampment are busiy to day in farming,
laying out the city, preparing for making dobys lime &c
I recieved of Br [blank] Case 19 lbs of Iron at 25 cts per lb $4.75
I visited the farming grounds gardings &c & found things coming up
well such as corn, beans, potatoes &c I went in the evening to the
warm spring to bathe with Dr Richards
~ Wednesday
4th I met in council this morning with the Twelve to set upon
case brought up By Br Gribble concerning improper conduct
of one or two men with his wife there was contradictory test
emony & the case was finally dismissed for the time being. We
again met in council concerning the size of the temple square
it was finally considered we could not do justice to 40 acres to
begin with & finally concluded to confine the Temple & gard[ing]
to 10 acres. After council I rode with G. A. Smith to the mountai[n]
to find some timber to put us up a small building for a store House &
men also commenced to day to prepare ground to commenced ma[king]
Dobys for puting up a fort
~ Thursday
[5th] [page covered] [FIGURE] As we were under the necessity of returning soon & wanted some
place to unload our goods that we had with us & those that were
coming up we thought it best to go into the mountains & draw out logs &
build us some cabins as the doby houses might not be ready Brs
Young & Kimball had commenced drawing out logs for their build-
ings Br G. A. Smith & myself concluded to join our effortts together
& do what we could, so I took my ax this morning & in company
with G. A. Smith went to the mountain about 6 miles we had sever-
al men with us to assist in choping we found a grove of fir trees
that we thought would answer well we had to make A road to it
& bridges across the creek I some dreaded the job, for it was a
hard one And I do not exercise the prudence that I ought when
I take hold of hard labour but do more than is good for me
I however commenced choping down trees & done much
more work during the day than any other man on the ground
we choped drew out more logs more logs than to build one house
16 foot square & drew home to the fort 25 of them I blistered
up my hands & was vary weary at night distance of the day 14 m
~ Friday
6 I arose early this morning quite sore with my labour I went
into the valley for my horses & we could not find them. some
Indians had been camp this morning or rather in the night
& left again & we supposed they had taken a drove of horses
with them so we sent our horsman & drove in all the horses in the
valley to see how many was gone, but much to our joy we found all
of our horses was safe which increased our confidence in the Ind-
ians that were around us, I had rode about 8 miles without a
saddle which was wors than labour, we however got our teams
together & started for the mountains with 5 teams, & 4 teams
went also for Dr Richards to draw logs for him, I sadled my
horse & took my ax, & went to the timber before them, & before
they arived I cut 5 large fir trees & when the teams came
up the men assisted to cut up the trees & draw them out &
load them, & we laboured exceding hard all day & we drew
home during the day 52 logs great & small, except one load that
we left by the wayside untill morning, this made 77 logs in
two days that we cut & drew home, in two days we got timber
sufficient for two buildings each of us one but I had lab-
oured so hard during the two days I could hardly stand upon
my feet I went to my waggon & flung myself upon my
bed to rest. I had not been on the bed but a short time before
Br Kimball called upon me & informed me that the Twelve
were going soon to the water to be Baptized for the remission
of their sins to set an example to the Church As the[y] would be
called upon on Sunday morning to bye baptized by the Twelve
or all those that wished, we considerd this A duty & privlege as we
come into a glorious valley to locate & build a temple & build up
Zion we felt like renewing our covenant before the Lord and
each other.
We soon repaired to the water & President
Brigham Young went down into the water & Baptized all his
Brethren the Twelve that were with him by burying them in the
water He also confirmed inus in the Church & sealed upon us our
Apostleship & all the keys, powers, & Blessings belonging to that office
Br Heber C. Kimball Baptized & confirmed President Brigham Young
the following are the names of those present on this occasion B. Young
H. C. Kimball O. Pratt W. Richards W. Woodruff G. A. Smith & A Lyman
distance of the day 20
~ Saturday
7th I Arose this morning quite weary with my labours of yesterday
I spent the day mostly in assisting Br Fowler to start on a Journey to
the Bay of Francisco to get his family I made arangments with
Capt Brown to furnish him with a horse to ride & put him up prov-
isions to last him to fort Hall & there they would get supplys. In
[FIGURE] In the afternoon the Twelve went onto the Temple Block & picked
out there inheritances President Young took a block east of the
temple & runing S.E. to settle his friends around him. Br H. C. Kimball
took A block North of the Temple will settle his friends on the north
O pratt south of the Temple Joining the temple Block & runs south.
W. Woodruff took A Block kcornering on the Temple lot at the S. west
corner Joining O Pratts Block & will settle his friend's on the south
A Lyman took A Block 40 rods Below or west of w. woodruff
Bolock & runs s west of the Temple to settle his friends G. A. Smith
took A Block Joining the Temple on the west & runs due west. it
was supposed Br Young Richards would take his inheritances on the east
near Br. Young none others of the Twelve were present in the camp Br
Benson had gone back to meet the camp & 3 of the quorum was in winter
quarters.
During the evening in company with the Twelve I went to one
of the pure streams of cold water that runs through the City &
H C Kimball baptized 55 members of the camp for the remission of
their sins who were confirmed under the Hands of Presidents Young
O Pratt, W Woodruff, A Lyman, & G. A. Smith B Young was mouth
in confirming the greatest number of them
~ Sunday
8th Sunday morning at 6 oclock the Bishops repaired with the Twelve
[FIGURE] to the streams of water for the purpose of Baptizing & confirming the
whole camp who had not been since we came into the valley
we felt it our privilege to be baptized & to Baptize the Camp of Israel
for the remission of our sins & to renew our covenants before the
Lord, Brothers Lewis, Godard, Everett Shumway Snow & H C Kimball
baptized & the Twelve confirmed them there were 224 Baptized
& confirmed this morning 99 of which I confirmed with my
own hands making 288 in all that have been baptized in the camp
during the last 3 days. The camp assembled as usual at 10 oclok for
meeting And was addressed as usual by H. C. Kimball who had the spirit
of speaking unto edifycation I followed him And was never blessed with
greater liberty of speach in addressing a congregation I was edifyed myself
& those that herd. In the afternoon we met again & partook of
the sacrament Br Lorenzo Young addressed the people & was followed
by Br Brigham Young who was feeble in health, he gave good council
& we were edefyed, at the close of the meeting 110 men were called up
to go onto the Doby yard 76 volunteered & they thought that woul[d]
answer for A commencment. [FIGURE]
The following are some of the remarks made by w. woodruff [in]
his address to the Saints in the fore part of the day written by Th[omas]
Bullock clerk. I have been much edifyed in the teaching giv[en]
by Elder ^Kimball^, & have reflected much since I came into this valley, con[cer]
ning our situation, our calling, & the work that is required at ou[r]
hands. And the words of one of the Apostles will apply well to [our]
case "that when we have done the will of God we have need of
patience that we may obtain the blessing's & though it tarry lo[ng]
we should obtain it if we continued faithful" Of all
people that ever lived we have the greatest reason to be fait[hful]
& exercise patience & not be weary in well doing for we have
the greatest work to perform & Blessings promised accordingly.
The day has come when the Lord has set his hand with full pur-
pose of heart to esstablish his Kingdom on the earth, gather Israel
build up Zion & Jerrusalem make an end of sin & cause all
nations to bow the knee & every tongue to confess tha[t] Jesus is
the Lord & has a right to reign on the earth And ye are the
people ye Elders of Israel & Latter Day Saints that are moved
upon & called & chosen to do this work, who is sufficient for
these things, & what manner of persons ought ye to be. I rejoice
that I enjoy the society of so many of the Saints this day in this
glorious valley which has not been peolluted by the ungodly
gentiles & that I can speak with freedom without being trampled
by wicked men. the difference in the society tBetween the Saints
& the gentiles in the United States can ownly be contrasted betw-
een Heaven & Hell in comparison for let an elder of this Church
start from New York & travel to Saint Louis & let the people know
who he is & He would be in Hell all the time a& there is A cause for
this A Prophet Seer & Revelater. Patriarchs & Apostles have been raised
up in there midst, the Church & kingdom of God has been planted
among them, the gospel preached & salvation freely offered unto all &
what have they done, they have stoned the Prophets & killed them
poured out their Blood like water upon the earth, have burned their
dwellings & given their goods to the flames, have driven the Apostles
with the keys of Eternal life & salvation with the entire Church
& kingdom of God out of their midst into the wilderness & the mountai[n]s
yets they have turned the last key that has sealed & locked fast their
condemnation that lingereth not & there damnation that slumber
eth not. And this is the reason why they are full of hell & desire to
destroy every thing that retainets any portion of the spirit of the spirit
of Gods. But if it requires all the martered Saints in Heaven from
Rig[h]teous Abel to Joseph to go forth from the temple in Heaven
& [p]our out all the vials of the last plagues upon the United
States & open the seals upon them in order to avenge the Blood
of the Prophets & Saints which they have spilt, it will be done
for that Blood shall spedily be avenged. Yea vary spedily
The Prophet Joseph, The Twelve Apostles, with many of the
Elders of Israel & Saints Have been called to pass through scenes
of sufferings & privations, that would have discouraged an Allexan
der, they have had to combat earth and Hell, wicked men & devils,
sickness & death, Burnings Drivings & persecutions, but have
we ben discouraged no the greater the difficulties the
more we have been stimulated to Action, what has sus
tained us & inspired us to action in the midst of these
difficulties? We have been upheld by the power of God that
we might fulfill his purposes. Our spirits have been stired up by the
spilt Blood of the Martered Prophets which still cries from the ground
[to] [page covered] heaven for vengance & will not rest neither let us untill it is
avenged, we have also been moved upon by the spirits of our
fathers & Progenitors whose bodies have lain in the dust for many
generations, who recieved not the gospel in the flesh not having it
proffered unto them, but are now waiting for the redemption of their
bodies After salvation shall be sealed upon them through the instru
mentality of their sons who should embrace the gospel in the fulness
of times, we are also moved upon by the Holy Ghost to accomplish the
great work of the last days & fulness of times in preparing the ear[th] [page torn]
for the reign of Christ, & to fulfill the promises which was made
to the Ancient Prophets & Patriarch which promises they drew from
the Heavens by their faith & faithfulness before the Lord & saw the
work that lies before us by the spirit of inspiration revelation dreams
& the visions of Heaven. Thus it has been that A combination
of causes of eternal & important consequence has stimulated the Proph[ets]
Apostles & Elders to action untill they have resolved in their hearts that
for Zions sake they would not hold their peace & for Jerrusalem sake
they would not rest, untill their righteousness goes forth as Brightness
& salvation as A Lamp that Burneth. Yea the time has come for the
Lord to esstablish his kingdom on the earth & to make A short work of it
& overthrow the Kingdom of the devel, for He has held dominion on
the earth for many generations & in one instance undertook to
claim his right to all the Kingdoms of the world before the Lord wh[en]
He showed the Savior all the kingdoms of the world & proffered to
give them to him if He would fall down & worship him, when in
fact the Poor Devil did did not own one foot of land on the earth [Matthew 4:8-9]
I feel also that the time has come when we can no more preach salvation
to those of the gentiles who have rejected the prophets & killed them &
cast the saints & the gospel out of their midst, the last time I was
through the United States I could not preach salvation to the people
but I could have the spirit of God to preach damnation to them fo[r]
they were worthy I tried to preach a gospel sermon in the Temple
in Nauvoo to many of the world who were present But it was hard
work to do it. But I could tell them about their spilling the
Blood of the Prophets & the judgments that must follow them
& that they had not got done with Joseph Smith but he would yet r[ule] [page covered]
in judgment against them & condemn them.
I will close by relating An circumstance that transpired when I was in
the eastern states on my return ofrom England I went to the state of
Connecticut (my native place) to get my father to bring to Zion. I
thought if Joseph was Justifyed in giving commandment to have hi[s]
bones taken to be buried in Canaan, that I was Justifyed In taking my
living father & gathering him with the Saints & while At his house
was visited by my Fathers sister Aunt Wheeler who was naturly a
good woman & A strenuous Prysbeterian while conversing about our lea[ving] [page covered]
& going so far off she asked me with tears in her eyes if I suppo[sed] [page covered]
we could find any Christian society to associate with. I replyed for
Gods sake & our sake I hope not, she gazed at me with amazement
& wondered why I should feel so, I replyed that the Christians of
this generation in the United States had persecuted us to all intents &
purposes had burned our dwellings, given our goods to the flames
had murdered our Brethren, Sistiers, wives & children had marte
our Prophets, Patriarchs, & Apostles & driven the remainder of
us from their midst & should we now desire their society & see[k]
their religion? No I would rather be in the midst of the griselly [grizzly bears] [page covered]
of the rocky mountains, or mingle with the society of the savages [in]
the forest, than to longer mingle with such Christians or longer
bear the fruits of their religion
~ Monday
9th I spent the day in making A saw pit
~ Tuesday
10th I spent the day in preparing timber for our dwellings in the for
we decided by council to enclose one Block of 10 acres with dobys [adobies] &
buildings as a fort or fortification.
~ Wednesday
[11th] [page folded] I spent this day in framing timber the company also comm[enced]
[l]aying [page folded] their wall on one side of the lot one doby & a half thick 2 1/2
[page torn] [gr]ace for grace. when Brother Joseph received the Priesthood
he did not recived all at once, but He was A prophet seer & Revela[tor] [page torn]
before He recieved the fulness of the Priesthood & keys of the kingd[om] [page torn]
He first recieved the Aronick Priesthood & Keys from under the hand
of John the Baptisk. He then had not power to lay on hands to confirm
the Church but afterwards he recieved the Patriarchal or Melchisidick
Priesthood from under the Hands of Peter James & John who were
of the Twelve Apostles & were the Presidency when the other Apostl[es]
were absent, from those Apostles Joseph Smith recieved every key [FIGURE]
power, Blessing, & privilege of the Highest Authority of the Melchezedick
Priesthood ever committed to man on the earth which they held
some have had fears that we had not power to get revelations since
the death of Joseph, But I want this subject from this time forth
to be forever set at rest And I want this Church to understand
from this day henceforth & forever that an apostle is the Highest
office & Authority that there is in the Church & kingdom of God
on the earth. from whom did Joseph recieve his authority from
just such men as sit around me here (pointing to the Twelve
Apostles that sat with him) Peter James & John were Apostles &
there was no noise about their being seers & Revelators though those
gifts were among them. Joseph Smith gave unto me & my brethr[en]
the Twelve all the Priesthood keys Power & Authority which he ha[d]
And those are powers which belong to the Apostleship. In Joseph[s]
day we had to ordain Patriarchs could we ordain men to Author[ity]
greater than we held ourselves^?^ No. But it is necessary to have Patria[rchs]
to Bless the People that they may have Blessings by the spirit of prop[hecy]
& Revelation sealed upon their heads & their posterity & know what
awaits their posterity Father Smith was the Seignor Patriarch in the
Church & first Patriarch in our day & Afterwards Hiyram was th[e]
seignor Patriarch for his father sealed it upon his head But was
there Power & Authority different from all Patriarchs in the
church No they were all alike in their authority in Blessing. Elijah is
spoken of in the Bible that He should come in the last days to sta
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children & the children to their
fathers, [Malachi 4:6] the fulfillment of this scripture is manifest in esstablishing
the kingdom of God & Priesthood on the earth in the last days & those
who hold the keys of the priesthood & sealing power have the spirit
& power of Elijah & it is necessary in order to redeem our dead &
save our children there is much more importance attached to this than
Parents are aware of. In the loss of this child of Brother Crows that was
drowned I felt that I could weep in sorrow if I gave way to my feelings
for I realize it is A loss to the parents to loose little children. it is true al[l]
children are saved there names are written in the Lambs book of li[fe]
which was the case with every spirit that takes A tabernacle on
this earth. their names were written there before the world was
made, & will there ever remain untill they sin against the Holy Gho[st]
it will then be blotted out no more to be recorded forever. But not
withstanding this can brother Crow get that child again or any othe[r]
person their children except their is sumthing done for them on the
earth by their parents, No they would not, they would go to God who
gave them but the parents on the earth would not have them, the
Parents framed the Body to be sure But the Lord gave the spirit
what is the Body good for without the spirit. what then can [be]
done, I will tell you A man that has embraced the gospel must [be]
some one who has the Priesthood & keys & power of Elijah, & mu[st]
[att]end to ordinances for that child, even must be baptized fo[r it]
[page torn] [2 illegible words] as to have it sealed to him & through t[he] [2 illegible words] [page torn]
[page torn] [Br] Crow had a young ^grand^ child drowned today. The child's name was Thirlkie
~ Thursday
[page torn] [12th] Br Crows ^grand^ child was buried today. I commenced to day to lay the
[page torn] [f]oundation of our houses the Block is laid in the following manner
on the East side of the block commencing on the NE corner
B Young 4 rooms L Young 2 rooms, H C Kimball 5 rooms W Richards
2 rooms, W. Woodruff 2 rooms 14 by 17, G. A. Smith 2 rooms A Lyman
2 rooms L Snow 1 Rooms All rooms are 14 feet wide and as
long as we please G. A. Smith & myself Build together 2 rooms each
we laid the foundation of the 4 to day I was quite unwell at night
~ Friday
13th I spent some part of the day in council each one of the
Twelve was to make choice of the Blocks that they were to settle
their friends upon. Br Brigham Young took towo tier of Blocks
south through the City. Br Kimball run North & N west O Pratt
4 Blocks W Woodruff 8 Blocks G A Smith 8, & A Lyman
12 Blocks according to the company organized with them.
~ Saturday
[1]4th I was quite unwell through the day & did not feel able to
labour. 4 of the messengers returned from Bear River valley & cash
valley who started with Capt Brown that has gone with a company to
[t]he Bay via Fort Hall. The messengers Bring a glorious report of
[C]ash valley & the country between us & there, that is rich soil &
well watered & weell calculated for farming purposes Also bear
[r]iver valley for stock graizing &c called at Miles Goodyiers place
had about 30 yards pickedted in A small garding corn & vegitation
doing well. it was about 90 miles from the City of the Salt lake
[t]o Cash valley & [blank] miles toor Bear River valley. our Brethren brought
[i]n 4 loads of salt from the lake which was obtained with little
[t]rouble As it lay in bars, banks, & beds in the edge of the water &
[h]ad to be shoveld up, washed, dreaned, &c & was then prepared
[f]or use. The Brethren also returned that went to the Utah lake to get
[f]ish they could not get quite to the lake with a waggon without
working the road some, & having no tools returned found A mount
[a]in of granite good for building runing from 7 to 15 miles from camp
The quorum of the Twelve decided in council that the name of
[o]ur city should be TCity of the Salt Lake. Great Bason, North America
~ Sunday
[1]5th [FIGURES] Sunday The camp of Israel met as usal at 10 oclok
& was addressed by President Young in an interesting
manner upon an interesting subject much to our edifycation.
The following are some of the remarks made by President Young. I am
going to day sto speak upon the subject of the Patriarchal Priesthood &
by request of Br Crow say sumthing upon the death of his child that
was drowned the other day. I hope to speak so as to be understood
There is a reality in eternal things as much as in the things of time
which we daily see with our eyes when A man has A dream or
[v]ision of eternal things it is an evidence of its truth as much as
[t]hough He saw it with his own eyes in one sens of the word. The
Lord has hid from man the things that He knew before He
came in the flesh that He might walk by faith & prove himself
[w]hile here. The Lord converses with men on the earth in the
[f]orm of A servent & by visions & dreams &c but He never appea[rs to]
man in the flesh in the fulness of his glory, for He is as a
[c]onsuming fire & a mortal body would perish in an instant
The Priesthood is again restored on the earth to bring back [illegible] [text faded]
[w]hich [2 illegible words] [page torn] we do not recieve all at once but [2 illegible words] [page torn]
[page torn] [c]laim his child in the morning of the resurrection & the Lord
will give it up to him. I had my children sealed to me in the
[page torn] [t]emple except one that died & that I shall leave in the hands of
[page torn] [t]he Lord, untill I have another opportunity. As soon as we get
up some doby Houses for our families we shall go to work to
build another Temple & as soon as A place is prepared we shal[l]
commence the Endowments long before the Temple is built &
we shall take time, & each step the Saints take let them take time
enough about it to understand it. evry thing at Nauvoo went with
a rush we had to build the Temple with the trowel in one hand &
the sword in the other & mobs were upon us all the while and
many crying out O the temple cant be built. I told them it should
be built, this Church should not fall & the Lord said if we did not
build it we should be rejected as a Church with our dead why did
He say it because the Saints were becoming slothful & covetous & would
spend their means upon fine Houses for themselves before they would
put it into A House for the Lord. But we went at it & finished
it & turned it over into the hands of the Lord in spite of earth & Hell
& the Brethren was so faithful at it that we laboured day [and] night to give
them their endowments. The children want to be sealed to their parents
& parents to their children, that they may have blessings in eternity that
they will stand in need of. God promised to Abraham that his seed
should be as numerous as the stars of Heaven & the sands of the seashore &
to his seed there should be no end [Genesis 22:17] this of course would continue
through all Eternity, the same blessing is upon our heads if we are faith
ful for our eyes have not seen, our ears herd neither entered into our
hearts the great things that God has in store for us. & when I look
upon the great work the Elders of Israel have to perform & look
around upon them & see them vain & foolish, it makes me sorrowful
they forget their calling. O ye Elders of Israel think for a moment
what manner of persons ought ye to be, men who hold the priesthood
& keys of salvation & have power to go to the Nations of the Earth &
& say Here Gentleman & Ladies I have salvation for you & power to exhalt
you to Celestial Glory, or if you reject it to seal you unto damnation
it is no trifling affair to have power put into your hand to deal with
[t]he Eternal destinies of the sons & daughters of Adam that form
the Nations of the earth. While in the Temple at Nauvoo we voted
to cut off the gentiles who had rejected the gospel & killed the prophets
& it was recorded on earth & if it is recorded in heaven that Nation wi[ll]
go down quickly. Many other interesting & important items were presented
by President Young much to our edifycation. meeting was dismissed &
met again at 2 oclok & was Addressed in a vary edifying manner
by O Pratt, & treated upon the same principles spoken off [of] by Br
Young. Among his remarks He said, that as all the ordinances of the
gospel Administered by the world since the Aposticy of the Church
was illegal, in like manner was the marriage cerimony illegal and all
the world who had been begotton through the illegal marriage, were
Bastards & not sons & Hence they had to enter into the law of adopti[on] [ink spot]
& be adopted into the Priesthood in order to become sons & legal hei[rs]
[o]f salvation.
Erastus Snow followed & spoke much to our edi
[f]ycation after which meeting was dismissed.
President Young met with the company who were to start back
in the morning with the ox teams there were over 60 in number
& gave good instructions to them, many of the Battalion deposited there
[g]uns with President Young for safe keeping
~ Monday
16th The company was quite busy in preparing their teams & wagg[ons] [page torn]
to start back. I undersigned Br Stillman for two yoke of cattle to
send back for his family to be returned in one year from this time.
Brother Samuel Badham recepted to me all money due him for his
services in the United States war to be paid to me by Capt Brown or any
person in whose hands it may be in. I also recieved one yoke of cattle
from Br [blank] Sargent loned me to assist Br Stillman, my own
family, or any body els I thought proper
~ Tuesday
17th Br Smith & myself concluded to put up two rooms each
instead of of one, making 4 rooms between us so we commenced
drawing timber to day though it is vary hard labour for us
~ Wednesday
18th Spent the day drawing timber
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
19 & 20 was Also spent in drawing timber & laying up logs
into the Houses I labour so hard & am so weary at night I
cannot rest. this evening while unloading the last load of logs
one stick fell on Br G. A. Smith head & knocked him down
cut a hole in his head & hurt him badly.
~ Saturday
21st I spent the day in laying up our Houses Br George A was
Able to walk about but not to do any work Brs Young & Kimba[ll]
moved into their Houses this evening
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I went to the warm springs & bathed in the morning
met in conference with the Twelve & saints at 1 oclok & resolved
universally to call this place city of the great salt Lake. of the great
Bason North America. Named the stream runing through the city
City Creek the Utah outlet western Jordon & two creeks coming
out of the mountains great canion creek & little canion creek
& one large stream Mill Creek. voted to fence in the city or
portions of it for farming purposes for the coming year; voted
to appoint A President, & High Council, & all other necessary officers
in this stake of Zion. The Twelve write an epistle to leave with
the Saints in the City of the great salt lake Adjourned untill
the 6th of October AD 1848
~ Monday
23rd. I spent the day laying up our buildings we got the bodies of the
4 rooms nearly up I was vary weary at night
~ Tuesday
24th We finished laying up onthe timber of our rooms & I put the
roof on one room & put on one coat of mud & made one door
& hung it
~ Wednesday
25th I laid my floor & laid part of oa chamber & moved my
goods into the house & left them in care of Brother J Bevin I buil[t]
a good chimney which draws well Br johnson put it up for me
I had prayers in the house in the evening. we shall leave
this valley in the morning to start back to winter Quarters.
we as A pioneer company have accomplished more this season th[an]
can be found on record concerning any set of men since the
days of Adam. Having travled with heavy loaded waggons ov[er]
one thousand miles having made our road more than one half
of the way over & through the rough mountains & canions &
searched out a glorious land as a resting place fore the Saints &
in one month after our arival laid out a city Ttwo miles squar[e]
& built A fort & fortification of hewn timber drawn 7 miles f[rom]
the mountains & of unburnt brick surrounding 10 acres of ground, 40
rods of which was coverd with Block Houses. Besides planting about
100 Acres of corn, potatoes, Buckwheat turnips gardens &c the pioneers
did not exceed 150 men during the time 140 of the Battalion arived
I think there was not over 100 men labouring on the works at
a time besides much exploring was done And after accomplishing
this work the company return to winter Quarters the place
of Begining making nearly 2,500 miles traveling during one
summer besides all the labour
~ Thursday
26th The pioneer camp with a large number of the Battalion
Harnessed up our horses this morning & bid farewell to our
frinds who was to tarry I put A pair of mules on my carriage
& Brother Stillman drove them I rode on Hors back I went
through the corn & Potatoe fields which which has been
planted one month this day the corn was about tosseling
out the nearly one foot high the Buckwheat looked well
we drove to a spring 15 miles from camp & spent the
night I drove Broak my whippletree & had to make a new
one It was exceding dusty 15 miles
~ Friday
[2]7th We travled to day 25 miles & camped 8 miles east of
[page covered] [t]he weaver 25
~ Saturday
[2]8 We travled to day 25 miles & camped 8 miles
[e]ast of the weaver
~ Sunday
[FIGURES] Sunday
[2]9th We travled in the fore part of the day 15 miles
nooned by a spring 15 miles west of Mathews Cave
we here were met by our messengers who had been on
[to] meet the camp Br E. T. Benson & others they were truly
welcome messengers, for our Anxiety had been vary great to hear
from our families & the camp, & to our joy we herd from them
[th]is day. the camp No near 600 waggons, & divided into 9 co
[m]pinies I also recieved 3 letters from Mrs Woodruff & one from
[A]. O. Smoot Mrs Woodruffs letters brought me intelligence of
[a]ll matters appertaining to my cattle, cows, Business matters & fami[ly]
concerns, & I find that some persons who I have tried to do
[g]ood & save, are filled with folly & the poison of Asps are under
[t]heir tongue & are tatling, lying, & destroying themselves & using
[e]vry exhertion to destroy the peace of my family. The letters
[i]nform me that Father Woodruff is coming along & is well
Also Mary Jackson is along in his waggon, Br & Sister Armstrong
has one of my waggons, Mother Woodruff has gone Back to
Iowa to live with Dwight & Eunice Woodruff & And it would
have been for the peace & Happiness of my family if B. C &
M. J. had been with them for they are foolish & do not cho[o]se
[t]hings which are right & righteous. We obtained much news
[o]f interest from the mail about matters in general. we camp[ed]
[f]or the night within 4 miles of Bear River distance 26 m
~ Monday
[3]0th We travled 243 miles to day & camped within 27 miles of fort
[B]ridger we crossed Bear river. the Brethren found A good chance to escape
[t]he long steep hill we last passed by going one side of it 343 mils
~ Tuesday
[3]1st We travled to fort Bridger & camped 2 miles east of the fort
the Brethren done A good deal of traiding at the fort distance 27 m
~ Wednesday
Sept 1st One half of the horses of the Camp were missing we thought
they were stolen by the snake Indians who were at Bridgers the
night before but after long searching we found them, & went on
our journey, & travled 15 miles & camped on the bank of a creek
we travled in the afternoon 18 miles & camped on Hams fork
distance of the day (excellent grass) 33 mi
~ Thursday
2nd travled to green river & camped upon the river bank it was
vary windy & cold in the evening distance 23 m
~ Friday
3rd Travled to Big Sandy & nooned 12 miles & in the afternoon
17 miles & camped again upon big sandy and here to our j[oy]
we met with the first fifty of the six hundred waggons
which was Br Spencers hundred it was a joyful meeting
we called a meeting of the Camp in the evening twhi[ch]
was addressed in the following order by G A. Smith B.
Young H. C. Kimball & W. Woodruff we had truly
an interesting meeting giving a description of the Coun[try]
teaching principle. President Young rebuked sin in so[me]
persons. [FIGURE] distance of the day 28
~ Saturday
[FIGURE]
4th We travled to little Sandy 8 miles & to our joy
we met with Capt Sessions fifty here we found
Parly Pratt fifty of company I dined with Br Abbott
& family, while here I recieved a letter from Br
J Ferguson from the Army, in the afternoon the
quorum of the Twelve met in Council & one of the
most interesting Councils we ever held together on the
earth. In the begining of the Council two of the quor
um was reproved sharply for undo[i]ng what the
majority of the quorum had done in the organizing
of the camps for travelling. At first it was not recieved
but afterwards the error was recieved & seen, confession
made & much teaching given by the President &
the power of God rested upon us & our hearts
melted & our eyes in tears. The President said
if he did not tell us our faults we would be destroyed
but if he told us of them & reproved us we would
live in love & our hearts be semented together
Brothers Parley P Pratt & J Taylor had been to England & done a good
work had returned to winter quarters, & there done wrong by
disorganizing the two divisions & companies that the quorum o[f]
the Twelve had spent the whole winter in organizing & which
was also governed by revelation, Br Parley took the lead in th[e]
matter & entirly disregarded our organisation & mixed the co[mp]
anies all up Br Young chustized him for his course & taught us
principle said that when we set a part one or more of the
Twelve to go & do a certain piece of work they would be
blessed in doing that & the quorum would back up what they
did, but when one or more of the quorum interfere with t[he]
work of the majority of the quorum they burn their fingers
& do wrong when the majority of the quorum of the 12 plant [a]
stake of Zion & esstablish a President over the Stake & appoin[t]
a High Council there has the minority of the Twelve one or mor[e]
any right to go & interfere with those Councils? No unless they
should get corrupt & do wrong then it would be the duty
[page torn] [o]f any one of the quorum of the Twelve to show them their error
& teach them what was right, & should the majority of those coun-
cils get corrupt & try to lead asstray the people it would then be the
duty of any one of the Twelve to disannul those councils & call upon
the people to sustain him & appoint a new one but while the Councils
are trying to do right it would be the duty of the Twelve who might be
with them to assist them in carrying out those views that the majority
of the Twelve had esstablished. The quorum of the Twelve all
decided that Br Pratt had committed an error in not carrying out the
organization as esstablished by the Twelve Br Pratt at first had
a hard spirit afterwords repented & confessed his fault & the Power
of God rested upon President Young & the whole quorum, President
Young said that he felt Eternity upon him & was weighed down to the
earth with this work & that Br Kimble felt the weight of it more
than any other man except himself each one of the quorum exp
ressed their feelings upon the subject & we all had a good time
Br Young said he should chastize Br Parley or any one of the
quorum as much as he pleased when they were out of the wasy &
they could not help themselves but he done it for their good
& ownly done it when constrained to do it by the power of God
Br. H. C. Kimball addressed by [br] Young & wished him to rest as much
as possible & let his brethren bear his burthens He said he wanted Br
Brigham to save himself for he was waring down. I feel tender toward you
& want you to live, & If I or my Brethren do wrong tell us of it
& we will repent. Br Brigham said there was not a better set
of men on the earth than the Twelve & he intended to chastize
them when they need it that they might be saved & love him & stick
by him. we all felt good to be there for the Lord was with us
~ Sunday
5th We travled to day to the springs. Here to our joy we met
with three fifties, Br A. O. Smoot hundred, and Robinson
fifty of Gen Rich company I here met with Father Woodruff &
the Company Br Smoot & many from our ward which I was truly
glad to see. After having confversation with then & getting supper
we held a meeting of all the camps G. A. Smith W. Woodruff &
& O Pratt addressed them the President then called for
a vote to tarry tomorrow & addresse them I spent the night
untill 2 oclok with Br & Sister Smoot enquiring into affairs of the Camp
business matters &c. distance of the day 26th miles
~ Monday
6th Several horses & mules gone this morning Horsman gone after
them I opened my Bevin Chest & library & found every thing
right we held a council with the officers in the morning it
was a vary cold day. In the afternoon the Twelve met in coun-
cil being eight of us and A O Smoot related to the quorum the
circumstances of John Taylor taking from John Benbow over
$300 for his sister & Br Taylors opinion was there could be no appeal
in the case to any other Authority. The Council voted that John
Benbow have a rehearing before the quorum of the Twelve if he
wished it. Also voted that the High Council in the salt lake city take
charge of the property on its arival there which was taken from
John Benbow, resolved also that there could be an appeal from
there decision to the majority of the quorum of the Twelve. I spent
the evening at Dr Richards office with the Twelve H& herd the Epistle
read, that was for the Saints in the great Bason. I spent a part of the
night with Br Smoot at his waggon writing & reading letters, councilling
&c
~ Tuesday
7th The Camps were all busy this morning in preparing to
leave I saw my oxen that father and Armstrong has
my Durham ox was failing fast the rest looked as though they
would stand it through well. I left the Knealy Horse with Br
Smoot & the Benbow Horse with Thomas Benbow. Br Porter
wished me to keep his horse & bring him on in the spring. Br
Dewey wished me to bring him a cow for what I owed him
if I could. Br Porter wished me to help on his son Warner
if I could. Father wanted me to see Dr Cannon in winter Quarters
After the many request made I bid farewell to Br & Sister Smoot
Father Woodruff & all the Camps many wished to be remembered
to Mrs Woodruff. the camps moved on to the west & we
moved east. the springs that we camp on were near the pass
As we started it commenced snowing & was cold we passed
over the Cornelian table or valley at the Pass & travled 12 miles
& camped on the sweet water in company with John Taylors ^company^ and
also Br. Hunters company the ground was coverd with snow which
continued to fall untill evening. I took supper with Br Shirtliff
This Hundred prepared a feast for the whole Pioneer Camp & furnishe[d]
a table here in the wilderness In the most splendid manner for
one hundred persons, more than that Number eat at the table &
were filled with roast, & broiled beef, pies, cakes, buisket butter,
Peach sauce, coffee, tea, shugar & a great variety of good things
In the evening In the evening the camp had a dance but
the quorum of the Twelve met in Council at Br Shirtliff
tent & transacted such business as came before them it was
a cold frosty night. The case of Br Benbow was brought up &
he was discharged from any further obligation to Agnes Benbow
distance of the day ([FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Br Bouth) 14 miles
[FIGURE] I recieved 10 letters while on this journey
~ Wednesday
8th A cold morning but it soon grew warm & the snow melted
away we parted with the Camp & rode 12 miles & camped
on the sweet water with Br J. M. Grants hundred, I dined
with Br Neff & family & saw many I was acquainted with 12 m
Br J M Grant had buried one child on the way & his wife
lay at the point of death. We held a council in the evening & herd
brother Grant related the circumstances of the organization o[f]
the Companies which was not according to the former organiza[tion]
Br Young said he was more & more convinced that there was
a wrong with P. P. Pratt & John Taylor in these things. We also
herd Br Grant relate his interview with Col Kane which was inter[e]-
sting to us. He has the spirit of the Lord with him & is doing fo[r]
us what He can Thomas Benton is an inveterat enemy & doing
what he can against us, many things of interest was spoken off [of]
12 m
~ Thursday
[FIGURE]
9th The alarm was given early this morning that many ho[rses]
& mules were stolen. Bells were found cut off from horses
laretts cut an arrow picked up, & much indian sign the trail
was finally found to have followed the road east at about 9
oclok A company of 20 horsman put on after the trail, it
looks gloomy here, to see so many men women & child[ren]
here in the mountains with their horses & cattle stolen &
breaking down so late in the season & 30 horses being taken
by the Indians from the Pioneer Camp & 20 from the other
Camps last night which will nearly or quite cripple us
all of our camps have remained stationary through the day. The Camps assem
bled in the evening for a meeting & was addressed By O. Pratt H. C. Kimble
& B Young O Pratt gave a description of the valley, H. C. Kimball exhorted
the saints to faithfulness & President Young gave much instruction
& council to the camp upon a variety of subjects all spoke much to our
edifycation. During the evening two of our Brethren returned who
had been in persuit of the horses & brought back five of them
~ Friday
10th We parted with our friends this morning who were going west
they started on their journey, & those of us who had not lost horses
divided with those who had & we harnessed up what teams we had
left & travled 16 miles & camped on the sweet water we met
the remainder of our Brethren returning from persuing the horses
but did not obtain any more of them, the enemy escaped with
43 of our horses we have had a plesant day but vary windy 16
16 miles
~ Saturday
11th We travled 21 miles mostly sandy road which made it hard
drawing for our horses. We saw large droves of antelope but ownly
one was killed we camped on the sweet water 21 miles
It was a warm plesant day
~ Sunday
12th Sunday we travled 21 miles & camped on the sweet water about
200 miles from fort John. Just before camping we saw a herd of
Buffalo Bulls 11 in number About one dozen footman with their
guns put after them as we had no meet in camp I mounted a
small mule with a brace of pistols & a 7 shooter pistol I was the
ownly horsman in chase we drove them into a canion of the
mountiain whare they could not get away & we surrounded [them]
the footman shot 3 times into the herd & they jumped of[f] a precipice
25 feet one broke his neck in the fall & droped dead the remai-
nder came rushing by me I gave them chase run into the herd
& drove out two of them which we killed with our pistols &
rifles so we got 3 of them which made us plenty of meat 21 m
~ Monday
13th We travled 20 miles & camped on the sweet water one mile east
of Devils gate 4 miles west of Independance rock we had strong wind
during the day I was afflicted with severe cold & headake distance 20
~ Tuesday
14th We travled 14 miles & camped on a small creek. While on
the road Br Mathews horse got away from him & went back 7 m
Br Young & Egan went back after him we stoped at the Salaratus
lake & filled our bags with salaratus it was cut out in cakes a foot thick
this lake is 3 miles east of Independance rock we had a hard storm
of rain in the mountains & considerable rain fell in the valley whare
we was the roads was vary sandy 14 mil
we saw a number of herds of buffalo to day
~ Wednesday
15th We travled 25 miles & camped at night at the springs
within 12 miles of platt river we did not get through untill
9 oclock we saw many buffalo during the day 25
~ Thursday
16th We drove the Platt river & crossed the ferry &
camped we saw many buffalo to day a bull followed my
waggon for half a mile Br Stillman went to drive him off
& he seemed determined to give him battle so we drove on
& left him & he went his way we have scarcely had any feed
for several days drive for our horses we find it better on the platt 2
~ Friday
17th We started out on a buffalo hunt this morning but after view[ing]
the Hills & Plains we could not see any buffalo cows & as bulls we[re]
poor this season of the Year we would not kill any of them so
we returned to camp, harnessed our horses & drove 12 miles & camped
on the Bank of the Platt, grass quite good, on the way I exhamined
the grave stone of a young man who was drowned while swiming
the river in the spring He was one of the Mo emigrants going to Oregon
It is warm plesant weather (distance 12
~ Saturday
[FIGURE]
18th We travled 18 miles & camped on deer Creek which abounds with
game I walked up the Creek with my gun 2 miles I came near a large
griselly bear quarelling with her cubs I did not think it prudent to appr[o]-
ach her alone I crossed the Creek & went on to a high bluff & she
came out onto an open place whare I had a view of her I found
she was working down the creek towards the Camp, I went to Camp
& reported & Brother's Young, Kimball, Richards & Benson walked up
the creek to vew a coal mine and they came within 4 rods of the
old bear with two cubs before they saw her the old bear took after them
Br Kimball shot at her with his rifle but did not hit her Br Benson
could not get his rifle off Br Young shot at the cubs 3 times with a
7 shooter pistol knocked one of them over but he got up & followed th[e]
mother who rose a high bank whare the Brethren stood they left
the ground & retreated to a high rock, the bears then left following them
& took to the timber. Soon men & dogs were on the ground from Camp
but it became dark & the dogs would not follow & we gave up the cha[se]
I was 20 rods from the Brethren when the bear attacked them & did
not see it. There were two antilope killed to day and a Frenchman 18 mile
that was travelling in Company with us shot a vary fat buffalo cow
& distributed a good share of it in our camp which was excellent
eating there was also two buffalo bulls killed today
~ Sunday
19th Sunday. Early this morning a company of hunters crossed the
river to get some buffalo cows in a herd near by, in the chase Br
Mathews horse fell with him but did not hurt him, the others continued
on & killed one cow & two black tailed deer while this was going on
the Twelve with many others went up the creek to see if they could
get the bears but we could not find them I came in sight of 3
deer & shot 3 times at them with a coarse sighted rifles & shot over
them evry time Brother Barnham shot one of them I went a little
above & saw about 50 Antilope in a flock feeding on the plain I got
within 30 rods of one of them & shot him dead in his tracks I brought
my horse up to put him onto his back to pack him into Camp and I
laboured hard one hour before I could get the horse willing to let me
put the animal on his back I was 5 miles from camp & walked & led
my horse in the antilop was fat. We then harnessed up & drove
9 miles & camped on Fourchebaise Creek 9 miles
~ Monday
20th We travled 30 miles we crossed dry creek, little timber, & camped
Big timber, did not get through untill 9 oclok at night had great difficulty in
finding grass as the other camps had eat it off. A boy by the name of Judson
Persons did not get into Camp but lay out 10 miles from camp. 30 miles
[FIGURE]
~ Tuesday
21st A cloudy morning. At about 9 oclock the call was made to
get up the horses. I started for the horses which was in the timber abou[t]
half a mile from Camp I got about two thirds of the way to the hors[es]
when one of the most exciting seenes wcommenced I ever witnessed
I herd the report of several ^guns^ in quick succession and herd the guard cr[y]
Indians, Indians, And in less than a minute the timber & bluffs were lined
with mounted Indians charging with all speed upon our guard, horses &
camp they shot at two or three of the guard but missed them they
took one of the guard & tryed to carry him off on a horse. He knocked one
of them down with his fist & got away from them some of the
Brethren snaped their guns at them but they did not go off, as
soon as I herd the report of the guns, & the cry of Indians & saw
them driving off our horses & gathering thick & fast upon every
hand & being without either horse or arms I run to the camp with
all speed & gave the alarm & called upon all to gather their arms &
mount their horses. Brothers Kimball, Rockwood, Mathews, & ^99^
several others sprung onto their horses with their guns & pistols & run
to stop the horses which the Indians were taking away one party of
Indians had driven 5 or 6 Horses & Mules over the Hills Br Kimball
took after them. two Indians had gone over the Bluff with my
Horse & Mule Brother Rockwood took after them. At the same
time about 20 horses came rushing toward Camp which the Indians
had frightend Br Young with great exhertion with the assistance
of one or two other Brethren succeding in stoping them & getting
them into camp. As soon as I arived in camp I opened my trunk
took out my belt containing 8 pistol shots & harnessed it onto
myself as quick as possible put a saddle & bridle onto a broken
down horse for the want of a better one & I mounted without
spur or whip & started for the chase after my own horses. I
could not travel vary fast over the rough ground & bluffs on a
poor horse but I went as fast as I could. As soon as I left camp I
began to rise the bluffs I saw Indians gathering thicker & faster upon
every hand & began to close in between me & the camp. As I passed
by one Indian he was priming his gun. But I continued the chase
As soon as my horse & mule got over their fright & got out of
sight of camp, they tryed to return to camp & troubled the Indians
about driving them and Brother Rockwood soon came near
them and one stoped & met him when they found they were
overtaken & professed friendship the other still tried to drive off
the horses Br Rockwood fired a pistol at him & he run & left
the horses & the other Indian left also & Rockwood son soon started my
horses towards ^me^ I soon came up to his assistance & some other Brethren also
came up & assisted me in ketching them & while I was doing this near
40 Indians surrounded Br Kimball who started for the other
horses. some of the Brethren started to his assistance after I had
started for camp with my horses. Indians were also upon evry
side of me untill I got into camp I secured my horses insid the
camp and by this time about 150 warriors had gatherd to gether
close to our camp all dressed in the greatest stile for a war charge
and the old chif began to address to the top of his horse voice
the Indians and also our camp, tlelling us they were good Sioux and
they thought we were Crows or snakes. When they found they could not
get any more of our horses & 3 had been retaken which they stole they then
professed friendship there was 11 horses taken by the Indians they number
ed at about 200 warriors on the ground & well mounted & their was not over
20 of our men including the guard that was engaged in any way in stoping
the horses, or saving them, or retaking those that were stolen. Br Gould
took one Indian horse & all and another Indian brought back Thomas
Woolsays horse which was among the stolen & exchanged him for the Ind
ians horse, this with my two horses were the ownly ones retaken during the
skirmish. But when the Indians gatherd before the camp they saw we
as a body were armed & that we knew them & had fed them & treated
them kindly while on our way to the valley. the old Chief then proposed
that we smoke the pipe of peace. And also said that if our chief pointing
to President Young would go to their Camp they would smoke with him
& give him up the horses which his men had taken but Brother Young did
not feel well & we did not think it prudent for him to go, while in this
conversation Br Kimball who had been out on the chase after the horses
returned bare headed (having droped his hat) was accompanied by Br Benson
& in riding into camp rushed his horse through the midst of the Indians
& they fearing some treachery or that he was an enemy coming upon them
in their rear, they instantly leaped upon their horses, scattered & rushed from
the camp some runing into the creek all appeared in great fright. But as soon
as they saw there was no evil at hand they returned & took their places &
had a harty laugh at their fright. Br Kimball volenteered to accompanied
the Chief into his camp in the place of Br Young that we might get our
horses I volunteered & also Stephen Markham to go with Br Kimball
on the expedition so we three mounted our horses & set out accompanied
by a Frenchman (who could speak a little sioux language) & the Indians to
find their Camp; they told us it was one mile we travled 7 miles over
Bluffs & valleys & came in sight of their Camp some 3 miles from us
moving towards us. so we called a halt & waited for them to come up
they came & pitched about 100 lodges & their was about 600 Indians
many women & children & they brought with them about 1000 horses &
mules nearly all of them we supposed were stolen from emigrants &
& other tribes. their encampment presented quite a grand, interesting & amusing
scenery among their horses we readily discoverd ours which was stolen
the night we camped we camped with Br Grants Company we lost
49 that night which they had among their number. The old Chief called
the war Chiefs & placed them on his left hand & ourselves on his right & set down
upon the grass & filled a long pipe with Kennickenick & smoked & passed it
to his Chiefs they smoked & passed it to us we also smoked he then pointed to
us to pick out our horses which we undertook to do but found it no easy
task to pick out 7 or 8 horses scattered through one thousand others for
one or two miles up & down the creek however after a laborious search
we got all but two that was stolen this morning. We then spoke to him
about the 49 horses which they had stolen from us before, they ackn
owledged they had got the horses & gave us some incouragement of
letting us have them when they got to Laramie but would not let us
have them then they however let us have one of them ownly the
brethren brought about 3 bushels of salt as a present to him we then
returned to camp with our horses, which ended the business of the
day the Camp did not move but few rods I travled about 18 m
It rained some during the night
~ Wednesday
22nd A cool rainy morning it seemed to be the equenoxial stomr tho[u]gh
not vary tedious we thought it wisdom to leave the ground &
continue our journey we travled 18 miles & camped on Bitter
creek we had but little grass but plenty of water 18 mile
~ Thursday
23rd we travled to day 30 miles & camped at night at the wa[rm]
spring we did not get through untill 9 oclok at night the moon
shone most briliantly we took our horses forward to the spring to
water them & then drove our waggons on the South road half a mile.
Camped for the night found some bunch grass for our horses 30 m
~ Friday
24 we rode to Laramie Br Young Kimball Benson & myself dined
with Mr Burdow we talked with him about our stolen horses
He informed us that our company with the ox teams lost every horse
they had, but they had got every them all back but 5 He gave us some
encouragement of sending an interpeter with us to get our horses. we
crossed the Platt & pitched our camp about 3 miles from the fort
during the evening President Young called the camp together
and addressed them at some length. Appointed 10 men to go & visit the Ind-
ians to get the stolen horses & about 40 men to follow after to assist in
case of necessity Br Young gave much instruction upon principle
& improving upon manners, temper, & interest in the general welfare of
the Church & kingdom of God distance of the day 12 m
~ Saturday
25th The Companies prepared themselves this morning to start on their
expedition. the first company of 10 men commanded y Col Mark-
ham started by 9 oclok the other Company numbered 25 men comma
nded by Br Benson started at 10 oclock Brs Young & Kimball went to
the fort it was not long before both companies returned as they ascerta-
ined at the fort that a man had gone forward to inform them of
our coming & to have them cash up their horses. we also recieved
word in the evening that Johnson & Little had returned on the road
back, had fallen in with Comodore Stockton who was from the
Bay of Francisco accompanied with 40 men going to the States Brs
Young & Kimball made a purchase of some 40 buffalo robes
which were some damaged & unmerchantable they everaged about
$1.50 each, they also bought 3 cows at $15 each. during the afterno-
on I went out on patrool picket guard
~ Sunday
26th Sunday Brs Johnson & Little reached the fort this morn-
ing with 2 other Brethren & brought into our camp 10 horses which
they had drove on west to meet us with. we were truly glad to
see them & their hosses [horses] to as they would be some help to us
as theye Indians had taken so many of our horses that we had
as much as we could do to get along & our horses are growing
poor daily Brs Young & Kimball & others dined with Comodore
Stockton at the fort I spent the fore part of the day washing
my clothes rubed the skin of my fingers into the flesh we
harnessed up at 3 oclok & drove 3 miles & camped on the platt
many in Camp are out of both bread & meat I have divided
my bread & meat untill I am nearly out myself. 3 m
~ Monday
27th We travled 8 miles & fed & took breakfast we then travled 12 miles
& camped for the night on the bank of the Platt in the midst of
a plenty of grass & a grove of cottonwood near a good harbor for
both deer & Indians we saw several deer and a large drove of
antelope it was a warm plesant day we mowed grass for our horses
to stand by overnight 20 miles
~ Tuesday
28th we drove 8 miles & took breakfast we saw about 50 Indians mak-
ing off towards the bluffs on the South side of the river we drove
12 miles & camped on the Platt 5 miles west of scotts Bluffs 20 m
A drove of antilope run through our camp & we killed two of them
~ Wednesday
29th We passed Scotts Bluffs & took breakfast we saw a large com
pany travling on the opposite side of the river we could not tell whether
they were Indians or Capt Stockton & Co they pitched their lodges
about 10 miles back of us. we killed one Buffalo Bull to day 22 miles
~ Thursday
30th we travled 20 miles & camped on the Bank of the Platt
Mr Bewshaw the Indian traider camped on the opposite Bank. of
our Brethren got some meat of[f] him He will come over with his
Indians & surround some buffaloo & kill for uu [us] in the morning
~ Friday
OCT 1st 1847 A warm plesant day A good share of the
Camp are out of bread & meat & they are preparing to go out
to day to surround a herd of buffalo & get some cows a company
of Indians came over to go to the hunt & expected us to go with them
2nd we were afterwards informed but we did not go untill several hour[s]
afterwards we then went in search of them but found neither
Indians or dead buffalo they came in at night & brought some
meat with them for themselves but none for us. Comodore Stockton
arived at night & camped with us or nearby & said he would like
to accompany us
~ Saturday
2nd we were informed this morning that Comodore Stockton
had changed his mind & concluded to go down on the north side
of the river Accordingly he crossed over with his troop our company
bought some half a dozen horses of Rashaw we then started on the
Journey, the Brethren killed a fat buffalo cow neare the road we
stoped the camp & dressed the meat & took it along which detained
the camp some we travled 13 miles & camped on the Platt. In the
evening Br Markham & myself went out to see if we could get any
buffalo cows we saw some of the Brethren dressing a young boll
which they had killed we could not find any cows and we would
not shoot bulls though they came so near me I stoned them off
with stones I was quite surprised to see with what expertness the buffalo
would clime the mountains & rocks they would go in places whare
horned cattle would never think of going, some steps in the rocks in the[ir]
path was more than 6 feet high in perpendicular rocks. we shot a wolf
a deer, stoned a bull & got neither of them & returned to camp 13 m
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I lef camp as daylight was appearing in company with
Luke Johnson, for the purpose of getting ofsome meat the wolves
that had rent the air through the night with their howls was
dispersing in all directions as we passed along mounted upon our horses
they were evry size & couler of their race the beautiful swan in flocks
were floating upon the Platt which aded beauty to the scenery, we
soon saw a large herd of buffalo about 6 miles from camp & 2 from
the road. we left our horses & stole upon them the best we could
their picket guards were frighted several times we managed to quell their
fears. their is no well disiplined Army of men that are more particular to have
an old experienced guard on a closs look out than a herd of buffalo. by
going under a bank we passed there guards & lay conceled untill we
were surrounded & the main bodies of them were coming onto us with
a heavy filanxs of bulls meeting us in the face with hundreds of cows follow
ing in the rear when they approached within 2 or 3 rods of us we
thought it quite time to be up & doing even for our own safety I had a
single load in my rifle & a brace of Pistols Br Johnson had a slide
of 6 loads in his rifle we rose, he fired twice, I reserved my fire untill
he had discharged his two balls, the whole body broke & run from us. He had
killed none I fired at a Young cow put a ball through her sholdier
but she hobbled over a ridge Johnson mounted a horse & followed
a little distance after them I walked over the ridge & shot my
wounded Cow through the hart strings & lungs & she droped dead which
was the ownly one we got out of the herd we travled a few mile[s]
further & Br A Lyman killed two more & an antilope all of whi[ch]
was brought into camp & distributed large herds came near our camp
in the evening distance of the day 9 m
~ Monday
4th Travled 8 miles & nooned the Frenchman had killed 4 fat
cows a part was divided in camp. 4 Sioux came to us, we
travled 8 miles & camped for the night we have seen immensed
herds of buffalo through the day near us distance of the day 16 m
~ Tuesday
5th This morning at day light a company of 10 men was dispatched
on foot to overtake the ox teams & stop them untill we should
come up as our horses was breaking down from a bo^a^rd stuck in
the ground we learned they had stoped 5 days for us &
killed & dryed 30 buffalo cows & were still about one week
ahead of us we travled to day 13 miles & camped opposite
Ash hollow we have constant fine beautiful weather
to journey in the grass is getting dry & not much substance
in it & our horses are failing upon it I am thoroughly
convinced that oxen are far preferable to either horses or
Mules for such a journey esspecially if they return in the
fall distance 13 miles
~ Wednesday
6th We travled 14 miles & camped on the Bank of the Platt we over-
took 2 of the Brethren who went with A Lyman & Co to overtake
the Ox teams there was 2 Buffalo Cows & 2 Calves killed to day 14
~ Thursday
7th It appeared like a cold storm gathering this morning but it
sprinkled a little & cleared off we met in the fore part of the
day Capt Joseph Walker (Capt Freemont guide through Calafornia)
also Mr Pappan the main Proprieter of Fort Laramie He was quite
displeased because Burdeau did not send an interperter & get our
horses. They informed us the Mexican war was still continued
& that 500 troops would be stationed near Winter quarters
untill spring they would then go to the Head of Grand Island
& build a fort also one at Laramie, and one on Green River
the pretention for building these forts is said to be for the purpose
of protecting the Oregon Emegrants. We sent letters by Capt Walker
to the valley via fort Bridger. He informed us that 100 miles south
of the Utah lake was an excellent country for farming purposes we
continued our journey & camped near a creek on the Platt &
obtained a letter from Wm Clayton one week ahead of us &
still going ahead 13
~ Friday
8th We travled 8 miles & nooned soon after we stoped a large body
of animals appered in sight over the Bluff we at first thought it was
a band of mounted warriors but by the aid of our glasses we found
them to be a band of one hundred or more Elk they made a splended appe-
arance they were about one mile from Camp several of us took our guns &
went after them they were as large as good sized mules I went up a
swail of tall grass the band came within 10 rods of me their horns
waveing in the wee air upbove the weeds like Rocking chairs. The Bucks
were in advanc as the does were the best this season of the year I drew
my gun to my face & waited for one to come in sight. At this instant
another man came up behind me & they saw him & broke & run he
shot at them as they run but did no good they ran near a
Frenchman who shot a doe through the neck & he fell dead the
ownly one killed out of the band though several shots were made
I got a piece of it for my supper the first Elk meat I ever ate
we travled 7 miles & camped on the Bank of the Platt we crossed
many pure streams of water to day distance 15 m
~ Saturday
9th We travled 15 miles & camped on Junktion Bluff fork we
had 2 sandy bluffs to cross to day our horses are still failing
more & more 15 m
~ Sunday
10th Sunday The quorum of the Twelve met together & had
a prayer meeting. the camp moved 3 miles in the evening to
better feed. 3 m
~ Monday
11th we travled 10 miles & camped on the Platt above the
Junktion at 3 oclok I went to the Bluff after some Buffalo I got
into a large herd & shot a cow but did not fall but went off
with the herd. In returning to camp darkness over took me I
could not see the camp so I made for the river I had to waid
through swails for 20 rods nearly to my hips in mud & water
I passed through the midst of plenty of ducks gees swan &
wolves I saw one animal of the cat kind which I took to be
a links I struck the platt 4 miles below camp & got in weary
hungry & weary & learned that Br Egbert had killed a cow
& calf at the Bluffs & a company had gone after them &
could not find the camp had like myself to wallow through
the swails we had to raise lights on poles to light them in, one
got lost & did not get in untill 10 oclok 10 m
~ Tuesday
12th I had a question put to me by President Young what my
opinion was concerning one of the Twelve Apostles being appointed
as the President of the church with his two councellors. I
answered that a quorum like the Twelve who had been appointed
by revelation & confirmed by revelation from time to time
I thought it would require a revelation to change the order
of that quorum.* we travled 8 miles & nooned. Br Stillman
shot a buffalo cow I went with my carriage into the Bluffs
about 2 miles & we dressed it which took untill near night I shot
at 2 calves & got neither of them, we did not get into camp
untill 9 oclok at night & Br Stillman & myself worked untill
1 oclok cutting & salting up meat I got but little sleep 16 m
* Whatever the Lord inspires you to do in this matter I am with you
~ Wednesday
13th Our horses are failing more & more daily several gave out today
we travled 14 miles & camped on the north fork of the Platt we
begin to come again to some timber, some buffalo were killed
to day & large herds near us 14 m
~ Thursday
14th We travled 15 miles & camped on the Platt or rather a slew
runing into it, it was cool & windy 15
~ Friday
15th We travled 14 miles to day & camped on the Platt 14 m
nothing of particular interest occured during the day
~ Saturday
16th we travled to day out of the buffalo range & camped on the
Platt. Just before camping our Brethren who had been sent on
to over take the ox teams came to us except two continued on
they could not gain upon the teams & gave it up. Br Luke
Johnson came near being killed by a herd of buffalo travelling
in the night. A large herd came upon him suddenly & he was
caught in the midst of thems & could not get out & the herd
was some 15 minutes passing him & the ownly way he kept them
from treading on him was by hollowing & striking & punching
them with his cane on each side of him as they came along
& they would open just wide enough for him to stand as they
passed along 15
~ Sunday
17th Sunday as we had not meat enough to carry our Camp
to winter Quarters it was thought wisdom for a company
of hunters to return back a few miles with some waggons to
the buffalo herds & procure some more meat. Twelve of us
returned back 10 miles with three waggons A Lyman &
myself was among the number, we pitched our camp in
a little timber on a slew of water & we killed two buffalo
during the evening & brought in including buctchers
& teamsters there was about 20 of us & we were all hungry
& after cleaving the body of the meat from the
bones our company roasted the bones, & for our supper
& breakfast we used up the bones of both buffaloes it
is almost incredible what amount of roasted buffalo
meat a hungry man will eat without salt or bread &
not make him sick. there is no other meat known that
a man can eat as much of. The hump bones of a fat
buffalo roasted is the most choice eating of any meat kind
the leg bones are also filled with marrow more choice than
butter & yield a great quantity which we roasted & drank
the melted marrow without bread. We should have made
a delightful picture for an artist to have drawn the scenery
around our fireside. After all had eaten to our full satisfaction
we prepared to make our beds for the night, it was cold & blew
a perfect gale. we made choice of a thicket of willows under a bank
for our lodging place for the night we lay down on the ground & covered
ourselves over with our blankets & robes & had a good nights rest 12.
~ Saturday
18th At daylight 4 of us went to the Bluffs to exahamine the posit-
ion of the herds of buffalo, we saw many both on the Hills & flats
we returned to Camp took our breakfast of roast meat then divi-
ded & went out two by two, Luke Johnson went with me about 3
miles from Camp, we came upon 3 wild horses upon the side of the
bluff, they were splendid looking animals but the most wild
of any animals I ever saw. After returning to the Bluffs we found
that the herds on the upland were travling to the N. & N.E & the ownly
way to obtain meat was for the hunters to confine themselves to the
herds on the flat they did so & killed nine buffalo but seven of them
was dressed & brought in & wolves feasted on the other two. we got
council from Camp for us to return early in the morning & not
tary any longer, we travled in our hunt during the day 16 m
~ Tuesday
[FIGURE]
19th Early this morning we prepared ourselves to return to camp. the
company of hunters started a little before the waggons, we had got
about a mile on the way when we discoverd 7 men about 2
miles from us coming from some scattering timber we at first
took them to be Indians on foot we saw they were approach-
ing us we soon found however they were mounted white men
we then thought they were troops. they soon charged upon
us with all speed, we stood ready with our arms in hand
to meet them, but when they came up to our great surprise
& joy we found them to be the Policce of Winter Quarters led
by Brother Hosea Stout. they informed us that 16 of them had
come from Winter Quarters to meet our camp thinking we
might need some help the remainder of the party stoped at our
main camp, we stoped our teams & returned with then to
our camp ground & got the Brethren some breakfast out of the fat
Buffalo. & while this was going on we were busy in asking many questio[ns]
about our wives & children & friends & affairs at Winter Quarters & they
were truly welcome messengers & like Angels unto us. It was truly like
good news from a far country to hear from our families & friends
once more. We travled together through the day and arived in
Camp at 8 oclok in the evening & had an interview with the rest of
the Brethren from Winter Quarters it was truly a happy meeting
I spent the evening at Dr Richards waggon reading the papers con-
cerning the Mexican War, the Ship fever making devastation
through the land, & other affairs through the United States
It was truly interesting day to me. distance 25
~ Wednesday
20th The meat we had killed, this morning was divided in
camp we then continued our journey it had much the appear
ance of a cold storm, from the no[r]th East it did rain some
during the day we travled 30 miles & camped upon grand Island
it was a tedious cold day & night we fed our horses on rushes &
Cotton wood 30 m
~ Thursday
21st We travled 16 miles & camped on wood river fed our horses
on rushes & cotton wood it has been cold to day 16 m
~ Friday
22nd We travled 14 miles & camped on the open prairie by a slew of
water I have taken cold & did not feel well to day 14
~ Saturday
23rd We crossed the country 23 miles to day over broaken sandy land
to the Lou fork of the Platt & camp on the bank of the stream
at the ford it was a warm plesant day we had nothing but dry grass
to feed our horses on at night which is poor feed to work on 23 miles
~ Sunday
254th Sunday we tried to ford the Lou fork several men crossed on hor[se]-
back there horses fell & plunged the men into the water, several
waggons followed, horses got stalled into the quick sand & waggons
had to be halled out by hand & it was given up for the day
the Camp moved down the river one mile & camped for the
day it was vary cold & windy & a snow storm at night
which made it bad on our poor weak horses we cut
down cotton wood trees & fed them on the limbs
~ Monday
25th [FIGURE] we spent about 2 hours searching for a ford
the water was cold some snow on the ground in the
morning it disappeared after the sun got up we found
a ford and all got over much better than we expect
some of the first teams got down & had to be helped
out as soon as the road was packed we went well
we travled 10 miles & camped on the platt at an old
Indian town. A company was fitted out for winter
Quarters I wrote a letter to Mrs Woodruff 10
~ Tuesday
26th We travled to day 20 miles & camped at the old Pawnee
Missionary Station whare we stoped going up the missionaris had
been reinstated & built several buildings during the summer but
the sioux had come down & drove them of off again we put
our horses into a small patch of oats we went through the cor[n]
fields that had been gatherd to try to glean a little corn for our
horses I worked 3 hours & got 1 1/2 bushels of ears distance of the day 20
~ Wednesday
27th We travled 25 miles & camped whare the Paunees visited
while going up we got in late & fed on cotton wood 25 miles
~ Thursday
28th We travled 23 miles & camped on shell creek 23
Shuah Carter Woodruff was born 5 oclok this morning
~ Friday
29th We travled 25 miles & camped at the liberty pole fed on
cotton wood & rushes 25
~ Saturday
30th We travled 15 miles & camped on the east side of the Horn
we met in the afternoon & arangements was made about going
to Winter Quarters on the morrow the order of going &c 15
A company ofi about 20 waggons arivead about sundown from winter
Quarters to meet us Brothers Cutler Whitney & many other friends were
among the number & we were truly glad to meet with them they
brought corn for our horses & food for ourselves & we had quite
a feast for supper Br John Fulmer gave me an account of the
progress of the Mexican war that Gen. Scott had taken Mexico with
the loss of 17th00 men killed & many wounded & no prospect of peace
we spent a good share of the night in conversing upon a varie-
ty of subjects 15
~ Sunday
31st ^Sunday^ A Strong wind we all got our breakfast & organized for
going to Winter Quarters the company that came out to met
us went in front & our encampment followed we had a hard
days drive as our horses were worn down we travled hard
through the day when within about one mile of Winter Quarters
we made a halt and the company was drawn up in order & addressd
by President Young & dismissed we drove into the city in order
the streets were lined with people to shake hands as we drove along
each one drove to his own home I drove up to my own door & was
truly rejoiced to once more behold the face of my wife & children again
after being absent over sevenix months and having travled with the
Twelve & the Pioneers near 2,500 miles & sought out a location for the Saints
and accomplished one of the most interesting mishions ever accomplished
in the last days Mrs Woodruff had been confined with a daughter 3
days previous to my arival mother & daughter doing well all was cheerful
& happy & we felt it a blessing to again meet distance from the Horn 30 m
~ Monday
Nov 1st The first day of winter we found on our arival that the Brethren
at winter quarters had been also greatly blessed in there labours in tilling
the earth that it had brought forth in great abundance of corn buckwheat
turnips & other vegitables & the city was full of hay & surrounded with corn
I had many calls during the day. I made my aranged my business with Br
Stillman & others
~ Tuesday
2nd I spent the day with Br Benbow getting polls for a
stable & yard
~ Wednesday
3rd I spent the day in council with the quorum of the
Twelve inCouncil was given to Br Little & going east
[FIGURES] I wrote 6 letters which I sent by Col Little
to the following persons Col Kane, I F Carter,
Ezra Carter sen, Sarah B Foss, Shuah Moulton & Leonard
Hardy we herd an interesting letter read from capt
Dan Jones of Wales. He could represent 1000 saints in
that land other letters were also read
~ Thursday
4th I spent the day making a stable & writing
~ Friday
5th [FIGURE] I spent the day in writing & attending Council with the
Twelve Col Little & others left to day we had some rain
during the evening
~ Saturday
6th We had a cold North East rain through the day I got thoroug[hly]
wet. I held a meeting during the evening with our company organi-
zation we appointed Captains to fill the places of those who had
gone to the Bason & began to right up the company again several of the
Brethren subscribed some corn & buckwheat to assist my stock &
& family we had a good time together
~ Sunday
7th Sunday I held a meeting with our word & gave an account
of our journey to the mountains & back. The High Council met
in the afternoon & Seventies in the evening
~ Monday
8th I met in Council with the Twelve Br Hyde was with us &
gave an account of his mission in England many things was spoken
~ Tuesday
9th I met in Council with the Twelve & High Council
~ Wednesday
10th I met in Council with the Twelve & High Council Br Cutler
had a mission appointed him the Merchant & Br Wooley was present
the feelings of the council was to let all merchants come among
us & bring as many goods as they please
~ Thursday
11th I spent the day drawing corn & straw
~ Friday
12th Br Phelps returned to day
~ Saturday
13th We met in Council with the Twelve & Br Phelps gave an
account of his mission during the season & the state of public feeling
upon a variety of subjects. He obtained a press type & paper to
take over the mountains
during the evening
14th I met in Council with the Twelve & it was considerd wisdom
for the Elders & some of the Twelve to go into the vineyard
~ Sunday
14th Sunday most of the Twelve met with the congregation
at the stand & gave an account of our journey & the country
which we had sought out in the great Bason. I went over
the river & held a meeting with the Saints on the east side
of the river, & then rode 12 miles up the Boyia & held a meeting
with a neighbourhood of saints & spent the night at Br Knoltons 14 m
~ Monday
15th I returned to winter Quarters with Br Potter & met in Counc[il]
with the Twelve O Pratt introduced the subject of the standing
& rights of the President & also of the quorum, O Pratt was followed
by G. A. Smith W. Woodruff & A Lyman & council adjurnd
untill tomorrow at 10 oclok
~ Tuesday
16 Council met according to adjournment & was called a Council
of social conversation & many interesting remarks were made by
the Quorum & closed by President Young who expressed hi[s]
views at length upon the subject of yesterday, & a vote was
taken that the President shall at all times have the privl[ege]
of reproving, rebuking, exhorting & teaching at all times as [he]
shall be led by the Holy Ghost. Council dissmissed
~ Wednesday
17th A hard rainy day I spent the time at home.
~ Thursday
18 A cold day I went over the river found some of my cattle
& returned home with 2 fish and a wild turkey
~ Friday
19th I spent the day at home
~ Saturday
20 I spent the day choreing
~ Sunday
21st Sunday I met at the stand some of the Twelve & the
congregation O Pratt iaddressed the congregation upon the
subject of the resurrection which was interesting to us all
Some had been teaching the doctrin that the resurrection
was by birth or through the womb but Br pratt showed
the folly of such a doctrin, & proved by many revelations
that the dead were raised by the power of God & the blow-
ing of the Trump of Michael the Ark Angel who was
Father Adam & that the graves of the Saints would
be opened & their bodies would come forth out of their
graves according to the visions of Ezekiel & many of the
prophets. He showed that however miracalous it might
appear unto us it was just as easy for God to perform
this work as it was to turn water into wine or make
bread without flour to feed a multitude
W Woodruff followed Br Pratt & bore testimony
to what had been said & spoke in the spirit of the Lord
~ Monday
22nd I went on the east side of the river & several Brethren donated
a load of corn to me I spent the day in picking it up I obtained
about 12 bushels of corn 2 bushels of turnips 2 bushels of buck-
wheat & brought it across the ferry
~ Tuesday
23rd Br Bills Started for Mo with my team after wheat I went
to Council with the Twelve & 70th most of the time was spent
in picking out names to go on a mission we chose 30 High priest
80 of the quorum of seventies
~ Wednesday
24th I called upon the division to assist me in getting wood
I went with my own team though it was an exceding cold day
we got up 5 loads of wood
~ Thursday
25 I spent most of the day in getting 2 bushels of buckwheat
ground for the mill was crouded to overflowing with bags
men, women, & children all (but the bags) pleading to get
grinding done
~ Friday
26 I spent the day at home choreing
~ Saturday
27th In company with G. A. Smith I crossed the river &
rode to Br Millers settlement & spent the night with Br Guy
man & conversed with one of the Battalion who returned
with Gen Carney. He gave an account of their journey 14 m
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I met a large congregation of Saints at the
meeting house & addressed them for one hour & was
followed by G A. Smith we had a good meeting, I also
preached in the evening to Br Kelly's & had the spirit of
the Lord I spent the night with Br Kelly 6 m
~ Monday
29th I returned home to winter Quarters drove home som[e]
cattle for Br Bills, there was a meeting in the evening for
those who were going out preaching Br Young addressed
them I was not present 14 m
~ Tuesday
30 I met in Council with the Twelve & the Presidents of
the seventies Wm. W. Phelps & Br Jacobs was called before
the Council for taking an improper course in some things
Br Jacobs was mostly cleared & the blame fell upon Br Phelps
the decision of the president was that Br Phelps should go forth
into the waters of baptism & repent of his sins, much council
was given upon the subject. How strange it is that the Elders of Israel
will transgress the Laws of God while abroad in the vineyard
The subject of appointing three of the Twelve as the Presidency of
the Church Br Young said by persuing this course it would liberate
the quorum of the Twelve that they might go to the Nations of
the earth to preach the gospel many remarks were made upon the
subject & council adjourned
~ Wednesday
Dec 1st 1847 I spent the day at home choreing
~ Thursday
2nd In company with the quorum of the Twelve I crossed
the river & rode to the miller settlement Br Richards and
myself spent the night with Henry Miller 12 m
~ Friday
3rd. The Twelve met in conference with the Saints on the east
side of the river according to previous appointment. President
Young addressed the meeting & was followed by J. A. Smith A Lyman
& W. Woodruff in the forenoon; & in the afternoon by H C Kimb[all]
& B Young. And conference adjourned untill next day
the most of the twelve spent the night at Br Daily's
Elder Appleby arived in our mids from Philadelphia & spent
the evening with us & gave us much information concerning the
wars & the state of the Nations & brought us a card of gold pens one
for each of the Twelve as a present from Col Kane. He also gave
an account of the state of the Churches in the east. We also
learned that many who had been enemies to the church were dead
Jackson who had a hand in the death of the Prophet died in
Mexico with the black vomit Mr Eagle is also dead, we were informed
that Gen Harding, Maj Warren & Capt Morgan with half of the
Quincy grays were killed in the Mexican war.
O Pratt & myself spent the night at Br Guymans
~ Saturday
4th Met in conferance according to adjournment G A. Smith addressed
the meeting a few moments but the House was so crouded we
could not do business President Young also made some remarks &
the Conference was adjorned for 3 weeks & the Conference resol[ve]d
to go to immediately & build a large log meeting House for the peop[le]
to meet in Henry Miller was appointed the committee, & about 200
gave their names to go to work immediately at it, it was to be built
about 65 by 40 in the clear but was to be under the direction of the
Twelve.
After meeting the Twelve rode to Br Chase & spent the
night, I spent the night with Br Isaac Behannan & Elie Chase 1[5]
~ Sunday
5 Sunday We rode to Br O. Hydes & spent the day & night we had
[FIGURES] an interesting time we had a good feast & went into
council, & Br Brigham Young expressed his feelings
concerning the organizing of the Church & appointing a first
Presidency this subject lies with wait upon my mind I have
been stired up to do this by the spirit of the Lord. He wished all
of the quorum present to express their feelings upon this subject
begining at the oldest & each one of the following persons expre-
ssed their feelings in rotation.
H. C. Kimball O. Hyde, O. Pratt W Richards W. Woodruff G A. Smith
A. Lyman & E T Benson, & many interesting remarks were
made by the various individuals who spoke. & we were
followed by President Young, after which Orson Hyde moved
that Brigham Young be the President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints & that he nominate his two
Councellors & they form the three first Presidency seconded
by W. Woodruff & carried unanimously. President Young
nominated Heber C Kimball as his first counceller seconded
& carried unanimously President Young nominated Willard
Richard as his second councellor seconded & carried unanimously
many appendages to this subject was conversed upon with
much interest we then adjourned, wente into Br Hydes
house & had a feast of pie & strawbury wine & retired to rest
~ Monday
6th We went into Council this morning several subjects were
conversed upon one was our posterity in this world & the osprigs [offspring]
of immorta Celestial & resurrected beings in the world to come
President Young remarked that our children in this life did not
look just like their parents but was a variety in looks &c & the
osprings of Celestial beings were spiritual bodies
Wm. W. Phelps was cut off from the Church for breaking the
laws of God.
It was decided in Council that if a man lost
his wife he was at liberty to marry again whare he pleased and
was justifyed.
Father John Smith was appointed by the
quorum of the Twelve As the first patriarch over the whole Church
President Young said the Twelve were at liberty to publish papers
in any part of the world whare they should be or take the
best course to spread the work, the twelve should superintend
the printing whareveer they were. And If the Twelve were going
abroad it would be well to ordain Elders out of new members
that were baptized & take with them to preach & there should
ownly one of the Twelve go to one place & call seventies to
their assistance. Our counsel adjourned. E T Benson &
myself rode to Elder Greens branch & attended meeting B Clapp
& Joseph Young preached W. Woodruff & E T Benson followed them
we had a good meeting, we spent the night at Br Carters 10 m
~ Tuesday
7th We rode [to] Br Dailys 3 miles it rained, hailed, & froze, which made
bad travling we found the brethren building the meeting House
in the afternoon in company with B Young H C Kimball W.
Richards I rode through a cold hail storm to the ferry & had some
difficulty in getting across the river 16 mils
I spent the night at home
~ Wednesday
8th [FIGURE] I went into the woods with Br Benbow & got a load of
willows I spent the evening at the Dr office hearing letters
read
~ Thursday
9th I met in Council with the Twelve & the presidency of the
Seventies John D Lee was brought up for trial for improper
conduct with his family After hearing the testimonie upon the
subject President Joseph Young reproved Br Lee vary sharply for
trying to cover his faults & justify himself in his errors for it w[as]
evident he had done wrong President Brigham Young backed up
Br Joseph Youngs reproof, & reproved Br Lee himself & required h[im]
to call his family together and to settle his difficulties [FIGURE]
I was in council with Br Young in the evening and part of the evening
I spent at his house
~ Friday
10th I killed a pig weighing about 150 lbs, & finished our stables
~ Saturday
11th I spent the day at home choping wood
~ Sunday
12th Sunday I preached in our ward at Br Pulsiphers & spent
the evening at Br W. Richards
~ Monday
13th I bought of Br Wild 220 lbs of pork & cut it up & salted it down
~ Tuesday
14th I spent the day at home & had a prayer meeting in our school
house
~ Wednesday
15th I spent the day at home choreing
~ Thursday
16th I met in Council with the Twelve & High Council the subject of
tighing [tithing], taxation, Policce &c was brought up President Young rema[rked]
that there was a great difference between the tighing & taxes for
tighing was a standing law of God for one tenth was required
of evry man & woman who was the head of the family & that
would probably [be the law] of the Church untill the coming of Christ but
taxes was leved according to circumstances
~ Friday
17th I spent the day at home
~ Saturday
18th I went into the woods with several Brethren to get wood
we got 4 loads
~ Sunday
19th Sunday I met in Council with the Twelve & herd the epistle of
the Twelve read & other letters in the afternoon we met with the
High Council. during the evening I met with the seventies I addre[ssed]
them in the spirit of the Lord Br Dykes spoke to the meeting con[cer]-
ning his own affairs
~ Monday
220th I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
21st [FIGURE] I met in council with the quorum of the Twelve we herd
the epistle read & corrected we then went into council with the
Presidency of the Seventies and Milo Andrews was brought upo[n]
trial for abusing his wife turning her away & marrying anoth[er]
Br H. C. Kimball addressed the Council & said that he had been to
the mountains & got an endowment & felt it in his bones & w[ant]-
ed to talk a little, he said the day had come when iniquity could
not be harboured in the Church, and men because they belong to my fa[mily]
or Br Brigham Youngs family will not be screened in wickedness I w[o]-
uld even turn over to the law of God sons out of my own loins if they
done wrong, will I suffer iniquity to go unpunished in others more th[an]
in my own sons? I tell you nay. Br Andrews has been adopted into
family but let the law of God have its demand upon him if it takes hi[s]
head off for a man had better ienter into life maimed than into
Hell with all his members. The accusations against Br Andrews
were then read some he acknowledged to & some were proven
against him after which President Young addressed the
meeting in an interesting manner & gave good teaching. He said a
man by seeking that which did not belong to him would loose
that which he seemeth to have as in this case Br Andrews by
unlawfully marrying this woman is now left without any wife
there is no Elder in this church [who has] any right to marry a woman to
a man who has a living wife, many men act like fools as soon as
they get an idea that women should obey their husbands & be passive in
their hands they will go to the woods & get a bundle of sticks & com-
mence whiping their wives to make them obey them in the first
place a husband should be a righteous man a man of God & rule his
houshold in righteousness & govern his wife with kindness & love & not
with a rod, club, or his fist, his conduct to his wife should be such
that she will love him with all of her heart and he should pray to
God that his wife & children which are jewels given him might be
saved & not taken from him that not any thing need be lost which
the father hath given him. He said that many men through their con-
duct would have taken from them that which they had & given to another.
He said that when a man had a jewel given to him he ought to prize it &
treasure it up & take good care of it & in process of time other jewels
might be given him of the Lord, but he should not undertake to
steal them for he could not keep them, and a man should not
be in a hurry to obtain any blessing or exhaltation that is not for
him & when he has proved himself faithful in all things before
God there is no good thing that will be withheld from him in
time or Eternity & many other good instructions were given
President Joseph Young followed with interesting remarks
& gave it as his opinion that Br Andrews ought to be cut off from
the Church for adultery, most of the quorum of the Twelve
spoke upon the subject also the presidents of the Seventies after
which it was moved & carried that Milo Andrews be cut off
from the church for adultery. it was also moved and carried
that the woman be cut off from the Church fromor adultery. It
was moved & carried that they both be left in the hands of the
Presidents of the Seventies meeting then adjurned and the
Twelve went into the recorders office & met in council
~ Wednesday
22nd I met in council with the Twelve, the Epistle was read
prepared for the Press some other letters read
~ Thursday
23rd I went over the river with the quorum of the Twelve and spent
the night at Council Point we had a meeting I addressed the meeting
and was followed by Brother Joseph Young we had a good meeting 10 m
~ Friday
LOG TABERNACLE CONFERENCE
24th This conference was opened at 10 oclok according to appointment, prayer
by O. Pratt W Woodruff addressed the meeting upon the object of calling
the conference & was followed by O Pratt upon the same subject, much
interesting teaching & instruction was given through the day by a number
who addressed the meeting. The Brethren on that side of the river during
the last three weeks had built a Log Tabernacle for this & other conferences
65 feet by 40 we felt that they had done a great work in so short a time.
After doing the business of the day the quorum of the Twelve spent the
evening in council at Br Richards I spent the night at Br Guymans
The conference was addressed to day by Presidents Young &
others of the Twelve upon a variety of subjects such as emegrating
to the west, the Brethren on the east side of the river, to assist President
Young & others on the west side with teams & waggons, much interesting
teaching & council was given through the day, and their was also
preaching in the evening. The Twelve met in council in the eveni[ng]
& spoke of appointing the first Presidency during the conference and
also named several men to fill up the quorum of the Twelve but it was
not decided who should be the men to fill up that quorum
~ Sunday
26th Sunday the Conference assembled at 10 oclok and was addressed by
Elder Apbleby in an interesting manner upon the political state of
the world the gathering of the Jews at Jerrusalem & many other
interesting things. He was followed by Br Kimball Lyman Benson &
others who spoke in the power of God, during the evening the meeting
was adressed by Professor Pratt & W. Woodruff both had the
spirit of speaking we numbered the people & they were found to
be about 800 in the House. I spent the night as usual with Br Richards
~ Monday
27th A larger number than ever assembled this morning. About 1000
souls got into the House Elder Kimball addressed the meeting this
morning in the Power of God rebuked wickedness and sin & warned
all to repent of their transgressions. The names of the seventies was
then called over and President Young remarked that it would not
be necessary to put them or be organized into quorums while here but
remain in a body under their presidents untill they arived at the
valley, that while any quorum of the seventies of twelve were full
though they might be scattered to the fore corners of the earth
would not be filled up in Zion or any place but when there was
a vacancy by death or aposticy then the vacancy might be filled
we learned from Presidents Youngs teaching that it was necess[ary]
to keep up a full organization of the Church through all time
as far as could be at least the three first Presidency quorum
of the Twelve Seventies, and Patriarch over the whole Churc[h]
&c so that the devil could take no advantage of us.
The subject was discused or spoke upon by O. Pratt concerning
the appointing of the first Presidency and Patriarch over
the whole Church others spoke upon the subject. It was then
moved secon[d]ed and carried universally that Brigham Young be the
President over the whole Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
President Young then nominated Heber C. Kimball to be his first
Councellor which was seconded and carried unanimously
President Young then nominated Wilard Richards as his second
councellor which was seconded and carried universally
It was then moved seconded and carried universally that
President John Smith be the Patriarch over the whole Church
Much important and interesting instruction was given upon
these and other subjects after which among which was the
subject of the resurrection spoken upon by President Young
He said there was nothing more to be learned by the people upon
the subject than what was written the subject was made
plain in the Bible and other revelations & it was not a subject
that we wanted to use & at the present time as we had not come to
the resurrection But there ^was^ no person except a resurrected body
who held the Keys of the resurrection. Michael the Ark Angel
or Ancient of Days who was Father Adam held the Keys of the
resurrection.
The Conference adjourned untill 10 oclock
on the 6th day of next April.
during the evening the people met with the band of music
at the tabernacle & spent the evening in music, singing &
dancing
~ Tuesday
[2]8th In company with the Twelve I crossed the river on the
ice & returned to winter quarters I was nearly sick, when I
reached home & had been was nearly all the when time at confer
ence 12 m
~ Wednesday
29th I attended a council with the Presidency & High cou
ncil and herd the report of Br Cutler who had been on a mis
[s]ion to the South his report was interesting it showed the Lord
was opening doors for the further progress of the work in the
earth esspecially among the Lamanites. may the Lord hasten
the work.
The Brethren put up my chimney to day which
had follen down
~ Thursday
30th I spent the day at home choreing Br Alger brought me a
load of corn to day, it was a damp wet day Br Wild spent
the evening with me
~ Friday
31st [FIGURE] This is the last day of 1847 I went to the mill and got
8 bushels of wheat ground I had an interview with President
Young in the morning upon a variety of subjects among which was the
object of going east on a mission. we were introduced to Mr Mulho-
land from Nauvoo and herd letters read from there Help me keep thy commandments O Lord
Thus ends annother Year which has been interesting and importa
nt year to the Saints. The Twelve Apostles with their brethren, one
hundred and fourty three souls as pioneers have made a journey more
than one thousands miles to the Rocky mountains and sought out a
place for a city, a stake of Zion, and a Temple of the Lord that the saints
may have a place to flee to while the indignation of the Lord passeth
over the nation that hath driven them out. Our Journey to the mountains
& back again to Winters Quarters with horse, mule, and ox teams has been over
2000 miles more than half of the journey we have had to make new roads
& with all of our exposures, sickness, & dangers not a human life has been lost
but all returned in safety and what is more singular still, not a horse mule
ox, cow, or calf was lost either going or returning except 2 horses shot by disobeying
council. The blessing of the Lord has been great upon us as a people during
the past year in all the various portions of the Camp of Israel. we have
now found a place to build a Stake of Zion whare the people can gather
together & build up Zion. The past year has shown forth the fulfi-
llment of Prophecy in the wars, rumours of wars, famins, pestilence,
distress of nations with perplexity and in many of the signs of the
times. The United States in their wars with the feble Nation of
Mexico have involved themselve in a debt of one hundred and fifty
millions of dollars besides the loss of twenty five thousand men
& twice that number to Mexico and their own expenses in the war, the
famine has raged in Irleland, the cholera through Europe, the breaking
of banks & merchants has distressed the people in England. The Baron
Rothchilds the rich Jew has become a member in the British Parliament
which is a new eary in the History of the Jews, & they the Jews are
gathering home to Jerrusalem by thousands what 1848 will bring to
pass in the History of the Church and Kingdom of God time must
determin and also in the History of the Nations of the Earth. May
the LORD hasten the gathering of Israel & the building up of Zion for
Jesus Christ Sake Amen
The following page contains a synopsis of my travels during the year of 1847
[FIGURE]
I Travelled 2619 Miles
The above distance was mostly from
Council Bluffs across the Rocky mountains
to the great salt lake, great Bason, North
America, and back agains
I attended with the Twelve 56 Councils
With the High Council 15 Councils
I Preached to the Saints 33 times
I Baptized 3 Persons
I Confirmed 122 Persons
I Ordained 1 Bishop
Of the Quorum of Seventies 1
I Blessed 12 Children
I Administered unto 30 Sick Persons
I Wrote 14 Letters
I Recieved 6 Letters
[FIGURE]
WILLFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL
FOR
1848
~ Saturday
Saturday January 1st 1848
During the evening in company with Mrs Woodruff I went to
Br Wilds to spend a new years evening
~ Sunday
2nd Sunday I met with the saints in our ward I addressed them
& was followed by Br Pulsipher Br Kington arived from garden
grove & spent the night with me
~ Monday
3 I went with Br Kington to the office to meet in council
with President Young but he was sick & not able to attend
and we returned home
~ Tuesday
4th President Young was still sick yet we met in Council
with him at his room the affairs of Garden groves was
talked over & the Twelve nominated Brs Scoval & Groves
to go with Br Kington & settle the affair during the evening
we had a meeting at the school house Br Kington spoke was
followed by Brothers Pulsipher, Porter, & several of the sisters
the meeting then closed by a spirited address from W.
Woodruff Br Kington spent the night with me
~ Wednesday
5th I spent the day at home writing
~ Thursday
6 I spent the day at home writing
~ Friday
7 In company with Mrs Woodruff I met with the quorum
of the Twelve & their Ladies to partake of a feast composed
of two large fat wild turkies & other rich food prepared by
Samuel Wooley we had an interesting feast & conversation
upon a variety of subjects among which was the spirit of God
and Holy Ghost, it was remarked that the spirit of God enli-
ghteneth every man that cometh into the world and when a
man was baptized for the remission of sins & hands laid upon
him for the gift of the Holy Ghost that blessing was sealed
upon him & tarried with him if he was faithful & as light
would recieve light & truth embrace truth the more of the
Holy Ghost a man had the more power he would have & the
more of the Holy Ghost would still cleave unto him and
other subjects were spoken off we spent the evening and
returned home
~ Saturday
8th I spent the day at home. In the evening I went to the
council House with Brs Kington & Benbow & the Twelve
& herd the Presidents message of the U.S. read which
took two hours & a half to read
~ Sunday
9th Sunday In company with Br Kington I went to Br
Phineas Richards & preached to the people I spent the evening at home
~ Monday
10th I spent the day at home. The following is the address
of Br W. J. Appleby Recklesstown ^P.O^ Binlington Co N.J.
~ Tuesday
11th I spent the day drawing wood and in the evening attended
the ward meeting
~ Wednesday
12th I took my family out to a ride in the carriage I rode through
through the great corn field 2 1/2 miles through it saw large flocks
of prairie chickens I shot one and brought it home 10 th
~ Thursday
13th Luther Scammans address is Lamoille, Bagurau ^Bureau^ Co Ill
He is situated 14 miles from Peru the termination of the canal
100 from Chicago 150 from Nauvoo,
[FIGURE] I wrote him a letter to day informing him that
we should probably visit him in the spring on our
way east. I also wrote a letter to Br Apbleby
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
14th & 15 th I spent the time at home choreing
~ Sunday
16th Sunday I took my wife & children into my carriage
& crossed the river on the ice and rode to the Log tabernacle
to attend the meeting, which opened at 11 oclock there being present
B. Young G. A. Smith & W Woodruff of the Twelve. G A Smith
opened the meeting by prayer and W Woodruff addressed
the assembly upon the subject of their being one in all things
& the gathering of Israel, building up of Zion, &c. And was
followed by President Young who made many good rema
rks [FIGURE] He said the Lord would give his spirit to teach and instruct
from the private member to the President of the church, but
he will never give any man or woman his spirit to dictate
& direct his file leader, he related an anacdote of a female
runing a race upon a great wager lost it by stoping on the way
to pick up a Jewel.
He said truly that if we were not one we
were not the Lords.
In speaking of the duties of the Priesthood
he said if this people holding the Priesthood should settle down
& go to cultivating the earth & entirely neglect the preaching
of the gospel the earth would open & swallow them up &
hide them from his sight.
The whole day & evening
was taken up in teaching & council
~ Monday
17th The fore part of the day was taken up in business & teach
ing & council the spirit of the Lord was with the people
Among other subjects President Young s[p]oke upon the subject
of danceing & said that danceing was not an ordinance of the
gospel or of the House of the Lord. But the organization of man
is such that it requires a variety, singing stimulates the whole
system & the mental mind to such a degree that they want to
dance, this is well enough in its place, every thing that is calcula
ted to fill the soul with Joy is ordained of God & is prpoper for
the Saints if they acknowledge God in all things & do not sin
but dont mingle with the wicked world & sin but serve the
Lord with it. And the ownly lawful place to dance is in a tem-
ple or a place of endowments, you will never see any music
or danceing in Hell neither Joy or gladness will be there but
these things will be in Heaven many other interesting rema-
rks were made.
The afternoon & evening was spent in music and danceing
the old grey headed man, with the young man, maiden and
children went forth in the dance together & praised the Lord
in the dance and all was peace and harmony
~ Tuesday
18th The fore part of this day was also spent in teaching
& giving council, the Twelve occupied most of the time
Two petitions were presented to the meetings for signitures
one for a county in the Potawattame tract of land in Iowa
and the other for a Post Office and the People were signing
them daily Br Henry Miller and others were appointed to go to
the Legislature of the State of Iowa to petition for the county &
$30 were raised by the people ^to^ bear their expenses many interesting
speaches were made by the people
The afternoon & evening of this day was also spent in singing
music & danceing, and at the close of the evening this
congregation were dismissed & other branches of the church
were to take it tomorrow as all could not get into the House
at the same time
~ Wednesday
19th We had a new & full congregation to day, the fore
part of the day was taken up as usual with teaching, instruction
& council & the spirit of the Lord was with us. the after noon
& evening was as usual spent in singing, music, & dancing, square
Merit, the Soux Indian agent, A Major, capt & Lieut. from Fort Carney
were present and seemed to be pleased with the appearance of
things
~ Thursday
20th This is the last day of our meeting with the Saints
at the Log tabernacle, the congregation was addressed at some
length by Br G A. Smith upon a variety of subjects giving advise
to the saints not to locate on the river bottom but go to the bluffs
& north whare there is a plenty of timber & open farms whare
there is plenty of room also advised them to pay their tithing
& not admit of making use of ardent spirits, & spoke upon
other subjects & was followed by W. Woodruff who backed up
the testimony of Br Smith after which several business matters
were taken up.
The afternoon & evening as usual was spent in singing, music,
& dancing at the close, President Young addressed the meeting
in an interesting manner, and said he wished the Saints to
get so quick in their understandings that when they herd his
tex that they might know his whole sermon without his preaching
it or stoping to explain evry item. And his text was now let
the Saints stop dancing for if you get up parties all over the
country here and go to danceing sin and iniquity will grow out
of it but all has been right here thus far I have watched you
& all has been in quiete & peacable & good order & the spirit of the
Lord has been here. And the President dissmissed the people
pronounceing the blessings of God upon the people. I with several
other of the brethren spent my time with Br Richards who
was vary kind in entertaining the Saints
~ Friday
21st We all returned home to our dwellings in Winter Quarters
it had been exeeding warm & plesant during our whole visit
at the Log tabernacle meeting & we found all well on our return
home. Br's Babitt, H. Kimball & Snider arived from Nauvoo
& returned to Winter Quarters with us & brought some papers
giving an account of the wars & distress of nations with famine
Pestilence & Judgment
~ Saturday
22nd I spent the day at home choreing
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday I preached to the saints in my ward was followed
by Brs Pulsipher & Porter & we had a good time and in the eve
ning I went to the Council House and met with a large assembly
Professor Pratt addressed them quite lengthy upon asstronomy
philosophy, and various principles which he had studied much upon
and also read a lengthy document which he had written which
was highly interesting to us. He advised the seventies to devote all
of their leasure moments to reading & study & fulfill the commandments
which says we should treasure up wisdom & knowledge by faith & by
study out of the best books that we may have a knowledge of things
in heaven & on earth of kingdoms & countries things which are at home
& abroad, the wars perplexities of nations &c In the lecture given by
Professor Pratt he intirely overthrows many of the systems of modern
phylosiphers & asstronomiers & modern reasoning in many respects, to
overthrow the gentile Christian Argument, "that God made the Heavens
Sun, moon, & stars and the earth & all that in them are out of nothing
in six days He said that it was admitted by modern phylosophers that
stars had been discoverd through telescopes so remote from the earth
that it would take thirty thousand years for the light of it to reach
this earth though it should travel at the rate of two hundred thousand
miles per second, so it must have been in exhistance 24000 years
before this earth was formed. He overthrows the principle of Immate-
riality & clearly shows that God, Angels, spirits, are material as well as
men, beasts, vegitables minerals, &c that matter is eternal & infinite
without end or bounds & that space is infinite & without bounds or end
that matter, the elements, intelligence were not created neither
indeed can be, & were from all eternity & that God formed the
Heavens & earth out of unorganized materials or matters which
did exhist in some form & were not made out of nothing. In
speaking of the spirit of God he remarked to me that the Holy
Spirit that was through all things, and round about all things, & that
governed & controlled all things are intelligent atoms the same as God is
composed of hence it is called the spirit of God, & he had no dobt
but that there were some of these atoms combined in all the miner-
al, vegitable, & animal Kingdoms & by the aid of those intelligent
atoms were enabled to abide the law by which they were governed
many other interesting principles were presented by Professor Pratt
when he closed I followed him and exhorted the people to listen
to his council & improved their time I also advised the Camp
to hold meetings in each ward on Sunday & prayer meetings at
least one evenings in each week that if they would pray more
they would have much less spirit of complaining among them I
remarked that the spirit of the Lord & the spirit of the
devil would not dwell together but a short time in the same
person or tabernacle but one would govern & the other leave
I also warned the people against judging any matter whatever
untill they herd both sides of the question for in most all
cases any person would be apt to give a wrong judgment by merely
hearing one side of the question. And that the Elders could
not be in possession of any to much truth upon any subject
whatever in order to magnify there callings among the nations
of the earth for if they should be called to stand before Kings
Princes, Asstronomiers Phylosophiers & the learned of the earth
they would find use for all there knowledge
~ Monday
24th I met in council withe the Twelve & High Council & herd
a charge prefered by the Policee against E. D Wolley for making
use of sedicious language against the Authorities of the Church
the letter of the accusation was sustained against Br Wolley
but it was not supposed by any that the spirit of sedition
was in his heart. It proved to be an interesting meeting as muc[h]
teaching & instruction was drawn out of the Presidency High
Council, Twelve &c. Br Wooley in his plea expressed his
feelings that the Hickery Clubs carried by the policee, & the council
for Bishops to preside over any parties in the place to keep order,
and that the Policee would not suffer a man to let his own cattle
get into his own crops to destroy them were oppressive to his
feelings. President Young said he wanted to speak upon the
spirit of the thing with Br Wolleys, that the things that oppress
Br Wolleys feelings would have no effect upon him if all had
been right with him but he had got the spirit of the world & did
not feel right. Said that the law was for the unruly & that
it must rest upon good men in order to reach the unruly &
transgresser. many gave their opinion upon the subject
Br Wooley made his confession that he had spoken in an im-
proper manner in a moment of passion he was forgiven by the
council & all was settled. W. Woodruff in his remarks said
he would advise evry individual not to make any decision or give
any judgment or opinion upon any subject whatever untill
they herd both sides of the question, Council was dismissed
& we returned home. Brs Pratt & Levi Richards & myself
visited Br Henman's family to administer to them for the whole
family was sick & had been troubled with evil spirits we
prayed with this family & laid hands upon 7 that were
sick of the household the spirit of the Lord was with us
& we rebuked the sickness & commanded the evil spirits
to depart & they recieved a blessing upon the family. Br's
Pratt & Richards returned to my house & spent several
hours in conversing about science, Phylosophy, Astronomy,
and a variety of things of interest
~ Tuesday
25th We met in Council with the Twelve & High Council
A. Babit, H. Kimball, & John Snider they made a report of
affairs at Nauvoo & recieved some council President Young
did not wish the temple to be sold and a number of other
things were spoken of some little difference of feelings settelled
during the evening I attended meeting in our ward
~ Wednesday
26th I spent the day at home reading, writing, choreings &c I spent
the evening at Br Neff.
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
27th 28th I spent the days at home choping wood
~ Saturday
29th Presidents Young & Kimball called upon me at my house
a little while this morning the first time that Br Young has
been into my house since we returned from the mountains
we conversed together a short time we then all went to
council together with the High Council & spent several hours
& then dispersed
~ Sunday
30th Sunday we had one of the most terrible storms we have
had for several Years it has been exeeding worm for many days
the wind blew hard from the North commenced raining & freezing
then snowing & exeeding cold & the storm lasted through the
day and night which blew snow into many houses it was also
tedious upon cattle. Mrs Woodruff was quite sick through the night
& kept her bead through the day
~ Monday
31st The storm abated in the latter part of the night & the
sun arose plesant this morning I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
Feb 1st I spent the day at home choreing
~ Wednesday
2nd I spent the day reading & writing
~ Thursday
3rd I attended a feast prepared by the defenders of Nauvoo or those
who were in the Battle of Nauvoo most of those who composed
the assembly were individuals who were in that memoriable
action it was ascerted that there was not more than 100 saints
at any one time in the fight while the mob that was fighting
agaist the Saints numbered from 800 to 1000 and their was
but three of the Saints killed and one or two slightly wounded
while there was several waggon loads of the mob killed & many
wounded & the enemy driven from the field, but the Lord
was with the Saints & saved their lives. The Saints wore a
read badge on the left arm to distinguish them from their
enemies in the battle, they wore the same to day at the feast at
the opening of the performences President Kimball deliverd an
address upon the subject of the Battle of Nauvoo & was followed
by Col Johnson, after which their was feasting singing music &
some dancing. A figure was got up called the Battle of Nauvoo
whiched was danced & the Saints felt to praise the Lord for
their deliverance
~ Friday
4th I spent the day at home reading the Book of Enoch
~ Saturday
5th I went into the woods with several of the Brethren & choped
loaded & brought home five loads of wood
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I preached to a congregation of Saints in Br Phineas
Richards ward & had a good time
~ Monday
7th I spent most of the day reading I read a pamphlet called
the voice of truth, containing the Prophet Joseph Smith
views of the powers & policy of the government of the United
States, and corressppondence with Gen James Arlington Bennett,
appeal to the green mountain Boys, correspondence with, John
C. Calhoon, and Henry Clay, a friendly hint to Missouri, and an
interesting sermon from President Smith. These letters &
writings are of much interest & show the spirit of the tim-
es & the mighty rebuke of wicked men by that great, good,
& wise Prophet Joseph I was much edifyed in reading it
I spent the evening in reading the book of Jasher & was
edifyed with that Br Benbow & myself laid hands upon a
sick youth
~ Tuesday
8th I spent the day at home during the meeting at our school
house in the evening I gave a synopsis of my meditations
concerning our duties as a people
~ Wednesday
9th I have been troubled for several days with a head ake
I finished reading the Book of Jasher & found it to be
an interesting work. It speaks of the great victories
the Twelve Patriarchs the sons of Jacob accomplished in
their Battles with their enemies in consequence of their great
faith in God and of Joseph career in Egypt & many other
interesting things
~ Thursday
10th [FIGURE] I made President B Young a present of fine
blue broad cloth which I got in England I spent a part
of the day with Br Young I walked with him from the
office to Br Warner Porters whare President Young administ[ered]
in the ordances of the house of the Lord. I read several papers
from the eastern states which gives an account of the dredful
famine in Ireland more than 130,000 persons have died in the
famine and apparently the destress has but just began, also the
the breaking of the banks and large firms throughout England
which has caused a great panic & much perplexity throughout
those nations the United States are still at war with Texas
& much division in the government concerning the war
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
11th & 12th I still suffer with pain in the head I spent these
days at home reading writing & choreing
~ Sunday
13th Sunday It is the most beautiful & warm weather that
[FIGURE] I ever saw in the winter time. The Camp of of the
Saints met at the stand for a meeting to day meeting opened
by singing, & prayer by W. Woodruff, the meeting was then
addressed by President Kimball then addressed the meeting
and said that he wanted to give an exhertation and a word of
caution and after reproving the saints said many flattered
themselves that they were going to lean upon others to save
them without doing any thing themselves but they will
get disappointed, for to bring up a figure he said you migh[t]
graft ever so many sproughts into a tree if they did not adhear
to the tree they would remain there dead sticks stick-
ing out of the tree they would be dead themselves, not
bring forth fruit, & do the tree no good but ownly scar
it up, & those scars would remain untill the dead sticks
were broakke off & the skcar healed over or other grafts
put in that would bring forth fruit. So it was with all
who leaned upon others to save them & would not
harken to their council & take their advice & no man
can save them if do not save themselves and many
other remarks of Interest he made.
W. W. Phelps then read the V chapter of Math V chapter of Math as he
had translated it from the greek
W Woodruff advised the people who were going to
settle on the east side of the river not to settle on the
bank or in the bottoms so that the first flood need
not wash them into the Mo river.
Meeting was dismissed
after which in company with Mrs Woodruff I went to
Br Pulsiphers and soon Presidents Young & Kimball came
& attended to sealing four couple in matrimony, we had
a feast of spruice beer & cakes on the occasion
during the evening I attended the meeting of the Seventies
being 3 of their presidents present, Joseph Young Z. Pulsipher
A. P. Rockwood the House was crouded to excess the meeting
was opened by singing & prayer. And was then addressed
by A P Rockwood who spoke upon the government of
children that Parents ought to set a good exhample before
their children & not nickname them but call them by
their proper name for the way that Parents set their
children going in life they are apt to go through & if they
start with Jim, Jo, & Pall, they are apt to go through
life so,.
Br Pulsipher followed & made many
interesting remarks. And he was followed by President
Joseph Young who reproved them in the spirit of the Lord
against the spirit of dancing & warned them to forsake all
sin & be faithful in all things He spoke in the spirit and power
of God feeling the responsibility he was under when he closed
his remarks W. Woodruff arose and said that should
I say that I did not desire to address the Seventies I should do
dishonor to my own feelings for I do desire it at this time.
All who know my course when I have been at head quarters with
the Presidency either with Joseph, Brigham, or others of the twelve
know that I have never put myself forward to preach or teach
the people, why hath it been so, because I have had file leaders
between me and God whose business it is to lead teach & instruct
the inhabitants of Zion and I have felt it more my duty to sit
& hear while with them at head quarters than to put myself
forward to teach yet when I have been called upon to speak
I have endeavoured to do the best I could, but when I have
been abroad in the vineyard I have had the spirit of my
mission & been much blessed in bringing souls into the
kingdom of God. And I do feel it a privilege to address
the Seventies at this time, Br Young asked me to speak in
the fore part of the evening but I desired to wait untill the
Presidency of Seventies had address them and I can now see
that it was wisdom for I should not have had the same
matter before me that I now have, I have a number of things
resting upon my mind which I wish to lay before you. Your
President Joseph Young has spoken to you in the spirit & power
of God to night has warned & exhorted you not to defile
your Priesthood & calling & not to have your minds all taken
up with fiddleing & dancing. I have taken up more real injoy-
ment this evening in hearing the teaching giving by your
Presidency than I would in hearing a million of dollars worth
of fiddle strings worn out, you must not think hard of
Br Joseph Young because he reproves, rebukes, & ehxhorts you
with all long sufferings & doctrin, for their is an almighty
responsibility resting upon his shoulders as the seenier President
of this August body of Sevenenties ordained unto the Apostle-
ship and the Lord will hold him responsible for the manner
that he watches over the Seventies and he is stired up from time
to time by the spirit of the God of Israel to reprove you and
the rebukes of a friend are far better than the kisses of an
enemy and you must not think hard of Br Young if he
does reprove you for he does it for your good. It is for better for
you to spend your time getting instruction & council than in
fiddleing & dancing for while the latter is of no profit to you the
former you will need when you are seperated far from your Brethren
and abroad among the nations of the earth amid the
Judgments of God which are laying waste the people & while
you have to dodge between wind & water to save your head
in the midst of persecution a[f]ter persecution & mobs while
you are offering salvation to the people. I have meditated
much of late concerning the responsibility we are to God
under to God inasmuch as we bear the priesthood & are
numbered among the Lords Anointed as Angels are
watching us & bearing a report of us daily to God should
the Lord come down to see us to see for himself if the
reports of [us] was correct, what would the Lord think of
us & how would we like to hear the record read in the morning
of the resurrection containing an account of an assembly
of the Lords Anointed at Winter Quarters, upon whom
all heaven leaned & depended upon in carrying out the
purposes of the Lord in the Lord last dispensation & fulness
of times and fulfilling the expectations of Abraham, Isaac
& Jacob & all the Holy Prophets & Apostles since the world
began in gathering the Jews & rebuilding Jerrusalem gathering
the saints & rebuilding up Zion preparing the way for the
endowment of the ten tribes of Israel in the north country
& the covertion of the Lamanites in the west, & the
warning of all the gentile world that they may be left
without excuse when the Judgments of God cleanse the earth
from sin, wickedness, & pollution, and that our prayers
should ascend into the heavens for the Lord to avenge the
Blood of the Prophet Joseph & other saints who have been
martered & slain by gentile mobs in the last days, while
there is so much depending upon us & our prayers should
we be satisfyed with the record of this city of the Saints in the
eternal world kept by the Angels of Heaven If we should
hear read before an assembled world that the inhabitants
of Winter Quarters who were the Lords Anointed during
the winter of 1847 & 8 spent nine days of their time
in fiddleing & dancing whare they did one in prayer &
praise to almighty God, I say would we be satisfyed
with such record? No we would not, then let us turn from
such seenes of folly & spend more time in meetings
for preaching, exhortation, & prayer before the Lord
Br Joseph exhorted the Elders "not to defile their Priesthood."
I will here say If any man wants to feel the pangs of
Hell let him have the Priesthood & let him have
immortal glory, eternal life, Thrones power domin-
ions, exhaltations with all the blessings of Abraham,
Isaac & Jacob in view, then let him break the
law of God & defile his Priesthood and in a moment
he falls from his high esstate and all of his exhalted
hopes vanish in a moment & when his eyes are open
to see things as they are he sinks in darkness & wo
& the vary sight of the blessings which he has lost causes
a hotter Hell through his soul than fire and brimestone
many other remarks were made by the speaker after which
Br Cumings addressed the meetings & spoke of his mission to England
made some vary appropriate remarks after which the meeting closed
~ Monday
14th I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
15th I spent the day at home but had a good meeting at night
~ Wednesday
16th I spent this day at home reading
~ Thursday
17th I carried 9 bushels of wheat & 5 of buckwheat to the
water mill I spent the day untill 12 oclok at night with
Br Davis grinding in the mill Mrs Woodruff spent the
time with Sister Davis & we went home in the night
~ Friday
18th The soldiers have a meeting to day at the Log tabe-
rnacle Br Young, Kimball, & O. Pratt was expected to be
there, O Pratt was there but the others were at Br
Hydes as he had just returned from the east.
we also recieved a large mail to day from various parts
of the earth several stars from Liverpool showing the
rapid progress ot our cause through England Scotland and
Wales and of the hard warfare of our worthy friend
Capt Dan Jones it seems as though nearly all Wales
was against him yet he is baptizing daily as he is travl-
ing through the nation we also got news of the Mexican
War, American Congress, the loss of life on the lakes &
rivers &c
~ Saturday
19th I administered to Br Willard Richards early in the
morning who has been sick near two months I spent most
of the day in reading Br Johnathan containing the life
of Gen Z Taylor History of the Mexican War and plates of
the several Battles in Mexico &c
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I preached to the saints in our ward. In the evening
I went with Mrs Woodruff to Br P. Richards & herd two letters
read from his Sons in England which were interesting, we then
called upon Willard Richards who was sick soon President Young
came in sat a few moments and I went home with him &
spent an hour or two and read some late papers
~ Monday
21st I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
22nd Br John Grierson came to the city to day the first time he has
been here for one year & a half I look him up & brought him home
with me he attended meeting with me in the evening and
spent the night with me. He took his cloths which Br Smoot left
with us for him
~ Wednesday
23rd [FIGURE] I called upon Br Richards in the morning soon Pres-
ident Young came in we went into the office & attended
to some Business. Br Brown came in & requested one of us
to go & preach the funeral sermon of his daughter who was
dead. Presidents Brigham & Joseph Young & myself went
to his house, we found not ownly his daughter dead
but a number sick in the house. The meeting opened by
singing & prayer by Joseph Young, after which President
B. Young arose addressed the meeting & said that he had a few rem-
arks to make & desired that he might have the Holy spirit while he
spoke. Said it was better to go [to] the House of mourning than to the House
of feasting for that was the end of the living & would force
upon our minds the truth of the desolution which we must all pass through
we mourn for the loss of our friends when they die but if
they die in the Lord they are better off than the living for they
have gained one victory which the living have not they are
beyound the reach of pain, sorrow, wicked men, devils, and
devlish spirits which we are not, for we are daily in the
midst of all the suffering that mortal man is heir to &
when will this suffering end, when we die & not before,
unless we should live untill Satan is bound but all must
pass through death. Yet I would be glad to live to assist in
binding Satan as to the Saints we are being worn out
according to the workd of the Lord we have been driven &
persecuted in such a manner that there are but few constit-
utions among us except such as are broaken to peaces &
ready to fall into the grave & we are burying up the Saints
vary fast whareever we go over four hundred are laid
in the grave in this place & many in all places whare we
have stoped, but all of this pain, sorrow, death & affliction
will work to gether for the good of the Saints for these
things must needs be in order to work out the purposes of
the Almighty & give the Saints there exhaltation and Glory in
the Eternal World. the sectarian wourld with the knowledge
they have would if it was in their power sweep the fall
of man, death, pain, sorrow & afflictions with all their
attendant evils into oblivion & caused man to have lived
eternally as he was before the fall that he might never
have seen death, but such a course would in the end have
been the greatest curse that could have been heaped upon man
for by so doing it would entirely have frustrated the design
of the Almighty in the Creation of man & blocked up the way
for his exhaltation glory & greatness & the Lord understood
the subject so well before either the world or man was formed
that a Saviour was provided in the Lamb slain from before the
foundation of the world to redeem man from Eternal dead
so that by man paying the deabt of the fall by passing through
the temporal death, they recieve the power & glory of the
resurrection by Jesus Christ which gives them an Immortal
body which will recieve a far greater glory and power than
the mortal body ever could have obtained unto had it not
have been for the fall. And I suppose If I had power IWith
the limited Knowledge I have I should sweep from the midst
of this people sickness, pain, sorrow, poverty & persecution & mobings
I dont suppose I should ever have suffered this people to have
been driven at all by a mob but as the Lord knows so much
more than we do He has suffered it so to be & it is for a wise
purpose in God, it is for our good & will finally prove for
our exhaltation & glory in the eternal world, & gives us experi
ence in this life which we otherwise should not have had. "Adam
fell that men might be, men are that they may have Joy, but if
they knew no Joy they would have no sorrow, and if they did not
know misery they would not know happiness" for man must
experience one in order to comprehend & know the other Jesus
had to descend below all things in order to ascend above all things,
I am fully convinced that all our sorrows & troubles will work
out for us a far more exeeding & eternal wait of glory, hence we
ought nought to murmer or complain at our fate. It is true
we mourn at the loss of friends but not as those with out hope
or blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from hence forth saith
the spirit for they rest from their labours (& if their friends are
faithful) their works will follow them, but what is the time of
our suffering in this life in comparison with Eternity After we have
spent millions of ages in Eternity & we look back upon our time here
& it will ownly look like the twinkling of an eye in comparison
and so it will be in the waiting for the resurrection of our bodies
it will be for a moment as it were before we shall stand in our
immortal bodies but no person can have power to raise the dead
except he holds the Keys of the Resurrection & no man can hold
the Keys of the resurrection or be ordained unto that power
untill he has died & been raised from the dead himself no
more than than a man has power to baptize a man legally
& lay hands upon him for the Holy Ghost & ordain him to the
office of an Elder who has not been baptized or ordained
himself. Michael the Ark Angel (Adam) holds the Keys of the
resurrection and after a man is raised from the dead has
an immortal body & recieves an ordination to hold the Keys of
the resurrection from under the Hands of Michael or those
having authority he then has power to raise the dead & not
before. Jesus was the first fruits of the Resurrection "He had
power to lay down his life & power to take it again," [John 10:18] when He
had lain in the grave three days an Angel, some person who
was appointed to this work appeared rolled back the stone & called
Jesus forth. We have power here through the Priesthood to lay
hands upon the sick & they recover, to cast out devils open the eyes
of the blind & unstop the ears of the deef according to the faith of the chil-
dren of men. It is just as easy to raise the dead for one who is ordained
unto this power as it is for us to administer in the ordinances of the
House of the Lord here. Some times we lay hands upon the sick &
they are healed instantly other times with all the faith & medicine they
are a long time getting well, & others die. The spirit of devils who
are deprived of having tabernacles are constantly making war with
men who have tabernacles & they strive to take up their abode in
the tabernacles of men because they have none of their own, & where
they can get a chance they will many of them croud into one man
& try to reign there & some times they will kill the body & then
the spirit of the man & devils all have to leave it some times in
sickness & weakness the spirit of deavels get possession of the
body whare the spirit of man is pure & overcomes it but the
moment the spirit leaves the body it is beyound the power &
reach of the devils, some children are killed in this way for
the devil is making war with every thing that has a tabernacle
esspecially the Saints, & the devil rules a great deal in the hearts
of the children of men, and if he cannot go in any other way
he will go into a barrel of whiskey & run down their throats
and when the saints get into the valley away from the valley
gentiles the deavel will get into the Half mormons Hickery
mormons & will plead with them to get into them but when
we consider how little time we have to spend in this life in
comparison to Eternity we ou[gh]t not to consider it a hard matter
to be faithful to God & keep his commandments for when we
obtain Celestial glory we shall have to exclaim that it is through
the grace of God after all, for the glory far exceeds our sufferings
in this life.
Manny Many other remarks were made by
President Young and meeting was dismissed by W Woodruff
~ Thursday
24th John Grierson left to day for Missouri I spent the day at
home writing I laid hands upon one that was sick
~ Friday
25th I spent the day at home choping
~ Saturday
26th I crossed the river carried G A Smith & family to Br
Eames I then rode to Br Robert Petty's & spent the night 30 m
I preached in the evening at the school house
~ Sunday
27th Sunday I preached in the School House & spent the night
with Br Petty
~ Monday
28 I rode in company with Br Petty to Mr Platts the Paunee
missionary teacher we spent the night with them 25 m
~ Tuesday
29th I rode with Br Petty to Fort Kearney was introduced
to the Quartermaster Van Fleet & other officers I dined with
Br Albert Petty who was doing their Blacksmithing
After spending several hours at the fort we crossed the
ferry & returned to Mr Platts & spent the night 20 m
~ Wednesday
March 1st 1848 This is my birth day and the first day
of Spring I am 41 years of age this day I rode with Br
Petty to his house and spent the night. It commenced
snowing in the evening we had a tedious stormy night 25 m
~ Thursday
2nd This is the most tedious stormy day we have had this
winter the air was filled with snow through the day
I spent the day reading the life of Benjamin Franklin
~ Friday
3rd It is still vary cold but I rode with Br Petty to Council
Point & spent the night with Br James Alread 20 m
~ Saturday
4th It was a cold winday day we rode to the Ferry at
Winter Quarters the river was frozen over I had a severe
head ake I left my team on the east side of the river crosed
the river on foot I spent the night at home. This is Phebe
Amelia's birth day she is 6th years old to day
~ Sunday
5th Sunday I got my team home Br Allexander and Br Petty
spent part of the day & night with me. I had one of the
most interesting dreams of my life during the night most of
it was taken from me when I awoke I flew through the air
from state to state & escaped from the hand of my enemies I
went to HEAVEN and saw the Saints in their employment I saw
Joseph & Hiram Smith & many others who had died of the Latter
Day Saints, the innumerable company of saints which I saw seemed
to be prepairing for some grand & important event which I
could not understand many were busily ingaged in making
crowns for the Saints one crown did not suit the artist so
they cut it into in the middle to make it over new the saints
were all dressed in white robes both male and female, my soul
was filled with Joy & glory while I gazed upon the scenery that
surrounded me but I awoke and behold it was a dream
~ Monday
6th I sold Br R Allexander a waggon to day for $55. He paid
$45 which leaves $10 due I sent my horse & Mule with Br
Petty to sell at the fort we crossed the river with them
on the ice
~ Tuesday
7th Was a vary high wind in the afternoon I had a call from
Dr Cannon He wished me to call and see his son Marsena Cannon
75 Court Street Plumbes Dagaurious gallery Boston
~ Wednesday
8th I spent the day at home and in the evening I walked with
Br Young to Bishop Calkins and Br Fisher 72 years old was ma-
rried to Sister Calkins 73 years old we then walked to Br W
Richards office & spent several hours with him.
~ Thursday
9th I walked with Brs Young & Kimball to three Stor◊es and
called upon sister Berry & family the Brethren gave them some
advise
~ Friday
10 Presidents Young, Kimball, and Woodruff with their Ladies
spent the afternoon at Capt Russells on a visit several remar-
ks were made by President Young concerning the Power of man
he said every man had power according to his faith and faithfulness
and good works that he had no power to give any man neith-
er could he take power from any man who was righteous for
he would have to go to work in unrighteousness to take away the
power of a righteous man and he could not be prospered in
it. He also spoke of rich men in this church & Kingdom being bro-
ught down poor He said men could ownly rise, assend, & be exhalted
according as they had decended below, been abased made poor &c
many other remarks were made. I spent the evening with
Mrs Woodruff at Sister Pratts whose husband has gone to the
Islands of the sea
~ Saturday
11th I spent the day at home
~ Sunday
12 Sunday I spent most of the day at home
~ Monday
13 Monday I spent the day at home and the evening At Br Blanchards
I went to Br W. Richards and lade hands upon his child I read the
December No of the Star giving an account of the progress of the
work throughout Europe also papers from the States concerning
the war & the politics of the nation
~ Tuesday
14th Spent the day at home
~ Wednesday
15th I went into the woods beyound the Punkaw camp with
Br Benbow & Charles Pulsipher & we choped down trees & loaded
6 waggons with fire wood & returned home distance of the
day. I was quite weary at night 8 mile
~ Thursday
16th I spent the day at home Brs Petty & Alread called upon me & spent
the night with me. I walked out in the evening with President
Young to Thomas Bullocks & Br Whitehead council was given to
them concerning emigration
~ Friday
17th March 1848 I spent the day at home I attended a
Council of much importance in the evening. The Captain of
the Policee with two others who were members of the Seventies
were brought before the Presidency of the Seventies for assault
& batterry & swearing. There was present but three of the
Presidents of the Seventies, but the High Council was present also
President Young & W Woodruff it was agreed by the parties to try
the case before the High Council, which was filled up and the charges
read, the defendants did not exactly plead guilty so the testimony
was heard on both sides & it was proven there was a fight between
them & swearing. The Plaintiff opened the subject called witne-
sses who testifyed. The defendants spoke & bore their testimony the
Plaintiff then made his plea & also his councillor the defendants
then made their plea also their Councellor.
Then President
Young arose and addressed the council in an interesting manner
the following is an extract of the Clerks munites of the President
speech. If all parties are willing I will now make some remarks
there are a good many item pertaining to this case. 1st it was to be
brought before the President of the 70, but they did not pro
fess to have any Jurisdiction in the case ownly in the trial of
their membership but not as a peace officer. But the High
council can sit as a municipal court & try them for Church
fellowship and for a breach of duty as a Policee officer is it supp-
osed that a public officer cannot do worgong wrong I do not
think so & when they do wrong they should be reproved as
well as any other person, I shall speak my mind without
any regard to parties favor or affection this I always calculate
to do whether I gain friends or foes I have plenty of enemies
But I dont ask any favors of them I will not be turned for
a moment out of the course of right & justice if it cuts my
throat. I shall tell the truths some who have pled this cause dar[e]
not tell all the truth, if Mr Hill did tantilize the Policee they had
no business to fall upon him & beat him. I have known Br Hill
for fifteen years He is given to rough uncouth conversation
and tantalizing mens feelings, and he wont apostitize neither
Let me reason the case I am a teacher I often officiat in that
capacity. For instance Hosea Stout says that for 8 years he has
had a catalogue of names in his own mind of those who would
apostitize and as yet he had not been mistakened If a man under-
stands the things of God, he knows well that every Saint of
God ifs followed up through life by the powers of Hell, of the devil
of temptation, & of evry snare that can be invented on the earth
to make him apostitize, loose his glory & crown, this I understand
If I see a man doing wrong or is any way faltering If I take a course
to make him believe that he will fall does not that at once weaken
his faith & disarm him of power to stand? it does, dont I see things
as well as the Policee I do and if I saw a man that I knew
would fall I would not tell him so but would try to save him
as well as I could that when he did go my garments would be
clear before God & he could not rise in Judgment against me
I am here to save both Br Hosea & Hill but not to destroy them
we are here to the Policee as policee and to inquire into their
conduct as Elders. Has not Isaac Hill been afflicted and maimed
who sent Hosea Stout to take Isaac Hill as a Prisioner Nobody
was there disorder. I will admit Isaac Hill was out of ordor
to go into a store in the mids of a contention & undertake to tantili-
ze a mans feelings while he was in anger under pretence of reproving
him for swearing A far better way would have been for him to have
waited untill he was calm & composed & took him one side & in a
friendly manner said Br Hosea I think your course in the store was
not calculated to dignify your office as Captain of the policee and as
a member of the Seventies he would then have recieved it vary
different from what he did. I know it is natural for Br Hill to tan-
talize, but that is no excuse for Br Hosea Stout to fight him, he should
have said I am a peace maker and magnifyed his office with dignity
& honor but instead of that he desended to the spirit of a tantilizer
& fell to fighting & swearing. Policeemen should be men of more noble
minds than to desend to such things, or suffer their spirits to mingle
with such low degrading things, Hosea Stout did desend to anger &
swearing which was disgraceful to a Policee man and men that
will practice such things are not fit for policeeman I know the
policeemen here are not Just right for they will get together for
hours together make fun, toll tales, drick whiskey & get drunk and
that is why they are so angry all the while, and they dont pray
when they come together if they did when they saw fighting &
contention they would do as John Lytle did when he parted Stout
& Hill says he (as he steped between them & shoved one one way & the
other the other way) get out of the way stop your fighting I am a peace
maker & wont have it. I never struck a man in my life though
I have parted many who were fighting I never saw the day but that
I thought to myself to good to strike a man. Now to the Policee I say
stop your baldadash pray with each other now if I have not told
the truth tell me of it. I mean to reprove the Policee if we dont
get better men in the valley I will vote against them, they have
confessed they are angry I want to see the Police officiate in their office
without getting angry if they do not they disgrace their office. I
know how Brother Hosea Stout feels concerning the spirits that murdered
the Prophets & still hang around us, but dont you know that devils
are going to the mountains as well as Saints, we have some of the mea-
nest spirits among us on earth the net has halled in good and bad
and I am watching them continually, and we have some of the
best men with us that swear that are guilty of crime yet they wou-
ld lay down their lives for us & for this cause, there are others who
will not gather with the Saints because they think the church is not pure
enough for them & they think themselves vary pure & will wait untill
the Saints get pure Holy & righteous & during all this time they will
live with the world in the midst of wickedness of every kind & think
it all well. We have good men & bad men among us, but if I see a bad
man or good man that needs reproof I will give it to him but will
I go into a store & strike a man? no would it make him any better? No
but we should be saviors benovelent & kind & imitate the example
of the Savior. men ignorantly fan the flame of mobocracy I have
feelings about it, and often say cut his infernal throat still I do not me-
an any such thing I am not good enough to do such a thing. The God of
Israel was a God of war when Israel went over the read sea & the
enemies followed the Lord commanded the waters to overflow them
and it obeyed when I get good enough then I can fight to If I have
power to command the elements. Isaac Hill ought to have known better
than to have done as he did he is no more fit for a High Priest than
The policee are for their office, when they were by themselves he
should have told him of it quietly is it not so Isaac (Isaac yes) I am
not going to decide the case that is for the High Council to do
Br Cutler arose made a speach & gave his decision. Both parties rec[ie]
ved their reproof made their confession which was excepeted President
Young said good would grow out of it council adjourned
~ Saturday
18th ^[FIGURE]^ Wilford Woodruff Jr's birth day. He is 8 years old this day
He wishing to be baptized In company with his mother & sisters &
Br John Benbow I went to the water & baptized him on our
return home we confirmed him. Brs Young Smith & others went
over to the Log Tabernacle to attend the council there
~ Sunday
19th Sunday we held a public meeting at the stand the meeting
was addressed by Br O Pratt upon the subjects of the Gods
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
20th 21st I spent the time at home we had a rain storm during the time
[FIGURE] we recieved a large mail on the 21st of papers and letters
22nd [FIGURE] I recieved one letter from Br Spencer of Liverpool giving
an account of the progress of the work throughout Europe & of the distress
of nations such as wars, revolutions, famine, pestilence earthquakes &c
the same were confirmed by the papers Also the state of affairs in
the United States many members of Congress were dead among whom
was John Quincy Adams aged 81 years died in his seat in the house
of Congress His Father John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both
had been presidents of the United States & both died on the same
day on the 4th day of July in the fiftieth year of the Indipendoncs
of the United States. And John Q Adams died on Gen Washington
birth day.
Steam boat explosions, great floods, wars, fires
pestilence & politics seem to be convulsing the United States
I held a council this ev[ening]
~ Wednesday
22nd I rode to the Pigeon mills in Potawatame co Ia from there
I crossed Pigeon went through the best range of timber I have
seen in the Potawatame tract to Rollins settlement I preached
to the saints in that settlement and had a good time 15 m
~ Thursday
23rdI returned to Winter Quarters & found all well 15 m
~ Friday
24th I met in council this morning with the Presidency Sidney
Roberts was present from Ioway City had some things to
lay before the Council which was attended to
~ Saturday
25th I spent a part of the day in council with ^the^ Presidency
& others upon the subject of the Paintings got up by Philo
Dibble, the work was finally sanctioned by the Presidency
& Twelve who signed their names to it
~ Sunday
26th Sunday we had an interview to day with Capt
Vanvleet Dr Johnson and Mr Matlock the soux Indian Agent
we conversed upon a variety of subjects among others the trial
of Jack Reading. we then went to the stand where the Saints
metet tfor meeting or public worship we spent a little time &
returned home
~ Monday
27 [FIGURE] B Young, H. C. Kimball W. Woodruff Phineas Young &
others crossed the river & rode to the Log tabernacle whare we
met with O Hyde G. A. Smith with many others & went into
Council concerning the organization of Potawatame County & herd
documents read from several members of Ioway City directed to the
inhabitants of that county concerning political & other matters there
were speaches made pro and con & finally answers were given
to the effect that we felt disposed to let politics take their own
course and find there own level we spent the night at Council
Point H C. Kimball & myself lodged together distance 20 m
~ Tuesday
28th Met in council this morning we herd a letter read from
Oliver Cowdry expressing his feelings concerning some matters conn-
ected with the first calling of the Twelve. After conversing upon
a variety of subjects we returned home to Winter Quarters via Log tabern-
cle. On my return home I recieved a letter from Br & Sister Scammans
[FIGURE] saying all was well with them distance 20 m
~ Wednesday
29th About a dozen Pawnee Indians with an interpeter stoped in
this place to day had ^been^ to hold a council with the Omahas & Otoes about
going to war with the Sious for killing some of their numbers
~ Thursday
30th I spent the day at home and at the office and crossed the
River with R. Allexander I let him have 4 yoak of oxen & 4 Chains
~ Friday
31st I went over the river with Br Benbow to get some flour
I met in council with the Twelve in the evening
~ Saturday
April 1st I spent the day choreing
~ Sunday
2nd Sunday our city was visited through the day with a strong
gale of wind and sand which drove inside of all of our log
cabins & coverd evry thing with dust, we had a hay stack burn
down on the outskirt of the town situated in such a position
that nothing els could burn but had it been in any part of
town whare the wind could have blown the fire in any part
of the city it would soon been wraped in flames the whole
town has been in danger of being burnt up all winter, wind south
~ Monday
3rd A strong North wind to day I was In Council with several
Pawnee chiefs all the business they made known was they wanted
us to give them about 100 bushels of corn for their families who
was starving, theire is about 100 of the Paunees in tow we
we loaded there mules with corn & let them go home
~ Tuesday
4th [FIGURE] I went over the river and baptized Sister Peck for
the remission of sins and also for her daughter who was dead
I also baptized 8 others who had not before been baptized
one of which was Samuel H. Smiths ownly son & one was Peter
Balentine an Insane man I confirmed 4 persons I saw
Br McKeinzia who had just returned from a mission from
the south. He informed me that Br A. Lyman was on
his way to this place. He stated there was a revolution in france
the french had driven their King Louis Phillipi from the throne
& kingdom and also his family and the nation was in a state of
revolution much blood had been shed
~ Wednesday
5th ^[FIGURE]^ I spent the day at home and was under much obligations to Br
John Benbow for performing a good act in afficiating in the capacity
of a peace maker and bestowing upon me some of the necessary
blessings of life
~ Thursday
CONFERENCE
Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints held at
the Log Tabernacle Potawatame County Ioway April 6th 1848
Conference organized at 11 oclok O Hyde appointed President
After the organization there was an intermission of one hour
conference then opened by singing and prayer by O Hyde who
also addressed the meeting & remarked that a first Presidency
had been appointed but wished it sustained by the Conference
O Hyde moved that Brigham Young be the President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it was carried unani-
mously. It was then moved and carried unanimously that Heber
C Kimball be his first councellor. It was moved and carried
unanimously that Willard Richards be his second councellor
It was moved and carried unanimously that the Church
sustain and uphold Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt,
Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor George A Smith, Amasa Lyman
Lyman Wight Ezra T. Benson, in there office as members of
the quorum of the Twelve. Moved and carried unanimously
that we sustain Joseph Young, Levi Hancock, Henry Herriman
Zerah Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood Benjamin Clapp, Jedadiah M. Grant
as Presidents of the Seventies. Resolved that we sustain Father
John Smith as the Partriarch over the whole Church. President Young
made some remarks concerning appointing the first Presidency. the
spirit of the Lord has been with us & we know what is right it
would have been our right to have appointed the Presidency, the
first conference we held after Joseph death but it was not wisdom
to do it we have now whiped all of our enemies with one hand
tied behind us & now it is time to organize the Church In speaking
upon principle said that an honest man would not be dishonest
neither would they follow such men as Rigdon & Strang, the
sheep would follow such as God sent even the Shepherds while
dishonest men would follow the wolves. The Lord will
rule in his Kingdom. I know how things have been & are and
will be. Some suppose that by appointing a presidency it is
robing some of the rising generation or taking away someones
rights but it is not so. Concerning persecution I will say
that the Lord will cause the wrath of man ^to^ praise him the rema-
inder will the Lord restrain. Resolved that we sustain Br
Wm Snow as President of the High Priest quorum and
Moses Clawson and Aaron Johnson as Councellors. Joseph S Clark
appointed as President of the Elders quorum Charles Hopkins and
Lewis Neley as councellors. Resolved that James Alread
be appointed & sustained as President of the High Council in
Potowatamee County and that Ira Overt, Aaaron Johnson
Wm Draper, Wm Snow, Even M Green, Lyman Stodard, Silas Richards
Henry W Miller, Noah S Bindley, Heman Hyde, composed the
High Council in Potawatame Co
G A Smith spoke
in favor of the Hcause of Br Yoakham. Elder Hyde made
some remarks concerning the subject of raising teams and
waggons for the Presidency. The Names of such were
taken as had teams to spare. Adjurned untill evening
Meeting was addressed by Brs Groves and Major & followed
by the President, who spoke much upon principle, the spirit
would guide into all truth then harken to council and all would
be right
~ Friday
7th Met at 10 oclok meeting opened by prayer and singing.
O Hyde addressed the meeting from the 25 & 26 verses of the
[5] ch of math Agree with thine Adversary quickly while thou art in
the way with them &c [Matthew 5:25] The Adversary is some time called the devil
but it is not the case in this instance but while we are together
so many of us we should agree with our brother and settle all
difficulties with each other, while we have an opportunity lest
they will some day come into judgment and if we do wrong
and block up the way of the souls of men esspecially of the
Saints their blood will be required at our hands. And when
the Saints do wrong the devil will reproach the Almighty
for the conduct of his Saints. dont steal it is truly mean
wait untill God gives us the Earth. A little leaven leavens
the whole lump, lie a little, steal a little, swear a little and
man may think all is well. And these things may taste sweet
in the mouth but it will be bitter in the belly and will sting like an
adder I am opposed to any evil men that feel disposed to do evil will
always find an excuse for it but when a man is tempted to do wrong
let him enquire is there any harm in doing this is there any harm in
letting it alone then do right in all things then there will be no evil
to tell upon us many good remarks were made. He was then followed
By Phineas Young who spoke of his mission in the east his inter-
view with O Cowdry and his feelings concerning the Saints.
Joseph Young remarked that no man could go away from our meet-
ings & councils & say that he has not been warned against evil but
has true princ[ip]le taught him. O Hyde read several resolutions
against stealing After the second reading President Young
said that document would give the people the B. C. He said he
wanted to give a little council to O Hyde G. A. Smith & the High Council
and all people will you hear it then let your paper alone & keep pen
off from it and it will save you much trouble, the Innocent will
suffer by it send no man into Missouri for crime but to Ioway
as we are in that state. He expressed his feelings in plain terms
concerning being taken as prisioner at any time while he was
innocent many remarks were made. Adjourned one hour
meeting opened by prayer & singing & prayer. Teams were again
called for H C Kimball spoke upon the subject and brought up
the parable of the Potter, names were taken for teams
remarks were made concerning the wives of the soldiers stoping
here or going on this season it was thought the soldiers would
have to come back for their bounty money and isf so would wish
to find their families here. President Young said he was under
the necessity & obligation to do all he could for them and
what he had was at their command and now what I want to know
is will the Church take this responsibility from off my sholdiers
and let me go free all said yes. A committee of 5 was
appointed to locate the poor, widows &c meeting dismissed.
Philo Dibble exhibited his paintings during the evening At the close of
the exhibition W. Woodruff addressed the assembly upon the subject
and said that his sermon was short his text was in two divisions
one on the right & the other on the left the right hand was a view of
the marterdom of Joseph and Hiram Smith in Carthage Jail and the
left hand was the canvass representing Joseph Smiths last address
to the Nauvoo legion. Before us is presented a synopsis or minuature or
commencement of one of the most interesting seeneries ever presen-
ted to man I have visited the national gallery in London which is considerd
the best collections of paintings in Europe and there is nothing
in that gallery that will begin to compare with this work when
carried out and as brother Dibble has been moved upon to get
up these paintings I feel to bid him God Speed & if he will get up
the seeneries of this Church commencing at the Begining and go
through it untill now & onward and fit up a gallerry in Zion
It will be the continuation of the rise and Progress of the Church
& Kingdom of God in this last dispensation and will form one
of the most interesting sceneries that can be found in Zion it
is true we are passing through these scenes personally but our
children, future generations, & those who come to visit Zion
will feel deeply interested in this matter and would present to
the view at one glance all the scenes that this Church has passed
through O Pratt followed with few remarks also Joseph Young
~ Saturday
8th Saturday morning Robert Petty addressed the brethren who
were going with him as teamsters for the USA meeting opened by
singing and prayer. After which the meeting was addressed for
one hour and a half by W. Woodruff who spoke upon the duties of
the Saints exhorted them to faithfulness and spoke with the spirit
& power of God addressed the Brethren who were going as team-
sters, spoke of the judgments which awaited the world, & the
gifts & graces of the Church and a variety of subjects, was
followed by Father Morley who made good remarks upon educating
children he said he would not command his children to do any thing
if they would do it without &c Adjourned one hour
Meeting opened by singing & prayer. The meeting was then addressed
by O Pratt who spoke upon the trials of the Saints that these things
will work for our good that we had not been tried in prosperity
& hoped we should not be untill we were able to bear it he spoke
of the education of our children and many useful remarks
were made. Hail ye mighty men of Israel. Father Cutler addressed
the meeting and also spoke unto edifycation said it was the best
day he ever saw. Was followed by O Hyde. We had preaching
in the evening By Brs Campbell, Clapp, Hyde Young & others we
had a good meeting.
~ Sunday
9th Sunday Joseph Young spoke in the
morning to the 70th & ordained some, Br Kay sung Joseph
the Seer meeting was addressed by Emer Harris who spoke
well. He said he had the first Book of Mormon ever bound in
America. He spoke of charity said that when we gave to the
poor Children of God we gave to God & should recieve our rew
ard. He was followed by O Hyde on the dispute on claims
If a man will not do right if he will trespass upon the claims
of his Brother & will not submit to the decisions of the councils in
this thing then let the injured Brother leave his claim and let
the spirit of the Lord come away with him & let the transgressor
come down to poverty & yet come bending to his injured Brother for
bread and let this be recorded in the Church record and all the peop[le]
said Amen. G A Smith addressed the meeting & others, adjourned
one hour met according to adjournment & several speaches made then
the Conference adjourned sine die. I had an interesting conversa-
tion with Father Cutler concerning his mission. Joseph Herren
came to conference but stoped but a short time then went away
I returned to Winter Quarters during the evening the wind blew
hard we had a rough time crossing the ferry distance 15 m
I administered to 3 who were sick at Conference
~ Monday
[1]0 I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
[1]1th [FIGURE] During the day we were visited by three messengers direct
[FIGURE] from the City of the great salt lake they were from the
mormon Battallion had spent two months in the valley
Brought a large package of letter from the valley they left the last
of Jan. the most of the winter was in November & December the winter
broke the middle of Jan grass was 4 inch high horses mules & sheep
were fat and cattle had done well the Saints had put in 1500
acres of wheat & calculate to double the amount they have found
the best of lime & clay for evry kind of ware every thing seemed
prosperous there had been 10 deaths in all in the camp and many
births Father Woodruff had been quite sick but had got well again
I spent the evening with Br Richards reading letters
~ Wednesday
12th I spent the day at home writing Another drove of Pawnees
came into our town to be fed
~ Thursday
13th [FIGURE] G. A. Smith called upon me I spent a part of the day
with him at the office during the evening President Young
and Laday, G. A. Smith & John Benbow called to pay me a visit
After spending two or three hours together vary plesantly Mrs Wood-
ruff requested a blessing at the hand of President Young so he with
G. A. Smith and myself laid hands upon her head & pronounced a
blessing upon her the following is a part of the blessing pronounced
upon her head By President Brigham Young.
Sister Phebe I lay my hands upon thy head to bless thee in the name
of the Lord. As thou art going forth with thy Husband into the vineyard
the blessing of the Lord will go with thee Thou shalt have power to&
wisdom to teach the truth to thy friends and thy sect thou shalt
not be at a loss for Ideas & words in thy teaching thou shalt do a
great work in connexion with thy Husband. Thou shalt save ^all^ thy
children to return to the church with thy husband who shall be prospered
in his mission. Thou shalt have power over all thy enemies & overcome all
thy besetments. Thou shalt be looked up to as a mother in Israel for
council and for Instruction
We also blessed Sister Edwards & Brother Benbow G. A. S was mou-
th in blessing Br Benbow
~ Friday
14th I met in council with the Presidency & Twelve, Hiram Bl◊◊l◊o◊rn
licens was taken from him for transgression
~ Saturday
15 [FIGURES] I rode over the river went to the Log tabernacle
with G A Smith on our way there we learned
that there was much excitement at the Point, the inhabitants
had laid off Council Point into a town or town lots one line fence
run through John Geens house and the people pulled down his fence
to move it He went to& put it up & took his rifle & swore he would
Kill the first man that crossed the line of his fence or offered to
touch it while the company stood looking at him Brother
[blank] Condit a shoemaker came out of his shop & walked up to
see what was going on & in doing so walked over the line &
John Geen shot him through the heart and he fell dead
A Frenchman then struck Geen across the head with a club
and he fell as if he was dead but afterwards came to they buried
the dead man & took John Geen to Ioway City to be tried for
his crime.
I found the High Council in session when I arived at the Tabern[ac]
ole I dined with Br Hyde found BSister Hyde sick. I rode in the
afternoon with Br Hendricks to Br Robert Petty's distance 30 m
~ Sunday
16th Sunday I spent the day at Br Robert Petty's
~ Monday
17th I rode to Winter Quinters through through the rain we
learned that a Steamer had arived at Fort Carney with Goverm
ent Stores & expected two Steamers in few days to Winter Quarters
the soldiers at the fort went on board the Steamer & smashed
the bar level to the floor broke all the decanters & glasses and
spilt all the liquor & there was not power & dicipline enough in
the Armey to take them into custody A romour came by the
boat that the Mexicans had risen in arms throughout Mexico
& retaken all new Mexico & the City of Mexico, & that the U.S.
Government had called for 50,000 men more to go to Mexico 30 m
~ Tuesday
18th I spent the day at home choreing
~ Wednesday to ~ Thursday
19, 20th Spent the time at home nothing of Interest transpired
~ Friday
21st Mrs Woodruff was vary unwell through the day & con
fined to her bead Elder Hyde came over the river He staited
that the river had overflowed the banks he rode his horse through
3 feet of water in the public road through the willows.
we spent a little time together in council as follows B Young,
W. Richards, O Hyde, G A. Smith and W Woodruff
~ Saturday
22nd I spent the day at home
22nd In company with Mrs Woodruff our children and Br Benbow
I rode with my carriage to the burying grounds I visited the graves
of two of my children I also rode down the bottom & visited
the old camp ground. Killed one prairie chicken & went home
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday A cold day President Young was sick. Spent
most of the day reading the account of the French revolu
tion and the effect it had upon the nations of Europe
~ Monday
24th [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Brother Orson Spencer &
one to Capt Dan Jones
~ Tuesday
25th I forwarded my letters to St Louis by Br McKinzie
~ Wednesday
26th A guard was called for to guard against the Omaha th[e]y
had again began to kill our cattle
~ Thursday
27th I went out in company with Br Benbow to herd cattle
we shot some ducks
~ Friday
28th I spent the day at home Br Benson arived in winter
Quarters from his eastern mission at night
~ Saturday
29th President Young made a feast & invited a few of his friends
inasmuch as we were about to seperate the company was
composed of the following persons B Young, H. C. Kimball, O Pratt, W
Woodruff, A. P. Rockwood Joseph Young, E. T. Benson Levi Richards
& their ladies we had a plesent time Br Benson gave sumthing
of an account of his begging mission in the east during the evening
two men came in from the Salt Lake City did not get much
news from them Br Snow arived also in the evening bringing the
papers & letters with him, the affairs of Europe seem to be in
a critical posture, reptures, revolutions risings of the people, the Thrones
of Europe are trembling from their foundations
~ Sunday
30th Sunday we met at the Stand Erastus Snow preached in
the fore part of the day and Br Benson in the afternoon after
which President Young called for a guard for day and night
150 persons names were taken meeting was dismissed
~ Monday
May 1st 1848 I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
2nd [FIGURE] In company with O. Pratt G A Smith, W Porter & P W
Woodruff I repaired to the burying ground with a load of stones
I went to the upper burying grounds & took up out our little boy
named Joseph & brought him to the burying ground near
Winter Quarters & put him into the grave with Ezra Woodruff
their bodies are in the grave No 34. I put a stone at the head of
their graves marked J. E. W. for Joseph & Ezra Woodruff I also
put a stone at the head of Sister Benbows grave with J. B. on
the head of his [her] grave. G. A. Smith Put stones ^at^ the head & foot
of all his relatives. And O Pratt done the same.
~ Wednesday
3rd We packed our trunks during the day and in the evening a
company of Soldiers arived from the valley & brought a mail from
the city of the great Salt Lake
[FIGURE] We got one letter from Sister Smoot and one directed to
Robert Petty, we got a letter from the High Council to the
Presidency here which was good we met & herd it read
It seems from the letters that they have sowed 800 acres
of wheat & inclosed 5000 acres of land under fence made of
poles
~ Thursday
4th I spent the day at home killed a calf
~ Friday
5th [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letters to the following persons A. O. Smoot
Aphek Woodruff, James Bevan, & James Fergeson.
~ Saturday
6th I spent the day at home packing up trunks goods &c [FIGURE]
~ Sunday
7th [FIGURE] Sunday I recieved a letter from Robert Petty. I crossed
the ferry in the morning in companiesy with Charles Pulsipher &
Lummorow I started to go to Br Petty's got to traiding point
met R Allexander and I returned to camp distance 36 miles
~ Monday
8th I packed up the following bread stuff for Father Woodruff
forwarded by Br Benbow Sister Edwards goes with it flour 150, C[orn] Meal 60,
Rye meal 32, Rusk 69, meal & shorts 22.
The Otoe Chiefs with many of the tribe called at winter
Quarters to pay a visit a fat Beef was sent tdown to them
they have behaved much more honorable toward us than the
Omahas have.
~ Tuesday
9th I spent the day at home the Steem boat Bandana arived
at our wharf at sun set & brought goods groceries flour passe
ngers &c Dr Scott gave me Br Felts address as follows Nathaniel
H Felt South third Street between spruice & stillman Almund stre[et]
No 93 St Louis
~ Wednesday
10th All is bustle through winter quarters the steemer
unloaded flour groceries, freight, baggage the waggons were
busy in spreading it through the town, several of the Saints
took their departure on board the boat. O Pratt took passage
with his family for England. Our youngest child Shuah was
taken quite sick at night
~ Thursday
11th All are busy preparing to go east or west I bought
groceries for Father Woodruff to day to the amount of $7.
~ Friday
12th Our child is dangerously sick today an alarm came into
town that the Omahas were driving off our cattle we rallied
about 50 horsman & gave chase we got all our cattle & found
it a fals alarm
~ Saturday
13th All are busy preparing to go either East or west I paid
Br W. B. Adams $12 on my eastern waggon and recieved
the following recept
Council Bluffs May 13 1848 This is to certify that Br Wilford
Woodruff has paid me the balance for my waggon and this is his
recept for in full of all demand W B Adams
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I met in council with the Twelve President
Young proposed that Brs Richards and A Lyman go and leave
part of their families untill another year if they could not
get along without.
We all attended meeting at the Stand
the congregation was addressed by W Woodruff & E. T. Benson
who exhorted the Saints to faithfulness & obediance & to
harken to council. President Young addressed the people
made many interesting remarks. He blessed the land of
Winter Quarters and prayed that no gentile city might
ever be permitted to settle on it. And he felt to curse some of
our enemies who was seaking our overthrow he felt to
bless the saints who go or stay he blessed the Potawatame
lands He said we never should be driven from the Potaw
mountains except by insurrections among ourselves and he had
no fears of that.
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
15th 16th spent the time mostly packing up
~ Wednesday
17th Our babe was taken with a relaps in the night & had a
severe time through the day to save her life Artimissa left this
morning with widow Foster for the camp at the horn
~ Thursday
18th Our babe is some better to day I was unwell myself.
~ Friday
19 I was quite unwell to day, rumours have reached us that the
Indians had commenced slaughtering the inhabitants of
Oregon. Also that the Queen of England had abdicated her
throne & had shiped for Canida for Protection. our streets
are thronged with waggons on their way for the Horn
[FIGURE] I gave a power of Attorney to Z Pulsipher, John Benbow
and A. O. Smoot to transact business for me in the valley
I assisted John Benbow to pack his waggon he had a full load
^the above report concerning the Queen proved to be incorrect^
~ Saturday
20th I was near sick with cold on the lungs Br Benbow started
on his journey to day & went but little out out of town Br Z
Pulsipher went with him & his company. A Steem boat came
in and brought about 150 passengers mostly Saints from England
among whom was Franklin & Samuel Richards. They also
brought the body of Elder Sarine he had been dead about
12 days
~ Sunday
21 Sunday Elder Sarine Funeral was attended to day & his
body buried, I rode 5 miles out to the camp with President
Young. there were about 300 waggons encamped I saw Br
Benbow & many friends
~ Monday
22nd It is a busy time throughout winter Quarters in preparing
to leave for the east & west
~ Tuesday
23rd A cold rainy day
~ Wednesday
24th President Young went out to the horn to organize the
camp. H.C. Kimball O Hyde G. A. Smith spent a little
time with me in the afternoon I crossed the river
and returned. One of the Brethren up the Pigion Creek
was robed in open day light, was gaged tied to a tree
& robed of his oxen waggon money clothing &c some of the
robers were taken [FIGURE] Judgment will overtake the wicked in
an hour they think not if they do not cease their wickedness
~ Thursday
25th I was busy in packing up to move I took the parting hand
with President Young I let him have twenty five dollars to help
him buy a yoke of cattle
~ Friday
26th I moved my family & effects over the river & stoped over the
river near the ferry
~ Saturday
267 I carryed my Big Boox Box & Br Stewart trunk & left it
with Br G. A. Smith I returned 24 mile
we had a rain during the night & wet us all in the night
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I spent the day at home
~ Monday
29th I rode out to day & shot a duck, a dove, & a large gobler
turkey
~ Tuesday
30th I spent most of the day about home
~ Wednesday
31st I shot 8 pigions
~ Thursday
June 1st I spent the day at home
~ Friday
2nd In company with O. Hyde E. T. Benson H. Miller, Scofield
Daily, Hickman, & others I rode out to the Horn to see Presidents
Young Kimball & the Camp of Israel, we found all had crossed
the Horn Lorenzo Snow, & Zera Pulsipher captains of hundred had
gone on their Journey with a hundred each. we assertained their
were about 600 waggons in all crossed the horn they made a
splendid encampment & beautiful sight. their had been 4 burials at
the Horn 2 infants one aged woman & brother Neff had a son
named Charles 8 years of age drowned in the Horn which was
buried there. I spent a little time with President Young then
went through the camp & visited my acquaintance I wrote a
letter to Br John Benbow as he had gone on and I could not see
[FIGURE] him distance 30 mils
~ Saturday
3rd We took the parting hand to day with Presidents Young and
Kimball & many Saints crossed the horn & returned to Winter
Quarters & on the way we were overtaken by one of the
most tremendioos storm of rain hail & wind we were
drenched with water from head to foot & returned cold &
chilly 30 mile
~ Sunday
4th Sunday Spent the day at home
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
5th 6, 7, 8 9th I spent the time mostly at home prepareing to leave
~ Friday
9th I crossed the river called upon President W Richards &
conversed upon the subject of his situation He was lying
sick & had been for many months Presidents Young & Kimball
with their companies had gone on, he was left behind & had not
means to go with I was waiting to see if I could assist him in
any way. I recrossed the river & took my famaily & moved
them into Carterville 2 miles from Kaneville into the house
of Br Dominicus Carter 12 m
~ Saturday
10th I spent the day at home
~ Sunday
11th Sunday I preached to the Saints in Carterville then rode
to G. A. Smith's spent a few hourse & returned home I admi
nistered to one sick 6 m
~ Monday
12 We went to G A. Smiths & brought him & family to our
house & carried him back again we had a good visit together
~ Tuesday
13 I spent the day at home
~ Wednesday
14th I rode to G A Smith's took him into my carriage then
rode to the ferry dined with Br Bensons at night crossed
the river, to see Br Richards. Just as we landed the blowing
of the Bugle & rush to men arms & report that Indians
were coming upon the people created quite an excitement
in the place about 80 men assembled together but were in a
poor state for an attack but no indians came they were
addressed by A Lyman G. A. Smith & W Woodruff
upon the necessity of being well armed & prepared for
Indians attacks while in an Indian Country the men
were required to meet evry night at sun set for drilling. the
night previous to this the Omahas came upon some Pawnees
who were in the place & fired Arrows upon them they returned
the fire with powder & ball but none killed. we returned to Br
Richards & spent the night in his carriage during the day while
the Boat went up the river to cross over the river one of the
Boatman was knocked overboard & was drowning Capt Hewit jumped
overboard to save the man & thew would have both drowned
had not a Pawnee jumped into the river & saved them both 14 m
~ Thursday
15 I spent the day in winter Quarters we rode to the Cold Springs twice to the mill & other places with Br Richards
during the evening we crossed the river & returned home
by moon light 15 m
~ Friday
16 I spent the day at home
~ Saturday
17th I spent the day at home preparing my things & stowi-
[FIGURE] ng them away in Br Carters house I left with him
my large box containing my beding clothing &
a great variety of articles also a chest filled
with tent cloth bags, Iron, chains, & sundry articles
a pork barrel filled with pails Iron ware &c a buffa-
lo robe trunk tray &c one new horse harness &c. &c.
~ Sunday
18th Sunday I rode with my family to the Tabernacle
& met with W Richards O Hyde G A. Smith and a con-
gregation of Saints. W Richards addressed the meeting
& laid his situation & wants before them he wanted oxen
waggons & money to fit him out to go to the mountains
with his Brethren who had gone before him G A Smith
followed him & W. Woodruff & O Hyde upon the subjct
I dined with W Richards at Br Hydes A Committee
was appointed to go & obtain means for Br Richards
At the close of the meeting I took the parting hand with
many of the Saints among whom was W Richards
& O Hyde Br Richards blessetd [me] & said the spirit & pow-
er of God should rest upon me on this mission that
I should say in the end that it was one of the best missions
I ever took that no power should prevail against me
& many other blessings he pronounced upon my head
I then rode to Brother Carters, took Malinda Thomas into
my carriage (who had been labouring for us) & carried her
home on Pigeon creek 18 miles whole distance 25 m
I spent the night at Br Strattons
~ Monday
19th I returned to Br Carters 18 mile
I sold a waggon to Moses Martin for $25 in clothing
~ Tuesday
20th I spent part of the day at home walked to G. A. Smiths
bud did not see him 4 [miles]
~ Wednesday
21st We started on our journey this day rode 16 miles
[FIGURE] & stoped on Silver Creek & camped for the night
~ Thursday
22nd We rose this morning & found my mules were gone we
hunted but could find no trace of them, we thought they
were stolen it soon commenced raining hard Br Carter
& myself took each of us a horse & rode in the cold rain
about 25 miles around the country but still could get
no trace of them but in the evening one of the Neighbors
found them about 6 miles down the creek (25) m
~ Friday
23rd We travled 29 miles & camped 5 miles west of
Indian town 29 [m]
~ Saturday
24th Travled 20 miles & camped on Sand Stone Spring
we found a plenty of stawburies on the rode & had a feast of
them at night 20 m
~ Sunday
25th Sunday. Our company consisted of myself & family &
Dominicas Carter with my carriage & Br Russel Homer
had a waggon & carried with him Libeas T. Coones,
John Mcmurry & David M. Gammit making eleven person of
us all. we arose this morning & found one of Br Homers horses
gone they mounted my mules & one horse & 3 men started
after him they followed him on the road east 3 miles on
his tral. we rode on to Evens Camp & spent the night 15
the Brethering Brethren spent the day hunting their horse
Br Coones shot a fine deer this morning which made us
a plenty of fresh meat
~ Monday
26 We started at 6 oclok drove 7 miles to the 20 mile prairie
entered that at 1/2 past 8. we found some bad slues & creeks
difficult to cross on the latter part of the Prairie we were
overtaken with a hard thunder storm and at the close of
it Elder O Hyde Br Johnson & others drove up drenched with
rain In a few moments another hard storm of wind & rain
came upon us & when that was closed we drove several miles
to Brother Roundys waggons on the open parie we stoped
& spent the night all drenched with rain 27 miles
~ Tuesday
27th We arose at day light & rode to Mount Pisgah 15 miles
Br Hyde went to Br Dailey, Br Carter & myself went to
Br Halls Mrs Woodruff was nearly sick we all met at
5 oclock the meeting was addressed by Br Hyde who was
constrained by the spirit of God to teach principle &
reprove iniquity W Woodruff followed him in the
same strain & was constrained by the spirit & power of
God to reprove iniquity & sin in great plainness & it done
good we appointed a meeting at 2 oclok next day
~ Wednesday
278 I had an interview in the morning with Br Aaron
York who told me how all things were with him &
the Church as he knew we met at 2 oclok I addressed
the people upon principle & gave them Council Br York
followed & withdrew from the Presidency of that Branch
of the Church we then appointed by the voice of the
people Edwin Whiting for President & [blank] Whiting &
[blank] Demill for councellor all parties were satisfied
~ Thursday
289th We parted with the Saints & left Mount Pisgah & rode to
Garding grove & spent the night with Elder Thomas Kington
We were truly glad to meet once more distance of the day 37 m
[FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Br Alpheus Cutler
~ Friday
29 30th We held a meeting with the Saints at Garden Grove
& found all things right we tought principle & had a good
time many spoke & a good spirit prevailed
~ Saturday
30 July 1st We again met with the Saints for a prayer meeting
& had a good time Br Dailly and Kingsley arived in the
evening to journey with us
~ Sunday
31st 2nd Sunday we left Garding Grove & drove to Sharaden
point and camped near Mr Townsend 40 m
~ Monday
3rd drove to Soap creek & camped for the night 40 m
~ Tuesday
July 4th We drove to Stringtown saw Br David Crocket
and camped by Br J Alreads 35 miles
~ Wednesday
5th [FIGURE] We drove 15 miles to Br James Williams
we spent the afternoon & night with Br
Williams and had an interview with Br Samuel Miller during
the evening a hard thunder storm was approaching us. my
Mules were tied to a large oak tree on the opposite side of the
street I felt impressed to move my Mules away to another place
I did so I also removed my Children out of the house Carriage
& made them a bed in the house I also moved my Carriage one
rod down to the house in which Mrs Woodruff myself & one
child slept, we had just retired to bed when the storm reached
us with great fury in a moment the large oak tree came thund-
ering to the ground with a mighty crash had I not have moved
my Mules it probably would have killed them had I not have
moved my Carriage it would have crushed it to atoms and killed
us dead for the body of the tree fell whare my Carriage stood
& just missed Br Kingleys waggon I considerd it an i[n]ter position
of Providence to save our lives 15
~ Thursday
6 We travled through Bonaparte & Farmington & camped
for the night 4 miles west of bonaparte & travled 20 miles
~ Friday
7th We drove to dBr Moett's & dined in sight of Nauvoo and
the Temple we had a view of it through our glasses. we
then drove to Keokuck & spent the night with Br Fisher 27 miles
~ Saturday
8th I spent the day in Keokuck visited several of the Brethr-
en also Ross B. Hughes
~ Sunday
9th Sunday in company with Brothers Dana & Kingsley I rode
[FIGURE] in my carrige to Montrose dined with Br Beebe we
then crossed the river on the steem ferry boat to
Nauvoo we called upon Almon Babbit. then in company
with John Snider I visited the Temple & went over it
from the bottom to the top whare I once more had a full view
of the once beautiful but now desolate city of Nauvoo the temple
was in a much better state of preservation than I expected to
find it. The people in the City of Nauvoo were much excited
from a report that Elder Hyde would preach in the Temple
that day they had made many threats upon the subject & some
came in waggons from the country to hear & see but the
excitement was all among themselves for Elder Hyde had
given out no such appointment. I returned to A. Babits & found
a man who had come from Mishigan to enquire after the
gospel & to see the Saints I was introduced to him & told
his business. I preached the Gospel to him one hour He then
[went to the] river in Nauvoo and I baptized him and we returned
to Br John Sniders in the House that G. A. Smith built
we there confirmed him & I ordained him an Elder gave
him a license to preach the gospel & he went his way rejoicing
I spent the night with Br Snider
~ Monday
10th I called upon Elder Babbit & spent the morning I bought
the six volumns of the Times & seasons of Babbitt for $7
I then went down to Hiram Kimballs & dined with him
& visited his garding was the finest garding in the western
Country. I then called upon JohDaniel Luce keeping school in the
masonic Hall who seemed dejected I then crossed the river
to Montrose spent the night at Br Bowens
~ Tuesday
11th I sold my Mules Carriage & Harness to Samuel Beverly
for $160 & Buffalo Robe for $3.70 I then took passage for Keokuck
in the Hack, dined at Br Fishers & remained untill 8 oclok
then took passage on board the Lucy Bertram for St Luis
we went on deck but we did not sleep any at all for
it seemed as though the fleas bedbugs & musketoes would
have destroyed us they bit ourselves & children in a dredful
manner
~ Wednesday
12th We passed Quincy Alton & arived at St Louis at 11 oclok
at night. I spent the night fighting musketoes distance
from Keokuck to St Louis 26025 m
~ Thursday
13th I called upon Br Felt 93 South 3rd street He went
with us to 195 south 2nd street whare we took a room
to stop. the heat was so excessive through the day & no
circulation of air whare we were that it seemed as though
we should die I took a severe cold & head ake & was sick
through the night
~ Friday
14th I was quite sick through the day I walked out in
the evening with Mrs Woodruff & bought two set of
Musketoe bars
~ Saturday
15 Moved to Br Gaulters 104 Washington Avennue, corner
of 5th & Washington street we were glad to meet we
talked over old times spoke of John Benbow I was better to day
than yesterday
~ Sunday
16th Sunday met with the Saints. A large congregation
O Hyde addressed the Saints in the fore part of the day upon
the subject of the resurrection W. Woodruff addressed the
meeting in the afternoon I saw many people I was acquainted with
~ Monday
17th I spent the day at St Louis but left in the evening on
board of the Herald at 5 oclok I took cabin passage with
my family
~ Tuesday
18 Early in the morning the Pilot in a fog run the boat
aground in a Pickerel swamp & it lay 12 hours before
it was got off we could not get any milk for our little
Shuah She was taken with bowel complant & was
vary sick
~ Wednesday
19th We past Peoria, Perue & arived at Lasell about
sunset. Shuah continued vary sick through the day and
night. distance from St Louis to Lasell 360 miles
fare for myself and family $11.
~ Thursday
20th I hiered a man to carry myself and family in a waggon
to Br Luther Scammans 2 1/2 miles north of lost grove
in Lamoile, Bureau Co Illinois we found him & Rhoda &
their family all well. Our child suffered much during this
days ride & was vary feeble when we arived & had a sick
night night 14
~ Friday
21st We spent the day taken care of Shuah who suffered
much through the day it appeared evident she would soon
be taken from us as she could not live long
~ Saturday
[FIGURE] Shuah C. Woodruff
Born Oct 28th 1847
Died July 22nd 6 oclok 1848
Aged 8 mont[h]s 25 Days
July 22nd 1848 Shuah Carter Woodruff
Died 18 minutes past 6 oclok this day.
Her sufferings are ended & she has gone to rest with
her Brother & Sister kindred spirits
~ Sunday
July Sunday 23rd We attended to the burial of our child, Shuah, she
was buried in the garden of Br Luther Scammons a few rods
South East of his dwelling. She was buried in a good black walnut
coffin set inside of an ash box. I put up a lime stone slab at
the grave with the following words well carve upon it which
I done with my own hand.
S. C. Woodruff
Died July 22nd 1848 Aged 9 Months
Sarah Emma Born July 14th 1838 Died July 17th 1840. Aged 2 years 3 days
Wilford Jr Born March 22nd 1840.
Phebe Amelia Born March 4th 1842
Susan Cornelia Born July 25th 1843
Joseph Born in Liverpool, Eng. July [blank] 1845 Died Nov 11th 1846 Aged 1 year 4 m
Ezra Carter Born Dec 9th 1846 died Dec 11th 1846 aged 2 days
Shuah Carter born Oct 28 1847 Died July 22nd 1848 aged 8 Mont[h]s & 25 days
~ Monday
July 24th Mrs Woodruff feels quite unwell to day I spent the day at res[t]
~ Tuesday
25th Mrs Woodruff feels some better today in health she and her
Sister Rhoda laboured hard all day at the wash tubs. While Br Carter
& myself was busy in making the grave stone for our child
~ Wednesday
26th I went out in the morning with Mr Scammans gun & shot
4 times & Killed 5 prairie chickens we hoed potatoes in the
afternoon Mr[s] Woodruff expressed her feelings concerning the lo[ss]
of her children & refused to be comforted because of her children
which were taken away
~Thursday
27th I was unwell this morning spent the day quietly
~ Friday
28 [FIGURE] Luther Scammans had 18 acres of stout wheat in
the shock which he wanted to stack so he rigged two teams
and I took them into the field and during this day I
pitched onto waggons the wheat which grew on twelve
acres of ground & a young man loaded it for me, Brothers
Scammans & Carter put it into stacks as fast as we brought
it in. good judges of grain said it would yield 25 bushels to
the acre that being the case it would make 300 shock of
wheat that I pitched onto the waggons in one day making 3600
bundles, it was a vary hot day and I was not in good health
it was as much as a well man ought to have done in two days and
it was imprudent in me doing it as I had done no hard labour for
a length of time. At night I was sore from the crown of my
head to the souls of my feet I went to bed my nerves were so
unstrung I could not sleep at all
~ Saturday
29th I was sore with my labour yesterday yet I exercised some
Mr Scammans with two teams drew up the remaining 6 acres
of wheat to day & stacked it
~ Sunday
30 Sunday I spent the day at Mr Scammans
~ Monday
31st Left Mr Scammans house to continue our journey to Chicago
by land Mr Scammans carried us in his waggon we travled
28 miles & put up for the night
~ Tuesday
Aug 1st Travled 40 miles & put up for the night
~ Wednesday
2nd We rode 32 miles arived at Chicago at 2 oclock
distance from Lamoile to Chicago 100 miles
we went on Board of the Steemer Missouri St Louis
for Buffalo & spent the night expenses to Chicago $3.40
paid L Scammons for passage $5.50
$8.90
~ Thursday
3rd A hard storm of wind & rain through the night
we left Chicago at 3 oclok
~ Friday
4th we touched at Milwake & other places during the day at
night the wind arose & the Lake was vary rough the Captain
said it was the roughest time he ever saw in August
there seems to be some fatality attending my journeying
on this Chain of Lake twice I have been wrecked on lake
Michigan with my family & the boats nearly destroyed we
were in no particular danger last night ownly nearly all
on board were sick myself & family was quite sick
~ Saturday
5th We arived at Macannau at 5 oclok we bou[gh]t some trout
which we relished.
~ Sunday
^[6] Sunday^ we stoped at Detroit one hour many
passengers got on. Our Son Wilford was taken vary
sick in the night with a specis of the irricipilas he was
coverd with bloches from head to foot & in great pain
He recieved a blessing by prayer & laying on of hands
~ Monday
7th We stoped at Cleaveland at day light Wilford rested some
through the night but feels quite unwell this morning we
arived at Buffalo at 9 oclok we spent the night on board of
the boat distance from Chicago to Buffalo 1050 m
~ Tuesday to ~ Friday
8th We took Packet Boat on the canal for Schenectady & travled
through the 9th 10th & 11th Arved in Albany on the eve of the
11th distance from Buffalo to Albany on the canal 360 m
~ Saturday
12th We took the rail road for Boston were 11 hours on the
way distance 200 miles
we put up for the night at the Western Echange Hotel after
tea I took a walk over Cambridge bridge to Cambridge port
& found Br Alexander Badlam Manufacturer of Coach Piano Forte
and furniture copal Varnish corner of Washington & Maine
Street Cambridgeport I here found Elders Felt & Robins I was
truly glad to meet with them all, & to get to the end of my jour-
ney which had been a long & tedious one with my family of
2595 miles journey from Council Bluff to Boston by land
& waggons, rivers, lakes, canals rail roads &c &c wholes distance
2595 m
~ Sunday
13th Sunday I met with the Saints in Boston Lewis Robins spoke
in the fore part of the day I followed him. I dined with Br
Cannon
In the afternoon I addressed the meeting was clothed with
the spirit of God & was blest & edifyed as were the congrega-
tion I was followed by Br Nathaniel Henry Felt, Dominicus Carter
& [blank] Dudley asll spoke in the spirit of the Lord & was edifyed
I was introduced to Capt John ^Joseph^ Russel of Miramichi New
Brunswick He is the Presiding Elder of that Branch of
the church Miremichi N. Brunswick He went home with me &
took tea & spent the evening with me I had a happy time with
him I found him to be a good spirited man
August 14, 1848 ~ Monday
14th I spent the day at Br Badlums & met iat his house in the
evening with the Elders and had a good time we blessed Brother
Russel
~ Tuesday to ~ Thursday
15, 16, 17 was spent at Br Badlams. I wrote two letters one
[FIGURE] to Elder Appleby one to Elders Little & Hardy
~ Friday
18th Elder Rockwood called upon us this evening & spent the
night with us
~ Saturday
19th I spent a part of the day with Br Rockwood in
the City of Boston Br Little spent the evening with m[e]
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I met with the Saints in Boston Br
Rockwood spoke in the morning Br Little followed
him we partook of the sacrament I addressed the
meeting a larger Number were in than had been
for a long time some apostates of the worst class
The powers of darkness tried to prevail for a little
time still I was blessed Br Little followed me,
we returned & spent the night at Br Badlams
~ Monday
21st I spent the day with Brs Little Rockwood Carter
Felt Robins & others. In the perusal of the publications
[FIGURE] of the day we discover calamity among the nations Thrones
are being cast down war & rumours of wars
fires & judgments on evry hand during the last
week one forth part of Albany is laid in ruins by fire
loss from 3 to 5 millions of dollars The great out break
in Ireland that was expected has closed without much sheding
of blood but it seems that nearly every part of Europe
is in war
~ Tuesday
22nd The Steemer Cambria has arived from Liverpool bringing
information that in the out break of Ireland Gen M Donald
was killed and 6000 troops and a prospect of the sheding of
much blood great excitement prevails
~ Wednesday
23rd [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letters to England one to O Spencer one
to Dan Jones one to John Enion, one to Joseph Hall. Brother Joseph
Russel called upon me in the evening Capt Dudley was here in
the evening and manifested a singular spirit. Ilus Carter
called upon us in the afternoon
~ Thursday
24th I spent the day at home writing
~ Friday
25th I went into Boston with Brothers Robins & Badlam
~ Saturday
26th [FIGURE] I recieved the Daily Times this morning saying that
news had been recieved from the City of the Salt lake as late
as the first of May & that the Saints was in a distressed
condition for bread & that the crickets had eat up all
their wheet & barley &c how true it is we do not know
I recieved a visit from Elder Leonard Hardy He stoped with
27th me one hour we then took the rail road & went to Haverhill
took the express to Bradford & walked to Mr Burbanks
and spent the night distance from Boston 30 m
~ Sunday
27th Sunday we met with the Saints at Br Samuel B Hardy
East Bradford Br L Hardy addressed the meeting and I followed
him we truly had a good time we held another meeting
in the evening and was also blest with the spirit of the
Lord Milton Homes did not attend meeting but his wife
did, she is opposed to the work in spirit, we spent the
night with Br S. B. Hardy
~ Monday
28th We spent the day visiting friends I spent two or three
hours with Milton Holmes He is quite glooomy feels unhappy
and hardly knows what course to take we were glad to meet
~ Tuesday
29th We rode to Lowell visited the Iron Founderies &c held
a meeting in the evening with a few of the Saints 25.
~ Wednesday
30th I parted with Br Hardy I rode to Boston he to Pterborough
I returned to my family & spent the night 25 m
~ Thursday
31st I went into Boston with Mrs Woodruff & done some
traiding to the amount of $23. I wrote a letter to Br
Ilus Carter
~ Friday
Sept 1st I wrote a letter to O Pratt & sent him L Wights
[FIGURE] & O Pratt Hyde pamphlets I wrote to O Hyde
[FIGURE] W. J. Appleby, Jacob Gipson N. H. Felt 5 letters in
all
~ Saturday
2nd I spent the day at Br Badlams
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I met with the Saints in Boston there being
present Elders A Cordan, Lewis Robins & N. H. Felt. Elder
Cordon spoke in the fore part of the day much to our
edifycation. Among other remarks he said that the sudjets
were discussed in Heaven concerning us on earth & evry
subject wharein we were interest or were for our good
would rest with wait upon our minds &c I followed him
in the afternoon I addressed the meeting was followed
by Br Robins we had a good time. In the evening Br
Cordon spoke to a small number in Cambridgeport I followed
him had a good meeting
~ Monday
4th In company with my family I left Boston on the express
train of cars for Portland through some misunderstanding the
two trains waited for each other 3 or 4 hours so we did
not get into Portland untill 1 oclok at night we found Br
Ilus F Carter waiting for us he took us home we spent the night with him distance 100 m
~ Tuesday
5th I spent the day in Portland called upon Ezra Carter
& family we ascertained that Father Carter had been
in the day before to carry us out there but did not
find us & went home quite disappointed, therefore
Mrs Woodruff thought it best for her to go out to her
Fathers house to see her aged father once more so
she took Stage & went out & spent the night
with him He was quite out of health but got well
almost immediately as soon as he saw her, he was 76
years of age and a visit from his Daughter Phebe
was like one rose from the dead, we found all the
friends glad to see us
~ Wednesday
6th I left Portland with my children and rode out
to Scarborough to Father Carters and was glad to once
more see him & Sister Foss & their families I spent the
night at Father Carters 10 m
~ Thursday
7th Father Carter walked with me to Sister Foss & we
spent the day
~ Friday
8th [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Br Wm H Wilson at So St George
and spent the day at Sister Foss
~ Saturday
9 [FIGURES] I recieved a letter from J. Gibson and wrote
one to W. J. Appleby I spent the day to Father Carters
He retains hims memory & faculties of mind well he has
brought up one of the best families of Sons & Daughters
that can be found in the State of Maine.
During the
day I read a work called the young mans guide by Wm A
Alcott seventeenth Edition which contains many excellent
morrals that are worthy of imitation & practice upon a great
variety of subjects it is a valuable work I have one error in
reading ie I read much more than I digest the above work is
one of the best Gentile works I ever saw
~ Sunday
10th Sunday we recieved a visit from Ilus & Martha we
spent the day at Sister Foss & had an agreeable time we
spent the night at Father Carters. Phebe Rhoda &
Olive Foss, was at home. Sister Foss has brought up her
children well and they Possess not ownly education but
true accomplishments
~ Monday
11th Father Carter attended town Meeting I stayed at home
and read the Young Ladys Aid by Jason Whitman which
contained much good council
~ Tuesday
12th [FIGURE] I recieved two letters from W. J. Appleby &
J. Gibson I ascertained that Br Appleby was
quite sick. In the afternoon In company with
Father Carter, S B. Foss, Rhoda Foss, & Mrs Woodruff
I left Scarborough & rode to Gray left Rhoda continue on
to Glocester & spent the night. A heavy frost at night 30 miles
~ Wednesday
13th A cool morning ground coverd with frost we
passed through Auburn, Turner Livermore Jay bridge
to Wilton, to Freedom Moulton whare we spent the
night we came for the purpose of visiting them.
Here Sarah B. Foss Phebe W. Woodruff and Shuah C
Moulton all own sisters had the privilege of once
more meeting together it had been 8 years since they
had met before it was a happy meeting distance 45 m
~ Thursday
14th I went with a boy fishing I cought 21 trout & he
cought 7 it made us a good meal, we went over
Freedom Moultons Farm he has a good one of about
100 Acres, Mr Moulton has taught School 120 months
equal to 10 years. We had a rainy night
~ Friday
15th It rains hard and cold I spent the day reading
~ Saturday
16th I took a walk with Father, Moulton, Phebe & Sarah
to the top of Spruice Mountain we looked through
our glasses & had a good view of all the surrounding
country, we also rode [to] Wilton & back 6 m
~ Sunday
17th Sunday we spent the day at Mr Moultons, I took
the following
~ Monday
18th It rained hard through the day we went to
Wilton & returned
~ Tuesday
19th We took the parting hand with Br & Sister Moulton
[FIGURE] who had treated us kindly And we rode to Gray
and spent the night 50 m
During the evening we accompanied Rhoda Foss
to a lecture deliverd at the Teachers Institute the
subject was the oxigen of the human system. He said it was
the oxigen that entered the system that sustained life that we
recieved so much into our bodies each day and that we discha-
rged so much each day we flung of so much oxigen at each
resperation He said the oxigen would meet with the Hydragen
& carbon & create a heat or cholorie & this was the cause of
the heat in man the same as it was with a burning lamp
and if oxigen should scease to be created in man he would
scease to breath or live, He explained the difference in Quantity
of the oxigen created from vegitables or animal food that
animal food produced far more oxigen than vegitable, and
that the body discharged oxigen much faster in cold cou-
ntries than in hot, & in cold weather than in warm and
advised that people subsist more upon animal food in cold
weather than in hot. He had tried it by going without animal food
for years and became convinced that it was injurious to him He
injoyed much better health since he made use of animal food
in cold weather fat meat produces oxigen in far greater
quantities than lean and believes this is one reason of the prevelant
fevers in Hot Countrys & seasons that oxigen is created so
much faster than it discharges that it breaks the law of nature
and the man has to suffer in consequence of it oxigen is also reci-
eved & discharged through the pores of the skin and hence their
was great propriety in keeping the body clean & washing often
He urged the necessity & importance of having all dwelling
houses school & meeting houses & all sleeping rooms well
ventilated our sleeping ho rooms should be the largest rooms in
the house instead of small bedrooms & them closed without
any fresh air, go into a crouded room that is not well
ventilated and the air you breath is poison to the Human
System. Mothers should be careful to se to their children
that they do not lie with their heads coverd up that they
need not breath the air under cover. the faster a person
respires or any creature the oftener he discharges oxigen &
the oftener he needs food & the shorter would be his life
without it A bird can ownly live 3 days without food a man
9 or 12 a child not as long while some anaimals or reptiles
will live three months without it A child needs food much
oftener than a man it respires oftener discharges oxigen ofte-
ner which needs replenishing oftener if a person lives without
food the elements pray upon the body itself to creates oxigen
the flesh waste away & the persons dies, it is the fat of the
bear, the ground hog, & all animals that burrow up for months
without eating that feeds the oxigen & keeps life in the ani-
mal yet when he comes out he is poor. He also recommended
that we put on warm clothing when we begin to feel the
chill of Autum & not wait unill we feel the blast of winter
we should eat in the morning before we expose ourselves
to riding in the cold, and if we wished to save hay and
provinder give our cattle & stock warm stables in winte[r]
for it would take much more to sustain the system in
the open air he opposed the principle of air tight stove[s]
they were not healthy and many other remarks were
made by the speaker
I have discoverd in my travels of late in the eastern
states a great exhertion among the people to improve thei[r]
system of education to make it interesting to the youth
& changing the mode of teaching the black board is int
roduced into the schools generally & it is found not
profitable to confine the scholar in one place not more
than an hour & are are giving attention to children of
weak lungs & stomach using gymnastics &c filling the
lungs with air & exploding it suddenly with sounds like
O, Bo, Ba &c loud to exercise the lungs making them stand
strait. I find many good things of this kind among
the people.
But when we look for the things
of the Kingdom of God it appears to me this nation
was never more barren than at the present time their
hearts seem to be bared up they are bound in bands
which are made strong & no man can loose them they
seem to be ripe for the judgments of God and well
they may be inasmuch as they have rejected the gospel
shed the blood of Prophets Apostles & Patriarchs & driven
the church & Kingdom of God into the wilderness and have
finally been cut off from the Church & kingdom of
God by a general vote & acclemation of the the Saints
of God with uplifted hands to heaven in the Temple of
the Lord at Nauvoo and who can expect to get access to
the hearts of this Nation now No one their condemnat
ion is made shure & their damnation slumbereth not
~ Wednesday
[FIGURE] 20th We rode to Scarborough carried Rhoda Foss with
[FIGURE] us, spent the night at Fathers Carters I recieved
three letters, from I. W. Appleby O. H. Dudley and James
H. Hannigan. 25 m
~ Thursday
21st Spent a part of the day at Fathers & part at Sister
Fosses we had a family meeting in the evening Father
Carter was present also Joseph Fabyan we had a good
time I expressed my feelings in plaineness concerning my
course & the dealings of the Lord with me Phebe also spoke
in great planeness concerning her course and that her Pare
nts & friends would know in eternity why she had taken
the course she had in leaving her fathers house & following
the Saints the spirit of the Lord was with us Br Carter
spoke a few moments to edifycation Father Carters said
H was satisfyed with us and if their was a society of the
Saints whare he could spend the few remaining days with
them which he had to spend on earth he would be glad
to. It was an interesting time to us all
~ Friday
22 A hard rainy day I spent the time to Father Carters
~ Saturday
23rd A rainy morning Mrs Woodruff & Mrs Foss carried me
in a waggon to Saco. I there left them & took cares [cars] with
Br D Carter & rode to Boston got a letter from Lucian
Bonaparte Richmond, went to Cambridgeport & spent the
night at Br A. Badlams found Elder A P Rockwood there 100 m
~ Sunday
24th Sunday met with the Saints in Boston I addressed
them in the morning was followed by Br Carter the
meeting was addressed in the afternoon by Br Rockwood
who exhorted the Saints to carry out the principles of the
Epistles in emigating to the west did not speak but few
minutes in consequence of weak lungs I followed him
& had the spirit of God & was edifyed so were the people
~ Monday
25th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters one to Mrs Woodruff one
to Lucian B. Richmond Br Rockwood spent the day with
me & wrote to Br Joseph Young. In the evening we
laid hands upon the head of Br Allexander Badlom & blessed
him & ordained him to be one of the Presidents in the
sixts Quorum of the 7Seventies Br Rockwood was mouth
~ Tuesday
26th I left Boston in the evening & rode on the cars to worcester
[FIGURE] and stoped at Br Moores 33 Mechanics Street & spent
the night He kept borders & some of them had spirits
that was not good, that were vary far from mingling with
my spirit I wrote a letter to Br O. Pratt of Liverpool 48 m
~ Wednesday
27 [FIGURE] I spent most of the day in Worcester attending the
cattle show I saw some of the finest oxen I ever saw
in my life. I saw one large black ox that guirted 10 feet and
weighed alive 4,200, two Durham oxen which were two
of three twins calved at at time weight lbs 2200, each, a Manmouth
Durham Cow guirt 8 feet weight 2,500 lbs and 3 durham
twin calves looked well, the above was in a show. In
the pens I saw a black ^ox^ weight 2767 his mate read ox 2750
one yoke of read oxen the fattest I ever saw the yoke weighed
5110 lbs and one Durham Calf 7 months old weight 800 lbs
during the evening I rode on the cars to Northbridge
the cars were all loaded down in such a manner that
the cars were loaded & crouded almost to suffication
it was crouded out on the platform untill they were in
dangers of falling of, I called upon Br Wm sweat at
Joseph Aldridge and spent the night 15 m
~ Thursday
28th I found sister Aldridge a good woman also her
daughter they had recieved their endowments & were
true & faithful I met Br Sweat at Br Brown He had
been vary sick was on the mend we administered
to him and he was blessed. We met with the Saints
in the afternoon and had good times the spirit of
the Lord was with us & we had a good time
[FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Samuel Brannan of Calafornia ^and one letter to James Fergoson^
~ Friday
29th I parted with the Saints and rode to Worcester
& spent the day I visited the insane hospital which contained
about 500 occupants their appartments were neat clean & comfortable
Br Haven went through with me. I left Worcester in the evening
on the cars rode to Connecticut took boat for New York
~ Saturday
30th We had rather of a rough night on the Sound we arived
in New York at 7 oclock I called at Mr Davids 160 spring street
The following are some of the addresses in New York
Mrs Fuller 204 Seventh Street east Number their being two of the No
Sister Sharugar 411 Hudson Street in the rear
Sisters Day & Hart 491 Greenwich in the basement.
Sister Michel 105 Nineteenth street between the 6 & 7 Avanue
Edward Cook (Clerk) & Sister Shelden 266 Mott street New York
Mr C. C. Watterhouse 84 Degraw St South Brooklin
David Malcolm 26 Columbia St South Brooklin.
Distance from Worcester to New York 200 m
I spent the day walking about the City I called upon Calvin
Foss in the end of Pearl Street I called upon Mrs Sloan
I spent the night at Mr Davids 10 mile
~ Sunday
[FIGURE]
Oct 1st Sunday I met with the Saints in New York at the South
west cornor of Elizabeth & Grand Street over a porter shop I preach
to the People in the fore part of the day and was glad to met with the
Saints. In the afternoon I addressed them sumwhat lengthy spoke
of the Sacrament quoted the revelation saying that Jesus would
drink the wine anew with us on the earth with all the righteous from
Adam down to the last Saints exhorted the saints to be faithful
that we might be among the Number. their had got to bo [be]
so much done before Christ would come & when he did come
He would labour with all the Saints a thousand years through the
whole Millinnial in order to prepare the Kingdom of God on the earth
that it might be presented spotless, pure & finished to his Fathers
Throne, many other remarks were made after which the
Sacrament was administered and as the Presiding Elder
had left and they now had no presiding Elder it was Necessary to
appoint one I presented to them the necessity of being united in this
thing I recommended to them Br ^T^ Cartwright as a Presiding Elder
He was nominated seconded & carried unanimoosly for a pre
siding Elder over the New York Branch Brs Evans Ayers were
appointed his Councellars and Edward Cook Clerk I ordained
Br Thomas Cartwright to the office of Elder I blessed one child
After meeting I went to Br Cooks & took tea, after which
I had some talk with Mrs Cook I then returned to Mr Davids
and spent the night the Books presented 65 members of the
Saints in New York. It rained hard through the day & night
~ Monday
2nd It continues to rain hard, yet I travled through the day
in New York & Brooklin to visit the Saints I got wet took
cold had sore throat lungs filled up went to bed sick at night
it rained exeeding hard through the night 10 m
~ Tuesday
3rd I arose quite unwell this morning my lungs much filled
up it continues to poour down rain like a flood this is the third
day that it has rained hard day & night attended with high
winds which will probably prove vary disasterous to seaman
I was expecting to go to Philadelphia today but it storms so
hard and I am so unwell I will spend the day at at Mr Davids
while the rain is pouring down Br Kane came in & spent the
night with me I wrote a letter and Mailed to Mrs Woodruff
[FIGURES]
~ Wednesday
4th I left New York took rail car arived at Philadelphia
in the evening called upon Elder Jacob Gibson 83 Dock st
street opposite the post office attended meeting with him
in the evening I addressed the Saints a few moments
returned home with Br Gibson & spent the night 120 m
~ Thursday
5th I called this Morning upon Sister McMinn in
Schoolkill 6th Street Between Market and Chesnut stret
I then called upon Col Kane Clerk of the United States
Court He had many men in his office yet as soon as
he saw me he laid aside all other business & came &
grasp my hand & seemed much delighted to see me
He talked with me about 15 minutes upon a variety
of subjects I then retired from his office & called
upon Br Gibson untill 2 oclok Sister McMinn then accom-
panied me to Br Sniders and Br Hammers Popler street
5 doors below 13th. We here saw Sister Poulter. Br Hammer
went with me to Br Johnsons, & to Br Gibsons distance 8 mi
[FIGURE] Their was quite a display in Philadelphia to day in depositing
the remains of Comodore James Biddle in the vault of the
Biddle family. His remains were deposited with milertary
honors of about twenty milertary Companies & three bands
of music, this was accompanied with display of flags
from public buildings chiming of bells, firing of minute
guns from the Navy yard &c. Comodore Biddle is the Eleventh
Comodore whose remains have been deposited in Philadelphia
and the eight or ninth who have died here. The ten prece-
ding Comodore Biddle who were buried in Philadelphia were
Comodores Decatur, Bainbridge, Barry, Truxton, Shaw, Hull,
Rodgers, Porter, Elliot and Dallast.
~ Friday
6th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters one to Elder Thomas
Andrews Montreal one to A Badlam I visited a number
of Saints during the day
~ Saturday
7th I walked down to the office in the morning Elder W.
I Appleby soon came in we went together to the Court House
& called upon Col Kane his office was full of men on business
yet when he saw me he came to us left his business & conversed
with us with deep interest upon our cause said he had fears
that there was trouble brewing against us in the west of Iowa
& wished me to give him the earliest information of any
thing against us
~ Sunday
8th Sunday I met the Saints of God with many strangers
in the old Mormon Hall or Marshall Hall on third above
willow street I addressed them in the morning from the
words of Jesus to his deciples "that as it were in the days
of Noah & Lot so shall it be in the coming of the Son
of Man, [Matthew 24:37] [Luke 17:26] &c I had the spirit & power of God resting upon
me & I spoke of the signs of the times and warned them
to keep the commandments of God that they might escape
the Judgments of God. I addressed the Saints in the afternoon
and had a good time we took tea with Br Adams on 5 st above
Brown a tobaconist Br Appleby preached in the evening from
Gal 1 ch 7, 8, 9 vers Though we or an Angel from Heaven &c
He spoke well & much to our edifycation I followed him
bore testimony to the work addressed the Saints & dismissed
the meeting I had a good time all day and the best meeting
that I have had in the eastern country on this mission
~ Monday
9th I gave Br Appleby a recommend to preach & organi[ze]
the Churches in Pa. NJ & Delaware in my absence Brs
Carter & Kane came In the evening
[FIGURES] I wrote two letters & sent a bundle of
New York Herralds to W. Richards one letter was [to]
O Hyde, one to G. A. Smith I recommended the
recall of L O Littlefield. I spent the night at
Br Gibson on Wallace street near spring garding
with Br Appleby
~ Tuesday
10th I parted with the friends took cars & rode
to Newark & spent the night with Br Luke Provo[st]
No 4 Holsey's Court Newark N.J. 100 m
~ Wednesday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters one to Phebe W Woodruff
& one to Jeremiah Brower Hempstead LI. I recieved
[FIGURE] a Prospectus for subscribers from Br Hyde & a line from him
I spent the day at Br Provost
I held a meeting at his house in the evening with a fiew of
the Saints and organized the Branch of the Church in that
place called Newark & Spring Garding branch I appointed
Br John Sanderson of Rowway the Presiding Elder ofver
that Branch of the Church I blessed two children
~ Thursday
12th I left the Saints at Newark took cars for New York called
upon Sisters Day & Hart at 491 Greenwich street, enquired
into their circumstances & an afair of L. O. Littlefield's
Then called upon Mr Davids and upon Mrs Sloans, Calvin
Foss, and upon Br Cartwright 917 Christie Street New York 20 m
~ Friday
13th I called upon several of the Friends crossed to Brook-
lin called upon Br Falcolm 26 Columbia st & C. C. Watterhouse
84 Degraw Street at 4 oclok took cars to Hempstead called
upon Br Jeremiah Brower & spent the night 35 m
~ Saturday
14th [FIGURE] I spent the day at Br Browers I wrote a letter
to Orson Hyde and gave an account of the cause
of L O Littlefield returning to New York & going back &c
~ Sunday
15th Sunday I held a meeting with the Saints & world
communed with the saints and left them in charge
of Jeremiah Brower. I spent the night with Brower
~ Monday
16th [FIGURE] I finished reading a work this morning entitled
A man of Sorrows or the Providence of God by
displayed by Wm Jackson S.B.C. Minister of the Gospel of
South Boston Church. It was truly an interesting work
Showing his sufferings from his childhood up & the dealings
of Providence with him his sufferings are vary great
I parted with the Saints this morning & took cars to South
Brooklin I called upon Mr Watter House who treated me
kindly. I met a number of the Saints at Br Cartwrights
and had a good council they renderd me some assistance
[FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Orson Pratt and spoke of L. O. Littlefield
case and of others in England I walked out in the
evening with the Brethres & spent the night with Br Cart-
wright. 35 m
~ Tuesday
17th I had an Interview with Br Hollister a few moments
in the morning made me a present to assist me in my
necessities, I took boat & went to Norwalk ct and called
upon Mr Valentine Merrill & spent the night distance 45 m
~ Wednesday
18th [FIGURES] I wrote three Letters one to Br David Bishop
one to Smith Tuttle and one to Phebe W. Woodruff I wrote
10 verses of Poetry in Mrs Woodruff letter 8 hours intervened
between writing the 5 and 6th verses during which time I went
ofut with Mr Merrill in an open row boat to get oysters we were caught
in a gale of wind & rain blown off from shore was picked up by
a four ton sloop & carried to land while going in we carried
away our gib twice came near runing onto the rocks but we got in
in safety with no other damage but being drenched with rain
the reward of which was a plenty of Oysters for supper After
getting through my Oyster supper I wrot the last 5 verses
and retired to rest for the night. The verses above alluded
to will be found on the following page. The following is all^so^ an
extract from my letter to my wife
I have been much blessed with the spirit of God since I saw you
I have felt more of the presence and Power of God with me than
I expected to have enjoyed on this eastern mission. I have felt
that some one has prayed much for me of late, I wonder if it
was Phebe I know you pray much for me I feel its power
and prize it much. I have never felt such a desire to prove
worthy of your Confidence and trust, shun evry appearance of
evil, keep out of the path of all temptation, and do right
in all things as I have of late. I have had much of the
spirit of Secret Prayer, have poured out my soul in suppli-
cation before God with tears of Joy, while the visions of my
mind have been open at times to see clearly my duty to my
God to my Wife and Children, to the Saints and world at large
I have also seen of late the awful certain judgments of
God which like a gathering storm are ready to burst upon the
whole gentile world esspecially this Nations, who have herd the
sound of the gospel, rejected it with all the testimony of the
servents of God, have stoned and killed the Prophets are
drunk with the blood of marters and Saints and at last have
driven the entire church & kingdom of God with the Priesthood
and Keys of eternal life & salvation out of their midst into the
wilderness & the mountains of Israel and by so doing have
turned the last key which seals their condemnation which
lingereth not and their damnation which slumbereth not
therefore they cannot escape. Not ownly the Holy Ghost but
that portion of the spirit of God that enlighteneth evry man
that cometh into the world, like a faithful embassador has finished
his work and is rapidly taking its flight from Gentile America
and wo, wo, wo is their DOOM
The following verses I penned to my wife at Norwark Ct Oct 18th 1848
When shall I hear from my dear wife
From those poor suffering pilgraims too
Whose prayers shield me from that strife
Which daily flow from sin and wo
It learns me how to prize their worth
When I am from them far away
Earthly honors could not call me forth
Or make me leave them for so long a day
But O a message I am call to bear
For Him who gave and holds my life
In many a sacrafize I'm call to share
Often to leave my Sons, my Daughters, and my wife
O my Father shield them with thy power
Behold their earnest prayers which mount on high
Let Heavens watchers guard their silent bower
Answer their prayers and note their evry sigh
Their faith thou hast ever seen
Their sufferings Thou alone dost Know
None but Thee can tell what all their trials have been
Since they were wandering pilgraims here below
O my Father guard them through all time to come
Let their days and years be lengthend out
O call them not to leave my earthy home
But make a Heaven of my humble cot
May they fulfill all their visit here
As did their LORD then rise to reign
Inthroned in glory beyound the reach of fear
Or sickness sorrow death or pain
O! God forgive the past keep me from future Ill
Let light, wisdom, truth and virtue fill my heart
Prepare me for that glory which doth the Heavens fill
From the most holy anointed vows may I never part
O give me power to honor those noble treasures given
As the first pillars to build my Kingdom on
Help me to firmly stand with them in Heaven
That I may prove a true and faithful son
Then I will reign with my Dear wife and Children to
With Joseph and Hiram and all of Abrams seed
I'll shout Hosannah to God and the Lamb with all who go
From their graves with the redeemed of our DEAD
~ Thursday
19th I spent the day at Mr Merrills writing, the storm of last night
continued untill to day noon when the sun came out. I had
a plesant time last night in a dream with Brs Brigham Young &
H. C. Kimball and the Saints in the salt lake valley we expressed
our feelings together concerning the signs of the times & the
Judgments of God which await this nation. I had a good meet
ing with the Saints at Mr Merrills I spoke to them one hour & read
20th the epistle of the Twelve to them &c
~ Friday
20th Elder David A Bishop of Stamford Ct called upon me early
in the morning I went home with him to Stamford convers
ed with him untill 2 oclok I then took stage & rode to
New Haven got in at 10 oclok at night I called upon Wm Hand
59 Green Street New Haven & spent the night distanc 50 m
~ Saturday
21st I called upon Sister Coffort Vining 31 Wm Street
and spent the fore part of the day she was a warthy woman
& strong in the faith also sister Hand I called at Mr Smith
Tuttles found sister Tuttle sick was as yellow as saffern
I administered to her by the laying on of hands. I then
called [on] Mr Jesse Luddington water Street Sister Tuttle
recieved a blessing by the laying on of hands most of her
friends had expected she would die but she was healed by
the laying on of hands. A number of comforters like
Jobs had called upon her and reproached her because
she was ^sick^ inasmuch as she professed to believe in God,
and asked why [she] did not call upon her Elders to heal
her, this was done to reproach her. And she spoke out
and said O that the Lord would send Br Woodruff
here, it was but a few minutes before she recieve a
note from me stateing that I was coming and when
I laid hands upon her she was healed indeed and felt
to praise the Lord. I spent the night at Mr Luddingtons
on water street Fair haven
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I met with the Saints at Father Jairus Sandford
and among others present was Mr Smith Tuttle and his
wife that was healed and soon after she left to come to
come meeting her daughter came to the house to take care
of her supposing her to be vary low but found she had gone
to meeting I preached in the morning to the Saints and had
a good time the spirit & power of God rested upon me I spent
the intermission at Br Sandford's I spoke again in the afterno
on to the Saints & broke bread with them and had a good time
I went to Mr Smith Tuttles and spent the night. I spent
about one hour with Mr Wm B. Goodyear whose address
will be Anapolis Maryland as he will sail for that place
He was Brother to Miles Goodyier of the Salt Lake valley
whom I saw in the mountains He made many enquiries
about him said he left New Haven while young
~ Monday
23rd ^[FIGURE]^ I spent the day visiting the Saints I conversed much with
Elder Jarius Sandford I felt strongly impressed by the
spirit of the Lord to ordain him to the office of high Priest
and Patriarch the spirit also manifested to me that he was
of the Loins of Joseph through the linage of Ephraim and
before I left him I ordained him to the office of
High Priest and Patriarch on this twenty third day of
October AD 1848 he being 85 years 10 months & 2 days old
He has also done much good to the church he paid into the
hands of Elder Sarine $267 dollars for his tithing
and $163 for Sarine own use, and $17 dollars to
E. T. Benson has given $700 dollars in all to help the
Saints and for Tithing. He gave W Woodruff $3 to pay
his fare &c &c I left the old Patriarch rejoicing in
his God. I then called upon Smith Tuttle spent
the afternoon went to New Haven in the evening
Preached at Sister Vinings and baptized & confirmed
3 persons spent the night at Sister Vinings 8 mile
~ Tuesday
24th Rode to North Haven called upon Orrin Mansfield
at North Haven rode around with him to see the Saints & hel[d]
a meeting with them advised them to keep up their organi-
zations & hold meetings I had a good meeting with them I spent
the night at Br Mansfields I got 5 subscribers at
Fair Haven for the Frontier Guardian 15 m
25th [FIGURE] I took cars at North Haven & arived in Boston
at 12 oclok got onto an omnibus to go to
Cambridgeport but got blocked up by the great
procession marching through the City in celebra-
tion of the introduction of the water from the
long pond into the City of Boston the procession was two
hours and 30 minutes passing any given point it was considerd
the greatest display ever made on any occasion in an American
city and supposed to be more people in Boston than ever
known before the procession itself was supposed to be 7 miles
long Archways were formed across the streets decked with
ever greens & flowers and a Pyramid of evergreen & flowers
over top bearing a great variety of motions. The procession
started from the common 15 minutes past 12 N.
First came a powerful band of lancers, then followed thirty
military companies with full uniform & several other bands
of music, next the fire companies of the City with their
Engines ornamented with wreathes flowers &c next fire comp-
anies from the Neighbouring towns, next came the Cavalcade
of 500 gentleman & a few ladies a boys fire engine drawn
by two ponies was followed by two of the largest size
water pipes mounted on a platform drawn by 7 black
horses bearing the following mottoes. :1st First pipe laid
April 19th 1847. Water introduced into the city Oct 25th 1848
Next followed a Bricklayers platform with implements of ther
trade followed by a host of workman. Next followed the Bosto[n]
boat clubs with their Boats. Next came the Boston port society
with a ship fully rigged and manned under the command of
Father Tailor. The Salem East India Marine and the old
Marine societies followed bearing in their ranks the old palanqui[n]
which has not been seen in public for 40 years this was
borne borne by 6 stout Negroes. In a carriage drawn by
4 Horses was a large full rigged moddle of the famous and
fortunate privateer the Grand Turk. others carriages followed
containing specimins of American clocks, goods, carpeting &c
next followed oak Hall expresses, Adams &c, Mrs Kidders, a printing office
pased on wheels with workman all at wok strewing papers cards &c
among the mass as they passed along, Next came Faneuil Hall
Market in miniature came next & the great display of Beef mutton
pork fowles fish vegitables &c. I presume was a temptation
to the hungry crouded lookers on. the market men followed
in great force with badges on their hats. A stuffed Elephant
passed mounted on a carriage with 3 persons riding on his
back, also an artificial flower manufactory drawn by 6
horses containing 12 young girls dressed in white all busy
making flowers. An apple tree filled with fruit passed by
with Adam & Eve picking fruit & the serpent on the tree
All the masonic and odd fellow companies of Boston was
in the possessin and hundreds of flags of costly aray
borne onward. The first Division of the procession was
under the direction of Hon John C Park & consisted of the
Mayor of Boston, commitee of Arangments, Watter committee
Water commissioners & Engineers Alderman President of
the Common Council members of the Common Council
High Sheriffs of the State, the Governor & suite &c &c
escorted by the Boston Cadets and flanked by the city Greys
following them was a long aray of civel & military function-
aries representatives of foreign nations, among whom was
borne the tri colored flag, the Clergy, medical faculty, Editors,
members of the bar, governments of the neighbouring Cities,
students of Harvard University, Mercantile Library Associa
tion in full aray, & scores of others companyies not named
All along the route public buildings, Hotels, and private
residences, wer crowded with Human beings. And the
common was almost littlerly coverd. At half past 4 oclok
the Government of the City headed by the Chief Marshall
reached the Common & took their seat on a de[c]orated
platform in the centre of the pond. After which lengthy
speaches were made by the Mayor and Mr Hale at
the close of the speaches the Mayor arose and said
Fellow Citizens it is proposed to admit the waters of
Lake Cochituate into the city. All those in favor will
say AYE. The response was in a voice of thunder.
The signal was then given and upwards gushed a pure
column of water 8 inches in diameter 80 feet into the
air & fell again into the pond, the cheering of the people
at this moment was overwhelming. The night was
passed with fire works & illuminations while beholding
these things going on the words of the Lord came with
wait upon my mind which says "Broad is the road that
leads to death & thousands flock together there while wisdom
shows a narrow path with here and there a traveller"
[FIGURE] I went to Brother A Badlams & spent the night I got 3
letters from Philo Dibble N. H. Felt &c and one Millennial Star
I found Br & Sister Wesley Siddle from Charlottetown N. B. 100 mils
~ Thursday
26th [FIGURES] I went to Boston and recieved 5 letters from
Phebe W Woodruff, Smith Tuttle, James Whiteheat, Edward
Cook, and Lydia Hartford. After seeing the water spout in the
common, I took cars with Br Nathaniel Corey and rode to New
Bedford spent the night with Gilbert Manchester 142 North second street
I wrote two letters to Phebe W Woodruff & James Whitehead 75 miles
I spent the day writing I wrote one letter to Lydia Hartfor[d]
[FIGURE] I read an account of the Temple of Nauvoo being burnt
on the 9th Oct by our enemies. In reading the papers of
yesterday I learned that all Europe was filled with Blood
war disrress and calamities of almost evry kind Also
that the Cholery had made its appearance in London
Glasgow, Edinburgh, & others places in that Country
truly the wrath of God is resting upon the gentile worl[d]
$1000000 worth of fishing boats were destroyed on the
coasts of Scotland in one storm & 150 fishermen lost
there lives also $1000000 worth of American shipping lost
in one storm on our coast.
~ Friday
27th [FIGURE] I spent the day at New Bedford I wrote one letter
to Sister Hartford I preached in the evening to a few Saints
~ Saturday
28th I took cars with Br Gilbert Manchester & rode to fall
River and spent the night with Elder John Duckworth 30 m
there was a Branch of the English Saints in this place
of 22 members. Elder Wm Low of Cherry Street
was the Presiding Elder many of them came in in
the evening to see me
~ Sunday
29th Sunday I met with the officers of the branch
in the morning at Br Lows, fellowship had been with-
drawn from Br John ^Henry^ Druce for unbelief and speaking
against the Authorities of the Church. He arose before
us and made his objections and wished them Cleared up
I answered them all to his entire satisfaction and he
wished to be restored to the Church.
We met in the
afternoon at Br Allens and administered the Sacrament
I addressed them and we had a good meeting I met
with them in the evening at Brother Duckworths and
I preached to them and had a good time. I parted
with the Saints walked home 2 miles in the mud and rain
with Br John ^Henry^ Druce & spent the night with him 6 m
~ Monday
30th I took cars, rode to Boston & spent the night at Br Badlam
[FIGURE] I recieved a letter from Smith Tuttle. 75 mils
~ Tuesday
[FIGURE]
31st Br Rockwood came in the morning I spent a few
moments with him He informed me that Br John Luce
informed him that Letters had been recieved from the
Salt Lake Valley as late as the 9th of July that there Harvest
of wheat came in full & heavy they had wheat enough alone
to last the Encampment two years also that they had large
crops of corn & was doing well that it was also healthy, this
was certainly Glorious news to us. Br Badlam went into
Boston with me I procured some things for my wife and
children then took cars and arived in Saco at 8 oclok
hired a waggon and rode to Sister Foss's I there found my
wife and children and I spent the night with them 105
~ Wednesday
Nov 1st I spent the day at sister Foss I recieved two letters
from W I Appleby and Wm H Wilson
~ Thursday
2nd I spent the day writing. While at Br Henry Druce I
saw a wonder. His son 4 years old was sick his stomach
was enlarging they soon found he had worms they gave
him a bottle of Dr Jayner's tonic vermifuge. take 1 tea
spoonful, 4 of water, one of Shugar mix them together this
he took at once twice a day untill it brought away 40
worms 26 of which were preserved in a Bottle, 18 inch long
& half inch in diameter a number of them would measure
the child got well
~ Friday
3rd We had a dinner at sister Foss of a fine roast Turkey
Father Carter was with us. I spent the day there
~ Saturday
4th Calvin Foss arived home to day having been burned out
we went to Fathers in the evening & spent the night. A hard
storm arose in the night.
~ Sunday
5th Sunday we had a severe storm through the day & evening
~ Monday
6th [FIGURES] I wrote three letters one to O Hyde containing $10,
one to Smith Tuttle, one to Little & Hardy
~ Tuesday
7th [FIGURE] Election. This day decides who is elected President
of the United States for the next four years to come
I have not cast a vote for a President since this nation
Shed the Blood of the Prophets Joseph and Hiram Smith
Neither do I expect to I spent the day at home while
most men went to the Election.
The electric telegraph has become so perfect and universal
through the United States that citizens of New York recieved
the returns of many of the States of the Union before they
did the returns of the City itself and before the papers went
to press next morning after the election, returns had been recieved
enough to show that Gen Taylor was elected President of the
United States by an overwhelming majority
~ Wednesday
8th I left Scarborough with Father Carter & rode to Portland
with the intention of taking Steemer for Halafax but it had
stoped runing & I found no passage there from Portland I
spent the night with Ilus Carter 10 m
~ Thursday
9th I returned to Scarborough by rail road to the Station &
walked through a hard snow storm 4 miles to Father Carters 10 m
~ Friday
10th I spent the day at Father Carters and night at Sister Foss
~ Saturday
[FIGURE]
11th We Got the New York sun and Herald they contained the
News from Europe and the returns of the election up tto the date of
their publications the Herald of Nov 11th 1848 contained much infor-
mations, from Europe and America I recieved a letter from Dover
~ Sunday
12 Sunday I spent the day at Sister Foss I finished reading Gen
Greens account of the Texan wars and Battle of Mires [and] his imprisionment
~ Monday
13th I spent the day at sister Foss
~ Tuesday
~ Wednesday to ~ Thursday
15th Wednesday I spent this day also the 16th In preparing to
leave Scarburough.
~ Thursday
17th I parted with Father Carter and sister Foss and
their Families & with my family took cars and rode
to Boston then an omnibus and rode to Br A Badlams
No 1st Washington Street Cambridgeport distance 120 m
[FIGURES] On my return to Cambridgeport I recieved 5 letters fro[m]
the following persons 2 from Orson Pratt, 1 from John
Enions, Joseph Hall, W. I. Appleby, and one from Wm
Maxfield of Bedeque directed to Orson Spencer of Liverpo[ol]
and sent to me to answer I also recieved 5 No of the
Star all bearing good news of the progress of the work
of the Lord in that place,
~ Friday
18th I spent the day in Cambridgeport Boston and South
Boston looking for a house to rent
~ Sunday
19th Sunday I met with the Saints at Boydston Hall in
Boston I preached in the fore part of the day, and spoke in
the afternoon and was followed by several of the brethren
take it as a general whole we had a good meeting
~ Monday
20th We have had a tedious snow storm through the night
and fore part of this day Br Badlam and myself spent most
of the day in Boston geting furniture and sundry articles
to furnish a house I had taken for my family in Cambridge-
port on the corner of Harvard and [blank]
~ Tuesday
21st We spent this day in getting home our furniture & sundry
articles to keep house with
~ Wednesday
22nd Nov 1848 I moved my family into the house which I
had rented of Mr [blank] McClure [blank] Corner of
Harverd and Davis Street Cambridgeport for $112
a year
~ Thursday
23rd [FIGURE] I recieved three [letters] to day from the following persons
one from James Furguson, San Francisco, 1 from Joseph &
Hannah Hall, 1 from Wm Low fall River containing $5.
~ Friday
24th Brs Badlam & Page were in my house this morning
talking over their business matters
~ Saturday
25th [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letter to O Pratt, Wm Maxfield
Little & Hardy and Wm Low and mailed them in Boston
I also sent Wm Maxfield one of the Epistles of the Twelve
~ Sunday
26th Sunday I preached to the Saints in Boston during
the day
~ Monday
27th I spent most of the day at home reading & writing
~ Tuesday
28th [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letters to the following persons
Ezra Carter sen Ilus F Carter Thomas Cartwright and
Wm H Wilson I also sent an epistle to Br Wilson
~ Wednesday
29th I went to Boston with Mrs Woodruff & bought a
bed and some other things and mailed letters
~ Thursday
30th This is thanksgiving day in Mass. I dined upon a baked
goose and plum pudding with my family. Br & sister Page
took tea with me. Br & Sister Badlam Br & sister Bird &
sister Voce spent the evening with us I spoke upon the
things of the Kingdom of God, I recieved a letter from
[FIGURES] Little & Hardy & wrote one to Br Haven I was
at a large fire in Cambridgeport during the evening several buildings burned
~ Friday
Dec 1st 1848
Sister Ruth Sayers called upon me in the morning as
she was to leave this day for the west she asked a
blessings at my hands. I lade hands upon her in the name
of the Lord and blessed her
~ Saturday
2nd I rode in cars & stage to Peterboro & spent the night
with Br J. C. Little also saw Br & Sister Hardy 60 m
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I preached to the Saints in Peterboro & had
a good time
~ Monday to ~ Friday
4th 5th 7th & 8th I spent the past 4 days with Brothers
Little & Hardy & the saints in Peterborough for it rained
& snowed so much I could not travel I wrote a letter
[FIGURE] to Mrs Woodruff
~ Saturday
9th I rode to Guilsom and spent the night withei with
Chilon Mack, Soloman Mack & their Father Capt Mack
came in & spent the night with me, Capt Mack and the
Widow Lucy Smith are brother & sister 30 m
~ Sunday
10th Sunday It rained hard all day I preached to the few
Saints that were in that place
~ Monday
11th I rode in company with Soloman Mack to Br Waldos
& spent the night He rehearsed to me the difficulties that
exhisted in the Walpole branch 11 mile
~ Tuesday
12th I rode to Br Gates in the walpole branch & preached
to about a dozen who come together in that place there
had been difficulties exhisting with the saints in that place
for several years and I did not find any unity of feeling
exhisting among them 6 m
~ Wednesday
13th Rode to Brother Wheelers and Newtons & preached in the
evening to a congregation of the world at Acworth 12.
~ Thursday
14th Rode to Peterborough and spent the night with Br Little
in company with Elder Haven 28 m
~ Friday
15th I spent the day in Peterborough I attended their auction
in the evening
~ Saturday
16th I rode to Lowell and spent the night with Br Pevy 50 m
~ Sunday
17th Sunday I preached to the Saints in Lowell
~ Monday
18th I took cars rode to Boston to Cambridgeport and spent
the night with my family once more 50
~ Tuesday
19th [FIGURE] 6 I recieved 6 Letters from O Hyde, L. N. Scovil &
L Gaulter, Wm H Wilson, T Cartwright, W I Appleby &
Jesse Haven. I also recieved a Large amount of Papers
which Br Badlam had bou[gh]t for me to pick out files
to send to the valley. I went into Boston with Br Badlam
~ Wednesday
20th I spent the day at home reading & writing. And I find
[FIGURE] Gold from the publications of the day that the signs of
the times are fulfilling many of the ancient as well as
modern Revelations and Prophesies. Thrones are cast
down, all governments of the Earth are tottering from their
foundations Anarchy & confuscion are begining to reign, Hatred
strife and war are begining to be poured out upon the children
of men. In the midst of this order of things, the Latter
Day Saints discover vast quantities of Gold at the base of
the mountains of Israel in the valley of the sacramento in
upper Calafornia. And not ownly the people of the United
States but of other nations ketch the sound of Gold Gold &
tens of thousands are rushing forward evry way in their
power to get to the gold country as a horse would rush to
battle, but the amount of Gold, silver, coper &c discoverd
in that Country indicates that the worldd of the Lord spok[e]
by Isaiah will be fulfilled, when He says that "for Brass He
will bring Gold, for Iron I will bring silver, for wood brass
for stones Iron[Isaiah 60:17],["] &c truly this is an age big with Events
Companies are forming in all most all parts of the United
States and ships in all our ports prepareing to take the
people to the Bay of San Francisco which is ownly 20 miles
from Capt Sutters Fort whare the Mormon gold digings commenced
and It seems as though all the world thought of at the present
time was to obtain gold. Though the Cholera has commen[ce]d
spreading in New York once more, yet the gold panic is
so much greater then the fear of the Cholery that it is
hardy noticed.
Among the letters which I obtained yesterday was one from
O Hyde who informed me that Olover Cowdery had come
back to the Church had made satisfaction and was voted to
come in by the door of Baptism. He was the first man baptized
into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in this last
dispensation, under the hands of Joseph Smith the Prophet
but after being out of the Church eleven years he had now
returned again, and may the Lord bless him & Keep him
steadfast unto the end. The following is A Fac similee of
the Alphabet used in conveying intelligence by the magnetic telegraph
A - – B – - - - C - - - D – - - E - F - – - G – – - H - - - - I - - J – - – -
K – - – L — M – – N – - O - - P - - - - - Q - - – - R - - - S - - -
T – U - - – V - - - – W - – – X - – - - Y - - - - Z - - - - & - - -
1 - – – - 2 - - – - - 3 - - - – - 4 - - - - – 5 – – – 6 - - - - - - 7 – – - - 8 – - - - -
9 – - - – 0 ———
- – – - - — - – - - - - - - – - - - – – - - - - – - - - - - - - – - – -
[WILFORD WOODRUFF]
{Remember the [illegible shorthand]ion of [illegible shorthand]}
~ Thursday
21st I spent the day at home writing
~ Friday
22nd [FIGURES] I went into Boston and done a little trealling
Brother Gates called upon me & gave me a letter from
Br Joseph Grover I wrote one to him in return Br Little
spent the night with me.
~ Saturday
23rd [FIGURE] I wrote 4 letter to Little & Hardy, to Orson Hyde
to Scovil & Gualter, & Thomas Cartwright
~ Sunday
24th Sunday Elder Little preached to us in the forenoon
I followed him I preached in the afternoon and sustained Br Badlam
in what he had done for the Church ie
Br Little spoke of my Calling and the duty of the Saints
to me I followed & treated upon principle I dined at
Mr Websters
~ Monday
25th I spent the day at home Christmas Day it rained some
[FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Wm H Wilson, W I. Appleby
and Charles Russell Linden V.T.
~ Tuesday
26th [FIGURE] I wrote and mailed two letters one O. Pratt one
Capt Joseph Russell. I also wrote one letter to (Luther) (Scammans)
~ Wednesday
27th [FIGURE] I recieved two letters one from sister Foss one
from Brother Gibson. I had a nice Turkey for supper
and had A. P. Rockwood A Badlam Wm Page & wife
and Br & sister Bird to help me eat my turkey
~ Thursday
28th I perused the New York Herald Weekly ending Dec 2◊0 1848
and turne which way I will, the signs of the times are present-
ing scenes of Deep interest to the saint of God living at the
present time in the opening of this last Dispensation to prepare
the way for the coming of Christ to reign 1000 years on the Earth
with his Saints. All the Nations of the Earth at the present time
both Jew & Gentile Are presenting to the eye of men scenes that were
unlooked ^for^ by the ignorant or learned, the Philosopher, Asstronomer
Poet, Divine, Editor, Dr, Lawyier Statesman, President, Ruler King
Prince or Pope, which events are ownly understood by the man
of God inspired by the power of God & the gift of the Holy Ghost
such an one can perfectly understand the present signs of
the times. He can see the fulfillment of the words of the Lord
begining to present themselves according to the prediction of all
the Holy Prophets since the world began, such are the ownly
class who have faith in the litteral fulfillmen of all the Reve-
lations of Jesus Christ in the last days. They are the ownly
ones who understand their fulfillment as the events are passing
before them, or that have cause to rejoice therein, to all others
the Sequel of the present signs of the Times are hid behind the
veil of doubts Darkness and uncertainty
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
29th & 30th We had a heavy snow storm I spent the time reading &
writing I perused the New York Herald to Dec 30 which contained inte-
resting ite[m]s spoken of in following pages
~ Sunday
31s Sunday the last day of the year of AD 1848 A synopsis of my Journal
will be found on a following Page
THUS ends the Year of eighteen hundred and forty eight
A Year big with events, a year in which the fig tree
hath rapidly put forth her leaves & blossomed for the summer
A year which has lade the foundation for the fulfillment of
more Prophesy & Revelation than has been fulfilled in whole
centuries in other ages. Thrones have been cast down, whole
Kingdoms have been overturned, the power of the Pope of Rom[e]
laid prostrate & he driven from his Kingdom. All the nations of
the Earth convulsed Revolutions, wars anarchy & confusion follo[w]
each other in rapid succession, Cholera, plagues, & famine follow
in the train. And last of all though not least in importance ◊
is the foundation laid for the disolution of the American
Government while these things are going on the Jews are gathe[r]-
ing home to rebuild Jerrusalem, some 7000 Latter Day Saint[s]
have gatherd into the valley of the mountains of Israel by the
Grate Salt Lake, and the Saints of the valley of the Sacramento
have discoverd vast quantites of Gold, silver, coper Iron & other
mettels the report of which has spread like electricity through
through the world which is causing tens of thousands of the
world to flock to that place these are some of the features
of the signs of 1848
The revolutions of Europe commenced with France. The people
rose in mass had 3 days fight, at the end of which they drove Louis
Philipi King of the French out of France with all the Royal family
the People entered the Turrelles took the Throne upon their
shoulders carried it into the streets & dashed it to peaces upon the
ground. The people then undertook to esstablish a republican
government, it was said to be ownly 500 killed in the first 3 days
fight Afterwords a reaction took place with a fight & some
15000 killed, they have finally organized, and the world are now looking
Daily for the account of their electing a President and it is expected
by many that much blood will be shed on the occasion in consequence
of the many conflicting Parties. The Jerman States and Prusia next
follow in Revolution which is still unsetled. Next the People of
Austria arose and Drove the King from his Throne & Kingdom He
afterwards returned with Armies and bombarded Vienna 8 days
and regained his Kingdom but has been driven to the necessit[y] of
giving his people a milder form of government & more toleration
still his Throne is in danger. The Emperor of Rusia has had
much war and his Throne is in danger. The Irish have
made a Struggle to throw of[f] the Brittish yoak & they have failed
yet deep trouble is brewing for that nation. The inhabitants
of Rome have risen up in their strength and compelled the
pope to make change after change, and at last have dashed his
power to the Earth assassinated his Councellors and Driven him
from his Papal seat which has never before been shaken for
the last fourteen hundreds years and he has had to seek prot-
ection by fleeing to other Nations. While this is going on in for-
eign Countries let us turn our eyes for a moment to the Position
of Blood Stained America. A Nation though blessed above all
other Nations under Heaven yet she has of late been guilty of sheding
the Blood of Apostles Prophets Patriarchs and Saints she has suffered
mob rule to take the place of Constitution law & order and what
position is she in at the Close of this year, not ownly one of her
states Ohio has disgraced herself by having a legislaton sit for
weeks & spend their time in fighting for the mastery instead of
organizing & doing the business of the people, but the leaders of the
whole Nation itself at Washington are engender[ing] the spirit of party
strife, hatred disunion & war meeting in seperate parties and
laying plans for the dissolving of the Union and the anhilation
of the American Government. And James Gordon Bennett of
the New York Herald & other Editors after Prophesying month after
month that their was no danger of disolving our union are with
all their prophesies recorded in their paper stareing them in the
face, under the necessity of recording the account of the parties
ways and means made use of to accomplis & bring to pass the vary
things they have been prophesying against. And while the Senators
& Statesman of the Slave states meet in convention and resolve that
if slavery in the Distrect of Columbia is abolished or prohibited
from New Mexico or Calafornia that they will immediately dissolve
the Union, lay taxes upon the shiping of the free States &c At the
same time Citizens and Statesmen of the free states meet in conven-
tion and Resolve if these things are not done they in like manner
will dissolve the Union. While these parties are growing more &
more determined, & further & wider apart. Still the public mind
seems to be blinded as to the result of these resolutions, and are
ignorant concerning the fruit which will be produced by the seed of
there own sowing yes they have "eyes but see not, ears but hear not &
hearts but do not understand" while the servent of God wfilled with
inspiration, can behold the scene in its true light and knows well
the result, with as much certainty as Noah, Lot, and Jesus,
did each in their day while gazing upon the conduct of the Anted-
eluvians, Sodom & Gomorrow, or the inhabitants of Jerrusalem and
as the words of the Lord were fulfilled in the former case in like
manner will they in the latter. [Matthew 13:15] During the past year the Asiactic
cholera one of the plagues of the last days has also again commenced
its march through the Earth slaying its tens of thousands. it has now
made its appearance in England & Scotland and has just arived
in the United States is in New York New Orleans Mobeal Memphis
and Cincinnati the last report states about 100 daily in New Orleans
the signs of the gathering of the Jews has been vary prominant during
the past [year], the governments of the world have in some measure been
exherted to favor that people. And while I turn my eye towards Zion
I can see the Lord is favoring her. The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints has been organized with a first Presidency
of three viz Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards,
who have gatherd to the mountains of Israel in the valley of the
Great Salt Lake took with them about 3000 souls & some 8000
head of cattle of all kinds which now makes a population of about
7000 saints in the City of the Great Salt Lake Great Bason North
America. The Saints who were located near the Bay of San
Francisco have found a vast amount of welth in mines, such
as Dimonds, Gold, Silver, quick silver, platina, copper, lead, tin, zink
Iron &c, these things have been found to such an extent that it is
creating great excitement throughout the world esspecially in
the United States and tens of thousands are flocking to that land.
Crime of Evry kinsd has apparently increased 100 per ct throughout the
United States and the cup of their iniquity is full and the hour of
their Judgment is come Calamity sorrow & Death has recieved its comm-
ission to visit this land. And the spirit whispers to me that eighteen
hundred & forty nine will lay waste many thousands of the inhabitants
of the Earth esspecilly of this land by Cholera fire plage and Judgments
I Travelled 4850 Miles
I Attended with the Twelve 12 concils
I Held public meetings 44 Meetings
I Baptized 14 persons
I Confirmed 14 Persons
I Ordained Jarias Sandford 85 1 Patriarch
President of the seventies 1 seventy
Administered to sick persons 20 sick persons
I Blessed 10 children
I wrote 60 Letters
I Recieved 39 Letters
[FIGURE] WILFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL
FOR
1849
~ Monday
JAN 1st 1849 Monday this is the first day of 1849 we have
traversed in our minds and recorded some things
which has transpired during the past year what the present year
will bring to pass time must determin. But I have no boubt [doubt] but the
peresent year will chronicle events of equal importance with the past
As the crices has commenced with the past it will progress with the
future untill all nations will be constrained to acknowledg their is A
God in Heaven whose hand is stretched out to perform A great and
marvellous work in the Earth in the last days
The News this morning is in the Boston Daily times is that the steam[er]
Europa had arived Bringing News that Prince Louis Napoleon was elect[ed]
President of France. The Emperor of Austria had Abdicated his
Throne in favor of his young Nephew. Dredful starvation in Ireland
Raging of the cholera in Europe and esspecially in the south of
America, it is raging at New Orleans in such a manner that the inh-
abitants are fleeing out all that can get out. All business is stoping
captains Mates &clerks & Hands Are dying of the steam boats so that
they have to stop running. I shall watch the movements of the
signs of the times & record them daily
[FIGURE] I recieved a letter from Br Josiah G Hardy brought by the Hand
of Wm Goodridge [who] wished me to visit A sister who was possesed with
an evil spirit so I Accompanied Him to West Newbury, to see her
I spent the night with them I found her in a low state she was con
troled by An Evil spirit Altogether I Administered to her by the laying
on of hands she was better for a time but she afterwards gave
way to the same spirit Again 40 m
~ Tuesday
2nd I spent the day at Mr Courier. It was A severe winters day
the air was filled with snow
~ Wednesday
3rd It is still vary severe wether A large body of snow on the ground
the air filled with snow Mr Courier carried me in A sleigh 6 m
to Br Samuel Hardy I covered myself up in a Buffalo And I came
nigh friezeing. Mr Courier froze his face badly I spent the night
with Br Hardy 6m
~ Thursday
34th It is still vary cold I spent the day at Mansel Hardy And night
at Samuel Hardy we had A meeting I preached to the people
I had A dream At night was with the Twelve L Wight present W Richards spoke of me
~ Friday
45th I went to Elder Josiah Hardy spent the day and night I Blessed
his youngest child it is still vary cold
~ Saturday
6th I went to Mr BurBanks And spent the day And night
~ Sunday
7th Sunday I met with the saints At Brother Hardy And preached
to them Administered unto 2 that were sick. Mrs Milton Holmes Atte-
nded meeting in the Evening Milton Holmes came to see me and
spent several Hours with me he walked to Mr Burbanks with me
He is quite unhappy at the present time He is now out of the church
and has not taken any active part in the work since his Father
And Mother was cut off. I spent the night at Mr Burbanks
~ Monday
8th I rode to Haverhill in a sleigh called upon Abram Boyington
took cars rode to Boston And spent the night once more at
home with My family. ^40 m^ I visited widow Hardy. she has 5 sons &
7 Daughter 12 in all, they were All seated in A row in her room All at work
closing shoes they have 4 c[en]ts per pair & close 70 pair daily, the 12 children
were born in 14 years All living
~ Tuesday
9th [FIGURE] I recieved 3 Letters from O. Spencer Dan Jones & W. I.
Appleby And one from Robert Windley All contained good news
capt Dan Jones expresses his feelings in warm terms concerning my
letters to him And says he feels incouraged to go ahead in the name
of the Lord says he has raised up a Branch at Myrtha the Mother
Branch of Britain, over 800 members. And the sum total He
had raised up in that country was represented at the general
conference of Manchester England Aug 14th 1848 amounting to
2747 member. The whole representation at this general confer
ence of England Scotland & Wales was 17902 members 350
branches, 929 Elders 1185 Priest, 608 Teachers 341 Deacons Added
since May 31, 1846, 8467. Elder Orson Pratt is now President
of the Churches in the British Isles and herd the Above reppesenta
tion. Elder Jones Adds I have published in the welch language
48 different kinds And size of pamphlets comprising more
original matter than the Book of Mormon Doctrins & Covenants
& voice of warning, And have circulated one million eight
hundred thousand of Pages all of which preach night And
Day to rich & poor the eternal truths of Mormonism And
cheer the Honest Harted, many learned And some very noted
men have Embraced the work. I have been Enabled to subdue my
foes many of the gifts of the spirit are manifest. one young
man who had been Deef & Dumb 8 years was healed when
coming up out of the waters of Baptism so he both herd
And spake was ordained to the Priesthood And is now pre-
aching the gospel with success. Capt Jones is Adding 150 per month
Elder Spencer writes many good things his is much better says
the work is rolling forth in much Power I have been of late
stiring up the saints to pay their tithing I have visited many
of the conferences for this purpose I feel incouraged to Believe
I shall gather a good sum for the Temple. their Are 4 persons
Expecting to come in possession of large sums of money before I
go to America from them I expect to get several thousand pounds
As tithing to gladden the hearts of the saints in the valley. the Addition
to the Churches continue to be great the Emigration falls much short
of the increase. their may be 1500 saints Emigrate this season but
what is that among so many. O. Pratt thinks it would take 300
ships to carry the British saints at the present time, the hopes
of the wicked Are perishing while looking for better times And ind-
ividuals And Nations both feel like grasping all they can get hold
of Either by fair or foul means. The Papel Crown has At length
fallen. It looks As though the Beastly power of Mobocracy spoken
of in Revelations was likely to destroy the dominion of the Mother
of Abominations spedily [Revelation 17:5]. The Emperor of Austria has Adbdicated
and the King of Prussia has called A constitutional government
but the Saints wax vary bold And utter their testimony with
As much assurance in the Holy Ghost. it is truly delightful to
see them pushing sectarian churches And Demolishing human
creeds as so much hay & stubble, the weak are becoming strong
and the Gentiles marvel. You would be asstonished to see the
issue of Books Stars And tracts from the Star office. evry fortne
ight the issue of Stars has doubled since I took charge in
47. And all other works in Equal ratio. The tide of truth
rolls irrisitably through the land. there will soon be some
vary Efficient Preachers in the French Nation from those parts
we Also have A HINDU in this country that speaks more than
a dozen different languages Arabic &c &c who is preparing to go
to Asia to Preach the gospel soon. Elder Levi Richards & wife
arived in England safe. I feel thankful to my heavenly Father
I recieve in the foregoing letters and for his blessings to his saints
and his wonderful works among the children of men
I also recieved Ny York Weekly Herald, which contained a
copy of the Calafornia land Bill also the following before the House
of Congress A Government for the Mormons
Mr Rockwell from Massachusetts from the committee on Territories
to whom had been refered a resolution instructing them to inq-
uire into the expediency of reporting a Bill to Esstablishing a Territorial
Government for the Mormons residing at the Salt Lake in California
were on motion discharged from the further consideration of the
subject.
Other papers gave an account of the spread of the cholera in
the South
~ Wednesday
10th [FIGURES] I recieved 3 letters one from Sister Enion, Elias W.
Williams and Joseph Grover. I spent the Afternoon At Br A. Badlam
A. P. Rockwood spent the evening with us I wrote 3 letter to
Mrs Foss, Jacob Gibson, & Robert Windley
~ Thursday
11th The Boston Times to day says the cholera is raging at wheeling
Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis and Vicksburg
A Letter from the camp of Israel 400 miles from Winter Quarters
July 10th 1848 published in the Star of Oct 15 1848 says that President
Brigham Young & Heber C Kimball company which they led to the
valley of the Salt Lake consisted of 623 waggons, 1891 souls
131 horses, 44 Mules, 2012 oxens, 983 cows 334 Loose cattle, 654 sheep
237 Pigs, 904 chickens, 54 cats, 134 Dogs, 3 goats, 10 geese, 5 Bee Hives
11 Doves, 1 Sqwrrilll 1 squirrel, 5 Ducks
It is An Exceding cold day. while at Bradford I exhamined
Smiths Illustrated Asstronomy I like it for schools. Burnetts Beautiful
Original Model of Ancient Jerrusalem as it stood in the days of our
Redeemer all carved out of wood is now being exhibited through
America And Attracting the Attention of many as the greatest work
of Art Exhibited in the Last days I wrote A letter to Brother
[FIGURE] Thomas Cartwright And made extracts from Letters
~ Friday
12th I recieved the NY weekly Herald containing the doings
of congress on Calafornia & Mexico but nothing of importance to record
~ Saturday
13th [FIGURE] I done up A Bundle of papers of 100 or more &
[FIGURE] sent to President Brigham Young put into A Box
of Br A. P. Rockwood which he will take charge of I sent
in the same bundle several papers to W. Richards Aphek
Woodruff John Benbow A. O. Smoot Z Pulsipher & others
I also wrote a letter to President B. Young concerning
the papers.
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I was quite unwell through the day kept
my house the Saints had no meeting in Boston
~ Monday
~ Tuesday
16th Elder A. P. Rockwood read a Letter to me directed
to Br Joseph Young containing a list of charges
against Br Allexander Badlam, which I considerd
and Believed them to be fals in both spirit & letter in to to
got up through Private Peak a Prejudice against
Br Badlam. I told Br Rockwood in substance the same
and Pointed out to Br Rockwood whare I believed
it was false. He said he would read it to Br Badlam
before he sent it
~ Wednesday
^[FIGURE]^ 17th [FIGURE] I recieved two letters from Br Thomas Cartwright
of New York and wrote two letters one to W. I. Appleby
& one to Joseph Henderson, Massachusetts of Salem. Elders Rockwood and
Badlam were at my house this day and Br Rockwood read
to me and Br Badlam the letter which he read to me yester-
day, containing charges against Br Badlam He denyed the
charges in toto said they were fals & not true and pointed
out wharein. Br Rockwood herd the explaination and was
convinced he was wrong that it was not wisdom to send
such a document and he said he would leave out those
item out of the letter
~ Thursday
18th Was quite unwell with the teeth Ake
~ Friday
19th Was also unwell to day. Brs A. P. Rockwood & A Badlam
called at my house this day and settelled their affairs in
a friendly manner, Brother Rockwood appeared satisfyed
that the accusations which he brought against Br Badlam
were from a fals representation and not in truth and they
parted in friendship
~ Saturday
20th Brother A. P. Rockwood left for the west to day I
was quite unwell yet in company with Br Badlam I rode
to Salem & spent the night with Br Joseph Henderson, Massachusetts 29
Union Street. I was vary sick at night with teeth ake cold
and ague in the face did not sleep at all, during the night
so I had a plenty of time for meditation and among the
subjects before me I reflected upon a Mission that one of the
Presidents of the Seventies presented to the Eastern Branches while
on his mission East to collect funds for building a Seventies
Hall in the valley, why was the mission not signed by Pres-
ident Brigham Young if it was right for such a mission
to be taken, or was it got up to assist the individual in
person more than to build the Seventies Hall, I think it
right and safe to present all missions and business of import
ance before the President of the Church, when they can
be got at 20 miles
~ Sunday
21st Sunday I was still sick through the day my face dbadly
swollen yet I spoke 1 1/2 hours to a small company of the Saints
and spent the night with some English Brethren, but it
was another severe night of paine and affliction I did not
sleep at all. I arose early my face so swollen that I could
scarcely see out of my eyes I had not eaten but little since
I left home, I took the first train of cars with Br Badlam
~ Monday
22 [FIGURE] And rode to Boston And Arived home sick And weary
Mrs Woodruff commenced doctering me I took an Emetic
of strong thoroughwert or Boneset tea. I found myself very
Bilious And the tea done me much good Sister Sarah B Foss &
Br Ilus F Carter called upon me to day Br Ilus went on to
New Yourk. Sister Foss stayed with us I recieved one letter
[FIGURE] from Br Henderson. Almon W. Babbit called upon me And
spent the evening And conversed upon A variety of subjects
He had been to Washington And spent A length of time And
Had called to see me And wished me to go to Washington with
him to get An introduction to the members of Congress
in case the Church would wish me to do any business
there another year. He said He had been labouring while
there to so Arange the Territorial Bills As to have A Territo-
rial Government Esstablished in the Great Salt Lake Country
Great Bason North America embracing about 300 miles of
Territory in length called the Utah Territory. He thought
it would ^be^ necessary in order to get it Accomplished for the
inhabitants of the Salt Lake Valley to organize A state Govern-
ment with A Govonor And All repuisite officers And then
let them be Presented to the general government for reception
He said He thought it better for the saints to Have A State
Government of their own than to be connected with New
Mexico or that Portion of Calafornia lying west of the Mountains
& then have to be Governed by some Petty officers sent from
those parts He said He had got A Post Office Esstablished at the
Salt Lake Valley And Elder Haywood Appointed Post Master
He had Also got A Post Office Esstablished At Garden Grove &
Mount Pisgah. He said He was vary familiar with the members
from Ioway & Illinois And that Thomas Benton of Mo came
to him just before he left & shook hands with him in A vary
familiar manner. He Also read me the printed correspondance
between him And Elder O Hyde comprising their difficulties
And After Hearing all of his subjects through Embracing
his whole course Expectation of office in the general surveyor-
ship of that country, & in the Territorial & State Government
&c &c I come to the following conclusion in my meditations
that He was at work upon his own hook that he was not
counciled by the Presidency of the Church to Engage in this
Government matter, And considering the course the Govern-
ment had taken towards us As A People I felt no disposition
as An individual to Petition them for Any thing, But let them
take whatever course they felt disposed And trust ourselves
And Affairs in the Hands of the God of Israel. yet whatever
course the combined council & wisdom of the Church thought proper
to persue in that channel I would throw my labour And influence
But As their is danger of mens trying to perform more then
they are sendt to do, And whareas I was sent to Preside over the
Eastern churches Preach the gospel to them & gather out as many
of them As I could to Zion, Therefore Resolved that my Present
state of Health, Duty, calling, inclination And the spirit within me
will not permit me to leave the business I was sent to do And go to
Washington to form An acpuaintance & gain influence with wicked
& corrupt men to lay A plan to assist in governing the Saints in the
Valley for with the grace of God I believe they are Able to govern themselves
Yet when called upon to go to Washington By the Presidency Im on hand
~ Tuesday
223rd I was sick through the day Br Cory & Another Brother
called to see me He had made Arangements to on board of a
ship & start in few days for the gold diggins He goes He says to
get gold as He is A poor man to move his family to zion He
has Asked no council from me upon the subject but goes
upon his own hook
~ Wednesday
24th [FIGURES] I recieved three letters from G. A. Smith &
E. T. Benson, Dominicas Carter, from the Bluffs
And two from the valley. One from A. O. Smoot Br Smoot
Gives me an account of the Affairs in the valley since his Arival
there He sayes the organization of the Presidency was recieved
at the valley And All business attended to that was necessary
He spoke of Father Woodruff situation since He had been
there, his poor health &c. He said James Bevin had acted the
part of any thing but that of A Gentleman towards my Father
had treated him ill would not give up my house to Br John
Benbow According to my desire And done wrong in many things
He says the crickets eat up most of my Fathers grain that He put
in &c &c.
G A Smith & E T Benson writes they had organized 50
Branches of the church at council Bluffs, & all doing well most
of the soldiers that went into the Army had arived home to their
families And A feast was made for those who were at the Bluffs
They had built A New Tabernacle on Pigeon in Potta-watamie Co
Br Egan And 12 others arived at the Bluffs on the 27th Dec left the
valley on the 13th October President Young Arived in the valley on the 20th
September And H. C. Kimball on the 24th sept the following is the organ-
ization of the Church at the valley. Brigham Young President over
the whole Church Heber C. Kimball And Willard Richards his councellors
John Smith is Patriarch over the whole church. Charles C Rich
is President in the valley John Young And Erastus Snow are his cou-
ncellors.
Arangments were making for inclosing An Additional
field of 1100 Acres, 860 men had taken shares in it varieing from
5 to 10 Acres the smallest lots being near the city to accomodate
mechanicks. All the buildings composing the fort were to be moved
onto city lots Except the square inclosed by the Pioneers. The Indians
Are friendly, And it is considerd safe to settle on farms. A new
city has been laid out 10 miles north of the Temple Block Another
About 10 miles South. All the lots surveyed had been taken up &
An Addition had been made running to the mountains on the East
sitde. The Pioneer claims Are respected so we shall find A Place
when we go there. Elder Addison Pratt had Arived safe to the valley
in good health And spirits. A company of saints that went on the Broo-
klin were in route for the valley. Willard Richards & Amasa Lyman were
within 3 days drive of the valley when the Express left. Dr Richards
was driving his own team. Elder Kimball writes that they raised spqua
shes in the valley from 63 to 84 lbs & turnips 8 1/2 lbs. P P Pratt made
A vegitable dinner for the Presidency when they arived Among the
Bill of fare were the following Bill of items. Green Corn, Green Peas, green
Beans, Cucumbers, beets, parsnips, carrots, onions, potatoes, turnips squashes
Pumpkins pies, Cabbage, Mush mellons, water mellons, cantelopes, corn
Bread wheat Bread, corn stalk Molasses And Rost Beef &c &c.
G A Smith says that it is vary hard winter so far at the Bluffs He
further Adds that Walker the Famous Utah Chif visited the saints
in the valley with his band of Riflemen. He said Always wished to live
in peace with our people. He wanted his children to grow up with
Ours As Brothers that his People should not steal from our
People if any of them did let him know it And He would
Punish them And stop it. the Brethren told him they did
not want his men to steal from the calafornians for we were
at peace with them. Walker replyed my men {Spaniards} [FIGURE] hate the
spanyards And will steal from them And I cannot help it
Brothers Daniel Browett, Allen And Cox were all killed by
A Band of Diggers in the Calafornia Mountains As they were
exploring A new Pass through the mountains, they were surro-
unded whene Asleep And killed with stones. $100 worth of gold
dust was found on the ground which belonged to Brother Allen
theyir bodies were striped of their clothing And then buried by
the Indians. this occurd 40 miles from the settlements on
the Sacramento their bodies were found by A company who followed
them. The Above named Brethren I Baptized in Herefordshire soon
After I commenced Preacheding at Br John Benbows. Br Browett
Esspecially has been A valiant true harted Latter Day Saint And I
know nothing to the contrary of the other, they went into the
Army As soldiers And have died As marters
Br D Carter writes that During the conference at the valley that
the ordeal was Passed upon Lyman Wight to retain his standing
but they had not recieved his Pamphlet nor did not know that
the church had withdrawn fellowship from him at the Bluffs
He also says that fellowship is withdrawn from Almond W. Babbit
for stating or sonfirming the statement to the world that Orson
Hyde had sold the mormon votes for A Printing Press. President
Young has Advised the Twelve At the Bluffs to come on without
bringing Any Provisions with them ownly to last them there
but Bring groceries Iron, steel, glass seeds of all kinds, Apples
Peaches Pares, chesnuts & Locas &c I recieved A small letter
[FIGURE] Also from the valley speaking of some papers I sent Br Br
Bullock President Young thought had better remain as they were
for the present. I wrote one letter to day to James Burgess
[FIGURE]
~ Thursday
25th [FIGURES] I Recieved 1 letter from Josiah G Hardy & wrote
two to I F Carter And A. W. Babbit Esqr. I dug & pulled out two
of my worst teeth I had with twine And A Jack knife
~ Friday
26th I recieved A letter from Dwight Eveleth of Taunton
my health is some better than it has been Br Bird And wife
spent the evening with us
~ Saturday
27th I recieved the New York Herald weekly of 27th it is full
of the Calafornia gold fever, it seems as though All the world
was running stark mad to go to the gold mines of calafornia
on the sacramento. Hundreds of ships And tens of thousands
of men are preparing to go there. Elder Allexander Badlam
has purchased goods & necessaries And is now Preparing to go
there also on Board of the Corsiar
via Panama As his brother in Law Samuel Brannan is out
there He thinks He will do well
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I preached to the Saints And the world at Br Birds
on [blank]
~ Monday
29th [FIGURES] I wrote 3 letters to Dominicas Carter James Burgess
And Tittle & Hardy. I recieved three Letters from Capt
Joseph Russell & Charles Russell And James Burgess I sent $2
Br Carters Letter for O Hyde to send the Paper to Job Parkhurst
~ Tuesday
30th I went to Boston And bought A coking stove paid $12.
~ Wednesday
31st [FIGURE] I wrote two letters one to Samuel Brannan &
[FIGURE] one to James Fergeson to send by the hand of A.
Badlam who is About to start for the bay of San
Francisco I Also wrot Elder Allexander ^B.^ two
recommends one to Samuel Brannan And one to B.
Young And council in Zion I Also wrote Br Badlam
A letter of Memorandom making knows my wishes of
him while He is gone. I Also sent S Brannan 5 Papers
by Br Badlam
~ Thursday
Feb 1st I arose early in the morning Accompanied Elder
Badlam to the ship Corsiar whare He takes passage to
Panama And goes on ofto the Bay of San Francisco to visit his
Brother in Law Samuel Brannan to try to get some gold
to meet his Liabiliaties & to remove his family to the gathering
place of the Saints. He has Acted in concert with the
Presidency of the Church for years past And has stret-
ched out his hand so liberally to try to Assist in rolling
on the general cause of Zion Untill He became involved
several Hundred dollars in dept, And men of the world
now stept fourth And offered to Advance money to pay
his depts And support his family if he would accompa-
ny some of their sons young who were going to the
Bay of San Francisco to try to get gold at the mines
this being the ownly opening which He could see to
pay his depts He considerd it an omin that the hand
of the Lord was in therefore he Accpepted it this is the
cause of his going It snowed hard to day And the
ship did not go out there were 104 passengers on
board they sent most of their provisions around
cape Horn on board of the Pharsailia. Br Badlam came
home And sepnt the night He And Br Wm Page spent the night
at my house untill 10 oclok & went hone. I recieved two letters
[FIGURES] one from Wm Low one from A. W. Babbitt I wrote two
letter one to Wm Low one to Eldridge
~ Friday
2nd [FIGURES] I wrote A long letter to Freedom & Shuah Moulton
I Recieved the 24 No o[f] vol X of the Millennial star of Dec 15th
it was truly an interesting paper it contained interesting letters
from the valley of the Salt Lake the following is an Extract from A
letter written by P. P. Pratt in August of 1848 "We are blessed in
gardens, in wheat, in corn And in all things I have set my hands
unto. I have raised some sixty bushels of good wheat without
Irrigations A few bushels of rye & oats, And my corn in the field looks
as well as any corn I ever saw in the states, the wheat crop exceeds
all expectation. Oats do better than in the States, say 60 bushels to
one of sowing on sod ground every kind of vegetable suited to the
northern latitudes does well. Levi Hancock sowed Eleven pounds wait
of calafornia wheat on the 14th April And reaped twenty two bushels
the latter part of July. He sowed half a bushel of common English
wheat on An Acre And A half And reaped upwards of twenty bush-
els's one grain of seven eared wheat produced seventy two ears. Barley
that was sown ripened And was reaped And carried off, the land then
was irrigated And produced from the roots A fresh crop four times
the quantity of the first crop. Oats that were sown produced a
good crop And cleared the roots again sprung up And produced
Another beautiful crop. three crops of Peas ripened on the same
spot of ground And the peas of the crop raised used for seed. Beet
seed planted this spring produced beets As thick as A mans leg And
go to seed And yield A large quantity. Cabbage seed planted this spring
produces seed Again." And many other good things were said. Wel
may the Saints Praise the Lord And shout Hosannah for He has
led his People through the wilderness deliverd them from his
Enemies And given them A gododly land that brings forth in
its strength. Praise Ye the Lord all his Saints for his loving kin-
dness unto us
~ Saturday
3rd I spent the day at home writing
~ Sunday
4th Sunday I had A meeting in the fore part of the day with my family
[FIGURE] my wife And cheildrin come together once A week. We sing And
Pray And I teach them the things of the kingdom of God And I break
bread And partake of the sacrament with them. My ownly son living
was baptized when he was Eight years old. He is now most nine year
of Age He is A good youth And seems to be under the influence
of the spirit of the Lord He obeys his Parents in all things I
ordained him this day to the office of A Priest to officiate in that
office in his Fathers houshold untill He shall Arive At A suitable
Age to officiate in the Church. When I Am abroad away from my
family Attending to the Affairs of the Church Phebe W. Woodruff
my wife & Mother of my children calsls them together And teaches &
instructs them to pray And to understand the principles of faith And the
gospel And Wilford Woodruff Jr Now ordaind A Priest can bless the
bread And wine And Administer it to the family who Are members
of the Church from time to time inasmuch As they have not A chance
to Attend meeting in Any branch of the church
I met with the boston branch of the Church at Br E. F. Bird. As
Brother Badlam the Presiding Elder had left for Calafornia I thought
it wisdom to Appoint Another Presiding Elder After speaking to them
An hour. Elder Stephen H Pierce was Appointed Presiding Elder
over the Boston Branch, And Silas P. Barnes, And E. F. Bird were
Appointed his councillers.
Wilford was quite sick during the night
we Administered to him by the laying on of hands And He was better
~ Monday
5th We had A hard snow storm through the day. Wilford was quite
feeble through the day and night
~ Tuesday
6 Wilford was vary sick through the day And at night his symtoms
were vary much like the Cholera, his symtoms of cramping vomiting &c
Appeared dangerous, we Administered to him by the laying on of hands
we also steamed him And gave him herb teas his cramping stoped yet he
complained of great pain in his bowels, which commenced swelling &
Appeared As though inflammation was setting in we gave pulverized charcoal
in his teas to stop inflamation which has great effect in such cases, we also
bowed before the Lord & called upon his name And Administered to him
according to the order of the Preiesthood And from that hour he began to
recover & slept comfortally the latter part of the night
~ Wednesday
7th Wilford Appears quite comfortable to day his sickness seems to
have turned And A prospect of his soon recovering for which I
feel thankful to my heavenly Father. I recieved A visit from Mr
Wm B. Shedd No 3 Franklin Street Charlestown Mass He was A Brother to the
Brother Shedd who was poisoned At thee city of the great salt Lake
by Eating wild Parsnip He died in few moments After Eating it. Mr
Shedd wishesd to send out seeds to Adorn the field with shrubery &
fruit that his brother occupied And He recommended that trees be
planted in A row through the centre of the street. we have good slaying
through the streets to day
~ Thursday
8th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters to day one to Dwight Eveleth
the other to Horace Humphry or John Jay of crockers neck or
Cape Cod requesting information concerning the Church in that
region I recieved A letter from Little & Hardy And A small Box
[FIGURES] of groceries I wrote them A long letter And made An
extract from P P Pratt'[s] letter at the valley. Sister Lydia Hartford
called for some council And spent the night
~ Friday
9th I spent the day at home writing I recieved the New York
weekly Herald it was occupied with the Calafornia gold fever
And Excitement, sailing of ships to the gold digings list of passen-
gers &c And peaces Headed Proposed Disolution of the Union the
Slavery And Aboliton question still rages through the Country
~ Saturday
10th [FIGURE] I wrote A Letter to Br Wm Sweat During the evening
Mr Ezra Carter ^Jr^ & Lady called to spentd the Sabbath with us it
was the first time they ever visited us. We spent the evening
vary agreeable I conversed with them upon A great variety of
subjects relating to Mormonism
[FIGURE]
~ Sunday
11th Sunday In company with my Brother & Sister in Law Ezra
Carter Jr & Sarah B. Foss I met with the Saints at Br Birds
And I preached to them more than one hour from the [blank] ch
of Heb I had freedom in speaking it was the first time that
Father Ezra Carter Jr ever attended A Mormon meeting His
prejudice which has been strong against the Latter Day Saints
was perfectly broaken down to day. He expressed his entire satisfac-
tion at what he herd. And I find the prejudice of many men are
breaking down at the present time throughout the world
~ Monday
12th Mr Carter And Lady & sister Foss left us to day I spent the
day in writing
~ Tuesday
13th [FIGURES] I wrote A letter to Br David E Monroe Portsmouth RI
I recieved the Star of Nov 15th which was as usual interesting
I extract the following -[Just arived from the Invisible world
Marlon Pratt—a large fat noble boy. He was introduced into this world
on the morning of the 13th October AD. 1848. He has taken up
his residence in a tabernacle of flesh & bones & may be seen at
15 Wilton street Liverpool. He brings no news from his brother
& Sister spirits whom He left in his native world but if we were
to Judge from the following letter, the spirit of Emigration must
be greatly on the increase]- ED. "Sister White wife of Br Eli White was
was safely deliverd on the 17th inst of three children two sons & a daughter
All of whom with the mother are doing well."
~ Wednesday
[FIGURES]
14th I spent the day writing. A shower of worms has appeared
on the top of the snow alive & one inch long.
~ Thursday
Feb 15th 18489 [FIGURES] To President Young
And Council 2 sheets
On Territorial Bills
And Government 1 sheet
To Historian 1 sheet
I wrote A letter to President
Young And Council containing
two full sheets of fools cap writing
in my Journal Hand giving an
account of my leaving Council Bl[uffs]
my meetings at Mount Pisgah & Garden Grove, My providential
delivery from Death, visit at the Temple & Nauvoo, meeting at St
Louis, Death [of] our child on the journey, Arival at Boston, Burning
of Albany, Stay of my family in Maine & return to Cambridgeport
my travels Among the Churches. Represented the branches as
808, the capacity of the Saints to gather, the course I have
persued in teaching, the report of the Elders that the world have
no interest in hearing the gospel in this land, the No we have baptized
the cause why this people are Hardened And do not hear, interview
with Capt Joseph Russel, price of his property, & help &c. I spoke
lengthy of Elder A Badlams case gave cause for his going to Calafor[nia]
spoke of the benefits of going to the valley instead of the Sacramento. I
rejoiced in the News from the valley & of the progress of the work
in Europe, spoke of Elder Barnes going to Zion, Little & Hardy traiding
Appleby sickness. Requested letters, council, Prayers &c &c.
I wrote Another letter to President Young & council filled A shee[t]
of letter paper spoke upon the visit of A. W. Babbitt his doings in wash-
ington He wished me to go there, the post offices at Garden Grove
Pisdgah Salt Lake valley &c spoke upon the various bills concerning thact contry
the cause of my not going to washington; my views on goverment
of that country, T. H. Benton course & views on Calafornia, Babbitt car
rying the Mail, His future intentions, difficulties between him & O
Hyde, spoke of the visit of Mr Shed, Wm Smith Appearance &
teaching, gold fever excitement, 200 ships gone there, End of the Exciteme[nt]
be a tale for the Recorder, Railroad discussed via Pannama, Mexico, Santif[e] ,
Salt Lake, Oregon &c. I am called upon for information to go by land to
gold digings via Salt Lake I oppose the route do not think the saints would
wish it. Would it not be well for soldiers to plant some claims in the
salt Lake valley to secure it against land speculaters. I closed this let[ter]
with the following. Notice to the inhabitants of the salt Lake valley
As the inhabitants of Boston Are about preparing A light train of
cars, Engins, Baloons &c to Navigate the air to carry passengers And good[s]
to the gold digings, should they come over the valley And burst
there boiler & run off the track, And it shoiuld rain hot water, boilers
engins, cars, Baloons, sails, dry goods & men, Be not alarmed as it
will ownly be a shower of the march of intellect, internal improvement
ingenuity, and yankee Notions.
I Also filled A sheet of letter paper to the Historian of the Church on
the signs of the times. I spoke of forwarding the Herald to him, made
An extract from my Journal concerning the leading features of the
signs of the times of 1848. Spoke of the revolutions of France, Jermany
Prusia, Austria Russia, the fall of the papal crown & power, the restorati[o]
n of the Jews, opening the way for the spread of the gospel, progress
of the work in the British Isles, the situation of the American Gover[n]
ment, foundation for dissolving the Union, the blindness of the
people And increase of crime. I closed by making An address concern[ing]
Zion in the following words
I cannot close my record upon the signs of the times witof 1848
without turning my eye towards Zion, yes Zion, which is not
now merely a phantom of the brain or a name, but actually a
living thing. Truly she is yet but a babe just born. Yet she has
A Tabernacle, the Mountains of Israel. Her bed is in the cham-
bers of the rocks. Her garden one of the rich valleys of Ephraim
She speaks and Her voice is as the voice of God. She has A spirit
which burns like flames of fire. She has power, And has started
A little stone rolling from the mountain her habitation, which
increases as it goes: it is causing the Earth to quake & tremble,
take care ye Nations it will grind you to dust. She has messengers
who go & come at her bidding, one of them can chase A thousand
and two put ten thousand to flight, they command the Element
& they obey them. [Deuteronomy 32:30] She has An Ensign for the Nations to flee
to. She has A law which will soon govern the Earth. She is
born in the generation that David had A view of. O Praise
the LORD I am a witness that mine eyes have beheld her.
She has Keys to open & no man can shut, And shut And no man
can open. Her power is from Heaven whare she hath Noble
senators who plead her cause both day & night. This is the
Zion I seek After, this is the Zion I speak off. Her Church
is the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her city
was sought in 1847 And the Lord has favored her from that
that time. And During the year 1848 the Church has been
organized with A first Presidency of three persons viz Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball & Willard Richards, who have gatherd
to the mountains of Israel, in the valley of the Great Salt
lake, Great Basin North America, And taken with them
some three thousand souls with their flocks & Herds, which
makes A population of about seven thousand souls in the
city of the Great Salt Lake. The Lord has also blest their
land which has brought forth in abundance. And while the Lord
has been multiplying blessing upon Zion in her quiete Habitation
Her messengers have been crying aloud to the Nations of
the Earth & the Isles of the sea preaching the gospel unto them
And uttering their testimony in the power of God And the
gift of the Holy Ghost untill they have gatherd their thousands
together untill one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb (Orson
Pratt) Estimates that it will take three hundred ships to remove
the saints from the British Isles Alone to Zion. The Saints who
were gather into the valley of the Sacramento have discoverd
such vast mines of gold silver copper & other precious ores that
the report of it is creating great excitement throughout the world
Esspecially in the United States untill tens of thousands are rushing to
the gold regions to try to obtain the precious mettal. And as the hand
of God has been so visible in all the signs of 1848 May He continue his work
through 1849 and all following years untill His arm shall be made bare
in the eyes of all Nations. Untill Zion shall arive to her full strength of Manhood
for Brass may she have gold for Iron silver for wood Brass for stones Iron.
May her execters & peace officers be righteous men. May her Nobles be of Ephraim
And her Govournor procede out of the midst of Him. May all of her Messengers be armed
with righteousness in the power of God in great glory. May all of the Nations of the Earth
fear & tremble because of her law. May the wicked find her sons terrible when they go to
battle against her & not have power to stand before them. May her dwelling places
be distinguished by a pillar of fire by night & cloud by day, & in fine may she arise
& shine forth And spread herself abroad with all that perfection of beauty power
& glory which has ever been spoken concerning her Even to the full Expectation of God Angels & man
Wilford Woodruff
~ Friday
16th [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from Wm Low spent the day writi[ng]
~ Saturday
17th I visited Boston And obtained the New York weekly Her[ald]
I[t] was full of news on Calafornia, gold digings, &c large Extra[cts]
from the Calafornia Star. Advertisment of Samuel Brannan & Wm
Stout merchantman took gold at $16 per oz. Murders were spoke
of And Exhertion to form A government
~ Sunday
18th Sunday I met with the Saints at Br Birds And had A good
meeting I preached upon Zion, read 60th Chapter of Isaiah
I read A letter sent to Br Barnes, from G. A. Smith & E. T. Benson
they wished him to send them $1000 dollars to help them away
in the spring said there was A conspiracy getting up to take thei[r]
lives And Elder Hydes & wished to move with their families in the
spring.
During the Evening I had A lengthy conversation with
Mr Andrew Delin A Jentleman from Switzerland He had bee[n]
in this country two years spoke considerable English I preached
the gospel to him. He seemed to believed it & thought He woul[d]
Embrace it
~ Monday
19th [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from Br Appleby I wrote 4 letters
[FIGURES] to the following persons Little & Hardy, Josiah G Har[dy]
Jonals Livingston, & Jerremiah Brower
~ Tuesday
20th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to day to Charles Russell, David
A Bishop Augustus B. Pevey
~ Wednesday
21st [FIGURE] I wrote 1 letter to Merrill C Pevey Lowell & one
to W I Appleby I ^went^ through Boston with Calvin Foss to
get him A chance in some organization to go to the
Calafornia gold Mines we went on board of the Sea Eagle &
Bark Emma Isidora the last I prefered
~ Thursday
22nd I went through Boston to day again with Calvin Foss to
get him A chance in some company we finally fixed our min[ds]
upon the Bay State Company who have bought the ship
Arcatus 550 tons
[FIGURE] I have written to day to G. A. Smith & E T Benson
in Answer to their letter spoke of Br Barnes, Badlam & Capt
Joseph Russell &c
~ Friday
23rd I went with Calvin I Foss to Boston And assisted
him to secure his passage ticket & share in the Bay State and
Calafornia & MTreading & Mining company who go to Calafornia on
Board of the ship Arcatus 559 tons the company consist
of $50 each share to cost $350, which gives An equal rig[ht]
to the ship And all its contents And to all the income after
they get there. I recieved two letters one from W. I. Apple[by]
[FIGURES] And one from Thomas F. Eldridge I wrote one letter
to Ezra Carter Jr. Br Appleby inform me that Sidney Roberts is an
imposture & has collected $70 of the New Haven Branch &c
~ Saturday
24th [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from A. W. Babbitt, says he has got
the carrying of the Mail offrom Council Bluffs to the Salt
Lake Valley 6 times in A year I recieved the New York Herald
of 24th nothing vary important
~ Sunday
*256th [FIGURES] I wrote A letter to President Young & council concerning
introducing school Books into the valley I sent
them 13 school Books as A present from Sanborn & Carter of
Portland Maine for their exhamination. I expressed my feelings
upon the subject. I Also recieved A letter from Br Wm Maxfield
of Wilmot Creek N. B.
~ Monday
*265th Sunday I met with the saints And had a good meeting. Rhoda
And Phebe Foss was present, the first time they have had the privi-
lege of Attending meetings with the saints for A number of years
~ Tuesday
27th [FIGURE] I recieved one letter from Ezra Carter Jr containing two
drafts both amounting to $335 to pay in Boston for Calvin Foss I
Also recieved A letter from Walker Lewis of Lowell I wrote
[FIGURE] two letters one to Wm A Smith of Halifax & one to W I Appleby
I recieved one Letter from Augustus B. Pevey.
~ Wednesday
28th [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from Josiah G. Hardy of Bradford
informing me of the Death of Father Nathaniel Holmes who Died
suddenly on the 20th and was buried on the 23rd of Feb 1849 Aged
[blank] years He had been in the church some 15 years And out of it for
the last year of his life Died A Strangite. I Also recieved A
Liverpool Millennial Star containing Orson Spencers farewell Address
which was truly interesting, Also A good letter from Prst Willard
Richards & other things of interest. I wrote two letters one to Calvin
[FIGURE] I. Foss of Saco & one to Josiah G. Hardy, I went to Boston And
settelled Calvin I. Foss fare in the B. S. C. T. M. Company who were
going to start on the 10th March I Paid $300 for him which
was sent me By E. Carter Jr. of Portland, Me. I called At 166
Hanover street to see Mrs Rogers, Rhoda & Phebe Foss they had
gone to they Boarding place 3rd Bennett Avenue Bennett street. I
returned home went to the post office And Had An interview
with J. P. Aldin His sister Married David Petigrew. I spent the
Evening At Br Birds reading the Star & conversing with Mr. Hugh
MCCully & Andrew Delin I left them about upon the point of Being Baptized
~ Thursday
[FIGURE] March 1st 1849 This is my Birth Day Also the first day
of the spring of 1849. I am 42 years
old this day, how such figures look to A man while counting up
his years. As the Lord has preserved me through another year
of my life, I Pray my Heavenly Father to keep me safe through
the year which I am now Entering. O God the Eternal Father
I ask the in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ, & by virtue of the
Holy Priesthood to preserve me blameless through this year of my life
life which I am now Entering. Keep me from evry temptation, from
Entangling my feet with sin, let the Holy Ghost be my constant compa
nion & teach me my duty in all things. Give me favor in thy sight
O Lord & in the sight of thy Son Jesus Christ, in the sight of Angels
And in the sight of All Prophets, Apostles, Patriarchs, & Saints both
in Heaven, & on Earth. Preserve my wife & children in safety &
all appartaining unto me. Bless thy servant Brigham His council, the
Twelve, seventies High Priest, with all the saints of the Most High God
in all the Earth. Bless the seed of Abraham, And gather them Home.
Favor Zion, O Lord, Break in peaces every weapon formed against her.
I Ask all these Blessings with all others which thou seest I need in
the Name of Jesus Christ & by virtue of the Holy Priesthood Amen
March 1st 1849. I arose early while all nature was wraped in sleep
And commenced writing in my Journal. I Also wrote A letter
to Orson Pratt of Liverpool & one to Leanard Hardy. I recieved
[FIGURES] A letter from L Hardy. I recieved A visit from Br
Whipple, Br Haven, Br Boynton, I had A plesant visit with them
Br Boynton had with him A model of A machine which he Had
invented for cutting out soles for making shoes which is A vary
ingenious peace of work, is getting A pattern for it
~ Friday
2nd [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from Br Wm Sweat And filled anoth[er]
sheet to Orson Pratt. I spoke of my birth day, gave him all the
News I had from the valley, my interview with Br Whipple, with Br
Babbitt made An extract concerning him And the Government from
my Journals. Also made An extract from my address to the Histori[an]
concerning Zion &c &c. The following is an Extract of my letter
to him [FIGURES]
Cambridgeport March 1st 1849
Elder Pratt, Beloved Brother, As this is my birth day Also the
first day of Spring, my mind is led this morning more than usual
to reflect upon the signs of the times of the Globe upon which we dwell
And while meditating upon Zion And Her messengers my mind flits
across the Ocean & runs over the wall And takes A view of A large co-
mpany of swift messengers who are the Horns of Joseph used to push
the people together from the ends of the Earth, [Doctrine and Covenants 58:45] these meditations
create A desire to convers A few moments with Br Pratt. So while all Nature
is locked fast in sleep before the dawn of day is broke to start man from
his slumber I seat myself to say A few words to you. I said this was my
birth day, yes I am 42 years old this day. How such figures look to
a man while counting up his years in this probation. The vary sight
of them croud into the mind A flood of thought even more than
tongue can utter or pen can write. The last sixteen years of
my life has been spent in endeavouring to preach the Gospel & build
up the Kingdom of God in connexion with my brethren. The past
is gone, I have no desire to recal it, I would would not wish to live
my life over if I could. I feel like looking forward & not backward
I have a great desire that I may spend my future days doing the works
of righteousness, Honoring the Priesthood & my calling, saving the
souls of men, & building up the Kingdom of God that I may have a
place with the faithful at the end of the race. Turn my eyes which
way I will Either towards Babylon or Zion And I find the mov-
ements & signs of Either of them at the present day Are fully keep-
ing pace with the wheels of time. It is deeply interesting to see
hear, feel, & live in this age and gaze upon the scenery of the
whole Earth rushing like A Mighty cataract to finish its work
while the high minded Jew in the highth of his pride was exha-
usting his talents & oratory to prove to the Roman and the world
their right to independance greatness & power. The Son of God
was in Lamb like meekness bowing to the ordinance of Baptism
And all the rites of the gospel & commandments of his Father
looking forward to the day when He should make his second visit
to his brethren with his reward upon his head. So at the present
day while the Emperors, Kings, Princes, Lords, Nobles, Presidents
Governours, Statesman with all the great men of Babylon
have been making A desperate Effort to maintain their
dignity And appear to a good Advantage before the whole Earth
many of the most Noble spirits that ever dwelt in flesh
like Jesus and the Apostles have been meekly submitting to
the ordimances of the gospel, and like little children have
been subject to the Authority of the Holy Priesthood And have
made evry sacrafize required and laboured day & night to
build up Zion that the honest in Heart & the meek of the Earth
may have A place to flee to in order to Escape the just judgment
of ^that^ God whose rod is now suspendend in the Heavens and is about
to Fall upon the Earth and lay great Babylon with all of Her
greatness, pomp, power, and glory in the dust. My Prayer to God
is that evry Elder of Israel & saint of God throughout the whole
Earth may be incouraged to labour dilligently & faithfully
while the day of Harvests lasts for soon night will come when
No man can work, theyn ^they^ will be Just as sure of their reward
As was their chief captain & Head.
~ Saturday
3rd [FIGURES] I wrote A letter to Mr Wm B. Goodyear Anapolis Md. I
Also recieved A letter from Wesley Siddle. Br Whipple called upon
me And spent the Afternoon I had A good time with him we conversed
upon A variety of subjects Among other things He informed me that
the Utah Lake abounded with the largest kind of the Mountain
trout some As much as two & three feet in length And that all
the small & large streams puting out of the Mountains Also
Abounded with trout. I went with Br Whipple into Boston
on my return I Assisted in the Baptizing of two individuals
in the sea in the midst of the Ice. Br Bird Administered the ordi-
nance in 3 feet of water they were the first He Baptized yet it
[FIGURE] was well done.
~ Sunday
[FIGURE] 4th Sunday The United States is without A President to day
President Polk went out last night President
Taylor is installed to morrow. Hence there is no president to day
I met A congregation of saints And many strangers at Brother
Birds for A meeting At 2 oclok Elder Whipple from the Valley of
the Salt Lake was present. Elder J P Haven from the Bluffs
Also And A vary full House. I Addressed over one hour & had
much of the Spirit of God resting upon me And bore A strong
testimony unto the People preached the first principles of the
gosple And spoke of the general Bareings of the work of God
in the present Dispensation. In speaking of the body of Christ
And members in particular I told them I had seen men in
my travels without Arms, legs, some without eyes, &c but I had
never seen A man going about without A head. And As A natu-
ral body without A head would dye so the Church without ^a^ Head
would die.
Br Whipple followed me & made some vary good
remarks And edeyfying He said notwithstanding the Jews had Apostitized
the right of the kingdom belonged to them & Jesus came & set up the kingdom
among them they rejected it He took the kingdom from the Jews gave it
to the Gentile all that were in the kingdom went to the gentiles with the
Kingdom of God. The Gentiles in like manner have Apostitized And have
not continued in the goodness of God still they have A rightt to have the
kingdom of God set up among them in the last days And Joseph Smith
being warned & commanded of God has recieved the gospel from the hand
of an Angel, preached it to the gentiles set up the kingdom for the last time
among them they have rejected it, it will now again be taken from them
& given to the Jews & all in the kingdom will go to the Jews with it & many will
come from E. W. N. S. & sidt down with A[b]ram &c while the ^gentiles^ children of the Kingdom will be cast out
Brother Haven followed with interesting remarks in explaining
the principles of repentance, by A figure. If A Mother set two little
children at work, they should leave it & go to play & dirty their
clothes And when the Mother came [she] find they had not done the
work but been disobediant but promised forgiveness if they wo[uld]
go wash their face change their closes [clothes] & do the work one goes &
do as she is required the other follows her Mother & crys all day &
pleads with her to forgive her. When night comes one has cryed
all day for fiorgiveness, but has not done the thing required the other
has done the things required, which is most justifyed the
one that obeyed the Mother. So with Man it is not evry one [who]
says Lord, Lord, that shall enter into my Kingdom but He that
doeth the will of my father who is in Heaven. [3 Nephi 14:21]
I Administered the sacrament And confirmed two persons
And Blessed three children, And dismissed the meeting we had
A good time
~ Monday
5th President Taylor takes his seat to day I sent 13 school Boo[ks]
[FIGURE] By Br Haven to President Young & council for their exhami[n]
ation. I mailed Br Pratts letter & paid postage
~ Tuesday
6th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters one to James Ferguson & one to John Benb[ow]
Also one toI Mr Goodyier recieved from Br MCKenzie
~ Wednesday
7th I spent the day writing
~ Thursday
8th I went into Boston with Mrs Woodruff Br & sister Page called
at Br Barnes then upon Br Cannon 123 Washington street we
met Calvin I Foss in the streets He went home with us
~ Friday
9th I went into Boston with Calvin And assisted him in getting
his Calafornia outfit And returned home
~ Saturday
10th [FIGURE] I recieved 3 letters to day one from Br & Sister Luther Scammans
one from W. I. Appleby one from Br John Druce Haverstraw N.y.
I also recieved the Herald N york weekly, it contained the closing
& breaking up of Congress which was A disgraceful scene the
member got drunk, fought, knocked each other down had
bloody noses, cursed, damned &c which shows the state the
Government is runing into. Elders J. C. Little & E. Whipple called upon
me & spent the evening I had a good time with them
~ Sunday
11th Sunday I recieved A visit from Br Joseph Crapo, Little, Whipple
& we all attended Meeting At Br Birds had A full house & good time
Br Whipple Addressed the meeting, And spoke well was followed by
Br Little, who spoke in the spirit of God, much to our Edifycation I
followed And spoke upon A variety of subjects we partook of the
sacrament & closed the meeting Br Crapo & Bird spent the Evening with
me Calvin Rhoda & Phebe Foss Also spent the with us the last
sabbath Evening that Calvin will spend with his friends for A long time
As he will sail for Calafornia this week
~ Monday
12 I spent the day at home writing Elder Little spent the night
with me we conversed untill midnight & returned to rest
~ Tuesday
[FIGURES]
^March 1849^ 13th I this day called upon Francis N Mitchell stone seal engraver, Die
sinker &c, 15 Tremont Row, Boston, And searched A record entitled
General Armoury of England By John Burnard Burke Heraldry
(to find my coat of Arms which I found to be the following)
Woodroffe or Woodruff Lord Mayor of London 1579 Poyle, Co
Surrey). G U on a chev ar, Crest a Dexter ar three Bucks
heads erased sa a Cheif perfess nebulee, sa and ar crest—
A Dexter arm embowed Habited with leaves vert holding in
the hand a branch of Honeysuckle all ppr.
Woodroffe Paly of six gu and ar a bend gobonated az and or
crest A Demi PPr (Lady) vested ar, Holding in the Dexter hand a
civic crown or.
~ Wednesday
^14th^ I Also recieved A present from Br Cannon of two Deguritype likenesses
of myself wife & three children in A family groupe
~ Thursday
145th [FIGURES] I wrote 3 letters one to Capt Joseph Russell one to Wm
Maxfield one to John Druce. I spent the evening with Br Little,
Bird & Calvin Foss
~ Friday
156th I parted with Br Little & my family & took A packet
chatham And left at 6 oclok PM, sailed through the night & landed at
the Break water 7 miles North of South Dennis at 5 oclok in the
Morning I was sea sick through the night & was unwell in the
morning, distance of the watter conveyance 60 miles
~ Saturday
167 I took carriage rode 7 miles with 7 passengers broke the
carriage down but landed at Br Nathanial Eldridge House & spent
the day And preached at his house at night had the spirit
of the Lord And A good time 7 m
~ Sunday
178 Sunday I met with a large congregation of the inhabitants
of the cape, Saints, captains, Sailors, fisherman, Christians & infidels
I preached to the people in the forenoon, afternoon, & Evening. I
dismissed the congregation at 9 oclok then held A chuch
meeting untill midnight I organized the church with 21 mem-
bers Appointed Nathanial Eldridge as presiding Elder And
Horace Humphry & Thomas F Eldridge his councellors. I baptized
& confirmed one. I dAdministered unto 2 that were sick I
retired to rest at 1 oclock Having held 4 meetings through the day
And night I found the Body of the Church badly broaken to peaces
through the wicked conduct of A Mr Russell. this is the first
time I have ever visited the cape
~ Monday
19th I parted with the saints And took the stage at west Harwich
And rode 20 miles then took rail road & went to Boston. my compa
ny in the stage & mostly in the cars was sailors Mates, & Captains on
their way to Boston & New York to take ships & go to sea 65
mostly to Calafornia one Captain was vary sorrowful in conseq[u]
ence of having to leave his family so long was about on the
point of Giving it up & going home the last I saw of him
Cape Cod is a plesant place for a summer residence they ha[ve]
a sea breeze from evry point of compass, plenty of fishing on
evry hand the soil most altogether sand, upland pitch & wh[ite]
pine low land ceder what crops are raised is mostly done
by dressing the land with fish, distance of the day 75 m
On my returned home I found my Lather in Law Ezra Carter
Sen. at my house it was the first time he had ever had an
opportunity of paying us a visit, Calvin Foss was also still there.
~ Tuesday
20th [FIGURES] I recieved three letters from W. I. Appleby from
Hempstead L L & Sarah B. Foss I wrote one to W. I. Appleby
I recieved the New York weekly Herald and other papers
and learn the thrones of Europe are still falling, two ships
have lately been wrecked one [on] our Coast one at Cape Cod
on purpose to save the insurance which was much more than
the Ship was worth. The Captain & crew of the ship Franklin
were drowned in trying to reach shore after he had destroyed
the ship & papers were found in the pockets of the Captain
showing the loss of the ship was by agreement of the
owners one of which is under trial for the same
~ Wednesday
21st A tedious rain storm to day which is dangerous for
the mariner Some ships will probably be lost to day
~ Thursday
22nd [FIGURE] There are certain days of my life which contain events
of marked interest to me and my posterity an account
of which I record in my Journals, these events are in
fulfillment of ancient or modern prophecy & revelation from God
this day was one of them. When Joseph Smith sen The first
Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints laid
his hands upon my head to give me my Patriarchal blessings he
said I should have my Father & Houshold standing with me in the
covenant of the Gospel and that I should have power to bring them
into the kingdom I afterwards visited my Fathers Household preached the
Gospel to them and baptized my father, step Mother, sister & every
member of his household & several other relatives. Also Phebe W.
Woodruff, who[se] Maiden name was Phebe W. Carter before her
Marriage also recieved a promise that she should have her Father
& Household with her in the New & Everlasting Covenant. Her Mother
was baptized before her death two of her sisters have been baptized
Her brothers are now vary friendly. And this day I walked thro-
ugh the City of Boston ^with^ my wife's Father which is my Father in
Law Ezra Carter sen & Calvin Foss his Grand son we went through
the ship Areatus in which Calvin Foss is going to Calafornia we visited
the common and many parts of Boston we then returned home
and had a meeting iat my own hired house I opened by praye[r]s Br
J C Little addressed the meeting and Wm Page spoke a few moments
I then arose and addressed my friends for an hour in great plain
ness and expressed my feelings to them in Great plainness. At the Close
of the Meeting I led my father in Law Ezra Carter sen with two others
down into the sea and baptized them, Mrs Woodruff accompanied her
Father to the water and back again we both felt to rejoice that the words
of the old Patriarch was fulfilling upon our heads Father Ezra Carter sen
was 76 Seventy six years, and 3 three days old this day that I baptized
him, I have now baptized my Father Woodruff & Father in law Carter
this is a great consolation to my soul, Father Ezra Carter sen was the
son of Ezra Carter 84 years old, who was the son of Daniel Carter
who was the son of Ezekiel Carter, His Mothers Name was Phebe
Whitemore the Daughter of Elias Whitemore. Father Carter has
been vary friendly from the time he first herd the gospel He
has always entertained all the saints that called upon him.
FIGURES
~ Friday
23rd [FIGURES] I recieved one letter from John Druce & wrote one to
Br Appleby. In Company with Father Carter Mrs Woodruff, Calvin
Foss & Wm Page we visited Mount Auburn, which is considerd
one of the most interesting Cemetrys [Cemeteries] in the world, we next visited
Bunker hill Monument & Father Carter though 76 years old walked
to the top of that monument 222 feet hight after looking through
our glasseds & with the Naked eye evry point of compass we then
desended the way we come up & returned home
~ Saturday
24th [blank] I spent the day writing I recieved the Herrald containing
the foreign news war is still rages in Europe one American
ship lost 125 persons lost &c
~ Sunday
25th Sunday I met with the saints spoke a short time was followed
by Brother Grover Page & others, I then confirmed 3 persons one
was my Father in Law Ezra Carter we partook of the sacrament was
administered. I spoke a few moments upon the power & influence of
the spirit & work of God in heaven & on Earth. In heaven the Lord
had power over Lucipher son of the Morning & on Earth the Lord has
power over the devil & so has his servants when they have the spirit
of God in them and if a man does his Duty his house will be a
house of salvation. All men the righteous & wicked that come
beneath his roof will feel the influence of the spirit that reigns
in that house. I held a meeting also in the Evening & had
a good time
~ Monday
26th [FIGURES] I done up a bundle of slips of paper & sent to Br
Willard Richard and wrote a line to him containing an account
of a letter from Capt Joseph Russell saying that he would give £300
to assist in paying the debts of the presidency &c I wrote a letter to
Capt Joseph Russell acknowledging the recpt of his letter and
advising him to send the draft to Orson Pratt for collection
~ Tuesday
^[FIGURE]^ 27th [FIGURE] I done up a bundle of papers for Dr Richards and some articles
for Father Woodruff, Sisters Smoot, Edwards A. Harris & M. J. where things sent by Mrs Woodruff, I recieved a letter from Mrs Sayers &
wrote one to Leonard Hardy to inform him of the death of a sister
Courier [blank] at Bradford & wished him to come & preach her sermon, we
had most a tedious storms of rain & wind through the day & night
many lives will be lost in the storm
~ Wednesday
28th I wrote a letter to Allexander Badlam by Calvin Foss I gave him
all the news up to this time, sent him New York weekly Herald & other papers
~ Thursday
29 [FIGURES] I recieved a letter from Allexander Badlam at Chreges they
arived at the Harbor in 22 days from Boston He gave me an
account of the whole voyage they got along well, I wrote him an
answer in the one I wrote yesterday I wrote 2 letters to Josiah Hardy
& Henry Mullin
~ Friday
30th It is still a rainy day this past week has been almost one
Universal scene of storm, wind, & rain. Rhoda Foss has lain at
our house quiette sick with a fever Mrs Woodruff & myself
prayed with her in the night & administered unto her and she
began to recover, we also recieved a letter from Br Samuel Hard[y]
saying that Br Josiah Hardy was vary sick & wished us to pray
for him and we made his case a special subject of prayer.
There is a report in this days papers that Col Freemont lost 120
Mules in one night with the cold & snow on the Mountains, which
left him on foot and all his party perished & eat each other up
All died but himself & he vary badly frost bitten. this is the seco[nd]
party of Missourians who have died a miserable death & each eats
[the] other up what is the cause of this The measure they meet is
measured unto them again they one put the prophets patriarchs
& Apostles in chains in prision & fed them on human flesh even
the flesh of their brethren that state with this Nation has some
heavy bills to pay & serious things to meet so prepare for it
It has since been ascertained that all of the company did not
perish but 120 Mules died in one night & all baggage was lost
except one trunk 11 men perished in trying to get to the
settlements
~ Saturday
31st I took cars tode to Worcester Springfield New Haven &
to New York all the way on the rail road I spent the night with
Br Cartwright I got a letter from Br Appleby 200 m
[FIGURE]
~ Sunday
April 1st Sunday I preached to the saints in New York in the forenoon
& afternoon in great plaineness to the saints G J Adams was present
in the afternoon left before meeting closed, I took tea with Elder
Hollister. I called upon Ilus F Carter in the evening
~ Monday
2nd I met with Br Hollister & Mr Joseph Smith at 38 wall street
in the afternoon crossed to Brooklin & spent the night with Mr
Water House corner of Columbia & President street Brooklin
I read some of Andrew Jackson Davis work, called A Revela-
tion but I am convinced it was not a revelation from God
~ Tuesday
3rd I went to 38 wall street spent some time with Hollister
and Joseph Smith who is believing the Gospel & expects to go to the
Salt Lake He went with me to a store and I bought some goods 6 lb [ham]
for $21.39 to send to Father Woodruff I spent the night at Br
[FIGURE] Cartwright I wrote a letter to O Pratt I spoke of the draft
of Capt Russell, I saw the 2nd No of the Guardian I wrote to
to Mrs Woodruff & mailed both letters I have ascertained to
day the Cause of my plain talk on Sunday their is a Cause for it
~ Wednesday
4th I packed up all the New York Herald & took [them] with me for the
Historian & took boat & rail road & landed at Philadelphia &
called upon Elder Gibson 83 dock street and preached to the
saints in the evening & spent the night with Br Gibsons house on
Wallace street 8 doors below 13. 100 m
~ Thursday
5th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters one to Orson Hyde sent him $2
for Papers to cape cod and two full sheets to President Brigham
Young & council I spoke vary plain upon a variety of subjects gave an
account of the work with me spoke of Smith, Adams, Van Dugan & Co,
And the spirit of God was upon me when I wrote, I spoke of the
Judgments of God upon the Earth,
~ Friday
6th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters to H C Kimball & A Woodruff
[FIGURE] I walked to Gibsons office got a letter from John Sanderson
~ Saturday
7th [FIGURE] I wrote a Letter to Br Wm Stewart & inclosed $35
dollars in Gold, and an order on O Smoot for $15, making
$50 in all which I send him for a mule he let me have.
I wrote two other letters. Elder Appleby arived in the city I went
to see him 5 m
~ Sunday
8th Sunday I met with the saints and preached to them 3 times laid hands upon 4 Saints who were sick I had a good meeting
~ Monday
9th I paid for Aphek Woodruff for boots shoes &c $3.75.
I done up packages & pamphlets for the Presidency in the valley
and a full file of the New York Herald and I wrote a page
[FIGURE] to W Richards and put into it many scraps of papers
Br Appleby baptized 3 of his sons and 1 Daughter I confirmed
them and blessed them
~ Tuesday
10th A rainy day I had an interview with Appleby & Crump I
deliverd to Br Appleby $21, $15 for A. O. Smoot and $6 for
Aphek Woodruff to buy groceries with, I wrote A O Smoot
[FIGURE] a letter. I called upon Mrs Mary Ann Banks 254 Seventh
street, I took tea with them herd excellent music & went home
~ Wednesday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Aphek Woodruff & done up a bundle
of papers to A O Smoot, A. Woodruff J. Benbow & B Young. I
put my package in a box & put in 4 lb of T◊o 2 lbs tea for
Aphek Woodruff besides the main bundle, I had $2 for the
above things of Crump. I met with the Saints had a good time
~ Thursday
12th The Saints took passage in a section boat for Pittsburgh
8 from Reaklestown 13 from New Haven & 50 from Philedelphia
total 71 they were much crowded & a great bustle in getting off
I took boat [rail] road to Beverly spent the night with Br Flagg 20 m
~ Friday
13th I spent several hours on the banks of the Deleware river & saw
the fisherman kcatch shad I saw them catch 100 to a haul. I walked
through Beverly & in the afternoon I took cars for Beardingtown
walked 5 miles to Caleb Wrights I was vary weary I spent
the night 20 m
~ Saturday
14th I arose with sore feet in the morning & walked to Jacobs-
town & to Homerstown I ought to have gone to Arnytown
I was sent 4 miles out of my way, the wind blew so hard
I could scearsly walk against it I carried my Carpet bag
& walked 10 miles with blistered toes & weary limbs I felt as though
I could hardly get to Hornerstown I arived at Elder Curtis at
noon vary weary & lame I took some dinner & went to bed, Wm Smith
had visited this region of Country & drawn some 3 or 4 after him He
told many lies about the 12 & others 10 m
~ Sunday
15 Sunday I preached to the saints at Hornerstown in the forenoon & evening
I spent the night with Br Curtis.
~ Monday
16th I left Hornerstown & rode with two young men to Toms
River our road lay through a level pine forest about 30 miles
almost one universal sand bed, there is a small village in the
midst of the pine forest called Manchester, I rode on a load of
plank 3500 lbs drawn by 4 mules with wide tire yet they su[nk]
into the sand over the felly which made hard travelling I calle[d]
at Anthony Ivins and spent the night 30 m
I preached in the evening to the saints I had a severe cold
and sore throat
~ Tuesday
17th [FIGURE] Called upon Br Reamen got boots mended wrote 3 let[ters]
to John Druce Phebe W. Woodruff & Jairus Sandford,
I preached at night to a full house, spent the night with Mr
Ivins
~ Wednesday
18th It rained in the morning, at Noon I went in company
with Br & Sister Wilber in their waggon through the pine plai[ns]
to Hornerstown, it hailed snowed & rained hard on the road
we were cold when we got through we spent the night
when we got there at Elder Curtis 30 m
~ Thursday
19th I preached in the evening to a full house my cold & lungs
were better I talked vary plain to the people
~ Friday
20th I baptized & confirmed 3 persons of Mr Wycolf family
they have been believing many years, Joseph the Twelve
& others have visited them. I blessed 4 children laid hands
upon 3 that were sick I then rode to Boardentown & called
upon SisterFenting I took cars at 5 oclok saw an old bling [blind]
man fall from the cars onto the track & break his ribs &
he sufferd much I rode to Newark New Jersey & spent the
night with Br John Sanderson at Br Luke Provost distance 75 [m]
~ Saturday
21st I walked with Br Sanderson to Bloomfield & spent the night
at Elder John Johnsons 6 mile.
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I preached in the morning & afternoon 1 was baptized
I confirmed him, I organized a branch & ordained 1 Elder
& administered to 4 that were sick. we walked to Newark, I
preached & organized a branch there Ordained 1 Elder administ[ered]
to 3 sick & spent the night there, I wrote a letter to O.
[FIGURE] Hyde & sent $1 for papers 6 m
~ Monday
23rd I took cars rode to New York herd that T. D. Brown from
Liverpool had arived in New York had waited a week to see me was
now about to leave for the west I went down immediately to see
him found him at the Hotel opposite Jersey City ferry. our
meeting was one of Rejoicing we spent about 3 hours together
He had 9 in family wife children relatives &c He paid the
fare of about 40 families to Zion who went with Capt Jones &
Spences He sent up also about $10000 dollars worth of goods to
the valley. He was known as a Latter Day Saint on the Steem
Ship & exherted a good influence so much so that the first
officers of the Steemer with the Mates, Clerk, purser &c came to
see him leave the City for the west, I was introduced to them. I
took tea with him & family. He put £1 a sovereign into my hands at the
table, may the Lord bless him fourfold I pray. 15 miles
~ Tuesday
24th I recieved a Letter from Br Wells of waterville Ct I walked
to the foot of Chamber street N.Y. ^to^ took boat it had left so I walked
back read the papers, stars &c containing Elder Jones Letter containing
an account of his last visit & Conference with the welsh saints
it was glorious, I shed tears of Joy over it. A Brother gave me
a Calafornia knife blade 15 inches long. At 2 oclok I took the
warren foot of vesey street and rode to Haverstraw N York
I found Elder John Druce I spent the night with him 50 m
~ Wednesday
25th [FIGURE] I wrote Mrs Woodruff a letter and preached at night to a
full house solemnity rested upon all, a number were believeing
I spent the night with Br Druce, he has a good large house
& garden the house was called haunted by the Dead, his family
was disturbed for a while, but after Dedicating the family &
house unto God, & rebuked all spirits which were not of God to
depart out of the house they were not troubled any more
~ Thursday
26 I took steamer & rode to New York there was two cases of
Cholera while I was at Haverstraw both proved fatal I spent
the night with Br Cartwright 40 m
~ Friday
27th I took cars rode to Hempstead walked to Jeremiah Browers
gave out an appointment for meeting caught 8 trout weigh
1/2 lb each in few minutes in the pond I preached at night & spent
the night with Jacob Brower 35 m
~ Saturday
28th I returned to Brooklin & spent the night at Mr Water House 35
~ Sunday
29th [FIGURES] Sunday I met with the saints in New York and preached
to them in the morning Newell, Rogers, & others who had been
cut off from the Church were present I preached in the after-
noon to all who were present I then dismissed the meeting, reta-
ined the Church, and held a Church meeting & from testimony
we cut off four persons for adultery, whose names were as
follows (David Day Wm Evens) (Emma Day Ann Hart) The testimony was of such a nature that
there was not a dessenting vote
~ Monday
30th I took cars rode to New Haven called
upon Lewis Allen corner of Grove & High Street New Haven Ct
and talked over old times I then went to Smith Tuttles &
Jairus Sandfords I held a meeting at his house & organized the
saints into a branch appointed Br Sherman Barnes as presiding Elder
voted that he be ordained an Elder I spent the night at
Smith Tuttles distance of the day 75 m
~ Tuesday
May 1st I took cars rode to Chester took stage rode to waterbury
& waterville & spent the night with Br Wells 30 m
~ Wednesday
2nd I went to the Creek caught a few trout & walked in the
afternoon to Br Sheldon Woosters Naugaotug held a meeting and
Organized a branch and appointed Samuel Wells Presiding
Elder I spent the night with Br Wooster 8 miles
~ Thursday
3rd Br Wooster carried me in his waggon to Br Doolittles I
preached at night at Br Thorp's & spent the night there 20 m
~ Friday
4th I took cars rode to New Haven, & spent the night with J. S. 13 m
~ Saturday
5th I parted with Father Jairus Sandford. After orda
ining Br Sherman Barnes to the Office of an Elder, I took
the cars rode to Boston, and arived home with my family
in the edge of the evening, & found them well, after being
absent more than a month, I found Father Carter had
arived an hour or two before me, I was glad to meet with
him, I spent the night at home once more with my family 150 m
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I met with the Saints at my house & preached
in the afternoon Elder Thomas McKenzie was present
we had a good time.
~ Monday
7th [FIGURES] I recieved this morning from Mrs W.
8 letters which had been recieved in my absence from the
following persons, Wesley Siddle Wm Maxfield, James Mellen
Henry Mullen, Wm H Wilson, Wm Low, Samuel Dam,
& Allexander Badlam containing 4 full sheets of paper
written from Panama which was highly interesting He
gave an interesting account of the Isthmus & his journey
and Prosperity, He was about to set sail for the gold digings
I also wrote 5 letters to the following persons [FIGURE] Wm Low Wm Sweat Tho. Cartwright Wm H. Wilson G. J. Hardy
I also sent Orson Pratts Pamphlet of answer
was Joseph Smith Called of God to J Mellen & Ep
~ Tuesday
8th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to
James Mellen, Wm Maxfield and
Samuel Dam I demanded Br
Samuel Dam license for
intoxication lying & disgracing the Cause I sent O Pratts Pamph[let]
to the following persons ^[FIGURE] Wm Low, Wm Sweat Wm H Wilson G J Hardy John W Roberts Jairus Sandford & John Druce Wm Maxfield Joseph Russell Ozem Woodruff Azmon Woodruff G A. Smith Esther Fanham^ Elder MCKenzie has assisted
now two days to write & to
day we dug our garden all over with shovels Br Leonard
Hardy spent the night with me last night, & came again this
evening Br Abram Boynton also called upon me to day, I
recieved the Guardian up to the 5th No & Stars to April 1st
All bear good News
~ Wednesday
9th [FIGURES] I recieved a letter from Jacob Gibson & wrote one to him,
& sent him O Pratts Pamphlet, & one to Shelden Wooster, an Epistle
to John Druce
Receipt for Etching & Engraving on Steel
Take a small quantity of lampblack mixed with some of the strongest
Varnish mixed to a paste with a knife on a plate then thined with
turpentine so as to write or draw with it then write on steel any thing
that is Needed and let it dry then take a Teaspoonfull of aquofortis
a drop of quicksilver in it, when the quicksilver is desolved add a
tea spoonful of water then it is ready for use
How to use the Material for etching
Cover the edge & back with the same material that we write with
and all parts whare it is not wished for the aquafortis to take effect
and when the article is dry (the steel should be kept free from greese) then
apply the preperation of quick silver & aquafortis with a small rag rolled into
a little brush diped into the preperation & rubed even across the length of
the blade & let it remain 2 1/2 minutes after the polish is taken off,
then dip the blade in water then wipe it dry, then take clear tur-
pentine & rub over the blade untill the varnish is clean off &
while the blade is wet with the Terpentine dip it into dry slack lime
then polish the blade in chalk & water with a peace of soft leather
and it will appear of a silver cast
To Engrave on Steel
Follow the same direction as for etching ownly cover the
steel all over with the varnish then write on it as soon as it is
dry with a Needle or any sharp instrument that will cut through
the varnish so as to give room for the aquafortis to eat and instead
of 2 1/2 minutes let it eat 10 minutes or as long as is found necessary
by experiment go through the same process of cleaning & polishing
as before
For Curing any kind of Hydes with wool or Hair on
Take common salt & allum of equal quantity & make strong
brine of it let the skin be washed clean with water, then lay
them flat on the ground with the wool or hair down then take
the salt & allum water & cover the skins with it on the flesh
side let it remain on a small skin 24 hours on a large skin
48 then wash it in clean water then stretch it let it dry
then Curry it with Courrier tools untill it is pliable
~ Thursday
10th [FIGURES] I recieved a Letter from Jacob Gibson & wrote him one in
return & sent him a pamphlet on the 9th. I planted my Garden
to day all over & had a good meeting in the evening at my house
I laid hands upon sister Page for sickness
~ Friday
11th [FIGURE] I recieved a letter from Samuel Wells containing $2 for
papers I walked into the City with the Br MCkenzie & Father
Carter, I sent O Pratts Pamphlets to the following persons [FIGURE] G J Flagg Anthony Ivins Jeremiah Brower Samuel Wells John Doolittle John Johnson Elder Curtis
~ Saturday
12th I took cars rode to worcester them
to Northbride at Holebrooks Station and
stoped at Sister Parley Pratts then
went up & spent the Night at Mr Aldrich. 65 m
~ Sunday
13th Sunday I preached to the people, & held a Church meeting
Communed with the Saints reproved some, spent the night
at Mr Bennetts laid hands upon 1 sick
~ Monday
14th We baptized 1, & I confirmed her, then took cars
with Br Sweat [and] Sister Pratt & rode to Worcester then to Boston
I spent a little time in Boston I called upon Br Cannon saw Elder
Thomas McKenzie pack up a large box of books near 400 lbs which he
has collected in Boston for schools in the valley he has been faithful in
his mission in collecting books during the past season to assist the Saints
in collecting esstablishing schools in the valley of the Mountains, I
went home & spent the night.
There has been a great Mob of late
[FIGURE] in New York the papers have been full of it for several days. The
Boston Daily times contained a long article headed Dreadful Riot and
Bloodshead, At the Astor Place Theatre, the Military called out, fireing on the
people Awful sacrifice of Life, 21 Persons Killed, 33 wounded, & 53
of the rioters Arested. On Thursday night May 10th 1849 a mob of
20000 collected at the above Theatre in consequence of the appearance
of Mr Macready an Englishman upon the Stage. The Military [was] called out
& fired upon the people and killed 21 and wounded 33 the spirit
of Mobing has been Manifest evry since in New York and the
spirit of Mobing war confusion and anarchy is appearing all ove[r]
the Earth. A mob of late arose in Canida of 7000, surrounded t[he]
Parliament House broke in the windows stoned & egged the
Govornour Lord Elgin & all members of Parliament burnt the
Parliament House to the ground & all the Canidia Canadian Record[s]
for 5000 years war is poured out upon all Europe at the present
time On my return home I recieved two letters one from Wm Low
[FIGURE] and James L Curtis
~ Tuesday
15 [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters one to James L Curtis, Wm Low, and one to
Orson Hyde, containing 12 New subscribers for the Guardian
viz J. Brower, J. W. Roberts, J Doolittle, M. Cannon, B. Watts, S Wells, D
Deavenport 2 Cap J. Duckworth &c, & H C. Aldrich, amounting to $18,
which I this day put into the hands of Br MCKenzie to take to Elder Hyde
I wrote a few lines to the Post Masters who would open my letters to steal
the money on the way, I sent Br Hyde a paper containing an account of the
riot
~ Wednesday
16th [FIGURES] I went into Boston with Father Carter Mrs Woodruff
and Phebe & Susan Woodruff & got all our Dageurrotype
likeness taken in one group, by Br. M. Cannon I then went
to Oak Hall & bought a suit of clothes Dress Coat, vests, & Pants
& Hat all amounting to $28, I returned to Cambridgeport
& obtained 4 letters from Thomas Cartwright, Josiah G Hardy
James H Wilson & Phebe W Woodruff I wrote 3 letters
to Thomas Cartwright, Wm H. Wilson, and Orson Hyde
and sent one New subscriber for the paper Wm H Wilson
I recieved $4 in Br Cartwright Letter for Papers which he reci-
eves from Br Hyde I forward the money by Brother McKenzie
also $2 from Br Wilson, total $6 to day, $18 yesterday
in all $24. I forward this last letter & Money by Br
McKenzie I walked up with Father Carter to se[e] a fire in
Cambridgeport T Mckenzie recieved of T Cartwright $4 in Boston $1 Total $29.
[FIGURE] I met with Father Ezra Carter & Mrs Phebe W. Woodruff and
Conversed with Father Carter upon the subject of the Priesthood
I laid my hands upon his head & ordained him to the office
of High Priest and to the office of a Patriarch in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints He is the ownly individual
out of a numerous family who has recieved the gospel. It was
Manifest in various ways that he was of the Blood of Ephraim
from the loins of Joseph. It was fully manifest unto me whi-
le my hands was upon his head that this was the case, the
power of God rested upon us while attending to these ordin-
ances and we were filled with the spirit of God, Prophecy &
rejoiceing
~ Thursday
17th We recieved European News this morning nearly all Europe
is still in war. The Cholera is making great ravages through
the United States, it has just entered New York 8 deaths yeste
rday Br McKenzie left me to day for the west I think he is
faithful I preached in the evening to a full house a number were believing
~ Friday
18th In company with Father Carter & Mr[s] Woodruff I visited
Brs Cannon, Snow & Page, I then went to the water & Br Bird baptized
one man.
~ Saturday
19th I recieved the New York Weekly Herald, filled with News also the
Morning Papers say that half of the business part of the City of
St Louis Mo is now lying in ruins by fire five banking houses
evry insurance office, twenty seven steem Boats, together with
the Telegraph office are among the vast property destroyed, also
several terrible ship wrecks & loss of life. Watertown New York
is also burnt up, the Herald has the full particulars of the dredful
riot & bloodshed in New York also the continued wars of Europe
and the sweeping progress of the Cholera in America esspecially in
the western states it says that 21 deaths occurred by Cholera on
a ship loaded with Latter Day Saints, or Mormons. Pestilence
is raging among the 25,000 gold seekers gatherd in Mo to go to the
gold digings by the way of the Salt Lake all the Earth seems to be
in confusion & commotion with war, savord, plague pestilence
fire earthquakes & storms the Bible Doctrin & Covenants, & Book of
Mormon are truly being fulfilled. Among other interesting News
the Herald contains an account of a visit of the Engeneers of
the Panama rail road Expedition to the People lately discoverd
called the Mandingo Indians at the Mandingo Bay which con
tains 113 Islands which are held in the sole possession of the
Mandingo Indians who do not pe[r]mit the residence therein
of any human being not of their own tribe & linage, they
will not as yet communicate to any but their own tribe any knowledge
of their records or History. They live by themselves some occupying
the Islands some the main land but all firmly united as a band obeying
one chief or Old man (a Patriarch) who is believed to be endowed by
God with all wisdom might and power the Government is Patriarchal
the Old man (or Patriarch) is the spiritual adviser as well as Chief
Jud[g]e of all temporal affairs He is powerful in mind & body and all
his faculties are evergreen, God endows him with peculiar health
He is acknowledged & regarded as the vicegerent of God and all his
orders are obeyed, Hie is also the great Medicine or Cure all in cases of
sickness or infirmity they apply to him And whether relief is obta-
ined or not the applicants are contented. Col Hughes propounded
the question upon whom does the office of old man (Patriarch)
descend at the decease of the present "old man." The reply was to
the next oldest man of the tribe. Suppose the successor should
not be endowed with the same qualities of intelligence. reply that
cannot be for when the mantle descends the Great spirit imbues
that mind with all knowledge. x x
The main land is seldom if
ever approached by foreigners & nothing is known of it the Islands
produce the Cocoa nut tree x x x
Before reaching the entrance of the
Mandingo Bay some 20 miles from land we discoverd a fleet
of canoes under sail managed with a skill that equals the best
water hall boatman & on bearing down found them to contain
Mandingo Indians upon fishing Excursions x x x
The men are short
& stumpy not over 4 feet 6 inch on the average thick & square built
and are capable of enduring great fatigue their heads are remarka-
ble large & round features prominent with all the physiognomy of
the Jew they have a plurality of wives according to their means
they permit No Communication with foreigners & women so offending
is stoned to death it is a part of their religious creeb to keep
their race pure & unadulterated they profess to have a restorative
for the organs of production the effect of which upon one administration
will last for eight years our surgeon obtained some of the remedy
which has been pronounced part & parcel of the body of the turtle
A question arose as to whether this people be not descendants of one of
the lost tribes of Israel, Col Hughes avowed the purpose of his visit
viz to make a journey overland to the but he was refered to the "old ma[n"]
who alone could give a reply. He was sent for in thre days made his appe-
arance, they are careful in answering questions in regard to their Coun[try]
and are jealeous of all foreigners they have never submitted to any
foreign Government although they are within the bounds of the
New Granadian Government they pay no tribute nor admit of any
allegiance whatever in trying to get some clue of their early history
the question was asked who lived here 400 or 500 years ago the reply
was "Tims Father." We asked a man [who] looked about 60 years of age
how old he was he replyed 121 years.
The following conversation
took place between the "Old man" (or Patriarch) & Col Hughes
Old man of America has much land far off on the pacific two much
days to ketch um by land too much days to catch em by water round Cape
Horn, wants to make a road nearer catch em quick wants old man to
send some faithful indians to escort him over the land to the Pacific
Old Man "Land not good, cant catch em there, better catch em by Cape
Horn, no make a road in Mandingo Country, God Almighty get vexed["]
"Huoo, Huoo Huoo, Huoo,["] repeated in groans by the Indians
Hughes 'Will you allow us to go across,["]
Old Man No. Huoo, Huoo, Huoo,
responded the Indians & the Council broake up
The foregoing is the account which the visiters give of the interview
with those Indians it is truly interesting many new things are
about to be brought to light truly
I took cars rode to Fall River & spent the night with Br Low 50 m
~ Sunday
20 Sunday I met in council with the saints in the morning communed
in the afternoon & preached in the evening laid hands upon 5 sick
~ Monday
21st Spent a part of the day fishing & caught but little held a
meeting at night spent the night with Br Low
~ Tuesday
22nd Took cars rode to Boston & spent the night at home I recieved
[FIGURE] 1 letter 2 New York Papers & one M. Star the Star contained a
letter from me. 75
~ Wednesday
23rd The St Louis fire has now ascertained to have burned 418
buildings Number of lives lost 20. Loss of Property $6,000,000
two thirds of the whole sale dry goods dealers & one half of the retail
commission & other stores of the city are burned out. There has
also been a great fire in Milwakie Mich also a great fire in
China. Many thousand houses burned, immens property destroyed
& many lives lost. The great Steemer Empire on the North River
was run into & sunk and about 30 persons drowned
The City of New Orleans is inundated with water and about being
washed away by the Missippi River breaking through the levy & runing
into the City lives are lost immens property destroyed & danger of
the whole City being washed into the Gulf of Mexico, truly calami-
ties are bursting upon this Nation & the Judgments of God are rest-
ing upon her I recieved 2 letters to day from Thomas MCKenzie &
[FIGURE] Phebe Wheeler.
~ Thursday
24th [FIGURES] I recieved a letter from Br Thomas Cartwright
& wrote 4 letters to T. Cartwright T. McKenzie, P. M. Wheeler &
Mr Grover
~ Friday
25th [FIGURE] I recieved a long letter from Mother Woodruff.
~ Saturday
26th Elders G. J. Hardy & Samuel Hardy visited me and in company
with Father Hardy Carter we visited Boston went into the Common
on to the state house, through the Quincy Market, through the
Navey Yard, on board of the Franklin, visited the ships on the
stocks went through the rope walk 75 rods long. saw the Canon
Morters Balls shot &c went to Bunker Hill saw the remains of the
ditch flung up, I then went to the rail way parted with
the brethren they went home & I the same 8 m
~ Sunday
27th Sunday I met in the family capacit[y] had a meeting in
the morning and I preached in the afternoon confirmed
one spent the evening at Br Snows
~ Monday
28th I walked with Father Carter to the East Cambridge glass
works & went through them & home again
[FIGURE] I spent the evening with Br Delin from Sweeden we
compared the sweed Bible with the English. He related two
interesting incidents which took place in sweeden, 1st as
follows During the days of the sixts reigning king before
the present one on the Throne, The King had a dream
in the night, he saw Blood upon the floor of his room untill
it increased so that he stood in blood above his Ankles
it frightend him and he awoke he thought the room he
occupied was the Parliament House, as soon as he awoke he
Called one of his Generals to him to tell him his dream and
as the General entered the room he drew his window
curtain aside & looked towards the Parliament House &
saw a light in it. He said General I see a light in the
Parliament House, the General says I think it must be the
Moon, K[ing:] No sir the Moon does not shine there. He then
called six other Generals & two soldiers and order-
ed them to accompany him to the Parliament House
& they accompanied the king when they arived at the
House they saw it lighted with a large pair of Chandel-
iers holding lighted Candles and as their had never
been any such thing in the house they were afrighted
the king ordered one of the Generals to take the key
upon the door & go in & each one of the Generals in
there turn fell upon there knees & said they would
rather die than go into the house the King then said I
am your king I will lead the way you must follow
so the king opened the door & the Generals & soldiers
followed him, they Passed through a long Hall whi-
ch was hung in black in morning they went into
the Main Hall of the Parliament house, which was
brilliantly lighted they there saw three tables two
was occupied by two young men one sitting at each
as recorders with Books upon the top of the other
sat a vary ancient old looking man, upon one side
of the Hall or room stood an exicutioner with an ax in his
hand and a Block before him and 500 Nobleman
were crouded together like sheep in a pen, and when
the old man gave the word the executioner took one at
a time & cut their heads off upon the block untill he had
beheaded evry man and the blood coverd the floor
more than ancle deep & run into the street, the king
understanding that it was an open vision & not a reality
asked the old man several times when the fulfillment
of it would be the old man answered not the king then
fell upon his knees and prayed the Lord to tell him
the fulfillment of the vision the old man then
spoke & said that it would not be in his day or the
days of his children but it would be in the days
of the sixth or seventh king from him, then the
light went out the vision passed & all was darkn[ess]
the king & Generals all went into the street shut the
Parliament house door returned to there homes & wrot[e]
the testimony to the world in their own language which
remains in the libraries of Sweeden to this day, the
sixth King is now reigning and it is expected the
scene will soon take place as the king is now with the poor
and the Nobleman with against both king & People.
The second incident was a certain Hymn was herd sung
in three different Meeting Houses, in different parts of
sweeden, at the same hour of the night, by three
seperate parties, and the account was published in th[r]ee
seperate News papers at the same day in different parts
of the kingdom, this was in the year AD 1837
~ Tuesday
29th [FIGURES] W. I Appleby Died of Cholera
I recieved one letter from W W. Wade one from Elder
Gibson and the Frontier Guardian I wrote 5 letters
to O. Hyde to J. Gibson Little & Hardy W W Wade &
Sarah B Foss I recieved the painful intelligence
by Br Gibsons letter that Elder Wm I Appleby
Died of the Cholera on board of the steemer while on his
way from St Louis to the bluffs with many of the Company
with ^him^ the Cholera is laying waste the inhabitants of the
Earth in the western states esspecially on the rivers & our
brethren are in the midst of it & several of them are falling
by it. Elder Appleby has been a faithful labourer in the
vineyard & has left a strong testimony to the world I
little thought the last time I saw him that he would
leave us so soon How many of the saints are falling or
have died by the Cholera I know not but I have
felt much depressed in spirit for a week past and
have felt the forebodings of trying News, My pra-
yer to God is that He will spare his Saints from the
pestilence which is now walking in darkness & wasteth
at Noon day I expect this season will be a trying time
to the inhabitants of the Earth and time must deter
*mine whose life will be preserved, ^*June 13 I recieved
word saying that Elder Appleby is not dead but is well & gone to the Bluffs^
~ Wednesday
30th A rainy day Br Sanderson called upon me in
the Morning I recieved a letter from Elder
[FIGURES] James Mellen on tything & papers and wrote one
letter to him in return & sent him one pamph-
let
~ Thursday
31st [FIGURES] I recieved another letter to Day saying from Elder
Jacob Gibson from Philadelphia saying they had recieved
further word concerning the death of Elder Appleby and his
company He says Br Hammer writes from Jefferson City Mo
to his Brother in Phil. saying the following persons had died
of the Cholera W.I. Appleby, Adams & wife & 2 children,
Malin, Mrs Hammer & Child, & Hand, wife & child, Hall, &
Sister Granger and a number of the Venners & more not
named ^June 13 Elder Appleby is alive the rest named are dead^
Also the Boston Daily times has the following concerning the
companies going to the gold Digings. "Letters from Independa-
nce Mo say that the Cholera is sweeping evry thing before [it]
Among those who have Died there is Lieut Schenck of
the Navy. Gloom reigns on evry side, business is at a complete
stand, all the Calafornians have putty much left in a fright
The Cholera rages so extensively among some of the emigrating
parties that they do not even stop to bury their Dead. Corpses
are found wraped in their winding sheets lying along the
road in heeps of five & six together. The scene on evry
side is painful & Horrible in the extreme.
I held a meeting at my house an Infidel of the worst class
opposed after I Got through preaching his conversation was
nonsenes folly & Blagardism against God, Jesus Christ, and
all their revelations given for the benefit of man
~ Friday
June 1st [FIGURES] I recieved a letter from Br Wm Sweat
and I wrote one to Wm Sweat. I wrote Br Gibson a letter
and sent him 125 O. Pratts Pamphlets
~ Saturday
June 2nd I rode in the cars in company with Elder Leon[ard]
Hardy to Bradford and we spent the night with Br Sam[uel]
Hardy 30 m
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I met with the saints at Br Samuel Hardys
I preached to them and had a good time we had
a Church Meeting and all spoke. I administered
to 3 that were sick.
~ Monday
4th In company with Samuel & Josiah Hardy we we[nt]
fishing we caught 8 trout & 8 Pickerell & some other
fish I caught most of the fish It was a vary hot da[y]
and a heavey rain & thunder storm at night I spent
the night with Josiah Hardy 6 m
~ Tuesday
5 I left Bradford in company with Leonard Hardy
rode to Boston. I returned home & hoed my Garden over
in the afternoon and found my vegitable had grown
half their size in 3 days I perused several papers to day
and found the Missippi River had flooded more then
half the City of New Orleans the river had broak thro
ugh the levies & was almost destroying that City all
the burying grounds were under water the Court
Houses floodied so that men had to float about on hen
coops pig trough Crockery Crates & any thing they Could
get onto in order to go from House to House, alligaters
& serpants of all kinds take up their residence in the
City & enter into the Houses, their is great destruction
at the present time of life & property by flood, fire, plague
pestilence & war in all the Earth war is begining to be
poured out upon the Whore of all the Earth in fulfillment of
the word of God. The Cholera is raging in the western
world to a great degree and a number of the Saints
have fallen with the rest "A letter from Jefferson Mo
says that there had been 52 deaths out of 150 on the Mom◊
Br Appleby was on that boat, Br Hardy spent the night with [me] 30 m
~ Wednesday
6th Accounts continue to pour in from various parts of the
country respecting the Cholera
~ Thursday
7th 20 cases of Cholera reported in New York to day 4
cases in Boston. I spent a part of the day in Boston
[FIGURE] I recieved a letter from Br Hollister to day.
~ Friday
8th 60 cases of cholerya & 10 death to day in New York I read
[FIGURE] a letter to day from sister Sayers at Jefferson City Mo
saying ["]I am sitting by the side of sister Sabra Granger wat-
ching the last departing of her body as she is dying with
the Cholera["] I recieved a Paper from the Bluffs also
the Star of 1st May which gave interesting accounts of
the progress of the work of God in that land.
~ Saturday
9th NY. 26 cases 12 deaths. Gen Gaines of New Orleans has died
of the Cholera also Gen Worth. I reaceved the following in
the Boston Times, we have advices by Express from Salt Lake
to the 15th April New and extraordinary discoveries of Gold have
been made in the Mountains near the Salt Lake the people
in the valley were anxious for a Territorial Government
& were about to send Mr Bernhisel to congress for that
purpose, the saints were prospering at the salt Lake
[FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Elder Orson Pratt & gave him
an account of the signs of the times in this country
the ravages by mobs, fire, water Cholera Indian wars
&c &c Br Sanderson called upon me & spent the night
Allexander Badlam was taken sick like the Cholera
I administered to him & he got well
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I preached to the Saints in Cambridgeport &
had a good time with them
~ Monday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to John Druce, D. S. Hollister David
Turner I [sent] papers to the following persons Mr Isaac Moorehouse JS likeness, O pratts letter & Epistlee
David Turner portrait & O P Letter
Frederick Webster portrait & Letter
John Druce 3 portraits 10 O Pratts Letters all sent by express
to D. S. Hollister 259 4th Avenue New York I Mailed
Elder Pratts Letter & sent him a Copy of his letters
which I published I recieved the following account
of the Boston Daily Times which I forwarded to O
Pratt in his letter, "From a letter from Fort Leavenworth May 15
The amount of emigration over the plains is immens
beyond all estimate, it is predicted there will be great distress
& privation among the Emigrating Caravans the Teams travel
about 16 miles per day there have more than 20,000 Mules
oxen & Horses gone from Indipendance alone from St Joseph
15000 and the whole region at this moment seems like one
tented field for miles & Miles in all directions there are
more than 50000 animals on the plains at the vary lowest
estimate & more than nine tenths are travelling along the same
track. Recommendations are about to be made officially from
this point to the general Government to furnish relief as
soon as possible to be forwarded on to the plains for the vast
multitudes who otherwise must inevitably leave their bones to
bleach by the way. Col Summers the Commanding officer
at this point who has had much experience on the plains
& knows their peril says he fears there will be more deaths
on the road to Calafornia this summer than there was in
mexico during the war"
~ Tuesday
12th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters to Dominicas Carter &
Orson Hyde & two to N.H. Felt making a
request of them to see to my things in case Elder Appleby
was dead
~ Wednesday
13th [FIGURES] I recieved a letter to Day giving me
the glorious news that Elder W. I. Appleby
was still in the land of the living was well
also his family & had gone up to the Bluffs & was
not dead as half a dozen letters had stated him
to be I was truly glad to hear this. I wrote two letters
to Little & Hardy & S & J Hardy I spent the after noon
with my wife & children & Br Cannon & family in walking
over Mount Auburn it is indeed a grand scenery in
the summer /in New York to day 40 cases 15 death/ 8 m
~ Thursday
June 14th I spent most of the day in aranging my aff[a]irs
to leave for New Brunswick I packed up a large bund[le]
of scraps of Paper to send to the recorder in the vall[ey]
I preached in the evening to a few saints in my own house
~ Friday
15th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters to day one to Elder
W. I. Appleby or Orson Hyde & one to
Jacob Gibson, I was glad to have the privilege of
writing one more to Elder Appleby after supposing
that he was dead from reports we had herd this
is the last day I shall spend at home for a season
~ Saturday
16th I aranged my business in the fore part of the day for
leaving home to start on my Mission I took cars in the evening
& rode to Lowell & spent the night with Br Pevey on Branch st 35 m
~ Sunday
17th Sunday I preached to the saints in Lowell. I read a boo[k]
in the evening called Book of Captives Among the Indians
including Smith Captivity. He gave an interesting accoun[t]
of a sacrafice offered upon to the Lord by an old Indian Chi[ef]
who was nearly in a state of starvation & in great troub[le]
After purifying himself for 3 days with the best herbs he
could get he goes before the Lord and builds An Alter lays a ston[e]
on the A[l]ter and burns upon it all the tobaco he has and
says O though Great Spirit I here offer up unto thee the
best thing I have, and all I have, and I know not when I
shall get any more, and I now pray thee to hear my praye[r]
& grant me my Petition which is this, send a rain to
raise this river two feet & a half that my canoe can go into
the Lake (Erie) so I can meet my brethren. Give me one
Bear 2 Beaver, & 3 Coones. The Lord herd his prayer & granted
his request in all things. A rain came, the river rose 2 1/2 feet
that night, he killed a bear 2 beaver & 3 coones, How much
the sacrafice of this Indian Chief wias like the offerings
of Ancient Israel, this Exhample should teach even the Lat[ter]
Day Saints a lesson let them offer their sacrafices as did this
Indians and their prayers will be herd and answerd
~ Monday
18th Took cars rode to Portland called upon Ilus and Ezra &
there families I went over Ezra Carters House from top to bott[om]
It was a new House and probably furnished in the best stile of
any house in Portland. I rode to Scarboro in the evening with
Fabyan and spent the night at Father Carters distance 110 m
~ Tuesday
19th I went out fishing with Fabyan & Ilus we made a good cho[wder]
for dinner at the point we caught 50 skullipins 50 flounders
3 Cod and 4 Eels 2 conners & reached home weary I spent the night
at sister Foss 10 m
~ Wednesday
20th I road to Portland took supper with Ilus I got the New York
Herrald which was full of News. The Cholera was making its ravag[es]
throughout North America containing an account of the death of
President Polk. I took boat at 9 oclok for Thomaston I left
several buildings on fire in Portland when the boat started 10 m
~ Thursday
21st I [l]anded at Thomaston at 4 oclok and called upon Benjamin
Knowlton. I was quite unwell had a severe attack of the Diarhea
I had an interview with Br John Luce, I spent the night with
Mr Knowlton distance 100 m
~ Friday
[2]2nd I am sick this morning taken cold went to John Luce and went
◊◊ed a man by the name of W. Whitman Hilman, he felt that he
was called to preached the Gospel and the Baptist [church] to which
he belonged would not let him preach and he was much
troubled about it.
In the afternoon in company with
Br Luce and Br Stone I crossed the bay to North Fox Island
when we left Thomaston the Thermometer stood at 110 in the
shade & 132 in the sun it seems as though all would die, I spent
the night with Br Nehamiah Stone on North Vinal Haven 13 miles
~ Saturday
[2]3rd It is an exceding hot day as was yesterday. Twelve years
[a]go I brought the Gospel to this Island in company with Jonath
an H. Hale I spent a year upon this Island and baptized near
a hundred persons and took about 60 persons with me & my
family to Quincy I found the Saints fleeing before their
persecuters out of Missouri and settelled in Ill. Since I was
upon this Island before, I have crossed the Atlantic four times
[a]nd traveled in all about 50,000 miles and I now find my-
[s]elf treading this soil again to visit the few remaining Saints
[t]hat they may be gatherd to Zion
~ Sunday
24th Sunday I preached to a full house at 5 oclok and spent the
night at David Mullin I found 12 members of the Church
on this Island
~ Monday
25th A rainy morning. Brother Stone set us across the Channel
in a boat to the South Island we walked 4 miles & stoped at
Br Josiah Pearce and spent the night I called upon his
Father Thomas Pearce 78 years old. Mother Pearce was also
78 years old this day, both are members of the Church and
strong in the faith. I had a good time with them. I called
upon Governor Brown who warned [me] off the Island when I
was here 10 years since but afterwards was baptized and
since cut off from the Church. I went with him & Br
Pearce to the Grave yard near Br Browns House visited Br John
Herretts Grave a stone was put up at the Head of it about
one foot high from the ground a rough square granit stone the
grave Joining it on the North had a stone of the same size
with a hollow on the top and a seam through the middle of it
which would be readily found it stands in the following order
[FIGURE] North J H South I picked up some pebbles from his grave to preserve in mem-
ory of him. 6 m
~ Tuesday
[2]6 I went out fishing with Br Luce & Pearce in a 24 ton bark 6 m
we fished in 30 fathoms water 25 Codfish some would weigh
[◊]0 lbs 50 large Haddock 5 Hake & got back to the House at 10 oclok
I was quite sea sick going in strained my side & stomach & vomited
some blood. I preached to a House full at Br Pierce at 4 oclok
Spoke 2 Hours had the spirit of the Lord upon me & spoke vary
plain to the people there had been many baptized upon this Island
[b]ut were now all broaken up some gone west some apostitized &
[s]ome dead 16 still profess to have a standing in the Church
~ Wednesday
27th I was sick this morning have taken cold settelled in m[y]
side. In the afternoon I crossed the bay to Camden with Br
Pearce & Luce called upon sister Glover took tea & walked
to Goose River spent 2 Hours with Br Henry Mullen who
was at work on a ship we went to Mr Paul Perrys who
was friendly & spent the night 15 m
~ Thursday
28th Walked to East Thomaston called at John Luce & wrote
a Letter to Mrs W Woodruff in the afternoon we went
up to Mr Peas to hold a Meeting and his own sons rose up &
swore they would not admit of it, they finally ruled the
Hous hold instead of the Father & we had no meeting it seemed
as though the Devil stired up the people in Thomaston as soon
as I went into it I had a long talk with Mr Hilman who
had his mind exercised about preaching I gave him some council
I called upon Mr Colby & Lady which I found to be a Noble
pair I spent the night with Br Luce 10 m
~ Friday
29th A rainy day, I visited Mr Colby Peas MCCollister Knowlton
& spent the night with Br Luce
~ Saturday
30th In company with Br Luce I rode to Brother Wm H. Wilson
South St George I spent the night with him 20 mi
I read the New York Sun which reports 100 & 126 deaths dai[ly]
In St Louis by Cholera & 100 deaths in Cincinnati
~ Sunday
July 1st Sunday I preached to the saints at Turkey Cove at
Elder Wm H Wilsons He informed me that John Hopper still
holds all the property belonging to the Heirs of Nathaniel Turner
three in Number viz Nathaniel Rebecca & David Turner
John Hopper gave a recept to Nathaniel Turner for all
the property put into his hands. The above Named Child
should have a Guardean chosen who should hold those
recepts if they can be found & come down & settle it &
collect the money which can be obtained on presenting
the recepts which amounts to about $600.
we rode to Thomaston I spent the night at Br Knowlton
John Luce was sick I administered to him 16 m
~ Monday
2nd John Luce is quite sick to day I anointed him
with Oil administered to him by prayer & the laying on
of hands
~ Tuesday
3rd I took steemer rode to Bangor spent the night at
the House of Elder David Gibson on 3rd street. She inform[ed]
me that ie sister Gibson that Elder Gibson had gone to Calafornia gold
digings & that she and another female were the ownly saints in t[he]
place I do not think they had much faith for they wore my
patience out in asking Questions upon subjects wharein was No
profit I went to bed sick 50
~ Wednesday
4th July Great Preparations are making to celebrate Independance
at Bangor & Thomaston 500 came on to the steemer this morning
[to] Go to Thomaston one company dressed up like Negros in disguise
in evry shape & form imaginable Marched on to the bank as
we were about leaving on board of a steemer for Thomaston in all
places as we passed along cannon were fired in honor of the 4th A
Table was set at Thomaston for 800 men to take dinner but I
should feel more like fasting & praying on the 4th of July than
making a display of Celebration untill the Latter Day
saints and all people could have the privilege of worshiping
God according to the dictates of their own conscience without
having there brains blown out for it. And now while I write
a Company is passing my door in the street dressed in all the Horid
form that the ingenuity of man could form up one would suppose
that the inhabitants of the bottomless pit had come forth in
possession I wrote a letter to Mrs Woodruff 50 m
~ Thursday
5th I baptized Mr Priom Pease which made some stir among the
people I dined with Brother Peas spent the afternoon with
Knowlton & night with John Luce
~ Friday
6th It is a hard rainy day I seem to be weather bound in
Thomaston am waiting for Passage to New Brunswick
I found 8 members of the Church in South St George 7 in Thomaston
[FIGURE] I wrote two letters one to Little & Hardy one to J. Gibson
~ Saturday
7th I took passage on board of the schooner Cashier capt Eligah
S Blaisdell & Capt Archibal Spear, & Mr Sterrett, Cook and
myself composed all on board bound for Machias we run
with a faair wind as far as Musketoe Harbor & put in & spent
the night as it was foggy & we could not run 60 m
~ Sunday
8th Sunday foggy I lay in Harbor all day staid on bord the
rest went to Meeting
~ Monday
9th Still foggy all day No wind lay in Harbor Capt Spear
lay in Harbor & caught 20 lobsters I took cold settelled
on my lungs & made me sick side & breast sore & lame we
walked out & picked 2 quarts of strawburies & had a feast
of them
~ Tuesday
10th Still foggy I preached in the afternoon to the people at
winter Harbor
~ Wednesday
11th Spent the day in the harbor no wind to get out
~ Thursday
12 Still foggy I went onto the Mountain with the capt a light
breeze came up we went to the ship sailed out of the
harbor a dead calm & fog came on & tide carried us back
into the Harbor again. I had conversation with Capt
Bieford who gets his living by whaleing in this bay he
has caught 3 this season he is the ownly person carrying
on the whaleing business in this country
~ Friday
13th No wind we are all getting about discouraged we have now been
5 days confined in this Harbor I caught 2 skates the first
I ever saw. we beat out of the Harbor 3 times during the
night wind would die away & we would flote back again
into the Harbor so in the morning we found our selves in
the same place we started from. The Capt was discouraged
& went to bed. A light breeze arose & we labored hard & got
out we then got a breeze from the south west & left the
Harbor for good whare we had been confined for a week
we had a good run through the day & entered Macbias port
at 10 oclok at night 60 mils.
~ Saturday
14th Wind Dead a head we beat up the river got to the town
of Machias at 5 oclok after spending a few moments on shore
I went to the wharf & went on board of a 5 ton schooner
John Eldridge capt & owner we started for Beaver Harbor
in Penfield we had a good run & breeze all night distance
from Machias port to the Town 7 miles And vary crooked 7 m
~ Sunday
15 Sunday we arived in beaver Harbor at 8 oclok distance 60 m
I slept on board of the little craft I spent the day with Mr Eldridge
[FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff
~ Monday
16th I left Mr Eldridge & sho^o^ld shouldered my travelling bag & walked
and walked 7 miles to MCCorrells & waited 3 Hours for the stage to go
to St Johns when it came along it was loaded down & could not
take me. Here I was 42 miles from St Johns on foot & no
conveyance with A Heavy travelling bag with A vast burning
forest to go through I did not stop to meditate or complain
of my situation but swung my carpet bag over my shoulder
again & started on my journey on foot, in good spirits most
of the road was through dens forest rocky & poor soil many parts
of the forest was inhabited by bears & wolves. After travelling
a few miles I overtook an Irishman on foot we walked
together several miles A man came in a waggon & took
my bag & carried it 5 miles for me to Mr McGowins which
was great relief to me. On my Arivalsat McGowens I
found my bag safe & got a chance to send [it] on 15 miles further
to Mr Tiltons, & was glad to get rid of the load if I had to
walk myself I took dinner here the Irishman left I saw
no more of him. I had now walked about 20 miles
at 1 oclok besides waiting 3 Hours for the stage I had 15 m
more to walk before I could stop for the night. I found
the whole forest as I came along laid waste by the late fires
which swept fences, dwellings, barns, Mills, lumber yard
& evry thing els in its march & but few dwellings rema-
ining. Although I began to be vary weary & lame yet I
entered the dark forest before me And I found my last
15 miles A sore dreary road indeed And it seemed as though
I could not get through And when I did arive at Mr
Tiltons I was so lame I could scearcely walk at all & was
under the Necessity of going to bed without my supper I
washed myself in cold water from Head to foot to take
the soreness out of my cords & limbs & went to bed but
was to weary to sleep much I had walked this day 35 m
A thing I had not done before in 10 years
~ Tuesday
17 I arose this morning vary lame from yesterdays walk
I have 15 miles to reach St Johns I walked one mile & found
A Merchant Mr Beaty who gave me a ride with him into the
city of St Johns which I considerd A great Blessings. I
found St John to be A plesant business place esspecially for
Mills & Lumber. The whole face of the Earth that I saw
from Fox Islands to St Johns was vary rocky barren & rough, timber
mostly spruice & ceder. A few days before I arived at St Johns the
Orange men of that City had a walk were attacked by the Catho-
licks A fight ensued 20 or so were killed & many wounded I
went onto the scene of Action saw the ball & shot Holes in the
doors & windows & buildings as we passed along this was in the
edge of the burnt district there has been some vary destructive
fires in that city. I spent 2 Hours here then went to Indiantown
went on board of the Forest Queen steemer bound for
Frederickton 90 miles up the St Johns River it was quite
A rainy windy Afternoon yet I walked the Herricane
deck to view the country for the scene had now change
from A vary rough country to A delightful plesant one for
the whole country for several miles each side of the river
from St Johns to Frederickton was in a high state of cultivation
& settelled, more resembled the farms of Illinois then the barren
Hilly, rocky country which I have before visited in the Colonies
I never saw 90 miles on the bank of any river more bea-
utifully cultivated or plesantly located than the St Johns
River. It is quite A stream for fish. I saw the salmon
& sturgeon jumping out of water as we went up the river
we arived at Frederickton at 8 oclok I put up at the tem-
perance Hotel in York street distance of the day 115 miles
~ Wednesday
18th I learned this morning I could not go to Miramichi untill
the 20th I walked into the city to try to get some New York
papers to read. I called upon the Hon Mr Partlow M. P.
who loaned me the New York Journal of Commerce which
I read with much interest I then walked through the city
& found it to be a delightful situation upon the bank of the
river location level with all of the streets runing west
terminating 2 or 3 miles west of the city upon a High Mounta
in with a gradual ascent. I saw a company of 24 soldiers
excercise by fireing musket balls at a target some 500 balls were
fired at some 20 or 25 rods about 1/4 of them Hit A board twice
the size of a man, some Half dozen hit the bulls eye 8 inch in
diameter the balls fell into the St Johns river some half a mile
distant. I visited the graveyard, And A large cathedral build-
ing. I learned from the papers, that there had been 1300
deaths in one week in Cincinnati & about the same No in
St Louis. I Attended A Prysbeterian meeting the priest
sprinkled A child & called it baptism. It was an abomina
tion in the sight of God
~ Thursday
19th I learned from the New York papers of the 11 & 12
instant that there had died in St Louis in 10 weeks from
7 May to July 9th 4321 by cholera 2688 Pop 45,000
July 10 died 190. Also 100 deaths daily at Cincinnati
[FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Orson Pratt
~ Friday
20 This Morning I make my first trial of taking A stage
passage in New Brunswick we crossed the river in a ferry &
prepared the rstage for a start which was as follows one pair of
Horses was put onto an open two Horse waggon with the Mail,
driver, & two passengers A progection run out back of the
wagon 4 feet upon this stood A large carpenters chest
And trunks. A second waggon was brought up & the tongue
made fast to the reach of the first waggon this was
loaded with wool & boxes, both loaded waggons to be draw-
n by one pair of Horses in this way we started to go 100 miles
through A Hilly rough country to travel day & night I did not
see what way one pair of Horses was going to travel with any speed
with such a train of Lumber behind them but I soon
found out for as soon as we come to the top of A Hill the Horses
could not Hold the waggons And of course they went down
the Hill upon A keen run as fast as there legs could carry them
& continued to run untill they got part of the way up the
next Hill in this way we got along vary fast we changed
Horses evry 20 miles we travelled in this way the whole rout
~ Saturday
21st I find myself this morning sitting in the open stage
with the Horses runing down all the Hills at full speed with
the driver snoreing & fast asleep And continued untill
sun was two hours high we came within a foot of running
the waggon off a precepice 30 feet deep which would
have dashed us to peases among the rocks the driver awoke
& when He saw the danger He had run he turned pale but
was soon asleep again we continued Journeying in this way
for 100 miles & arived at the ferry of the Beaubaurs Island
whare we arived at 10 oclock whare I left the stage feeling
vary thankful that my bones were whole & my life preserved
I crossed the ferry to the Island walked one mile through
A plesant grove to the House of Elder Joseph Russels I found
Him at home & we had A Happy Greeting indeed. I was thankful
to strike Hands with & to see a latter Day Saint after travelling two
weeks without seeing any Saints I found Sister Russell also a
vary kind sister & Mother. After visiting his ship yard & looking
about I went to bed & had a good nights sleep distance from
Frederick to Miramichi 100 m
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday [FIGURE] I recieved A letter on my arival here from
Br Cannon. I was quite unwell this morning. I found Elder
Joseph Russell located upon An Island called Beaubars Island
situated at the Junktion of the two branches of the Miramichi
River 7 miles Above Chatham the Island is 1 1/4 miles in
length half a mile wide Brother Russels has owned the whole
of the Island for Eleven years during which time He has
built 23 ships upon it with an averaged tonage of 650
tons each. His location land & improvements at a low rate
would be worth $30,000 dollars besides 3 ships on hand. He
is now calculating to sell on the 5 Nov at some price or other
settle his business & go to the valley & settle with the saints, the
Island is A vary beautiful & plesant situation A good location
for ship building in the centre of the river which abounds
with salmon Mackerell Harrau shad & other fish in the
season thereof. Br Russell was also A presiding Elder over
A small branch of the Church of L.D.S on the Island He had
A chapel in his own house I met with him on this sunday morn
ing. I was much edifyed with his teachings & pleased with the order
He had carried out in his meetings & family circle & also in all his
temporal business. I met with them in the Afternoon & spoke to
them from these words surly the Lord God will do nothing but He
revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets [Amos 3:7] I was quite unwell
~ Monday
23rd I rode with Brother & sister Russell to Chatham & called upon
His son George H. Russell He recieved me vary kindly A Preacher
of the congregational church called & opposed Br Russell in his
Religion but Br Russell used him up, & He went away we returned
back in the evening to Br Russells & spent the night 14 m
I walked out in the evening to visit Br Russell Burying
ground for His family. It was surrounded by A cluster
of tall pine trees it contained the bodies of 7 children 2 sons
& 5 daughters viz James & Thomas, Elizabeth, Jennett, Agness,
& two infants the sons & Daughters of Joseph & Agness
Russell. All died in infancy & childhood except Thomas
who was 22 years of Age He was holding the office of
A priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S. & Died strong
in the faith, these seven bodies were taken from the various
places whare they were buried And all laid together upon
this Island And surrounded by a wall of solid mason work
12 feet square 7 feet high with a cope stone. I recieved
[FIGURE] A letter from Br Gibson giving me News of the Epistle of
the Twelve that the Quorum of the Twelve was filled
up with the following persons Lorenzo & Erastus Snow,
Charles C. Rich, and Franklin D. Richards, were Appointed
to fill the Quorum. Therey are all indeed excellent men
A better choice could not have been made. I was also
informed that Capt Dan Jones had lost 50 of his me
company with the cholera from St Josephs to the bluffs
And that the cholera was raging at St Louis And some
of the saints had fallen
~ Tuesday
24th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff Also finished
the Letter to O pratt & Mailed them I recieved the
European Times giving an account of the wars of Europe
Also A collision betwen the steemer Europe & A ship from
Boston the Boston ship sunk in 4 minutes 134 lives
lost. Br Russell got a letter from Capt MCFerson
saying that 200 of the welsh saints & 100 of the
English died of cholera on the way to the bluffs but
I think it is exagerated from the Accounts I get
from the west I do not think one half that No is dead
^[FIGURES] July 24th A great celebration in the city of the Great Salt Lake A liberty pole
erected 104 feet high, with A flag or ensign 60 feet long. 7000 feast at 2 tables 1 1/2 miles long^
~ Wednesday
25 I walked with Elder Russell to New Castle & back
I walked through the Island it was A vary hot day 8 m
~ Thursday
26 I Addressed the people at Br Russells upon our
Journey to Calafornia the location of the saints
&c city of the Salt Lake
~ Friday
27th I attended A Prayer meeting at Brother Russel I address
d them at the close of the meeting I baptized Archibal Russell son
of Joseph Russell I confirmed him we then went onto the burying
ground containing the family of Br Russell which was enclosed
with A wall of mason work as spoken of before And by the requ
est of Brother Russell we knelt before the Lord & dedicated
& consecrated it unto the Lord with prayer we returned to
the House And spent some time in conversation I then went [t]o rest
~ Saturday
28th I took the parting hand with Sister Russell & the Saints
And in company with Elder Joseph Russel And his son George H. Russell
we left the Island to go to Bedeque I felt greatly blest while on this Island
I recieved great kindness from Brother & sister Russell who are
Israelites indeed & full of faith & good works our hearts were knit
together and I felt it good to be under their roof & in their society
I shall long remeber my visit with them. We rode to Chatham
we have parted with George H. Russell we took stage & Br Russell
& myself started on our journey for Bedeque we rode through
Ketchmaquack Rushabueto, Bocktoosh Cookhane to Shedece 80 m
spent the night at Lemon In. I got a letter from Br Cannon
[FIGURE]
~ Sunday
29 Sunday Spent the day in Shedice Br Russel and myself attended
the church of England meeting. The Rector preached A Preperation
sermon, before the bishop confirms, the church by the laying on
of hands. He dwelt mostly upon this subject to prove the laying on
of hands to be an ordinance from the Apostolic Church He ran
down the Presbyterian church & all other sects, they had No
authority to Preach. It was ownly pretention for them to
under take it. But the Esstablished church had got Authority
to preach from the Ancient Apostles through the Church of
Rome, which He also discarded All there ceremonies were
vary wearysome we spent the night at the Inn
~ Monday
30th We went on board of the packet A small schooner who
carried the Maliel. the Capt & Hands were all gone when it
was time for them to [cast] off. We found the schooner was aground
with a good deal of labour got it off several rods from the wharf
the Capt came on board & was mad about it we took it back
whare we started from the Capt tryed to start out got her aground
& had to lie for the next tide, so we left Shedice at 4 oclok with
a good breeze & run all night, nearly all on board were sick Br
Russel & myself staid on deck all night in the wind the capt
slept part of the time finally lost his way in the night cast
Anchor lay untill day light then found whare He was & run
into the Harbor of Bedeque at sun rise. distance across the Bend 45 m
~ Tuesday
31st We hired A man to carry us in a waggon 4 miles to Br
Wm Maxfield we were quite weary when we arived took
some Breakfast then went to A stream near by & caught about
a dozen salt water trout. In the Afternoon I met with the
saints at Br John Peter Pickets I found I found 22 members & 4
Priest in the Bedeque Branch rather in a cold state as A Body I
preached to them the gospel & spoke of the signs of the times I returned
back with Br Russell & we spent the night with Br Wm Maxfield 10 m
There is also 4 saints in Charlottetown
~ Wednesday
Aug 1st A rainy day we spent the day at Br Maxfields. I found
Prince Edwards Island A beautiful farming country to Appearances
but with all its Grand appearance the people are nearly in a state
of starvation the crops have failed for two years past And the
Merchants are taking all the Money out of the country All the colonies
seem to be in a deplorible state hundreds of Miles of the Country has
been burned over this year with fire sweeping many millions of
acres of forest, farms, fences, barns dwellings Mills Lumber
& Lumber yards And in some instances the inhabitants have had
to flee into the sea or on the beach to escape the flames evry branch
of business seems to be dead people are fleeing to the states evry
possible way
I met with the saints at the House of Brother Wm Maxfield for
the purpose of organizing the Branch of the Church
There were present W. Woodruff of the Twelve, Joseph Russell Elder
Wm Maxfield Priest
Conference opened by singing & prayer, remarks from W Woodruff
on the importance of the organization of the branch. It was then
Moved and Carried that Br Maxfield be ordained to the office of an
Elder & preside over the branch And also that John Maxfield be
ordained to the office of Priest they were both ordained under the
Hands of Elders Woodruff & Russell
Elder James Skerry who formerly presided over this branch of
the Church was Accused of Adulterry & Drunkenness. He was
42 miles distant & not present but from the abundant testimo
ny of witnesses present He was cut off from the Church by the
unanimous vote of the same. The President then gave much
useful teaching upon Emigration, meeting & family duties
Also gave information upon the travels of the pioneers the
location of the saints in the valley of the salt fLake & order
of Zion. Then the saints spoke most of them. Elder Russell
Addressed the Meeting. the President then followed for
an hour then Blessed 5 Children Healed 2 that wer sick
the meeting was lengthy the President W Woodruff spoke
3 Hours or more
~ Thursday
2nd [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Elder James Skerry And informed
him that He was cut off from the Church Also made out
the minutes of the conference gave Brothers Maxfields
their liscense. In the evening Brother Maxfields both went
with us to the wharf to take the Packet back to Shedice a
10 oclok we parted with them Brother Russell & myself went
on the packet they hoisted sail & put out under A good
breeze. Plesant evening I remained on deck all night 6 m
~ Friday
3rd A calm this morning then a head wind, we had nothing to eat
but a sea buisket biscuit we arived at shedice at night we
staid at the Inn of Mr Leonon's. IOn my arival at shedice
[FIGURE] I got two letters from Mrs Woodruff which had followed
me to Bangor, Merimichi, & to this place these are the ownly
letters I have had from Her since I left home I was truly
glad to hear from my family
~ Saturday
4th I spent the day at shedice with Br Russell
~ Sunday
5th Sunday A Hard rainy morning I took the parting hand
this Morning with Brother Joseph Russell He is truly a
man of faith & great kindness we have had an interesting
time together wehen we parted He gave me A suit of New
clothes & other presents paid all my expenses while together
& gave me money to help me home May the Lord bless
him & reward him fourfold. I took the open stage &
rode to the bend, both shedice & the bend are small villages
the ownly busines ther seems to be going on in this region
of country for many miles is getting out Hetmatee knees
to send to Boston & New York for building ships in the states
but they are making a great mistake in this thing in the
commencement of the trade by cutting them in the summer
season instead of fall or winter for those cut in the summer
or winter season will not keep over three years bfor in that time
all the gum will work out & dry rot will follow & they become
as light as A cork And any ship or steem boat will be runied
whare they are used, while those cut from Sept to March
will last 50 or more years retain the gum & be sound this
is important information which I recieved from Joseph
Russell who in 20 years has built over 40 ships over 600
tone burthan. I spent the night at an Inn at the bend 15
~ Monday
6th I spent the day at the Bend we went on board of the
steemer at night & slept on board expecting to go out at High
tide but it was so foggy she could not get out
~ Tuesday
7th We are still at the bend the tide Here rises & falls about
50 feet each tide at the turn of the tidde it comes in with
a great swell & r[e]ach from 7 to 10 feet deep it is called the bore
it often destroys ships when they are in the bore this is the reason
why boats cannot go out & in bore rivers ownly at High tides
the bore came in to day at half past 11 oclok & we all left the bend
on board of the steemer at 2 oclok & rode all day & night
~ Wednesday
8th We arived at St Johns at 6 oclok this morning & stoped at Mr
Reads boarding House. I went about the city some & spent part of
the time writing I wrote one Letter to Ezra Carter Jr
[FIGURE] distance from the bend to St Johns 110 miles
Receipt for the Erryysipelas Put on the swelling rye flour (but no
other flour) put no wet applications upon it except a little
linsed oil for the dry flour to stick to
~ Thursday
9th I went on board of the fairry Queen at 8 oclok I
took deck passage we left St John at 9 oclok for Portland
it was quite rough through the day we got to Eastport at 2 oclok
I went on shore the boat stoped 10 minutes. It was vary rough
And A storm through the evening & night. Nearly all were sick
on board I took care of a family of 5 small children all sick
at a time with there Mother untill 2 oclok at Night I was then
taken sick & had to leave them I was vary sick the latter part
of the night
~ Friday
[FIGURE]
10th It was vary rough all through the day I suffered much with
sickness we landed at Portland at 1 oclok I was sick I called
upon Ilus F Carter took tea I then went to the cars to go to
Boston I there found sister Sarah B. Foss going with the same train
to my house. It rained all the way I was still sick we got
to Boston at 8 oclok took cab to Brattle street & omnibus to my
House My family were all in bend Mrs Woodruff arose & were glad
to recieve us home distance from St Johns to Boston 500 miles
~ Saturday
11th I was still vary sick through the day confined to my bed
~ Sunday
12th Sunday I am still vary feeble I had a family meeting Also met
with the Church in the Afternoon & spoke to them
~ Monday
Aug 113th [FIGURES] I this day looked over my letters &
papers sent to me in my Absecnse during
last two months And I find I have recieved the following
viz 15 Letters from the following persons G. J. Hardy, John Druce
N H Felt, Alberd. J. Cowden, Mary Ann Pratt, Barsheba W. Smith,
John Benbow Thomas Cartwright, James Burgess 2, Joseph Grover
Sarah B Foss 2, Jacob Gibson 2. Brother Benbow informed me in his
letter that Father Woodruff was well & living with James Ferguson
I Also recieved 5 Numbers of the Millennial star filled with
good news of the progress of the work of the Lord in the British
Isles. I also recieved the 10 & 12 No's of the Frontier Guardian
Also containing good News Also 8 No of the New York weekly
Herald containing the general political, commercial, & National
News of the world
~ Tuesday
14th [FIGURE] I recieved 3 letters from Ezra Carter A. D. Boynton And A
long letter of 5 full sheets from Elder Allexander Badlam
who has arived at San Francisco U. Calafornia. He had met
with Samuel Brannon He had not commenced geting gold but
wrote with a good spirit was 100 days from Boston to Francisco
~ Wednesday
15th I spent the day writing
~ Thursday
16 [FIGURES] I wrote 6 Letters to the following persons Orson Hyde
Jacob Gibson, I F Carter, John Druce, Josiah G Hardy
A. D. Boynton
~ Friday
17th I spent the day at home writing
~ Saturday
18th I spent the day at home writing
~ Sunday
19th Sunday Br Bird was vary sick to day I spoke to the saints & was
followed by others
~ Monday
20th I rode with Br Page 18 miles spent a little time fishing in a
River caught 4 Pickerell & went home 36 mi
[FIGURE] I recieved A letter from Br Thomas Cartwright & A Frontier Guardian
~ Tuesday
21st [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Thomas Cartwright
~ Wednesday
22nd [FIGURES] I wrot a full letter of foolscap to Elder Allexander
Badlam to send by steemer
~ Thursday
23rd I had a severe Attact of Bowel complaint was quite unwell
~ Friday
24th [FIGURE] I wrote 2 letters to Joseph Russell & Freedom Moulton
~ Saturday
25th [FIGURES] I recieved A letter from Br Wm Low & wrote one to
him in return. The papers say that there is fifty two thousand
Jews in the Hungarian Army fighting against Austry & Russia
Also that A desease has appeared in the Russian Army that is
called the lice itch it apperes like lice or maggots appears under
the skin in the flesh And they soon become a mass of
corruption & die in great misery none are cured A Revela
tion in the Doctrin & SCovenants says Among the Judgments
of the Last days the flies should bite the bodies of man &
magots should come in there flesh there flesh fall from there
bones & eyes from there sockets
~ Sunday
26th Sunday I met with the saints & spoke to them & was followed
by others Sister Vose & Br Nickerson spent the evening with us
~ Monday
27th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Little & Hardy J & S. Hardy to A. D. Boynton
~ Tuesday
28th [FIGURES] I recieved two letters [from] Josiah G. Hardy & John Dru[ce]
I wrote two letters to J & S Hardy & Leonard Hardy there
is several cases of cholera around us 4 died out of one
family in the same street we are in
~ Wednesday
29th [FIGURE] I recieved two letters from Wm Lowe & [John Johnson, b. 1801|[John Johnson]]
~ Thursday
30th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters to Mm Lowe & John Johnson
~ Friday
31st I spent the day at home writing
~ Saturday
Sept 1st I took cars & rode to Fall River spent the night
at Br Lowe distance 503 m
~ Sunday
2nd Sunday I met with the Fall River Branch of the Saints
& set all day to settle A difficulty, And I herd it untill my head
heart & brains Aked. It lasted untill night.
~ Monday
3rd I spendt the day visiting Fall River And Preached to
the saints at night & had a good time
~ Tuesday
4th I rode to New Bedford And Preached at night & organized
the Branch Appointed or confirmed Elder Joseph Crapo
to Preside Elder Cory councellor 18m
~ Wednesday
5 I took cars & returned to Boston & Cambridgeport 50
[FIGURE] I spent the night at home I recieved 2 letters from
J. G. Hardy & Shuah C Moulton
~ Thursday
6th [FIGURE] I recieved A Letter from J Gibson
~ Friday
7th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Orson Hyde And walked into Boston
Sister Mary Ann Pratt & family called upon me & spent the night
~ Saturday
8th I spent the day at home At night there was A fire &
several buildings burned up near by us. The last European
arival informs us that the Hungarians have fallen beyound
redemption there Armies have been defeated & surrendered
to the Russians and Austrians
~ Sunday
9th Sunday I preached to the saints & had a good time
I Ordained Brother [blank] Delin A native of Sweeden
to the Office of an Elder I walked with Mrs Woodruff
through Boston Common & saw the water spout near 100
feet into the Air we took attea at Mr Websters & returned Home
~ Monday
10th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Josiah G Hardy Leonard Hardy
& Mrs Hartford Elder Sweat salled upon me & spent the
night
~ Tuesday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote two Letters to Nathan & Thomas F. Eldridge
& John Luce care of Benjamin Knowlton, Brother Sweat
left for home to day Brother Boynton & Richery took tea with
me
~ Wednesday
12th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters one to Allexander Badlam & one
to Calvin I Foss of San Francisco sent by Brother Baldwin
Sister Baldwin was attacked at our house this morning with
sumthing like the cholera we laid Hands upon her
& rebuked the desease & she was healed almost instan-
ly got up dressed herself eat breakfast & went into
Boston.
~ Thursday
13th I rode to Brighton with Br Page the first time I was
ever in Briton on Market day I recieved one letter [from] A J Cowden 7 m
~ Friday
14th [FIGURE] I wrote one letter to Albert J Cowden & recieved one
from L W Hardy
~ Saturday
15th In company with Mrs Woodruff two children Phebe
& Susan & Rhoda & Phebe Foss I left Boston on the cars Also in
company with Leonard Hardy & rode to Bradford was there
met by Mansel Hardy who took us all home in a waggon
to Brother Samuel Hardys whare we spent the night 30 m
~ Sunday
16th Sunday I met with the Bradford Branch of the Church
And Preached to A full House was followed by several others
we had a good Meeting. We had A church meeting in
the Afternoon And settelled a little difficulty. I spent the
night in company with Elder Josiah Hardy
~ Monday
17th It was a cloudy day I went & gatherd some herbs in the
forepart of the day And went to fishing in the Afternoon
we caught 20 Pickerell & about the same Number of other fish
~ Tuesday
18th [FIGURE] This was the day set Apart by the Bradford branch
of the Church to have there Annual plum Island ride
I had been invited with my family to Join them
on this occasion. It proved to be A pleasant day we Assembled
in the Morning at 1/2 [past] 8 oclok at Mr Burbanks whare we formed
our procession consisting of 18 carriages containing 78
persons Mr Burbank being the oldest Man He led the company
waf followed toby Wilford Woodruff while on the way
they were overtaken by 25 persons drawn in the Bonny
Boat by 6 cream coloured Horses who headed our compa-
ny as we went into Newburyport we spent 15 muinutes
here then proceded on to plum Island being 15 miles from
Mr Burbanks on our Arival at the Island we went into A
romantic valley surrounded by hills of sand And plum bushes
A spot of half an Acre in the centre of the valley was well
coverd with nice grass. Around this spot we formed our
carell of carriges, upon the green grass the females spread
there table cloths And loaded them with evry dainty of
meats, pies, cakes, fruits & vegitables that heart could wish
The ground Having been previously dedicated by the saints, Elder
W. Woodruff was seated at the head of the table And Asked a
Blessing upon the food & bounties of the Earth which were spread
before us after which All feasted with glad hearts & cheerful
countenanes. We then all walked to sea shore & spent An hour
we then returned Home via Newburyport & Georgetown [Corron]
whare each man returned to their homes. It was indeed A vary
plesant ride & visit all past off without Accident & in love & good
order. I spent the night with my family at Samuel Hardys Distance 30 m
~ Wednesday
19th We went to the pond fishing the forepart of the day caught
15 Pickerell some 25 other fish so we had a feast of fresh
fish for our dinner I had a good meeting with the saints in the evening
I spoke lengthy & was followed by the brethren
~ Thursday
20th I took the parting hand with the saints allso my family &
we all felt that we had never enjoyed A better visit with the
saints in Bradford. We took to Boston & spent the night at home 30 m
~ Friday
21st [FIGURE] I recieved one letter from Sister Shuah Moulton
~ Saturday
22nd [FIGURE] I recieved one letter from Br West
~ Sunday
23rd ^[FIGURE]^ was nearly sick with A cold I met with the saints & preached
one hour fromJer 30 ch 21 vers "And there Nobles shall be
of themselves And their Governor shall procede out of the midst of
them" After speaking of the fulfillment of Prophecy in connexion
with the progress of the Church & Kingdom in the present
dispensation I read to them the following Paragraph from the Epistle
of the Twelve recorded in the XI vol. No. 16 Page 247 of the
Millennial Star, as follows "Monday March 12th The Election
came off to day and resulted in the unanimous choice of Brigham
Young as Governor, Willard Richards secretary, N. K. Whitney
Treasurer, H C Kimball Chief Justice, John Tailor And
N. K. Whitney Associate Judges, Daniel H. Wells Attorney General
Horace Eldridge Marshall, Albert Carrington Assessor and collector
Joseph L Hewywood surveyor of Highways And the Bishops of the
several wards as magistrates" In one sens of the word I
had the fulfillment of my text before me. It is highly interest-
ing to see the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Progressing And continually fulfilling the Ancient Prophecies
As recorded in the Bible & Book of Mormon. The late news
from the valley informs us that 15000 of the emigration after
gold have passed through the valley and 3000 have stoped to
winter in the valley and many have Joined the Church.
An Iron foundery is about to be esstablished in the valley &
workman in that Branch of business are loudly called for
from abroad. Crops and health are both good in the place
Addison Pratt is about to return to the Islands & take several
with him, Amasa Lyman has gone to the valley of the
Sacramento P. P. Pratt is expecting to go to South America.
The revolutions of the Nations of the Earth during the past
season have been interesting. The following is a synopsis
of the movements during the summer of '49. The Romans arose
in mass drove the Pope from his Throne & kingdom & he dHad to
seek protection in foreign countries. The President of France
Louis Napolian sent An army to Rome to subdue the people &
reinstate the Pope And after much hard fighting, they Entered
Rome, & took command of the City. The Hungarians arose &
Proclaimed there Independance raised large Armies & would
have subdued Austria Had not Russia sent out her Mighty
Armies Against her And After many thousands of the Allied
Armies of Austria & Russia were slain by the Brave Hungarians they
the Hungarians were overpowerd, or Gen Georgey surrendered his
Armies & Louis Kossuth the President And main spring of Hungary
left the Nation & went to Turkey. Jermany has Also been in
an unsettelled state And within a few days past the French
Minister at Washington has been dismissed & his Pasports
offered him & He is invited to return home. Also High
words have passed between the American & British Minister
And what the result of these things will be time must
determine but one thing is certain wars & dreadful
Judgments Await the Nations of the Earth. The destroying
Angel in the form of the cholera has slain its tens of thou-
sands during the past seasons both in Europe & America
~ Monday
24th [FIGURES] I wrote 5 Letters to day to James Burgess, Solomon
Mack, Merrill C. Pevey, Joseph Crapo, And Wm Carpenter Esqr
for Wm Page I invited the two Brother Peveys at Lowell
to Emigrate next spring to the valley to work in the Iron
Foundery
~ Tuesday
25th I dug my small crop of potatoes to day in my garden I had
A little over A Bushel. Sister Shuah Moulton arived
at our House at night to pay us A visit she is Mrs W.
sister
25th In company with Sister Moulton we visited
Mount Auburn & went well over it Br Cannon
called upon me in the evening & informed me that
Dr Burnhisel had arived in Boston from the Salt
Lake City
~ Wednesday
26th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Elder Wm Sweat
~ Thursday
27th Brother John M. Bernhisel called upon me today
And we spent several hours together & had a good time
I Asked him many questions concerning the salt Lake
Valley the situations of the saints there &c.
~ Friday
28th [FIGURE] I wrote A wrote A foolscap sheet full to John Benbow
city of the great Salt Lake great Basin Upper Calafornia via
Chicago Desmoin & Kaneville Iowa Paid 10 cts
~ Saturday
29th Elder Burgess from Gilsom called upon me & talked over
his difficulties which He had lately had in that place
~ Sunday
30th Sunday I met with the saints in that place Cambridge-
port Dr John M Bernhisel wmet with us & gave A rehersal of
Affairs in the valley which was interesting I followed him
with remarks. He has come East as A representative from
the valley to Washington Bearing our petition to Congress
for a Territorial Government, in the Great Basin of the
Rocky Mountains. At the close of the Meeting A collection
was taken up to defray his expenses toon the way of $22.05
[FIGURE] I wrote A letter in the evening to the Bradford Branch
Recommending to the Bradford Branch Br Burnhisel
~ Monday
^[FIGURE]^ Oct 1st [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Iria Foss, our Equinoxial
storm is uppon us this morning I Attended A funeral this after
noon of Brother Stewart of Charleston who died of the Cholera
after 6 Hours sickness He is the ownly member of the Church
who has died of the Cholera in this country this season
~ Tuesday
Oct 2nd 1849 [FIGURE] I recieved 4 letter from the following persons
viz one from G. J. Crapo, Albert J. Cowden Wm Sweat & one
From the Presidency in the Great Salt Lake City viz Brigham Young Heber C Kimball & Willard Richard
The following is A copy of the same
Great Salt Lake City July 25th 1849
Dear Brother Woodruff
As our mail is now making up for the States
we cannot [let] so favorable an opportunity of communicating to you pass
unimproved. Our prospects for grain are tolerable good, & if we are not
flooded with immigration intending for the Mines but compelled
to tarry here we should have plenty for the ensuing year.
Our Wheat harvest is now at its highth and is coming off far better
than appearances seemed to warrant. The spirit of industry which
has ever characterized the saints of the Most High God has been brought
to bear with wonderful effect upon the burning & Arid desert.
The Next time that you encounter The hardships privation & toil
of A Journey over the plains & mountains you will meet with a
vary different reception from what attended your first arival
Here Friends will greet your Arival and the products of the Earth
will administer to your comfort.
Our city and valley is fast
improveing. Roads are being made & Bridges, Mills, & Houses building on
evry side with Asstonishing rapidity considering our circumstances
and the disadvantages under which we labor but the blessings of health
peace & union have attended us hence our prosperity we have A settle-
ment in the Utah valley & have Extended North above the Weber
river. We have to irrigate our land which is considerable labor
but will diminish as we improve in fixtures & experience. One
thing is certain all the necessary products of the Earth for the
sustinance of man can be raised. You have probably learned
before this that we are endeavoring to obtain A legal government
from the U. S. Dr Bernhisel is East upon this business And Brother
A W Babbitt will leave tomorrow as our delegate to Washington
our object is to gain admission as a sovreign state into the
Union whenever you can use your influence to further
this object do so. Also gather up the saints & come on with
all you can bring another season we shall be quite Happy
to see you as will all your friends.
We had yesterday a
celebration of the Anniversary of the Arival of the Pioneers
in this valley it was A Day long to be remembered. Your
Father Enjoyed it well being one of the 24 Aged Fathers selected
as part of the Escot. For full Details of these procedings see
the Frontier Guardian. Wishing for the Peace of Heaven to
rest upon [you] your Brethren in the gospel of Christ
Brigham Young
Heber C Kimball
Willard Richards
I spent the Afternoon in Boston with
Phebe W Woodruff, Shuah C Moulton
Rhoda Foss & Andrew P. Delin
I walked to the common onto
the State House, And recorded
my name as from the
Great Salt Lake City
~ Wednesday
Oct 3rd 1849 [FIGURE] I wrote two letters to Albert G Cowden
& Wm Sweat Sister Robbins called upon me for coun-
cil about going west this fall
~ Thursday
4th I spent the day at home writing
~ Friday
5th Dr Burnhisel spent the Afternoon with me & walked through
the city of Boston together As He had lived with President
Joseph Smith & his family for years was with him in prision
the morning He was masacreed, our conversation turned upon
the subject of his life & death. Among other remarks he inform-
ed me that Brother Joseph Addressed his remarks to him alone
when He said "I am going as A Lamb to the slaughter, yet I
shall diye with a concience void of offence towards god and
man. I feel as calm as A summers morning (And the expr-
ession of his countenance showed that he was so) "He said it will
yet be said of me that He was murdered in cold blood," other
remarks were made concerning the saints building up the kingdom
of God & there reward for so doing.
I Parted with Brother
Burnhisel & I returned home I wrote A letter to Br J. G. Hardy
[FIGURE] By Brother Burnhisel to recommend him to them. Soon after
I arived home Elders Little & Hardy called & spent the night
with me. We conversed untill one oclok at night.
~ Saturday
6th I rode into Boston with Brother Little & Hardy & Page I took
cars & rode to Milbury & spent the night with Elder Cyriel E
Brown. A Dredful linge gale raged through the night 45 miles
~ Sunday
7th ^[FIGURE]^ Last nigh was A Dredful storm many lives were lost at sea no
doubt during the night which we shall hear from. It stormed
vary severe through this day I rode 8 miles through the storm to
meet with the saints at Northbridge, to settle A Difficulty betwen
Elder Swett the presiding Elder & Elder Wade both of the
seventies, it was found on trial that Elder Wade was in the
fault & Elder Sweat was justified. I should have been justif
yed in cutting off Br Wade for He manifested the spirit
of Aposticy & opposition to the presiding Elder He said the presi-
ding Elder could not cut him off, & did not think Br Woodruff
could. I was under the necessity of reproving him sharply
for his proud Haughty spirit & rebellion to the Authority of the
church. Such things are vary disagreeable to me I have had
several difficulties to settle of late. After meeting I rode in
the rain to Br Adams took supper & spent the night 16
~ Monday
8th [FIGURES] I rote A letter to the saints in Mansfield councelled them
to be organized. I also wrote A letter toof recommendation to
Elder Sweat I then took cars & rode to Boston & spent the
night with my family I also recieved A letter from Brother
Solomon Mack of Guilsom distance 45 m
~ Tuesday
9th The Papers this morning are full of accounts of the shiprecks
during the storm among others the British ship St Johns was wrecked
at Cohassett & 145 lives lost the bodies & wreck was washed ashore
Also many buildings & trees blown down of Boston & New York
[FIGURE] I recieved the 1st & 11th No of the Guardian & A letter tofrom Br
Pevey His child is vary sicck
~ Wednesday
Oct 10th [FIGURES] I recieved two letters one from Brothers
Marryweather & Miles & one from Brother Wm Evans who
was cut off from the Church at New York He confesses his
sins and wants to return to the Church I advised him to
make satisfaction to the New York Branch & come in by
the door I wrote two letters one to Evans & one to Jacob
Gibson. I recieved also one letter from Br gibson
[FIGURE] During the Evening we had the Happy privilege of going
down into the water of Baptism & administering the
ordinance of Baptism to Sister Shuah C. Moulton Mrs
Woodruff own sister this makes another one of the family
who is in the Church. Now Father & Mother Carter & four of
his daughters are in the Church. Father Joseph Smith sen the
first Patriarch of the Church when he gave Phebe W. Woodruff
her Patriarchal blessing he promised that she should have
her Fathers Household with her in the kingdom of God she
has now one sister & three Brothers out of the Church And
my Prayer to God is that they might yet embrace the gospel
~ Thursday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Ira Foss, Father Carter and
Freedom Moulton
~ Friday
12th [FIGURE] I spent the day in Boston I called upon Brother
Barnes while I was there A man was run over by the rail
car & killed instantly, was cut in to I saw the body it was
in A Horrible mangelled form
~ Saturday
13th [FIGURES] I wrote two letters to day one to Allexander
Badlam at San Francisco & one to Orson Pratt of Liverpool
I sent A copy of the New York Herral Weekly of Oct 13
to Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, Allexander Badlam,
& Joseph Russell. This Paper contained An account
of the Saints organizing themselves into An Independent
sovreign state called the state of Deseret And appointing
their Govornor & other officers. Brigham Young was
Elected Governor. This is certainly an important erie in the
History of the Church & kingdom of God. There has been
more written in the New York Herrald, Tribune, Sun, Boston
papers & many papers in the United States in favor of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints than has
been written before for many years. The Editors of papers
begin to see that the saints will prosper, rise up & build
Zion, nowithstanding all there Efforts to crush us & destroy us
from off the Earth & when they now find us organized
into a State Government holding in our hands the Key of
the North American continant And that we will not die
but live & rise up in the midst of all our oppressions they begin
to speak in our favor & the world marvel at our prosperity
And One remarkable fact is that thousands of men who had
A hand in expelling us from the United States & drove us into
the wilderness have this season while on there way to the gold
digings have had to come bending unto the saints & have had to look
to them to save them from starvation & death
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I had A meeting with my friends & family in the
morning I confirmed sister Shuah Moulton, we had a good
time. At noon two Strangites called upon me Mr Shemmings
And A man from Michigan He wanted to debate the claims of
Mr James J Strang to lead the Church I told him I considered
my time flung away to spend 5 minutes talking with him upon
the subject, there had more than A dozen men risen up
since the death of Joseph risen up to undertake to usurp Autho-
roity to lead the Church & govern the affairs of the kingdom
of God when Neither the Lord nor the saints had called them
unto that office And I felt that I had sumthing of more
importance to attend to than to spend my time in debating against
the pretending claims of such men
I met the Saints in the afternoon & had A good meeting
~ Monday
15th I took cars in the Morning with Mrs Woodruff, Moulton &
& her daughter Martha, we road to Saco was there met by Father
Carter & Ira Foss who came to take us to Saca & Scarborough we found
Father Carter well & all the friends in Maine soon after we
left the cars & started on the road in the waggon A Horse
run away in A waggon & came on in the road after us
He run into a waggon with a load of Apples An old JGentleman
was driving it, one of his wheels was knocked all to peaces
the waggon turned down & the old Gentleman fell onto his
head. And the Horse came near runing into Father Carters waggon
we road to Father Carters & spent the night distance of the day 110 mile
~ Tuesday
16th We went up to Iria Foss & spent the day & night
~ Wednesday
17th We had A visit from Ilus Carter we spent the day and
night at Father Carters
~ Thursday
18th We spent this day at Father Carters
~ Friday
19 [FIGURE] {[illegible shorthand]} we visited the country or spot called the land slide it has
the Appearance of A great convulsion of Nature it looks as much
like the Effects of An Earthquake as any thing more than 20 acres
of land is all torn to peaces some large Maples trees are still standing
upright but the earth has settled more than 20 feet while other
parts were raised deep blue clay is raised from its deep found-
ation to the top of the Earth by thousands of tons. after
walking over it we road into Portland & dined with Ilus
Carter spent the Evening with Dr Fabyan & night with Ezra 12.
~ Saturday
20th Freedom & Shuah Moulton came into Portland this morning
Dr Fabyan took me into his carriage & carried me over the
city we went to the observitory & saw the houses that were mobed
of late we dined with Ezra Carter He will give me letters of
introduction for our representatives from the State of Deseret
to the representatives & senators from Maine at 4 oclock we
parted with our friends Ilus made me A present of some
Books we took cars rode to saco & met with Olive Foss who
came with us to visit her Mother in saco Boston whare we
arived at 9 oclok we took the Hourly & rode to our house
& spent the night & was glad to once more get home. On my
[FIGURE] arival home I recieved 5 letters from Dr Bernhisel
Thomas Cartwright, Joseph Crapo, Wm Sweat & George
Shipley Also the Guardian & M. Star 110
~ Sunday
21st I met with the Saints At my house & preached to them
from the second ch of Daniel concerning the kingdom of
God we had a good Meeting
~ Monday
22nd. [FIGURES] I wrote 5 letters to Orson Hyde, T. Cartwright
George , Shippley, Joseph Crapo, Brown & Swett
~ Tuesday
23rd I recieved two letters from Joseph Russell and
Maryweather
~ Wednesday
24th [FIGURES] I wrote A letter to Br Joseph Russell I felt
unwell through the day
~ Thursday
25th [FIGURES] I recieved A letter from John Johnson & wrote
two letters one to Col Kane one to Dr Bernhisel I Also recieved
the 18th No of the Guardian
~ Friday
26th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to John Johnson walked into Boston 4.
~ Saturday
27th I went on board of the David Porter & sailed to Dennis
on Cape Cod & spent the night with Mr David Robbins 80 m
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I rode to west Harwich & held A meeting with
the Saints, most of the men were out to sea on a Merchant
fishing voyage I spent the night with Br Horace Humphry
~ Monday
29th The brethren came in with there cargoes of fish to
day they gave me A Barrel of fat Mackerell to take home
I spent the day with them At night they went out again
at night.
~ Tuesday
30 I spent the day among the Saints I administered unto two
who were sick
~ Wednesday
31 I rode to David Robbins & spent the night 8 mil
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
Nov 1 & 2nd I spent two days at Mr Robbins waiting for
the Packet to sail I Administered by the laying on
of Hands & prayer to An aged sister 84 years old she imm-
ediately arose from her bed & commenced washing some
small articles. I preached at night at her house
~ Saturday
3rd I went on board of the Packet at 1 oclok set
sail & arived in Boston Harbor at 2 oclok at night 60
~ Sunday
4th Sunday I preached at my own hiered house
~ Monday
5th [FIGURE] I recieved 2 letters from Low & Day And many papers
~ Tuesday
6th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to N. H. Felt of St Louis
~ Wednesday
7th I spent the day at home reading
~ Thursday
8th [FIGURE] I wrote A long letter to Azubah Woodruff in an-
swer to one from her under Date of March 20th
~ Friday
9th [FIGURE] I wrote 2 letters to day to Wm Low & David & Emma Day
~ Saturday
10th [FIGURES] I recieved one letter from Brother Gibson And
wrote him one in Return I recieved A Pamphlet Entitled
Constitution of the State of Deseret with the Journal of the Convention
which formed it &c which was good
~ Sunday
11th Sunday I Preached to the saints & loaned 9 No of the star
to Mrs Brown
~ Monday
12th We recieved in this mornings papers Arivals from
Calafornia Also from Europe the steemer from Calafornia
brought $500,000 dollars worth of gold dust from
the Mines. The Ship Areatus in which Calvin Foss was
in Arived in Calafornia on the 23rd sept 170 days out from
Boston. I recieved the frontier Guardian the 19 No
~ Tuesday
13 [FIGURES] I wrote a letter to Brother & Sister Moulton & got
one from Brother Wm Page who had got to Buffalo with
his family
~ Wednesday
14th I Accompanied Olive to the rail road who took cars
& returned home to Saco. During the evening in company
with Brother Cannon I Attended one of Le Roy Sunderland
Lectures upon Patheism. He had some 10 persons in a state
of clarvoyance And About a dozen asleep And many affected
in the first degree. He classes his Mesmerism under 3 degrees
1–2–3 But it is evident in a great measure that his operation
are a money making scheme those in the third degree are trained
subjects And I could freequently see the cloven foot manifest
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
15th 16th I spent the time at home writing & prepareing to
go on my mission
~ Saturday
17th Saturday Left home took cars at Boston rode to Worcester Danielsonville took stage tode to Wilimantic & spent the
night with Brother Swett Harrison & Cyriel Brown 100 m
~ Sunday
18th I met with the Saints in the house of Brother Dan
Atwoods the Father of Millen Atwood who lives with
President B Young, Father & Mother Atwood with Millen
Mineus & Samuel there sons are all in the Church and talk
of going to the valley in the spring, this branch of the Church
is called the Mansfield containing 35 members ECyriel E Brown
Presiding Elder. I preached in the forenoon & afternoon &
Administered unto 5 that were sick. In the evening I returned
to Brother Harrison Browns & preached at his house
~ Monday
19th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff I rode to Brother
Atwood's And spent the day. It was A terrible Storm
~ Tuesday
20th I spent the day at Brother Browns had A talk with the saints
~ Wednesday
21st We took cars rode to Norwich & steemer at 7 oclok to New
York 100 mile
~ Thursday
22nd At Office 9 west street opposite the Boston Boat peer 2
North River C. W. Brush Brother Swett got ticket for Cincinna-
ti through in 4 days via Buffalo & Schenectadey for $14. I took
steemer at 4 oclock rode all night
~ Friday
23rd I arived at Philadelphia at sun set called at Brother Gibsons
And found all well. I found Dr John M. Bernhisel we spent the
night together & had a good time 125 m
~ Saturday
24th A rainy morning in company with Dr Bernhisel I called
at the Office of Col Kane but He was not in I spent the day with Brother Gibson
~ Sunday
25th Sunday I preached in the morning to the Church
in Philadelphia Br Bernhisel in the Afternoon gave an account
of the History of the valley And I preached in the evening to a
full House and had the spirit of God and bore A faithful
testimony spent the night at Brother Gibson I confirmed one
blessed one child, Administered unto 5 sick.
~ Monday
26 [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff. I had an interview
with Col Kane in company with Dr John M Bernhisel. I called
upon Mrs Jeffreys N. E. cornor of Callow hill & Franklin street
Asked Advice About stoping two years stated circumstances
I called upon sister Conrad conner of fourth and Brown and
spent the night with Brother Gibson I had an interview with
[FIGURE] Hiram Kimball He sympathieses much with Foster the Laws
Marks &c. He saw Foster out on the prairie by himself vary poor & in trouble
said he would be willing to sacrafice his last child he has if that would
place him back in his former standing in the Church And if He possessed
riches He would give it all to have 5 minutes conversation with Joseph
Smith. Kimball said he was vary sorry for him & could not help
sheding tears for him said he could forgive him with all his heart &
Advised him to go to the valley And thought all would forgive him
He seemed to take much interest in that class of people than in building
up the Kingdom of God
~ Tuesday
27th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Col Kane Also one to A W Babbit see copy
~ Wednesday
28th
[FIGURE] I took cars for New Ark Del the cars which I was in contained
many Noted members of Congress who were on their way to
Washington the following were said to be among the number Hon
Henry Clay, Gen Cass, Gov Seward, Hon Mr Wilmot Truman Smith, Mr
Wheeler, & others. I walked to Turkeytown Del Maryland and Preached
at night to the big Elk branch of the Saints 20 in No. I spent the night
with Br Loyd Fellen & Stephen Mahony. After travelling in three states
preaching 2 hours I went to rest at 11 oclok 45 mile 45
[FIGURE]
Dr John M Bernhisel remarks on health. 1st keep A clear conscience
A Happy contented mind 2nd Always night or Day keep a free exercise
of air 3rd drink water instead of tea, coffee Ail or any other drink
dont use tobaco be temperate in Eating use plain food & not high seasoned
meets. 5th The skin of the stomach being vary thin & containing Jucies
for digestion we should not take cayane, Black Pepper, Alkahal, pickles or
any thing that will inflame the stomach or destroy the Juices for it
will inflame the whole system & injure health. To Prevent Habitual
costiveness grown persons & children should be learned & practice going
to the stool about the same hour each day & the Bowels will Harmonize
with that practice & be in a healthy condition
The principle of cultivating the memory and concentrating our
powers of thought to one focus in conversation upon any important point
which we may wish to remember is of great consequence we ought
not to suffer anything els to occupy our thoughts or attention when we
wish to be correct in remembering any thing and we ought to teach
our children to read a peace & see how much they can remember
or hear preaching see how much they can repeat. One man practized
in this way untill He could read and repeat a whole Newspaper
Advertisements & all
~ Thursday
289 I walked up to Br. ^Thomas^ Manoheys Fair Hill Cissel Co Maryland back
to Fellens rode to Brother Stagemans Preached to the people rode
to Fellens & spent the night 8 miles
~ Friday
30th I took cars rode to wilmington Del & spent the evening with
A few friends in conversation spent the night with Joseph
A Hall 27th Eight street Wilmington Del P. E. 10 m 12 m
~ Saturday
Dec 1st I took cars rode to Philadelphia spent the night at
J Gibsons I recieved 3 letters 2 from Mrs Woodruff & one
from Dr Bernhisel containing a ticket to visit Girard College
I called upon Col Kane & saw A sleigh robe presented to him by
Dr Bernhisel as A present from President Young it contained
7 wolf skins & 10 Fox skins got up with great taste & splendor
it was worth $40. I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff
[FIGURES]
~ Sunday
2nd I Preached 3 times to the Church in Philadelphia & the
spirit of God rested upon me And I taught the saints in plain
terms I laboured hard, we had a hard snow storm during
the day & night
~ Monday
3rd It still storms the papers are full of murders from all parts
of the country And Congress is A political hot bed of corruption
And there is danger of its exploding the union I went out
in the rain & visited Jerard College
[FIGURE] Jerard College is one of the most splen-
did buildings I ever visited
The general design of the building is that
of A Greek Temple having eight columns
on each end and Eleven on each side (counting the cornor columns
both ways) making in all thirty four colums. the columns are 6
feet in diameter 55 feet in higth the bases are 9 feet 3 inch in diame-
ter & 3 feet 2 inch high & the Capitals 8 feet 6 inch high, 9 feet 4 inch
wide on the face of the abacus. each shaft is channelled in 24
semicircular flutes. The nett amount of marble in each column
including the base And capital is 1346 cubic feet the weight
103 tons & the cost $12,994. Total cost of the 34 colums
$51976. The exterior of the cella or body of the building measures
111 feet wide 169 feet long & 59 feet 8 inches high. The whole of the
Exterior of the building is composed of marble of A vary superior
quality. evry block of marble in the building is set on peaces of
milled lead. The roof is composed of marble tiles 4 1/2 feet long 4 feet
wide 2 3/4 inch thick each tile is 776 lbs. & each saddle 214 lbs, the whole
Number of the tiles in the roof being 2046 and of saddles 2061
the aggragate wait of the tiles & saddles is 906 tons marble chim
ney tops And the cast Iron sky lights Also weigh 20 tons And
the lead & masonery of the gutters 43 1/2 tons making the entire weig
ht of the roof 969 1/2 tons. The building is three stories in high-
[t]h the first & second stories are 25 feet from floor to floor & the
third 30 feet in the clear each story is divided as directed by
[t]he will into four rooms 50 feet square in the clear. The outside
walls are 4 feet in thickness the inside 3 feet. Each arch including
[i]ts abutments contains 117,000 brick which together with the marble
floor on top makes the weight suspended over each room about
350 tons. The stairways are situated in the fore corners of the
building the spaces Allotted to them being each 22 feet 6 inch wide
& 26 feet 6 inch long they are all composed of white marble And are 5 feet
3 inch in width with two landings or quarter paces in each story
the plan on which they are constructed is that of Geometrical
stairs having one end of each step secured in the wall & one edge
resting on the step below. All the stair ways as well as the landings
in the upper stories are finished with rich balustrades of cast
Iron & mahogany rails springing from massy marble Newels.
The cost of these stairways including the balustrades was
$18,500. The following are the material used in the construction
of the main building. Weighing Tons
177,168 cubic feet of marble d[itt]o 13,537
25139 flooring tiles do 409
12134980 Brick do 27,087
12495 perches of building stone do 19,635
21366 cubic feet of granite do 1,717
wrought Iron for bands cramps &c do 134
Cast Iron in ceiling of portico do 142 1/2
do in water pipies do 18 1/2
do in skylights & inner rims do 18
Milled lead for gutters & setting marble & lead for cramping do 48 1/2
53720 bushels of lime do 1,431
50,224 bushels of river sand do 3292
133,646 bushels of pit sand do 8759
4200 bushels of Hydraulic cement do 250
Locks fastenings, glass, lumber indoors & windows &c do 116
Making the aggregate weight of the building 76,595
cost of the whole esstablishment $1,933,821.78
An extract of Stephen Gerard's will
"Secondly I enjoin and require that No ecclesiastic missionary or
minister of any sect whatsoever shall ever hold or exercise any station
or duty whatever in the said college: nor shall any such person
ever be admitted for any purposes or as a visitor within the prem
ises appropriated to the purposes of the said college.
Copy of my ticket
Strangers ticket Admit Mr Woodruff to visit the main building
of the Gerard College Ja's J. Boswell directer Nov 28th 49
After I visited the college I called upon Col Kane & saw a
sleigh robe presented to him By Dr Bernhisel as A present from
B. Young it contained 7 wolf skins & 10 fox skins got up with
great taste & splendor it was worth $40. I wrote A letter to Mrs
[FIGURE] Woodruff
Dec 2nd I Preached 3 times to the saints in Philadelp[hia]
And the spirit of God rested upon me I taught the Saingts
in great plainness I laboured hard among them. we had
A hard snow storm during the day & night
3rd It still storms. The Papers are full of Murders & mob
in all parts of the country & Congress is A hot bed of
Political Corruption And there is danger of its exploding
And destroying the Union
~ Tuesday
4th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters One to Mrs Woodruff, one to
Col Kane one to Dr J. M. Bernhisel. I took cars rode
to Beverly & spent the night with Br Flagg 30 m
~ Wednesday
5th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to J. M. Bernhisel I took cars to
Boardentown & stage to New Egypt & spent the night 35 m
~ Thursday
6th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Elder Hyde I rode to Hornerstown
I preached at night in a school House. I Blessed one
child & spent the night with Br Curtis 3 m
~ Friday
7th I rode to Toms River Preached to the Saints & spent
the night with Anthony & Irsrael Ivins 25 m
~ Saturday
8th I rode with Israel Ivins 25 miles to Freehold in the
stage 15 Rail Road 20 miles in steem Boat to New York
30 miles I recieved 3 letters from Mrs. W, Col. Kane and
[FIGURES] Dr Bernhisel. I wrote 2 letters to Col Kane
& Dr Bernhisel spent the night with Br T Cartwright 90 m
~ Sunday
9th Sunday I preached twice at New York Administ
ered to 2 sick, read 2 numbers of the Star I had A
dream concerning Br Delin
~ Monday
10 [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Mrs Woodruff I had an Inter
view with Mr Copway the Ojibwa Indian Chief who
is calling upon this Nation to stay their hand in the
persecution of the Indians And is carrying A petition
to washington & calling upon the Government to
give the Indians A Territory that they may have
for their own & not be driven any more I had a
plesant time with him
~ Tuesday
11th I took steemer & rode to Haverstraw & preached
at night at Br Druce House & spent [the night] 40 mile
~ Wednesday
12. I took steamer rode to New York then to New
Ark N. J. And spent the night with Brother Provost 50 mi
~ Thursday
13th I rode to west Bloomfield & spent the night and
preached & talked untill 2 oclok then went to bed betw
een two men on a cold straw bed 3 Hours & got up at
5 oclok I confirmed one And Ordained one Elder 10 m
~ Friday
14th In company with Elder David Turner I took cars
rode to summerville to Preach, Also to Baptize Mr
Isaac Moorehouse But when I arived I found He had
been on A Drunken spree with two Irishmen
Patrick Burnes And Another man at Mr Burns House
which finally resulted in the murder of one of the
Irishmen. Burns knocked the other man down &
stamped on his breast untill He killed him under
the following circumstances Moorehouse gave Burnes
$1 Bill to go & buy some liquor He gave the $1 to the other
Irishman to go on the errand He Pocketed the money &
would not go Burns then Knocked him down stamped on
on his breast untill He could not speak He then left him
lying on the floor with the Blood running out of his
mouth. Burns then locked up Moorehouse in his
house for two days said He would kill him also if
[he] stired out of the house or reported against him in
any way. The 2nd day Moorehouse got out the man
died soon after He left. Moorehouse reported the
case Burnes & wife were both imprisioned. The Jury
brought in A verdict of murder & Moorehouse will be
the witness in the trial. But Moorehouse was miserable
fearing that Burnes & wife would sware the Murder upon
him I did not baptize him of course. But preached
at Brother Turners to A full House & spent the night 40 m
~ Saturday
15th I took cars & rode to New York I got 3 letters from
[FIGURE] Mrs Woodruff S Tuttle, Mr Copway containing A
Ticket to attend his lecture I went in company
with Elder Cartwright. Mr Copway deliverd An inter-
esting lecture to near 1000 people who listened with
good attention His Address will be found on this
Journall at the End of this month & year
~ Sunday
16th I Preached twice to the Saints in New York I
had a wet rainy day. I walked over to Mr Water House
& found him vary sick with the Lung fever I laid
hands upon him & prayed for him He was Healed so
that He went to his labour next day I wrote two
[FIGURE] Letters to Babbitt & Bernhisel for Copway
~ Monday
17th I had an interview with Mr Copway & Smith Tuttle
spoke About A rumour about Brother Appleby concerning
leaving Mr Hands children &c I called upon Mr Water-
House & rode to Hampstead & spent the night Br Browers 30 m
~ Tuesday
18th I Preached at the Hampstead Branch at night to a full
House & spent the night with Brother Brower
~ Wednesday
19th I walked to Hampstead took car rode to New York
Had an interview with Elder Kelsey took steamer rode to
the quarentine on Statten Island took stage rode 7 miles &
3 miles in a waggon dalled upon Brother Joseph Brow[er]
A worthy Brother in the Church & spent the night
He is A ship builder & repairer & is doing well 60 mil
~ Thursday
20th I rode in the rain 10 miles took steemer to New York
& spent the night with Brother Kelsey & talked upon A
[FIGURE] variety of things such as the importance of the Elders
keeping the commands of God 20 mil
~ Friday
21st I closed up my business at the City & took A stee[mer]
And rode to New Haven & spent the night at Father
Sandfords 100
~ Saturday
22 [FIGURE] I wrote A Letter to Mrs Woodruff & one to O Hyde &
sent him 13 names for the paper it was A hard storm
I spent the day at Smith Tuttles A Speaker in the House
of Congress was Elected to day after trying 20 days
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday I Preached twice in Fair Haven once in
New Haven & spent the Night at Warrens blessed
one child Administered to one sick
~ Monday
24th I took cars rode to wallingford called upon
Brother Doolittle & preached at his house & spent the
night I finished O Hydes letter & sent him 15 names 13 m
~ Tuesday
25th I rode with Brother Doolittle in an open waggon
to Naugatuc through the snow which was Blowing in
our faces it was much the coldest day we have had this
year we suffered much came near freezeing we
spent the night with Brother Woster 16
~ Wednesday
26th I met with the saints at night & preached to them
Also to the world it was hard to penetrate the veil of
darkness caused by the unbelief of the wicked. I
had a good time talking with the English saints in com-
pany with Elder Wells
~ Thursday
27th I preached ^parted^ with the saints & rode to wallingford
with Brother Doolittle And spent the night with him 15 m
~ Friday
28th I took cars & rode to Boston & went to my family
in Cambridgeport & spent the night at home once ^more^ distance 150
~ Saturday
29th [FIGURE] I spent the day at home & found much
business upon my hands. I recieved 15 letters & many
papers sent me in my Absence I had letters from
the following persons Bernhisel, Babbitt, C. E. Brown Wm
H Wilson, J. G. Hardy John Grierson, Wm W Lovett Swett
H. Aldrich Ellers Kneating, L STaft, J. Druce, G Taylor
J T Eldridge Ezra Carter, Joseph Russell.
~ Sunday
30th Sunday I preached to the Saints
~ Monday
31st A Hard snow storm I went to Boston And
Attended the funeral of a child of Brother Edward
Cook No 2 Bartlet street Boston I wrote 3 letters
[FIGURE] to J G Hardy C. E. Brown, & Wm H Wilson
The following speech was deliverd by Mr Copway or Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bow
the Chief of the Ojewa Nation before a large audience in New York City
On the eve of Dec 15 1849
Ladies, Gentlemen, American Citizens. Of necessity my address this
evening must be short. Yet I will touch upon a few prominent items
which I consider important to the subject in which I feel deeply interested
There are certain events which stand forth in bold relief of deep
interest in the history of evry nation under heaven. Therefore the
History of the Indians or there present condition has also a deep interest
an interest of greater importance than at first presents itself to the mind
of the American People Although it may appear to them as coverd with
A cloud or buried deep from their view yet it none the less exhists.
Then listen to me. I have deeply studied the situation & interest of my
brethren the Red men for years and I have resolved to call aloud upon the
white men of this Nation to give ear to my Petitons. If you do not see
the Indian Orator in your midst making a displey of oratory like the
white man it is not because he has not talent but because he has not
a chance to exercise it
1th My object in visiting the United States is to present A petition to
this Government that they may assist me in concentrating the Indians
together that they may live & not die I want Congress to grant them
a portion of Territory that they can call their own and be concentrated
upon it that they not be driven from it any more. They once were
the owners & occupiers of the whole soil of all North America. The white
man came & removed the Indians and continually driven them
untill they can see no hope but the grave before them. I now ask in their
behalf a Territory to settle them upon that they may have a permanent
home forever And come under the United States Government
let them have some form of Government & become part and
parcel of the United States. In this matter I have studied the
interest of all both the white & red men
1st Give them a Territory that they can call their own where
the children can point to the graves of their fathers & say we can
now live in Peace and be driven no more. We can visit the graves of
our fathers with none to drive us from them and they will be inspired
to engage in evry laudable undertaking that now marks the course of
the white man
2nd You can then esstablish schools among them
that will be of benefit to them, they would obtain knowledge and
would make a good use of it. The gospel could then be introduced
among them and they would be far more ready to recieve it
when they find the white man is consistant & willing to do them
good, but when the white man offers the gospel to the Indian
one year & the next comes d& drives him from his home & the grave
of his Fathers He has no faith or confidence in either the white
man or his gospel
3rd You can then introduce agriculture
among them and they will recieve it for they would then see of
necessity they must cultivate the land or die they could not depend upo[n]
game for support and they would turn their attention to cultivating
the soil make improvements and take delight in the same dway as the white
man
4th They would then be in a position whare they would be
deliverd from the Ill consequences of constant removing which has continu[ally]
followed them for many years. And The Ill consequences of removing
have been multiplied & vary great. This has been one main reason
why schools have been unproductive of good among them. This is
also whone reason why Missionaries have done no more good among them
The Indians are fast decreasing and Passing away what is the
cause of all this. There are various causes Their constant remov-
ing is one cause. Disease which has been introduced among them
By white men in the capacity of traders, missionaries, and Emigrants
Also the introduction of Alchoohol have had a tendency to waste them
away. Also wars among themselves & wars with white men all of
which have continually wasted away the Indan tribes
I will here remark that in the origin of the wars with the whites
the conducting of those wars and in the treaties of peace made And
broaken the Indians have been badly treated and abused by the
whites. For instance some ruffian or trader visites the Indians
introduces wild fire or Alcohol among them & will get the Indians
drunk & pehaps drunk himself and will cheat them in any way
he can And perhaps kill some of them and in his career he gets
killed himself, then the cry goes forth that the savage Indians
are killings & murdering the inhabitants of the country. it is proclaim-
ed in all the public Journals of the Union. Yes one side of the
story is proclaimed as with peals of thunder throughout the Earth
But no voice is raised in behalf of the poor Indian. their story
is not told the world hear it not they do not enquire or ask for
it. But as soon as the story of the white man is told & proclaimed
to the world, the armies of war must be prepared & soldiers
sent forth to drive and Kill the Indians and burn their home
and in this way the most desolating and expensive wars have been
carried on for many years untill we feel it is time for the white
man to take a different course with the Indians.
As an example of the bad Effects of continually removing the
Indians I would refer you to the Cherokee Nation. That people
were fast imprioving following rapidly in the footsteps of the white
man had extensive farms & good dwellings and continuallyed
rapidly advancing in improvements untill they were suddenly
brought to a stand in theire course by being cruelly called upon
by the state of Georgia to give up their lands and go away from the
graves of their fathers into the wilderness and thus it was that
the mighty nation instead of recieving that support encouragement
& comfort from the Nation that He ought to recieve was forced By
the cruel hand of oppression to bow their heads in sorrow and
dispair as they wend their way to their so called home in the
wilderness whare they can find no other hope ownly to pass a few
more years in sorrow untill they shall be called to pass through the
same ordeal again to remove and remove untill they are anhilated
from off the face of the Earth. O Ye white man what incour-
agement do you give the Indian to plant, to build, to learn, to
cultivate the Earth, or to recieve a Religion that professes love
mercy kindness and truth while those who profess to Enjoy it
deals out such deeds of oppression & cruelty upon the heads of the
red men that it drives them to madness and Despair. Let the
American Nation stay their hand from this time forth in their oppression
& drivings of the Indians lest they drive them beyound a point which
the Indian will endure and return a Blow upon the head of the
white man which will fill many a habitation with death. Once give
the Indians A Territory A home whare they can have a full assurance
that therier ears or those of their children will no more be
saluted with a call to remove from their lands then if they
do not show forth a spirit of improvement then cast them
off as not worthy of your support or attention but untill then
you are not justifyed yur garments are not clear
The spirit of the age & times demands that Congress should take
immediate action upon theis matter.
1st The Indians cannot retain
their lands. Emigration of the white men are already surround-
ing them & in their midst and the richness & fertility of the
Indians lands are a temptation to the white man and invite
him to settle thereon.
2nd The Indians have two much land
more than what they need to till and cultivate for their support
Let there be a Territory set off on the North west of Ioway North
of Council Bluffs on the Missouri on which there is now no
white settlement And let the Indians East of the Rocky moun-
tains And in the United States be gatherd upon it. Then let other
Territories in the west be appropriated And let all the Indians on
the North American Continant be collected together & learned
to cultivate the Earth. They will soon associate themselves
together, and cease their wors among themselves also with
the white man. If there is not sumthing of this kind done
the vast Emigration through all the Indians lands will soon
destroy the game & then want & starvation will ensue & this
will bring on war between the white & Red men.
If my Proposition is excepted by the American government
And they will carry it out it will be of vast benefit both to
the Indians And the people of the United States
1st The Benefit to the Indians will be it will give them a perman[ent]
home, whare schools can be esstablished among them and
their children taught the English language. Farms can also be
opened among them and when they see they have a permanent
home for themselves and their children and they have no game
to depend upon for food they will immediately go to work & cultivate
the Earth like white men. The gospel can then be introduced
among them to a good Effect and they will recieve it with
Thankfulness when they can be made to believe that then
the hand that deals out the gospel to them is not laying a plan
to take the advantage of them and preparing a way to drive them
from their home & country. It will also unite not ownly their
interest & attachment towards each other but their regard & interest
with that of the United States
The benefit to the Government is less expenses
1st Buying theire lands and Paying them yearly annuities whis
is costing the Government immens sums of money
2nd The contiunual transporting of Indians from place to place
there has already been 96000 indians removed by the govern-
ment
3rd The keeping of many Indian Agents at great
expens to Government could then be dispensed with
4th Fortifications have now to be erected ion the borders of all India[n]
tribes with the Intention of keeping the Indians in subjection
these would not be needed of [if] the Indians were in a Territory
of their own for by having their trail clear & no encroachments of
the white man upon their borders there would be no cause of war
or fortifications.
I am going to Washington so on to lay my Petition
before the Congress of the United States and urged them
to grant my Prayer for the benefit of both the white
and Red men. I want your aid, I want you to sign my
petition that the voice of thousands may be bheard in
behalf of this petiontion. I want the names of Legeslators
Governors and American citizens in General that my prayer
may be heard & answerd. Give the North American Indians
A home, a place whare the soles of their feet can rest in peace
then you will do your duty towards them, & place them in a
situations whare you can teach them Literature, Agriculture,
& Commerce, give them the chance the white man has, And I
Prophesy in the name of the Lord that there will ere long be
found among them their Philosophers, Franklins, & Washing-
tons, who would do honor to any civillized or Christian
Nation on the globe. But let this Nation turn a deaf ear to
my Petitions and the Petitions of the Indians, continue
to oppress them and drive them to desperation, and the
hour is near when the campfire will be seen upon many a
hill. The war hoop will reache from one end of the Rocky
Mountains to the other. The Indian will then sell his life
as dear as possible and deal out death whareever an opportunit[y]
offers. When this blow is struk It will be Terrible to all
May God forbid that shch such a blow should fall at all, that the
scenes of Bloody Brook should any more be enacted.
American Citizens it is to ward of this blow that I now stand
before you, That I now call upon this Nation bearing a petition
unto them, will you hear my Prayer, will you give the
Indian his rights, will you help bury the hate hat forever
Or will you make a grave to bury your dead I leave you to DECIDE
The following is A true copy of the Petition
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives
The memorial of the undersigned citizens and Residence of the United
States Most Respectfully showeth
That the present state of the Indian Tribes within the jurisdiction
of the United States and the continant of North America is
a subject worthy of the consideration of evry Christian and
philanthropist in this union. That if by any practical method
these Aboriginal and Primitive owners of the soil can be civillized
and incorporated into the body politic as enlightened and useful
citizens no time should be lost in making the attempt.
The rapid advancing spirit of the age presents this subject before
Congress as indispensible to be acted upon now. With this subject in
view and with earnest prayer to Almighty God to Enlighten your councils
on this momentous subject we the under signed present the cause
of the Indians to the Earnest consideration of your Honorable Body
praying that such means may be spedily adopted that will give to the
Red Man a permanent home and all the Arts conveniences and com-
forts of civillized life. To this End we pray that A sufficent portion of the
great North Western Territory may be appropriated to this use for the
reception & consentration of such of the Indian Tribes as may Be willing to become agricult-
urist and recieve from the hands of the white man a sound ysystem of moral & intellectual
training. The land so appropriated to be erected into an Indian District subject to such form of
goverment & such laws as Congress may deem consistant with the constitution & laws of the United States
Mr Copway remarked to W. Woodruff in personal conversation
That He had long contemplated the situation of the poor Indians and
he well know their position and feelings and if the United States
did not soon take a different course and scease their persecutions
and oppressions and driving the Indians to such extremities as they
were doing that the Indians would soon rise up in their wrath
Unite together and seek revenge and strike a Blow unto death And
it was in consequence of a knowledge of this fact that had inspired
him to go through the United States call meetings and lecture
before the people and strive to call the attention of the white men
to use his influence to assist in staying this spirit of oppression against
the Indian. But I meet with but little success the Christians of
this day manifest but little sympathy with me. I was a while with
the Methodist and If I would confine myself with there doctrines they
would help me but the moment that I wanted my liberty to bee free
and act independantly they would forsake me but I am tired of such
bigotry I am resolved to do all in my power to call upon the people and
Government that my garments may be clear in trying to ward off the
blow which I know will come if the people of the United States
do not scease their oppressions And when it does come I had rather
not be alive than to see what will follow. But if they will not harken
to my petition nor to the cry of the Indians I am as ready to die at
the cannons mouth as any whare els I will go before Congress and
talk plain before them And tell them that I want them to do sumthing
with me for the Indians that we have bourn affliction & oppression
from the hand of the people of the United States all the day long
and it is time it was stoped. The world have accused us of being
connected with the Mormons to overthrow the Government I shall
tell them it is false there has been no such combination at all
but I shall tell them the Indians have treated the India white
men well. And so have the Mormons thereated the Indians
well And the People of the United States And even have fed
their enemies And helped them while in distress in the willder
ness. The Mormons have never given the wIandians any council
to go to war with the whites or with themselves but always have coun
cilled them to make peace. This principle I shall declare upon the
floor of the Halls of Congress. But says this Lamanite Chief
If this Nation does not hear us, does not help us does not cease therir
oppression still we have hope, for the Great SPIRIT will at
last both Hear Help and Deliver us For as A people we shall not
die, for If the Lord has to raise us up help out of the Rocky Mountains
that Help will arise which will both save us and do us GOOD
Views of Col. Thomas L. Kane on a Government for Deseret
Nov 26th 1849 In company with Dr J. M. Bernhisel I called upon
Col Kane to have an interview with him In Relation to Petitioning Congress
for the reception of the State of Deseret into the Union
The following is a synopsis of the conversation of Col Kane
You must not commit yourselves to any party but keep a close
mouth with all parties and the utmost discreet and wise course must
be pursued in order to do any thing at all. I will do what I can
with the free soil party. My Father and Mr Dallest with the Democ-
rats. It will be the most critical Congress ever held. "I Applyed
according to the wish of President Young for a Territorial Gove-
rnment I had my last sad and Painful interview with Presi-
dent Polk I found He did not feel disposed to favor your
People and had his men of his own stamp picked out to serve
as Govornor & other officers who would have oppressed You
or injured you in any way to fill their own Pockets He would not
appoint men from among yourselves. And I saw it absolutely
necessary that you should have officers of your own people to govern
you or you were better without any Government. I had to use my
own discretion and I withdrew the Petition I am fully decided
upon that point that you must have officers of yourselves, &
not military Politiscians who are struting around in your midst
usurping Authority over you. It will not do for you to take the
slavery question or Antislavery or any other side but the nutral.
Atchinson of Missouri with the Mormon opposing party will still be
your enemies Thomas Benton has been an inveterate enemy and
still may be. And all the Parties with the whole of Congress is a mass
of corruption & abomination they are all governed by party manage-
ment without any regard to principle & if we do any thing upon
this subject we shall have to Enter into wise Management we
may have to favor the south some though they are your Enemies
and I hate to do it. Parties are all breaking up And New Ones
forming and no man can tel what a day will bring forth.
Thomas Benton was at the Head of your being driven from
Winter Quarters the Indian Country and Polk favored it and
I could not turn them from their purpose I told Mr Polk we
should not present any Petition while He dictated matters.
Benton is still your Enemy at heart.
Douglass is going down
with a certain class connected with him. The time was when
He could have done your People much good by merely bearing
his Testimony of your good character while he was as Judge in
Illinoise and He would not do it (Let this be remembered)
Col Kane remarked that from the acquaintance I have had with Mr
Bxxxxx I Apprehend entertain serious Apprehentions that He will by his
course at Washington injure your cause, He was formerly A small
politition but a rough one of the Missouri Stamp and this in my view
to some extent would disqualify him for the business Besides He expressed
a want of confidence in his wisdom prudence and discretion to
manage this affair and that He would associate with an inferior
class of men in the lower House which would also exhert a prejudi-
cal effect upon our cause
The following remarks were made By Col Kane to W Woodruff Dec 4th 1849
Col Kane remarked You are better without any Government from
the hands of Congress than a Territorial Goverment. The Political
intreagues of Government Officers will be against you. You can govern
yourselves better than they can govern you. I would prefer to
see you withdraw the Bill than to have a Territorial Government
for if you are defeated in the State Government you can fall
upon it again at another session if you are not a Territorial
Government but if you are you cannot apply for a state Government
for a number of years. I insist upon it you do not want
corurupt Political men from Washington strutting around
you with military epilets & dress, who will spec[u]late out of you
all they can. They will also control the Indian Agency land
Agency and will conflict with your calculation in a great
measure. You do not want two Governments with you you have
a Government now which is firm & Powerful and You are
under no obligations to the United States You owe them
nothing but kicks cuffs and the treatment of wicked dogs
for that is the ownly treatment you have recieved from their
hands since you have been a People. ("And the golden rule is what
measure men meet out shall be measured to them again")
Brigham Young should be your Govornor. His head is not
filled with Law Books and Lawyieers tactics but he has power to
see through men & things And all councillors Elders & agents [abroad]
should be made to know their place, sustain the head man & work
for the general good in all things and not act from selfish motives
or to get some petty office or a little salary. He said if we you did make
up our minds to ask for a Territory we should use evry exhertion
in our power to get the assureance of the President that our
choice should be granted us in a Govornor & other officers say
Brigham Young for Govornor &c But if we could not get
this assurance not to ask for it at all but wait the result
He said If we were a state, there might be ever so many
men come along and say I am Judge, I am Col, I am Gen
You can whistle and ask no odds of them. But while a Territory
You cannot do it. And then their is always so many intrigues
to make Political parties among you, the first thing you know
A strong Political party is rising up in your midst who are selfish
And against your interest.
Col Kane requested me to remember
what He had said to me as He might not have hea[l]th to do for us
what he was now doing And He wished his views to be known
to the Presidency in the valley. I remarked to him that I would
do so and Pray for his success in our behalf also for his hea[l]th strength
& prosperity. He thanked me & said He should Prize our prayers
Highly.
I felt impressed that Col Kane was Endowed with much wisdom
in his course in our be half and I think that He had right views
of things in General
Signs of the times and remarks upon the year AD. 1849
The narrative of the year 1849 forms A remarkable chapter in the History
of the world, perhaps no single year has embraced a greater number
of important events or involved so great & lasting consequences in such
a variety of relations. The overthrow of the Sikhs the esstablishment of
the British Power on the ruins of the sikh dynasty the deposition of the pope
the declaration of the Roman Republic and its early extin[c]tion by the French
intervention & the struggles in sardinia, the movements of the people in Jerm-
any; the contest between the Danes And Jermans; the intervention of Russia
in Hungaryian affairs; the fall of Hungary; the overthrow of Venice and
the movements in the national mind of France on social questions are all
pregnant with vast Results Also the passing of the Bill in the British Parliament
on the 23rd of Feb granting to Jews the right to seats in the Parliament of Great
Britiain is one strong omien of the redemption of that Peculiar people. These
in connexion with storms, whirlwinds, Earthquakes, fires and the most desola
ting pestilence & Plagues which has swept over Europe & Eastern world shows
clearly to the reflecting mind who has any portion of the Testimony of Jesus Christ
that the Great God has commenced his controversy with all Nations and that
Great Babylon is coming in Rememberance befor God. And when we turn our
attention to the western Hemisphere the United States of America, any
true seer might Justly say that notwithstanding thy Nation O Land
like the Antedeluvian world & Sodom & Gomorrow boast of their union strength
goodness greatness & glory. Yet is here that I behold the signs of the
times big with Events, it is here that I behold the clouds thicken the
Heavens gather Blackness, And the wrath of God ready to fall upon they head
For thou aret worthy. Notwithstanding O America thou art blowing aloud
thy trumpet of fame & honor to all the world in sympathizing with Cossuth
and other Brave Hungarians and offering a Home to the oppressed of
All nations, still thou art the man who dare commit the blackest
deeds of the Earth. It is here the God of Heaven has commenced to set
up his kingdom and offered thee the gospel of Jesus Christ to save
the from the wrath of God. It is here whare that kingdom & gospel has
been rejected first. It is here whare Presidents Govornors Judges
and rulers of the Land with thousands of the people have broaken the
laws & Constitution of the United States and the several states by turning
mob And persecuting many of their own citizens who were the saints
of God, have deprived them of the rights of citizenship, burned their
goods & dwellings, taken some of them prisiooners held mock trials over
them by a mob Jury who were their Jury by Day & guard by night who
would pour whiskey down each others throats And then God Dam
God, And Jesus Christ the Holy Ghost, And evry religious sect they could
think of & close their songs twith the words God Dam the God dDam Mormons
then would imprision the saints in chains and feed them on Human
flesh, And finally murdered many of the Saints with the Phrophets
whom God hath sent unto them to call them to Repentance And when those
persecuted American cities [citizens] pled at the feet of the Presidents Govornors
and Judges of the Nation, they have been rejected & ridiculed while at the
same time they have in some instances been informed that there cause was
Just. And even down to the present day evry Petition presented by the
Saints of God who have been driven into the wilderness by the cruel hand
hand of oppression is rejected in evry possible way Because of these
things the Lord hath said that He will arise out of his Hiding place
and in his fury He will vex the Nation And in his Hot displeasure
will cut off those wicked and unjust stewards and Appoint them
Portion with Hypocrites & unbelievers. One glance at the signs of
1849 in the United States will show that the Lord has commenced
to fulfill his promise And He will not scease untill it is finished
There has never been A year since the esstablishment of the United
States Government, when there has been so great a loss of property
& life by fire & Pestilence, or such an increase of mobs or confusion
and Perplexity in the Government as in 1849. Among the most desolat-
ing fires may be named the burning of Watertown on Sunday the 13th of
April $121,000 worth of property destroyed. five days after on the 18 of April
the tremendious conflagration at St Louis more than half the businesspart
of the city was burned $6000000 worth of property destroyed. The
Plague also in the form of the cholera visited the same city soon after
the fire and in few weeks laid in the grave 8000 of its inhabitants the
cholera ahas also swept many thousand into the grave in various parts of
the United States. it has raged through most parts of the land during the
past season. Mobs have also increased to an alarming degree in the United
States, in New York, Philadelphia, ^&^ Portland, they have been very consp-
icuous. The desolution of the American Union also seems to be fast
ripening during the past year. the slavery question seems to be the great
hinge upon which the Nation will split At the meeting of Congress
the House spent 18 days in organizing the House & Electing the speaker
which cost the Goverment near $100000, And it continues to be one
of the most exciting Congresses ever met in the United States And
if the war spirit now visible in the midst of Congress continues
to increase It is quite probable that the Union may be dissolved before
the close of this session. Although many Editors of the public Journals
have ridiculed for several years the Idea of the Dividing of the American
Union but this year thisey feel vary serious upon the subject And all the
signs of the times in this government indicate that the hand writing
upon the wall is begining to be visibly seen concerning the fate of
this Nation.
When we turn our eyes towards Zion during the year 1849 we can
behold the hand of the Lord also visible in her behalf. The Lord hath
promised great Blessings concerning Zion And the faithful Saints are watching
all signs appertaining to her with feelings of the deepest interest. for years past
Zion has been oppressed and as a captive removeing to and fromo but she has
finally found a resting place in the rich valleys of Ephraim in the great Bason
between the High Mountains & Everlasting Hills of North America And during
the year 1849 she has organized herself unto an Indipendant sovreign State
And appointed her Governor & Nobles of themselves, so that Her Nobles are
of themselves & her Govornor has proceded out of the midst of Ephraim
in Zion she has prospered more than during any year since her
organization she is rapidly building up a city in peace, has good crops, universal
Health, has made Arangements to lay of three New cities. Has re-organized her
marshal Legion of mighty men. 100 families have gone 200 miles South to
form A settlement under the Presidency of Bishop Morley in the sand
Pitch valley. The Church during this years haves laid the foundation for
a fund called the perpetual fund the object of which is to gather
unto Zion all the poor saints who cannot gather themselves from
Council Bluffs, the United States And from all the world, expect-
ing it to increase yearly untill all Israel is gatherd this fund is esstablished
by voluntary contributions of the Saints $5,500 was collected in the valley
in this way in one month And Bishop Edward Hunter was sent to
Council Bluffs with the money to buy oxen to take up the poor from
there to the valley the coming spring. The Elders of Israel are also
determined to send the gospel to all the world as soon as possible
All of the Apostles who were in the valley have had missions
assigned them. Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, & Willard Richards
compose the first Presidency. Orson Hyde the President of the Twelve
the following are the full quorum of the present Twelve, Orson Hyde
Parley P. Pratt Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A.
Smith, Amasa Lyman, Charles Ezra T. Benson, Charles C Rich
Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, & Franklin D Richards. Orson
Hyde is publishing the Guardian & presiding at Council Bluffs
Parley P. Pratt is Appointed to preside over the Pacific Islands
Orson Pratt is doing a great work in England some ten or
twelve thousand have been baptized under his Presidency
During 1849. Wilford Woodruff has been presiding over the
Eastern States & Canidas & has travelled over 5000 miles among
the churches And is now called upon to gather the remnants
to Zion George A. Smith And Ezra T. Benson has led a camp of
the saints from the Bluffs to the valley through many dangers
Amasa Lyman & Charles C Rich Are at San Francisco
presiding over western Calafornia. John Taylor Lorenzo
Snow, Erastus Snow, & Franklin D. Richards, with about 20
Elders have arived in the States from the valley On mission
to England, France Italy Denmark & Sweden so evry thing
is prospering in the Church & kingdom of God And All the
signs of the Times bespeak the comping of the Lord Jesus Christ
What 1850 will bring to pass time must determin but it
is certain it will be full of the Events of the times. The History
of Each year is important now Plagues, war, fire & Pestilence &
famine will lay many low in death: who will live. I am expecting
to start in April to lead A company to the Bluffs & on to the valley
the dangers are many I shall have to go through, But I Pray
my Heavenly Father to protect & sustain me & those who shal
go with me that we may reach in safety. I Also pray to the Lord
to preserve & bless the Twelve And all the Elders of Israel who
go on foreign missions, And Bless the Presidency with the power
of God, & cause Zion to arise And put on her beautiful garments
I pray that the oppressions of Zion may scease that her inhabita-
nts may have power to build Houses & inhabit them plant
vineyards and eat the fruit thereof. I Pray that her landing may
be like the Garden of the Lord that she may have the early &
latter rain that the Land may bring forth ofin her stregngth.
O, Lord order our cause aright which is before the Congress of
this Nation may all things work together for the good of thisy
saints, preserve us all from Evil of evry kind and help us to do
thy will in all things on the Earth. O Lord Hasten the gathering of
Israel, who are cast out And the dispersed of Judagh may the
Lamanites soon blossom like the rose, May the Zion of God who has risen
and gone up into the mountains be clothed upon with wrighteousness
and the power of God. May the Church become prepared like a
bride prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom And myay they
People not ownly have cause to rejoice in the Holy One of Israel
during the AD 1850 But through all time And All Eternity
I Travelled through Eleven of the
United States and New Brunswick
Miramichi, and Prince Edwards Island
During the year 1849 Total distance
Travelled 5040 Miles
I held public meetings 92 Meetings
I Baptized 11 Persons
I Confirmed 21 Persons
I Ordained Ezra Carter my Father in Law 1 Patriarch
Elders 4 Elders
High Priest 1 High Priest
Blest 11 Children
Administered unto sick persons 47 Persons
I Wrote 202 Letters
I Received 156 Letters
WILFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL
FOR
1850
~ Tuesday
Jan 1st 1850 [FIGURE] I recieved A letter from O Hyde containing power
of Attorney to collect $580.08 of Mr Oliver Carter No 4 Garland street
Boston I spent [part] of the Day Journal writing
~ Wednesday
2nd I went into Boston called upon Mr Carter bought some things
~ Thursday
3rd In company with my son Wilford I rode to East Bradford in cars
& sleigh & spent the night with Br Samuel Hardy distance 40
~ Friday
4th In company with three Brother Hardy's I went fishing on Rock pond &
caught 20 lbs of Pickerell through the Ice
~ Saturday
5th We fished some on three ponds to day & cought 18 pickerell
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I preached to the Saints in Bradford had a good time took tea
with Br Burbank I spent the night with Elder G J Hardy
~ Monday
7th [FIGURE] I returned home by cars and recieved 3 letters from Heywood & Wooly
N H Felt, And A letter and an Epistle from the presidency in Zion
All of which were full of good News. The following is a portion of the
contents or substance of it "They have universal health good crops plenty to
eat No sickness or Death of late are Prospering on evry hand are laying off three
new cities one at Brownville one at Utah Valley & one at Sandpitch valley
200 miles south of salt Lake valley from 50 to 100 families had gone to form
a settlement at Sand Pittoh valley under the Presidency of Father Morley
they had organized the Nauvoo Legion in the valley and it would
have been a source of Joy to the Saints throughout the Earth could they
have witnessed its movements on the day of its great parade to see a
whole Army of mighty men in martial aray ground their Arms not
by command but simply by request repair to the temple block and with pick & spade
open the foundation for a place of worship & treat the pilasters beams & roof so
that we now have a commodious edifice 100 by 60 feet with brick walls whare
we assemble with the Saints from sabbath to sabbath & almost evry evening in the
week to teach, council & defise [devise] ways and means for the prosperity of the
Kingdom of God, and we feel thankful that we have a better house
or bowery for Public worship the coming winter than we have heretofore
had any winter in this dispensation. Also the walls of the Council
House are nearly completed. The baths at the warm spring house are
in Progress and the foundation is laid & the brick prepaired for an
extensive store house & granary and no exheertions are wanting on our part
to push forward the Public works as fast as tithing & means are put into
our hand. They spoke of their great celebration on the 24th July as being a day
long to be remembered. 15 brethren had arived from the gold country
some had plenty of gold some were as destitute as when they went on board
of the ship Brooklin. "The true use of gold was for paving streets
covering houses & makeing culinary dishes & when the saints shall have
preached the gospel raised grain & built up cities enough the Lord will
open up the way for a supply of gold to the perfect satisfaction of his
people. They hadve laid the foundation for a perpetual fund for the
purpose of gathering all the poor saints to Zion who cannot gather them
selves untill all the poor ar gatherd from Council Bluffs, the United
States and all the World And $5,500 isas the first fruits of it is sent
to Kanesvill by the hand of Bishop Hunter to buy oxen to take the
poor with him to Zion this season & then Each year to return to the
states with all the money of the perpetual fund to continue to gather
the poor so that when A nation is born in a day they can be removed
the next of necessary. Therey are also resolved to send the gospel
to all the world as soon as Possible. All of the Twelve Apostles who
are in the valley with many others have their mission assigned them to
the Nations. Elder John Taylor accompanied by Curtis E Bolton and
John Pack goes to France: Elder Lorenzo Snow to Italy, & Joseph Toronto
with him. Erastus Snow to Denmark & Peter Hanson, Franklin D.
Richards goes to England accompanied by John S. Higdy George B
Wallace, Job Smith H. W. Church, Joseph W Johnson, Joseph W Young
& Jacob Gates will all go on a mission to cooperate with President
Orson Pratt. Elder John Forsgreen will go on a mission to Sweeden
Elder P. P. Pratt will go on a western Mission to the Islands in the
spring. The above named Elders except P P Pratt have Just arived
in the States. The Epistle also makes the following remarks Elder Orson
Pratt is Doing a great work in England & the cause of truth is ad-
vanceing rapidly in all her home dominions & the rejoiceing of the Saints
causes satan to howl for he is compelled to be subject to the power of
the highest. "Elder Woodruff is located at Cambridgeport Mass
and has been comforting and instructing the saints in Caniala
and the Eastern States the Past year. If Elder Woodruff will gather
up all the saints in his vicinity and come with them to this place He
will be doing a great work and will be opening a way for a visit to those
Nations who have both eyes and ears and are crying to the Elders of Israel
come tell ofus of the things of God for we have heard that God is with
you." [Zechariah 8:23] They call loudly upon me to gather up all the saints in the Eastern
Country & bring them to Zion to Esstablish Woollen & Cotton factories
& Iron founderies they say there is Iron & coal in good locations not
far distant.
The following is an item of the minutes of the conference
"On motion ^Prest^ Brigham Young was sustained as the first President of the Church
of J. C. of L.D.S. by unanimous vote of conference and also Heber C. Kimball
as first and Willard Richards as second councellors to Prest Young
Motioned that John Smith be sustained as the Patriarch of the whole Church carried
d[itt]o do Willard Richards do do Historian to this Church carried
do do Orson Hyde do, do, President of the quorum of the Twelve carried
Also Parley P Pratt, Orson Pratt, Willford Woodruff, John Taylor
George A. Smith Amasa Lyman Ezra T. Benson Charles C Rich
Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, And Franklin D Richards.
And all the other Quorums were recieved in the same way. And many
other good things were communicated to me all of which filled
my soul with Joy.
Sister Huldah Frost called upon us & spent the night
I also recieved the 23rd Number of the Guardian 30 m
~ Tuesday
8th I spent the day writing perusing the Epistle & letters
~ Wednesday
9 [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letters to O Hyde J. G. Hardy George Russel
and Joseph Russel. In Brother Russels letter I copied
much of the letter And Epistle And some of Ezra Carters letter
~ Thursday
10th [FIGURE] I wrote 9 letters to M. C. Pevey J. W. Crapo, T F Eldridge J. G. Hardy
Wm W. Swett J Druce, Dr. Bernhisel J Gibson A H Scott. I also recieved
[FIGURE] two letters from A. H. Scott & Ezra Carter
~ Friday
11th [FIGURE] I wrote 6 letters to J C Little J. W. Grierson Wm Page, N H Felt
C. C. Brown & Wm Low
~ Saturday
Jan 12th 1850 [FIGURE] I wrote 7 letter to J. Livingston, J. Luce T. Cartwright
D. Turner, S. Wells D. Carter and J. Townsend I recieved two letter from
[FIGURE] S. Wells & S. Tuttle
~ Sunday
13th Sunday I Preached in CambridgeportH]
~ Monday
14th [FIGURES] I wrote 8 letters to T Cartwright J. Burgess S. Wells, Hicks,
O. Pratt E. Keating, J Sandford, J. Doolittle. I recieved two letters
from J Doolittle M Pevey
~ Tuesday
15th [FIGURES] I wrote 4 letters to Father Carter, Fabyan Ilus F & S Moulton
~ Wednesday
16 [FIGURE] I wrote 7 letters to A Badlam J Brown S Scammans M C Pevey
T Whaley, S. Mack & Israel Ivins I recieved 3 letters from T Whaley S C Hardy & D Argus
~ Thursday
17 [FIGURES] I wrote 2 letters to J. C. Little & T Cartwright I wrote Copways
Address I recieved 2 letters from J C Little & E Whipple Elders Barn &
Pierce spent the evening with me I read the Epistle letters & some Journal to them
~ Friday
18th [FIGURES] I wrote to Wm Low I recieved 2 letters from Wm Low & John
Parkinson. I recorded Mr Copways speech in my Journal
~ Saturday
19 I rode to Lowell with Elisha B Foster & spent the night at Brother Peveys 30 m
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I Preached twice at Brother Pevey And in the evening I called
upon Abiel Pevey a few moments in the evening But I think he has No interest
in the kingdom of God I spent the night with Elder Lougae
~ Monday
21st [FIGURES] I recieved 4 letters from A. W. Babbitt Esqr Dr J. M. Bernhisel
Nathan Eldridge O. B. Huntington I wrote 2 letters to A W Babbitt & O Huntington
I rode from Lowell to Cambridgeport 30 m
~ Tuesday
22nd [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Horace Humphry
~ Wednesday
23rd [FIGURE] I recieved 2 letters from Thomas Cartwright & S. Wells
~ Thursday
24th [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to Thomas Cartwright Sent him $7.
~ Friday
25 [FIGURES] I recieved 34 letters from Wm Walker Lewis Taft &
& Sarah E Foss I. W. [wrote] 5 Letters to Col Thomas L Kane & J M Bernhisel
Ezra Carter Lewis Taft Wm Walker I recieved A letter from Dr J M Bernhisel
And 24th No of the Guardian containing a letter from George A. Smith
~ Saturday
26th [FIGURES] I wrote 3 letters to Orson Pratt Mary Ann Pratt and
John Parkinson I recieved [blank] Letter from Ilus F Carter I sent a
Guardian to Joseph Russel
~ Sunday
27th Sunday Elder Edson Whipple was with us to day we held a meeting
And had a good time
~ Monday
28th [FIGURE]Elder Whipple spent the day with me we conversed upon a great
variety of things
~ Tuesday
29th [FIGURES] I recieved two letters from Brother Maxfield &
Livingston. I wrote 2 letters to Maxfield & Fallon & sent a paper
to Ezra Carter took cars rode to Lowell & spent the night at Peveys 30 m
~ Wednesday
30th I rode in company with M. C. Pevey to Peterboro & spent
the night with J. C. Little I dined with Br Leonard Hardy 65 m
~ Thursday
31st I rode with Brother Pevey to see his Mother who was 84
years old but abot House quite smart I preached at night
at Brother Leonard Hardy's to the saints 14 m
~ Friday
Feb 1st I spent the day at Peterborough with Brother
Little & Brother Hardy I took up a Bill of goods on Brother
Barns account of shoes, clothes Harness &c to about $100 dollars
~ Saturday
2nd I rode Home to Cambridgeport & spent the night I
[FIGURE] Recieved 5 letters on my return home from A W Babbitt
D Turner, J Druce A. Bablam & John Johnson, Also the Portland Argus
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I met with the saints in Cambridgeport Elder Whipple
Preached I followed him we had a good time
~ Monday
4th I had an interview with Br Whipple in the morning & conv-
ersed upon a variety of things I wrote 3 letters to D Turner
[FIGURE] I. F. Carter & J Johnson I went to Boston Mrs Woodruff
took cars for Portland to spend a week with her friends
~ Tuesday
5th I spent the day at home it was an exeeding cold day
~ Wednesday
6th [FIGURES] 4 I wrote A letter to J G Hardy it is still vary cold
I wrote letters to J. Gibson C E Brown & Dan Atwood. I recieved
[FIGURE] two letters from J. Gibson & C. E. Brown I recieved the Portland Argus
~ Thursday
7th [FIGURE] I recieived 2 letters from Shuah Moulton & O Huntington
I spent the day writing in my Journal
~ Friday
8th [FIGURE] I wrote two letters to John Druce & O Huntington
[FIGURE] The Papers this morning brought one months later news from San Fran
cisco. The steemer brought $2000000 in gold dust gave an account
of a terrible fire in Sanfrancisco one half of the town burned up loss
$1,500,000. there had also been a fight between the Chilians
& Americans some Americans killed & 14 taken prisions, Among
the list of Deaths I saw the name of Miles M. Goodyear from Ct
He left home at 16 years of Age has lived among the Indians ever
since He was settelled 40 miles North of us at Cash valley Brother
James Brown bought him out He went to the gold digings & there
died. yesterdays papers contained Also an account of the Bursting
of A Steam Boiler in New York City, And raised a three story
brick building from its foundation 8 feet, And dashed it to the Earth
in a pile of ruins buriying ove[r] 100 persons in the fall whose
lives were lost. many calamities are visiting this generation
[FIGURE] I received A letter from A Badlam swho speaks of coming home
the first of next month. I called upon Mrs Badlam On my ret
urn home I found Elder Hardy He spent the night with me I rece
ived the 24th No of the Guardian which contained An interest
ing letter from Elder John Taylor. I [FIGURE] Recieved A letter from Ezra C
~ Saturday
9th In company with Elder Hardy I rode to Bradford & spent
the night with Br Samuel Hardy 35 miles
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I Preached to the Saints fwas followed by Elder
Hardy & others I had a good meeting I spent the night at
Mr Burbanks.
~ Monday
11th I called upon Br Samuel & Josigah Hardy then rode to
Cambridgeport & spent the night at home 35
~ Tuesday
12th I spent the day in part in Boston with Brother Hardy I found
Brother Ilus F Carter at my house on my return I spent an hour
with him And conversed upon A variety of subjects taking goods
to the valley &c soon After He returned home HFather Carter and
Mrs Woodruff Arvived from Maine Father Carter expects to spend
A Month with us to make us A visit, once more it probably will
be his last visit with us
~ Wednesday
13th I went into Boston called upon the superintendendt of
the Rail Road to make a contract to take out the saints to Albany
in the spring I attended a lecture in the evening on Physoiognomy
And it was quite interesting.
~ Thursday
14th [FIGURE] I recieved two letters from Wm Walker & Baldwin
~ Friday
15th [FIGURE] I visited the school in Cambridgeport during the exhamin
ation And found good order & improvement.
~ Saturday
16th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to C. N. Baldwin, Wm Walker & John Luce
~ Sunday
17th Sunday I preached to the People & Administered to 1 sick
~ Monday
18th [FIGURE] I obtained one letter from N. H. Felt I walked into Boston
with Father Carter visited the Medical College whare Dr Parkman
was murdered, we then visited other parts of the city I called
upon Br Cannon 123 Washington street He took my Daguerotype
likeness And put it into a Bosom pin for Mrs Woodruff Also
one in a small case, I engaged A Pair of lasts for my feet to make
[FIGURE] Shoes & Boots upon And returned home after walking 8 miles
~ Tuesday
19th I spent the day at home writing
~ Wednesday
20th Elders Heywood & Woolley called upon me to day from the valley
I conversed with them upon many things I walked with them
over Boston they stop at B F Baker No 4 Rowe Place Boston their
shiping Houses are R. M. Livingston St Louis, C F Bud of New Orleans
~ Thursday
21st [FIGURES] I Recieved one letter from George H. Russell & wrote
one to I. F. Carter. Brother Wallace called upon me to day on his
mission to England, we conversed upon things in the valley, and
all the news all the brethren bring from the Valley is cheering
to the soul the time to favor Zion is in vary deed come the saints
are prosipering in all things
~ Friday
22nd [FIGURE] I spent the fore part of the day reading in my Journal
to Elder Wallace upon bygone days
~ Saturday
23rd [FIGURES] I wrote 3 letters to James Livingston T. Cartwright
& J. Brown I recieived one letter from F. D. Richards at New
Orleans. I recieeived the New York Herrald and other Papers
And they are full of Alarm concerning the doings of Congress it
has become A hotbed of political warfare and most all parties
are looking for the exploding of the union the war spirit
is increasing in the hearts of the people And deep judgment
awaits the people nation, the hearts of men are failing them
for fear of those things that are coming on the Earth, the Lord
has said that in his fury he would vex the Nation And He is
about to fulfill it.
~ Sunday
24th Sunday we were Favored with the company in our meet-
ing to day of Elders Wallace Haywood & Woolley & we had a
glorious time we all got the fire of Zion I addressed the
Saints was followed by Elders Haywood Woolley & Wallace
who spoke much to our Edifycation I felt the spirit of
God like fire shut up [in] my bones as I spoke upon the things of
the kingdom of God
~ Monday
25th [FIGURE] I got one letter from Wm H. Wilson I went through
the city of Boston with Br Woolley Elder Cannan called
upon me in the evening I Advised Him to prepare to go to
st Louis As An agent with funds to buy cattle Elder Little
called upon us & spent the night the stage turned over twice
with him coming from Peterboro & like to have broak his leg
~ Tuesday
26th [FIGURES] I recieved A letter from O. Pratt & Lady. I wrote
4 letters to B. S. Wilber J. Gibson, Mrs Jeffreys & Wm Low. I
walked through Boston with Br Little.
~ Wednesday
[FIGURE]
27th I went into Boston with Brothers Heywood & woolley & see them
pick out their goods their hard ware was at Charles Scuddar
&c 33 & 35 Granite Block pearl street Boston, & crockery at
Mellen & Co No 16, 18, 20 Merchants Row, Boston I spent the rest of
the day in writing I wrote 3 Letters to J. G. Hardy M Pevey
[FIGURE] & Lewis
~ Thursday
28th [FIGURES] I went into Boston Bought A small Bill of crockery
for my familyies use I had a busy day I got one letter
[FIGURE] from Ilus F Carter
~ Friday
March 1st This is my birth day. I am forty three years
[FIGURES] of Age this day the Lord has blessed me & preserved my
life and carried me through many dangers seene &
unseen both temporal & spiritual for which Blessing
I feel to thank my Heavenly father & Pray that I may
still be kept And that myself & family may live to see anoth-
er birth day & that it may find me in the Land of Zion with
my friends. I wrote 5 Letters to FI F Carter C E Brown
O Hyde & S. B. Foss, & H. Druce I got the Guardian this evening
which was quite interesting
~ Saturday
2nd [FIGURE] I recieved 2 letters to day from Ilus F Carter &
I called upon Brothers Heywood & Woolley then took cars
for Portland arived in the evening, quite weary & spent the night 110 m
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I had an interview with Ezra & Ilus Carter &
Mr Shaw I visited their store Ilus F Carter had made
up his mind to go to the valley with us I accompanied Ilus
in a sleigh to Scarboro, we called at Father Carters & it
seemed quite Lonesome as no one was at home except Mrs
Carter & Mr & Mrs Plummer. we stoped at the place to
warm then rode to Sister Foss we there found Fabyan
Sister Foss & family, all busy we stoped an hour, took
tea, gave some council, & returned to Portland & it was
exeeding cold I became quite chilled I spent a portion of
the evening with Ilus Ezra & Mr Shaw I then went home with
Mr Ezra Carter & spent the night Miss Sarah Elizabeth
Foss was residing with Brother Ezra Carter 24 m
~ Monday
4th I left Portland in company with Mrs Judith Carter
& her Dauther & returned to Cambridgeport I was quite
unwell through my cares & labour I feel at times as much as
I can stand up under, in haveing the labour & care of getting
the companies ready I recieved A letter to day from
Walker Lewis I wrote 1 letter to Horace G Gladwin 110 m
[FIGURE]
~ Tuesday
5th [FIGURES] I received 3 letters from O Hyde Wm Low, & M C Pevey
I wrote 1 letter to Wm Low, this was an exeeding busy day I
[FIGURE] bought & packed up a stove Also packed up a large Box of goods
at home, looking glass, cloak, carpet rugs Boots, shoes, pants drawers &c &c
Ilus F Carter spent the night with me.
~ Wednesday
6th [FIGURES] In company with Mrs Judith Carter Mrs Woodruff I F Carter
I went into Boston had an interview with Brothers Heywood & Woolley
After consulting upon the subject of purchaseing a Bill of goods I
Assisted in Purchaseing A Bill of goods mostly dry goods at the
firm of Newton Eaton &c No 34 Pearl street to the Amount of
$1500. Then returned home & spent the night I Paid Brother
Woolley $245.00 for waggons & sundrys I recieved one letter from
J Gibson, Oliver R. Dorrance of the firm of Newton Eaton & co proffered
to supply any orders for goods that I would send for Hereafter
~ Thursday
7th This was also A vary busy day we continued our purchase to
day we bought A Bill of goods of J W Blodget & Co No. 26, 28, & 30
Pearl street. G. B. Samson, sailesman of About $1500. And A Bill of
crockery of Mellen & Co. 16, 18 and 20 Merchants Row of $200.
[FIGURE] I wrote A letter. I recieved $100 dollars from M. C. Pevey & gave
it to M. Cannon to buy Oxen for said Pevey
~ Monday
8th We continued our Purchases to day for Mr Carter untill dark. we
were all vary weary I went to the rail Road station with Father Carter
early in the morning And had considerable conversation with him
not knowing that we should ever meet again I have had many an
interesting visit with him I received 2 letters from A. W. Babbitt
And Mother Woodruff.
~ Saturday
9th [FIGURES] I received 3 letters from S. B. Foss Luther & Rhoda Scammans & one from Fall River. I wrote 5 Letters to A. W. Babbitt
L. Taft, Wm Low, J Gibson, Wm H Wilson
I went to upper & lower Depo of the Eestern rail Road & to the ship
Beatrice & back home Brother Uriah Nickerson spent the night with
me
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I preached to the people & spoke of Brother & Sister
Cannon leaving us
~ Monday
11th I Paid M. Cannon $5.575 dollars to Buy cannonttle with
I went over Boston to East Boston twice. I took 3000 lbs of
stationary & Books from the Eastern Depo to long wharf &
put on board of the ship Beatrice Also 900 lbs of Baggage
for S. B. Foss.
~ Tuesday
[FIGURE] 12th We had one of the heardest snow storms this mo
rning that I ever saw there was About 12 inches of snow
fell in 3 hours I went into Boston with Ilus ofF Carter
to continue the Purchase of goods we made a Bill of Hard
ware Nails &c of $ [blank] Also a Bill of $600 of Boots
& shoes.
Elder Allexander Badlam arived home to
day from the gold diggings of San Francisco to Cambridge-
port He had been gone one year to that country He was
truly glad to get home & we were glad to see him He
Brought $2000 dollars worth of gold dust And He broug-
ht me A present of 9 1/2 oz. of gold dust as A present from
several Brethren in the mines. And this begins to fulfill
A portion of my Patriarchal Blessings which I received
under the Hands of Father Joseph Smith in AD 1837.
He said I should have access to the treasures hid in the
sand to assist me in my necessities & in gathering many
orphan children to Zion And it is begining to come to pass
Brother Badlam called upon me in the evening & we had
a plesant interview together.
[FIGURES] I received An interesting letter from Capt
Joseph JRussell I wrote A letter to Joseph Russell 12 m
~ Wednesday
13th [FIGURE] I received 8 Leetters from Ezra Carter sen Samuel
Wells, S. C. Foss, Elder Kelsey & Wooster & Leonard Hardy &
Ashland, & Amasa Lyman, of San Francisco. I wrote
[FIGURE] one letter to sister Foss I Bought to day A Bill of
Groceries of Levi Bartlet & Co. No 2 Long wharf of $ [blank]
[FIGURE] I wrote one letter to N H Felt I parted with M Cannon
~ Thursday
14th [FIGURES] I received 1 Letter from Mary Ann Pratt I wrote
57 Letters to L. Hardy M. C. Pevey Thomas Knowles, S. Wells
Wm Ashland. Elder Cannon took his departure from
Boston to day. I walked over the City with Ilus to day
He went to Portland & I returned Home. My cares
& Labour are vary great thes days. Elder Badlam
put into my Hands $200 sent from the gold mines
to Thomas Knowles to help him to Zion I sent him word
that he might get ready to go with us. Brother Badlam
Brought over two thousand dollars in gold for himself
& considerable to cheer the Hearts of several individuals & to
help them to Zion Brother Badlam has been faithful on this
mission has returned with gold sufficient to pay all his
Debts Honorably & to go comfortably with his family to the valley
He has come home in good health & spirits & faith, & the
Lord has blessed him for which I feel thankful
[FIGURE] I wrote 2 letters to J. L. Heywood & Thomas Cartwright.
~ Friday
[1]5th [FIGURES] I received 2 letters one from George H. Russell one
from Wm Page I wrote to G. H. Russell I Boxed up A one horse
carriage wheels And all & shiped it on board the Beatrice. Brother
Joseph Fabyan Carter & Sarah C Foss called upon us & spent the night
~ Saturday
16th [FIGURES] I received 2 letters one from I. F Carter one from
A. W. Babbitt. I went over Boston with Fabyan Carter & got
his likeness, called at the ship sent A telegraph Notice to
portland. I bought 2 otter caps & one hat & returned home
The following are the various names & firms in Boston whare
our friends made there purchases for Deseret Market
Charles Scudder & Co. Hardware No 33 & 35 Pearl stret $ [blank]
Newton, Eaton, Oliver B. Dorrance &c 34 Pearl street Woollens $1231.33
J. W. Blodget & Co Dry Goods, B. G. Samson tradesman 26, 28, 30 Pearl st $1579.62
Mellen & Co crockery china glass ware 16, 18, 20 Merchants Row $183
Levi Bartlet &c wholesale grocers No 2 Long wharf $ 625.98
Fogg Brothers Carpet Merchant 91 Kilby street $414.12
Joseph Whitney & co wholesale shoe dealers 38, 40 Peal street $750.38
Samuel Curties 123 Washington street looking glasses $ [blank]
S. Atherton &c Leather 25 Broad street $75.48
Rice & Wason palm leaf Hats $9.75
Sanbourn & Carter Portland Maine Books & Stationery $902.19
Whitarer & Sweetser No 4 Long wharf glass $56.50
~ Sunday
17th Sunday I preached to the people was followed by Elder Badlam
~ Monday
18 [FIGURES] I wrote 6 Letters to T Cartwright A. W Babbitt Little
& Hardy & Mary Ann Pratt Ezra Carter jJr & Wm Sweat I received
3 letters from Erastus Snow, M. Cannon Wm Swett. Ilus called
upon us to day I went over Boston with him He with his Lady
spent the night with us.
~ Tuesday
19 [FIGURES] I received 3 Letters from E Carter Little & Hardy & Sherman
Barnes, I wrote to Little & Hardy
~ Wednesday
20th [FIGURE] I wrote to2 Little letters [FIGURE]
I received 5 letters from J G Hardy Hernry Druce John Johnson
J W Wilkings T& Taft. I saw Ilus F. Carter on board of the
Beatrice bound for New Orleans. He parted with his wife &
my family in the morning & set sail about 3 oclok in the afternoon
went away in good spirits
~ Thursday
21st [FIGURES] I received 2 letters from Ezra Carter & Smith
Tuttle. I wrote to N. H. Felt Little & Hardy, G. J. Hardy, Ezra Carter
& sent in it A Bill of Exchange I gave Elder Badlam A letter of
recommend. I walked over the city of Boston with Brother
Badlam which is the last day that I shall walk in the streets of
Boston with him for a long time we called upon Brother Barnes
And upon Mr M. L. Ray Genaral Agent No 3 1/2 commercial
And I changed my route from the North to the Southern
Route via New York Philadelphia they will ticket us through
to st Louis for $14.50. We will start on the 9th April. Brother
Badlam called upon me in the Evening, & Elder Wallace
we wrote together. The Fremont House was partly burn[ed]
to day. The trial of Professor Webster has been going
on in Boston for the last two days which has caused great excitement
~ Friday
22nd March ^I wrote 11 letters^ [FIGURES] I wrote letters to the following
persons H. Druce S. Tuttle C. SE. Brown
J. Johnson, Sherman Barnes, Nathan Eldridge L Taft
Samuel Wells, Mary Ann pratt S. B. Foss J. Johnson J. Gibson
Thomas MCKenzie T. Cartwright.
~ Saturday
[FIGURE]
23rd [FIGURES] I received 5 letters from E. Carter Heywood John
Druce Wm Walker, & C & [E] Scholy. I wrote [blank] Letters to Wm Low C. E. Brown Wm Walker. The Steamer arived this evening & brought
Professor Pratt from Liverpool He arived at my house in
the evening we sat up at a late hour conversing upon the the
things of the kingdom of God.
~ Sunday
24th Elder Orson Pratt walked into the city with me we met
Elders Erastus Snow & J. B. Wallace we called at the Revere House
And then all went to my House we met the saints in the
Afternoon. Elder E. Snow Addressed the meeting in an inter-
esting manner gave an account of the dealings of the Lord with
them in the valley the faith of the saints was tried to the utmost
in the valley by the cricket war & other things they had to encounter
but the Lord had deliverd them out of all their troubles.
Elder Orson Pratt followed & also spoke much to our edifyca-
tion we spent the evening to gether & conversed much upon
A variety of subjects in relation to the kingdom of God and
we were all Edifyed. He expected to increase the circulation
of the star from 500 to 20,000. Elder Snow sung several
songs of Zion we were all edifyed
~ Monday
25th [FIGURES] Elder Orson Pratt parted with me early in the
morning, & went on to New York I wrote 35 letters to
D Turner, J. Druce, Charles Scholy, & received Letters from 3
J. M. Bernhisel, M. Cannon & Ezra Carter containing a draft
for $800 for Ilus. I wrote to T. Cartwright & sister Cummings
~ Tuesday
26th [FIGURES] I wrote 23 letters to E. Carter J Shaw & J. M. Bernhisel
I received 3 letters from J. Gibson Mary weather & Haines
I visited the court room to day & had a view of the court
Asembly, council, Jury, & criminal Professor Webster
The criminal seemed nerveous, & excited sumthing was said
About some keys the criminal took a Book out of his hat
wrote a few words tore it out of the Book & sent it to
his council, was the ownly thing I saw him do except
sit & listen with Attention ownly He would move his finger
in a rapid manner at if excated [excited]. Elder Snow spent the
night with me we conversed to gether untill near midnight
~ Wednesday
27 [FIGURES] I received the Frontier Guardian Also speech of
Wm H Seward on the Admission of Calafornia, And one letter
from Ezra Carter Jr, Br Wm A. King & sister Aldrich called
upon us to day I wrote A letter to F Merryweather I
called into the court house & saw Professor Webster who
is now on trial for ^the^ murder of Dr Parkman. His Lawyier
was making his first plea the prisioner looked melancho-
ly it is thought He has not much chance at esscape it was
one of the most solumn assemblies for a court I ever
sa[w] [page torn]
~ Thursday
28th [FIGURES] I wrote 9 toLetters to N. H. Felt Thomas Cartwright
David Haines, Wm Adshead & J Gibson. It was A cold
severe snow storm through the day, I also wrote to mWm
Maxfield, Smith Tuttle, Wm Low, & Amasa Lyman I recieved
two letters one from Smith Tuttle & Wm Low
Elder Leonard Hardy spent the night with me
~ Friday
29th [FIGURES] $40. I received two letters one from Wm
Walker onecontaining $40 for Thomas Cartwright one from
Ezra Cartweright I wrote two letters one to Thomas Cart-
wright containing $30 to him one to Wm Walker acknow
leddgeing the recept of $40. I walked through the the
city of Boston with Elder Hardy I went into the courtroo[m]
& saw Dr Webster the testimony to day is in his favor
~ Saturday
30th [FIGURES] I received 5 letters from J. S. Shaw C. E. Brown
Shuah C. Moulton James Mellen & speech of Mr Douglass.
I wrote one toLetters to Mellen, one to Shuah & Freedom Moulton
31th [FIGURES] Websters trial closed to day & it was A serious
solumn court. The Jury after being out A few moments
brought in A verdic of guilty of Murder in the first
degree And He was sentenced by the court to be removed
to Prision And at the time Appointed be taken to the place
of Execution & be hung by the neck untill he was dead
I received 2 letters from Ezra Carter & J. Gibson I wrote
2 letters Abram Boynton spent the night with us
~ Sunday
231st Sunday I was sick through the day & mostly confined to
my bed
~ Monday
April 1st [FIGURES] I Received A Telegraph Despatch from
M. Cannon of St Louis. I went into Boston was still unwell
E. Snow spent the night with me.
~ Tuesday
2nd [FIGURES] I received A letter from Sister Comings & wrote
one letter to J M Bernhisel spent the day packing up
~ Wednesday
3rd [FIGURES] I received 2 letters & wrote 5 letters to C. E. Brown
D. Turner T. Cartwright J. S. Shaw J. M. Bernhisel. Elder Erastus
Snow took his departure from Boston to day on board of the
steemer for Europe we are all vary busy packing up & getting
ready to start for the valley again
~ Thursday
4th [FIGURES] I received two letters from Sherman Barnes
& M. C. Pevey I wrote A letter to Shermam Barnes
it was A rainy day
~ Friday
5th [FIGURE] I received 2 letters to day from T. Cartwright &
R. H. Hinder Agent for Leaches line
~ Saturday
6th A severe snow storm I receeived two letters & wrote
[FIGURES] two to Orson Hyde & James Mellen Ezra Carter sen
spent the night with us
~ Sunday
7th Sunday we had our last meeting in Cambridge port to day I spoke
to the saints was followed by Elder Wallace & others And took the
parting hand with those who tarried. In the evening in company
with Ezra Carter Jr Elizabeth Foss & Mrs Woodruff I walked to [page torn]
colleges Also visited the House of Mr Geo W Webster the murderer
of Dr Parkman we returned home & spent the night 1
~ Monday
8th [FIGURE] Mr Ezra Carter my Brother in Law took the parting
hand with us this morning it was rather Painful parting He
Returned home to his family in portland we spent the
day in packing up for a start.
~ Tuesday
9th [FIGURE] I left Boston with 100 saints Also my family
& other relatives at 5 oclok took cars & steemer
for New York we were much crouded on the boat
yet we arived in safety in New York I bought tickets
through of Mr Ray for the company to Pittsburgh Paid
$11 each. He with Little accompanied us to New York 240
~ Wednesday
10th We were Joined this morning by 100 more saints we were
visited by many friends from New York we left New York
at 5 oclok with 209 Saints travelled all night changed all our
baggage & Freight twice amounting to 42000 lbs we arived
in Philadelphia in the morning 100
~ Thursday
11th On our Arival we were Hurried in the greatest
manner to unload our baggage & cart it to the rail road
Here it all had to be weighed over, And loaded into cars an
extra train had to be prepaired for us we started at 12 oclok
while on the rail Road one of the wheel gudgeon got dry & took
fire we stoped & fixed it we arived at the canal at mid night
had to unload our baggage onto canal section Boats we had
3 boats Allotted to our company as soon as our passengers
& freight were on board our captain started on his Journey
& we travelled through the night we found these setion boats
the most disagreable part of our journey we were crouded
together like slaves in a ship & not more than half could have
the chance to lie down at all the Horse stable was about
the most comfortable place on the boat & the ownly saloon we
had myself & wife were both nearly worn out with care
& hard labour
~ Friday
12th several were quite unwell this morning rode all day &
night on the canal
~ Saturday
13th A plesant morning but some hard snow squals before
night the air was filled with snow which made quite
a romantic Appearance Among the mountains
~ Sunday
14th Sunday A cold day I preached to the company in
Brother Hardys section two were taken sick I admin
istered to them And they were healed
~ Monday
15th We Arived at Holydaysburgh & took rail road to go
over the mountains we Arose the second incline plain &
spent the night Sister Allexander was taken in a
fainting fit & Appeared as though she would die I laid
hands upon her with prayer & she began to recover & was
well in the morning
~ Tuesday
16th We started in good season & continued over the
mountains in good order arived at the canal at sunset
the other two boats are behing [behind] we road all night Elder
Boynton was taken quite sick
~ Wednesday
17th All well this morning cool but cloudy we cont-
inued throug the day on the canal
~ Thursday
18 A plesant day we arived in Pittsburgh at 12
oclock All quite as well as could be expected I was
visited by several steem Boat captains who wishd
to take our company to St Louis I finally made A
contract with Captain Devinney of the De Wit Clinton
to take our company to St Louis on the following ter[ms]
cabin passage $8, steerage $2, freight 20 cts per
100 lbs & He agreed to wait for our other Boats to
come up most of us spent the night on board
the section Boat. I received A letter stateing that
the Hind Boat had met with an accident knocked a
hole in the boat & detained them two days to mend
it distance from Philedelphia to Pittsburgh [blank]
~ Friday
19th [FIGURE] I Received another letter from the hind
boat requesting us to tarry untill they come the
second Boat containing Elder L Hardy & company
arived this morning. We unloaded both boats &
weighed all the baggage & carried all the baggage
on board of the De Wit Clinton And assigned
the Berths to the company & we waited patiently for
the Arival of the last Boat
~ Saturday
20th We spent most of the day getting our baggage into
the Hole [hull] of the Boat
~ Sunday
21st Sunday we spent the day on board of the boat
~ Monday
22nd Monday the last Boat arived this morning we took
all the Baggage & company on board of the steemer
And assigned all their berths making 212 souls in
all of our company & we had nearly 200 other
passengers in the steerage & cabin making near
400 passengers in all
~ Tuesday
223rd We started about 4 oolok this morning down the
Ohio we travled well through the day. The Captain & all
hands & officers on board are vary kind to me & all my com[pa]
ny I never saw a captain of a Boat take more pains to ma[ke]
A company comfortable than Captain Devinney
~ Wednesday
24th The weather is delightful to day the peach trees are all
in Bloom upon each side of the River we are sailing rapidly do[wn]
the River
~ Thursday
25th We Arived at Cincinnati at 11 oclok And spent the
day & night Here I called upon Brother Mary weather at
the cornor of Vine & Maine street also upon Brother
Miles the Presiding Elder I learned that most of the church
had gone to Council Bluffs from this place I found Br
Preston Here & took him on board with us making our
company 213
~ Friday
26th We left Cincinnati about 12 oclok we passed the
residence of Gen Harrison we glide smoothly down the river
there is a great rise in the River the water is up near full
Banks we Arived at Louisville in the night & remained untill morning
~ Saturday
27th We started this morning & went over the Louisville falls
instead of going through the canal which saved one days time
we had a good time all day
~ Sunday
28th Sunday the River is full Banks A Hard storm of wind
& rain raised A great sea on the River And in turning the
Boat around to take in some coal in the mids of the troughth &
waves of the sea with a Heavy load & slender build she was in
danger of Breaking in two she trembled creaked & bent untill
many of the passengers were much frightened she broke
one of her stay bolts into [in two] But after taking in her coal
she started out again & travelled several hours in the
storm & sea in the midst of danger but before night went
in behind an Island & tied up for the night
[FIGURE] Sister Cartwright was delivered of A Daughter this evening
~ Monday
29th Run down to Paduka KY & spent several hourse
And continued down the River entered the Mi River at 2 oclk
~ Tuesday
30th Br Brown was taken quite sick in the night we have
travled well through the day
~ Wednesday
May 1st We arived in St Louis this morning I was soon
visited by Elders Heywood, Felt, & many of the saints it was A vary
Busy day in company with N. H. Felt I made A contract with
Captain Baker to take up our company on the Sacramento to
Council Bluffs on the following terms. Cabin $13, Deck $4,
freight 50 cts the Sacramento came along side the clinton
& took our freight on board which occupied most of the day
I felt thankful to God that we had arived in St Louis in safety
And no lives lost, and up to this time we had No death among
us Sister Margarett Bird was taken sick in the night with
the cholera Mrs Woodruff went down to visit her & found
Her Dangerously sick
~ Thursday
2nd [FIGURE] Sister Bird Died at 6 oclok this morning she was
laid out & the citiy authorities called upon to bury her
the sexton soon came with a coffin Brother Edwin Bird &
one of the pioner company & myself laid her into the
coffin & she was carried out of the Boat buryed by
the sexton with no relative to follow her to the grave
It was A trying scene to the Husband, Children, Relatives
& company. As soon as this was over we all had to go to
with our mights to purchase goods provisions &c to get
ready to leave at night it was A Hard days work I settled
up all my busines And the boat started at dark And Brothers
Leonard Hardy & Russell was left on shore they afterwards
came down & the Captain took them on. I went to bed
worn down & nearly sick. I bought $40 dollars worth of
groceries & provisions one ton flour, one stove, took on
bord 11 waggons for I. F. Carter learned that He had
arived with the goods & gone to Council Bluffs on
the Mary Blane all had gone well, distance from
Pittsburgh to St Louis [blank] Miles
~ Friday
3rd We travel slow against the corrant & are loaded to the
guards some were afraid of the cholera on the boat as we had
one death on board, I told the brethren not to have fears
about it but to keep clean, exercise take the air & be faithful
& watch unto Praiyrer & all would be well
~ Saturday
4th We find we are blessed with a good captain & officers
on board of the Sacramento which I consider A great
blessing to us we travel slow. It is cold weather
~ Sunday
5th Sunday [FIGURE] at 5 minutes past 6 PM Br & Sister Branch
had their ownly child Irvin Henry Branch Die He had been
sick with the worm fever for 10 days, at 7 oclok we past
Jefferson City the capitol of Mo. We saw the place whare
our Brethren that died on the Monroe were buried on the
bank of the River they were afterwards taken up &
put in the burying ground. the State House stood upon
an Eminance vary conspicuous.
~ Monday
6th We stoped about 2 Hours at Bloomfield & Brother Branch
went to the grave yard with two or three other Brethren had a
grave dug & buryed his child I obtained A paper Here which
gave an account of the barren state of the plaines No
grass & oxen could not live some were turning back
~ Tuesday
7th ItWe have A severe cold rain storm most of the day quite
a number on board of the boat are much troubled with a
Bowel complaint I am troubled with it myself, Brother
W. H. Brown has been sick some 10 days but is getting better
slowly we have thus far been blessed while on this River
which is full of snares & dangers And I pray the Lord to
preserve us unto the Engd
~ Wednesday
8th We still travel slow we passed a large perairie & A flock
of swan which was quite a sight to those who had never
seen either before. I addressed the saints in the evening & had
to reprove some
~ Thursday
9th [FIGURE] I am quite unwell today we are passing to day along
the Banks of Jackson & Clay Counties whare the saints
have received such severe persecutions in former
days may the Lord Reward there persecuters according
to their deeds.
~ Friday
[FIGURE] 10th I wrote 2 letters to day to Father Carter to Luther
Scammands. We passed Fort Leavenworth called at weston in
the evening left some Freight & tried to run some in the
night, but we run onto several snags as the river abounds
with them, it is dangerous runing
~ Saturday
11th A man came on board this morning and informed
us that many were coming back from the plains & selling
out their teams & going home & so oxen were falling
no grass grown yet, the Mary Blane was at St Josephs
Yesterday. It seems as though the world were vary blind
to rush onto the plains in such vast Numbers to go
to the gold mines before any grass grows to sustain the
Oxen. We arived at St Josephs in the evening & spent the night
I called upon James Townsend & Stephen Markham
~ Sunday
12th Sunday We started from St Josephs at day light I was informed
that 25000 gold seekers crossed at St Josephs & gone onto the
plains we see them on both sides of the river to day in the
woods & on the prairie preparing to start out it is A plesant
day I sat on deck & looked at the travelling caravans through
my glass we run onto A sand Bank in the evening, & it took a
hards night work to get off.
~ Monday
13th We were out of wood And all hands went on shore & cut
a few cords of wood to get along to whare some could be
bought we took on several cords about noon, it was a
vary plesant day
~ Tuesday
14th [FIGURE] Early in the morning word was given out for the
passengers to go on shore & walk up the bank of the river
to lighten the boat so they could get up the sand
bars, they went on shore about two dozen men with
some mules two women & children left the river
& struck for the Bluffs so that when we got ready
to take in the passengers those persons could not be
found. One woman was vary feeble with two children
it was supposed they had fainted by the wayside the
captain & others rode miles in search of them could
not find them came back & wen[t] on with the steam
boat some 5 miles & found them all in a pile on the
bank of the River the woman nearly exhausted it
detained us several hours.
we passed many dangers this day the river being
full of snags, we stoped a few miles below fort Kearney
for the night. I wrote to Brigham Young a
letter of introduction to Dr S. M. Tibbits Also stated to
him our Number whare we were &c
~ Wednesday
15th Arived at Fort Kearney early in the morning &
left all passengers & freight except what was for the
Bluffs we then went on to Deseret Depo whare we
arived about dark we here found Ilus Br Badlam & many others
this is about 18 miles Below Kanesville I spent most of the
night on my feet taking charge of Baggage
~ Thursday
16th I rode upon the steamer to Kanesville & met with Br
Gibson & many others distance from St Louis to Kanesville [blank] miles
whole distance from Boston to Kanesville via
New York, Phil, Pittsburgh & St Louis [blank] miles
I went to Kanesville spent A little time atwith Elder Hyde
17ththen returned called upon Brother Alread & went
on board of the steamer & spent the night
~ Friday
17 The boat started early in the morning & I returned
to Bethlehem or Deseret Depo And spent a Busy Day
~ Saturday
18th [FIGURE] I wrode to Kanesville in Company with Elder
Bablam I saw Elder Hardy spent A little time with him
I then went to Elder Hydes I there met with Elder
Orson Hyde & Orson Pratt. I spent A long evening in
conversation with them Elder Hyde wished me to
lay before the Presidency in the valley the situation of
affairs in Pottawatamie county Ioway He wished me
to say to them that all the men of capital were leaving
for the valley men from the East & England that were
able were going to the valley, And all the men that were
living thare that were able to make a fit out were
talking of going Another class who were able to get
a fit out in part even able to get waggons were
taken out by Bishop Hunter so those that are left are
the poorest part of community & if this order of
things is continued A year or two more this county
will be broaken up & the saints will have to scatter
abroad the poor who come from the East & England
who are to poor to go through are left upon our hands
& oxen are now selling in kanesville from $60 to $100
& when this springs Emigration leaves there will
not be left more than one Yoke of oxen to 7 families
& the fields would not be ploughed or planted He
said He did not think that Kanesville & the surrounding
country should be deserted or broaken up but if the
Presidency wished it to be so He should not then
object to it. He spoke upon the subject of opening large
fields & farming upon a big scale by employing the poor
brethren to work upon them this He would like to do if
He could be assured that He would not be called away
in a year or two after commenceing it. He remarked
if the presidency wished to evacuate the place or wished
him to go any whare els He would go. He seemed to
oppose the idea of Having the poor come to Kanesville to
stop He thought they had better cstay in the East or at
St Louis, than to come Here I make this recoorrd to present
to the Presidency according to his request
Elder O. Pratt wished me to say to the Presidency
that there were many Elders in England of power faith
& talent who had to labour hard to get bread for there
families And when Elders were sent to them from
America who had not talent & could not edify them
they felt it was A tax upon them that there own Elders
were more capable to Edify them than those that were
sent unto them And when men were sent they should
be such as could Edify & instruct. I spent the night at
Brother Hydes with Elder Pratt 18 miles
~ Sunday
19th [FIGURE] According to appointment I met in conference with
Orson Hyde Orson Pratt And the High Council near the
stand in the grove, one hour before the general meeting
Elder Hyde Addressed the council in substance as follows
That there was business left unfinished at the conference
which must be closed to day As osome officers are going to
the valley others must be appointed. Bishop Johnson was
going Another Bishop must be appointed Also men must be
appointed to visit the various branches who would attend
the council & carry the spirit of the council to the people
& bring back the spirit of the cPeople to the council. Joseph
Young & Benjamin Clapp who were appointed last Year
were not with them at all ieither in Body or spirit &
whenever they did attend A council Joseph Young could
not stay till He went away we will pass them over &
let them go. Elder Hyde also remarked that it was necessa
ry to make arangements to receive the poor that had of
late arived among us I have given council through the
guardian for the poor not to come here & some have
contrary to this councisl through tha misguided zeal councilled
them to come to this place & such must bear the consequen
ces of it. It was voted that A Bishop be appointed to
take the place of Bishop Johnson, & that Elder Stodard
be appointed to travel among the Churches & call such
men to his help as He needed. Three men were Appointed
as A committe to locate the poor.
We then repaired
to the Stand before the congregation & each item of
business was presented before the people the same as
before the council And a vote taken upon each
item Elder Hyde made many remarks upon each item
as they came up before the people Among other things said
that the Priesthood & Saints Held the keys of Blessings
in there own hands & said we have not had but one
shower of rain this year or since last fall & we have
not seen the bow in the Heavens at all this season the
earth is parched up & dry now if you want rain
open your doors & receive the poor And you will have
the Blessings the people said they would do it &
Elder Pratt Prayed for rain. Elder Hyde Also wished
the sin course & evil that arose in that place from the
grog shops should rest upon the Head of those who kept
such dogeries & the people said Amen to it
In the Afternoon Elder O. Pratt Preached to the people
in an Edifying manner spoke Also against the Grog shops
Also of his travel in England the progress of the work in that
land the many thousands who were coming into the
church the great increase of the publications the
opposition that was begining to be manifest against
them spoke of the signs of the times the building
of the city of Zion the peculiarity of that city having A
pillar of fire by nigh & a cloud by day resting over
the Habitations of the saints Elder Pratt spoke quite
leangthy upon these points when He closed He was
followed by Elder W. Woodruff who spoke briefly
upon a few item He manifested much pleasure in once
more meeting with the saints said He had been on
a mission to the East nearly two years He could not
give so flattering account of matters as Elder Pratt
Had for the field in the Eastern States had been
like the gleaning of grapes after the vintage was
done thare had been Baptized in his field of
labour about 200 since he had been on his mission. As
there had been much said about the poor coming to kanesville
Elder Woodruff remarked that He had recieved council from
the Presidency in the valley to stretch out his arms and
gather all He possibly could to Zion. And when the Lord tells
me to do any thing or I receive council through the proper
sourse I go at it with all my might And I can neither
eat Drink or sleep in peace except the work that is requ-
ired of him me to be performed is progressing about right
I have laboured hard to gather out the people according to
the instructions given me. One company started from
Philadelphia under Elder Gibson of [blank] I Also started from
Boston on the 9th with 209 And from St Louis with 225
& we arived here in safety & there are a few poor who
came with me who cannot go through & will stop here & if
in my zeal to carry out the instruction of the Presidency I
have been instrumental in causing more poor saints to come
to Kanesville than ought to have come it has been an
Error of the head & not of the heart. I feel to sustain
Elder Hyde in the course He has taken here in taking a stand
against drunkenness gambling stealing Bogasmaking & iniquiti[es]
of all kinds. there is order in the kingdom of God. the
Presidency inof the Church are the first to receive & give instructi[on]
to the whole Church & Elder Hyde is the president in this
place & the one to receive & give instructions & He is accoun[table]
for his course to the Presidency of the Church, other remar[ks]
were made & was followed by Elder Hyde who said that wha[t]
Elder Woodruff had done was all right & would work for good
& other remarks were made He then gave council for the
Brethren who had farms to sell & were thinking of going to the
Valley to take this as an omen that it was right for them [to]
go if they could sell them for what they were worth
to sell them & go if not to stay and till them unless
they felt disposed to give them to some poor brethren
the conference was dismissed & though there had not been
a shower of rain but once since last fall & the bow had
not been seen since last year yet as soon as meeting was
dismissed the clouds gatherd the rain poured down the
Bow appeared And it was a matter of observation with
many of the world as well as Saints. I spent the night at
Elder Hydes
~ Monday
20th In company with Elder Badlam I rode to Bethlehem
& was weary when I arived home 18 miles
~ Tuesday
21 I spent the day at home Ilus Carter took the boat & went
to St Josephs to buy oxen took with him $1300. A. O. Smoot
took $400 to buy cows. R. C. Petty took $300 to buy Oxen
~ Wednesday
22nd [FIGURE] I Received 3 letters while at Kanesvill from Shuah
Moulton, from Harwich, & Mary Ann Pratt. I spent the
day at home writing
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
23rd 24, 25 I spent the time preparing the waggons for the
Journey
~ Sunday
26th Sunday I spent the day writing there was a meeting in camp
~ Monday
27th The Brethren are buying Oxen & paying forom $45
to $80 per yoke
~ Tuesday
28th I spent the day in camp
~ Wednesday to ~ Friday
29, 30 & 31st I spent the time in Camp labouring hard
~ Saturday
June 1st Ilus Returned home at night had bought 19
yoke of oxen & two Horses had a hard time in Driving
~ Sunday
2nd I preached to the people in the evening at Bethlehem
~ Monday
3rd In company with Br Bird I rode to Kanesville & spent
the night with Br Hardy. 18 mil
~ Tuesday
4th I Attended the sale of 40 yoke of oxen & bought two
yoke was in the rain & mud all day I dined with Br
T. D. Brown, & spent the night with Br Hardy
~ Wednesday
5th I had a hard ride often lost cattle found them
& drove them to Bethleham 18 mils
Elder O. Hyde went down & organized some companies
~ Thursday
6th I rode to Mr Modys & bought 5 yoke of wild oxen
& drove them Home 12
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
7 & 8th I was quite unwell but worked in camp
~ Sunday
9th Sunday I spent the day at home at work in
Journal writing
~ Monday to ~ Friday
10th 11th 12th 13 & 14th I spent the time labouring hard
to prepare the camp to cross the ferry
~ Saturday
15th We commenced to cross the Mo River to day
~ Sunday
16th I receeved instructions tofrom Elder Hyde to organize our
company whether they were few or many I organized
in part, but could not in full untill I crossed the
River
16th Sunday we finished crossing the river to day it was
a tedious job
~ Monday
17th We Encamped on the Hill but the woods bushes &
rattle snakes made it bad Herding Cattle
~ Tuesday
18th We spent the day on the Hill
~ Wednesday
19th We left Rattlesnake Hill & travelled 5 miles to A creek
& camped for the night 6 miles
~ Thursday
20th I returned to Bethleham Bought some Articles & returned
to camp 12
~ Friday
21st [FIGURE] I called the camp together & organized
them in the following order
We Appointed Robert Petty Captain of the first Hundred
Leonard W Hardy Captain of the first fifty
Edson Whipple Captain of the second fifty
Hall Captain of the 1st Ten
James Cuorrier Captain of the 2nd Ten
Miner Atwood Captain of the 3rd Ten
[blank] Gardner Captain of the 4 Ten
[blank] Captain of the 5th Ten
[blank] Captain of the 6th Ten
Total [blank] persons [blank] waggons [blank] cattle [blank] Horses [blank] sheep
Remarks were made by W. Woodruff concerning the
order of the camp regulations &c strongly opposed drunke[nness]
swareing gambling, whiping oxen &c & was followed by
Captain Petty who sustained the remarks made Wby W Wood[ruff]
Ilus F Carter Had ten waggons of merchandize & was
appointed Captain over them but in consequence of
the lateness of the season He concluded to return home
so we made out the report of the organization &to send to
Elder Hyde by him
~ Saturday
22nd We Parted with Brother Ilus F. Carter this morning
who left his business in my hands. He started to return
Home. We wtook up our oxen & drove to squaw creek &
camped for the night 8 miles
I find it much more Hilly than on the North route
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday we travled to rock creek in the rain &
camped for the night 8 mils
~ Monday
24th A Hard rainy day we lay in camp I have in my
possession 12 waggons 27 yoke of oxen 30 cows, including
Mr Carters Merchandize which makes me A vast [amount]
of labour & care & we have in our company several
men as drivers who are of the world which is more difficult
to manage than the Saints
~ Tuesday
25th A hard rainy day
~ Wednesday
26th Rainy And vary bad Roads
And vary hard Journeying for man & beast
~ Thursday
27 Our Jentile teamsters manifested much of the spirit
of the Devil And tried to make disturbance we passed
the grave of John C Campbell & a child buried to day from
Br Snows company of cholera
~ Friday
28 Our Teamsters had another blow up this morning 5 or 6
gold diggers who were driving baggage waggons said
they would leave their object was to take advantage of
our situation & compel us to pay high wages for driving
I told them they might quit as quick as they pleased And
they would none of them go I turned off Williams
the ring leader & the rest went on & were more
Humble. We crossed Salt Creek to day
[FIGURE] Br Samuel Smith Died of cholera at 8 oclok at night
Aged 43 years Brother Badlam & myself laid him out in his
Robes, laid him on the ground in his tent but we had but
Just got it done untill A tremendious tuhunder storm over-
took us blew the tent down we had to cover over the corpse
& let it lie untill morning
~ Saturday
29th We buried Brother Smith this morning & continued our
Journey. Dr Braily was buried on the south side of Salt Creek
this morning by Joseph Young & co
~ Sunday
30th Capt Joseph Hall drank free of slew water & in an
hour was taken with the cholera & died after 12 hours
sickness we all felt His loss he was vary useful to the Camp
~ Monday
July 1st We dug Capt Halls grave He had 4 men with him
who made a Covenant together that should any one of them die
on the road they would not bury them the same day so to be true
to their Covenant they remained with the body through the day
we continued our Journey & At night camped with A
company of Brethren from the valley with the Mail. Brother
Campbell Had Charge of it we met in the evening herd the
list of Letters read over several songs of Zion sung & A cheer-
ing account of good news related from the valley
~ Tuesday
2nd We parted withe the Brethren from the valley they
go East we west A plesant day we have had much
rain of late & the roads were bad we passed several
graves to day
~ Wednesday
3rd Matilda Hardy died of consumption this morning
at 2 oclok was buried this morning
~ Thursday
4th We spent the day in camp on the Bluff before
going on to the platt Bottom. Washing Baking Black smithing
was Attended to. Lucy Johnson was taken sick at the
river with the cholera
~ Friday
5th Lucy Johnson Died this morning at 3 oclok & was
buried before we left camp. Susan Woodruff was
taken sick suddenly with extreme pain in all her limbs
& could not move a hand or foot without her schreaming
we Administered to her & she was healed Phebe was
also taken sick we Administered to her & she was healed
Mrs Woodruff was also quite unwell, there is some sickness
& death in all the camps we have heard from
~ Saturday
6th [FIGURE] Mrs Snow Mrs Snow of Cambridgeport was taken sick in the
Afternoon with Diarhea took some Medicine called cholera
Medicine & immediately grew worse & Died at 3 oolok at nig[ht]
we travled 20 miles to day over A bad road on to the platt bott[om]
& camped for the night by a slew.
~ Sunday
7th Sunday we rode 5 miles & camped on the Banks of the
Platt whare there was wood & water with both of our
divisions. Also Brother Gibson ten & Brother Snows company
we had a meeting together at 4 oclok
~ Monday
8th Drove 18 miles & camped
~ Tuesday
9th Drove 17 miles & camped Had a Thunder storm
~ Wednesday
10th Drove 20 miles on the Platt camped on the bank of the
River I Baptized 14 Persons for the remission of sins & confir[med]
them & 2 for Health [FIGURE] E H Emily Huntington Died & was buried
this day she was A saint Aged 24.
~ Thursday
11th Elder L. Hardy was sick I laid Hands upon him & He was
Healed I had two Teamsters whose names was Graham their
conduct was disgraceful in evry sense of the word they
would steal, lie, sware, & do almost evry evil thing in
their power And we came to the conclusion to cast the Family out
out of camp, for their wickedness
~ Friday
12th The Graham family all left camp this morning with
Williams & went ahead. We felt that we had got red
of many Evil spirits we continued our journey had a
Hard Thunder storm at night which scattered our cattle
much I think the road on the north side of the river is
much the best for wood & water
~ Saturday
13th It took us several Hours to gather our cattle we started
about 10 oclok & travled 12 miles & camped with both
divisions in one carall for the Sabbath on the banks of the
Platt 10 miles East of Fort Carney
~ Sunday
14th Sunday A tremendious wind & Thunder storm in the
morning & through the night I had A fine ox die through
bursting A Blood vessel we held A meeting in the Afternoon
~ Monday
15 [FIGURE] I wrote A letter to I F Carter at Fort Karney
I visited the fort. During the Evening we were visited w[ith]
A terrible Thunder storm the lightning struck all around
us & while the teams were crossing A slew the lightning bu[rst]
into their midst & shocked many persons & beast & it
killed 3 oxen & one man dead it was Brother Ridge from
Lane End Staffordshire England that was killed & his
team He was buried in the evening He belonged to Elder
Whipples fifty. I Bought 2 1/2 yoke of oxen of Mr Booth at
the fort. I had of Wallace $80, Elizabeth Foss $10, Father
Atwood $25, Wilford $5.75 to buy them with Two Team[sters]
Left I got two more
~ Tuesday
16th After I got my oxen I drove 15 miles & camped
on the Bank of the platt
~ Wednesday
17th Travled 25 miles & camped near plum creek
~ Thursday
18th Robert C Petty lost a child 6 month old it was buried
in the morning
~ Friday
19th Travled 20 miles camped on the bank of the Platt
I rode with Mrs Woodruff onto the Bluffs took a survey
of the Country had prayers in A cavern & returned to camp
we passed many graves of the gold digtgers to day I rode
into the Bluffs through the day found A flat level fertile
country back of the Bluffs
~ Saturday
20 Robert C Petty was taken sick with the pleuricy in the
side to day His Teamster Mr Stickney is dangerously sick
we travled 18 miles & camped on the platt
~ Sunday
21 Sunday Brother Petty is dangerously sick this morning
we Administered to him Mrs Woodruff & Mrs Foss both
had dreams last night that appeared to be omens of death
or distress. We lay in camp to day many of our Oxen
have sore necks & lame feet. We held A meeting in camp
~ Monday
22nd Travled 8 miles Capt Petty was still dangerously sick
~ Tuesday
23rd I went forward with ^of^ my company to find the
cold cottonwood spring but passed it & did not find
it. I went on to Wm Snows company & spent
several hours with him & took dinner of fresh Buffalo
meat they killed 3 the day before we have just struck
the Buffalo range. Our company killed An Antelope
I had 1/4 of it we camped for the night on the platt
Our men broke one Tongue to day
~ Wednesday
24th This is the day of selebration in the valley we lay
still in camp
~ Thursday
25 Three Buffalo was killed to day I killed one of them
we travled 8 miles & camped on the platt
~ Friday
26 We travled 16 miles & camped on the platt
shore above the lower crossing we found a cold
spring A soldier killed himself drinking out of
it
~ Saturday
27 Crossed the Bluffs 6 miles camped by a grove
of timber & made a cole pit
~ Sunday
28 Sunday we stayed in camp I had A severe Attack of
[FIGURE] sickness I was Administered to & took herb tea
& was better at night I did not set up any through
the day the Encampmen of both divisions had
~ Tuesday
July 30th 1850 [FIGURE}
Our encampment or the first division of it was called
to pass through one of those horrid scenes to day which are
so much dredded by all emigrating companies on the plaines
which was a stampede of all the ox teams with the family
waggons of the first division with the exception of the 10
baggage who were in the rear. No person who has not
experienced or witnessed one of athose dredful scenes cannot
form any correct idea of them and it is almost impossi-
ble to give a correct description of it for to behold 30 or 40
ox teams from 2 to five yoke of oxen in each team attached
to a family waggon of goods & women & children all in
an instant like the twinkling of an eye be deprived of
all reason, sens, & government & be filled with madness
frantic & fright & all dart off with lightning speed each
running their own way, roaring bellowing rolling & tumbling
over each other waggons upsetting smashing their
wheels ex[l]es & tongues spilling the goods women & child
in the street, for the next teams to trample under
their feet as they roar & charge on their way with
their yokes bows & chains flying in evry direction is
a scene not easily imagined or described. A stampede of
ox teams is much more horrid than horse teams as there
is bits in the horses mouth that he may in a great measure
be guided though under full speed, but not so with the
ox. He goes where ever his fancy or will may lead him
This stampede in the folling manner commenced. Willford
commenced getting onto his horse & while getting on
William Murphy started his horse into a run & the horse
flung Wilford over his head onto the ground the saddle turned
under his belly & he run and as he approached one of
the waggons Mr Cannons team became frantic & dart
off with great speed & in a moment 20 or 30 teams
followed the same example and the whole encampment
apparently was rushing into the jaws of Death. I was by
my carriage when it commenced drawn by a noble fine
black steed Rhoda Foss & Susan Woodruff was in the
carriage at the head of the Company. At this moment
I saw Mrs Woodruff rush into the midst of the scene whare
she was in danger of her life evry instant with many
other women & children, I told Rhoda to let the horse run
into the bluffs & do the best she could I hit him a blow
to start him into a run & left them to their chance &
the care of providence & rushed into the midst of the
stampede to try to save the life of my wife & as many
others as possible but I had hard work to save my
own life Mrs Woodruff soon found an opening & fled
out of the midst of it Brother Pettys two waggons was turned
over my family waggon with 4 yoke of oxen ran ove[r] one
of his waggons & a waggon run over one of his children
Brother Badlam waggon or team ran over one of Samuel
Hardys children Prescott Hardy was knocked down by his own
team & badly wounded in the thigh & arm whareever I
saw women or children in danger I done what I could
to rescue them little can be done at such times ownly for
each one to dodge the best he can & save his own life if possible
when I found I could do no more for the encampment in
general I run forward to see what state my carriage
& family waggons & family was in I found my noble
horse still a running but on three legs Rhoda was knocked
out of the Carriage & Susan was lying flat upon the
bottom with her feet hanging out between the wheels
& she was screaming aloud. I hollowed for her to
hold on untill I come she did so untill I caught the
horse by the bit & stoped him & rescued her. One of
the ox teams had run onto the horse & carriage had
bent one of [the] ex[l]es smashed one of the horses legs to
peaces & knocked Rhoda out of the carriage. As soon
as I got the horse out of the carriage I went through
the encampment to see who was dead & maimed
and I was asstonished to find that no one was
killed & but one badly wounded & but little damage
done to waggons or oxen and to look it all over it
looked like a miriacle to see how so many escaped
I had to shoot my horse to get him out of his misery
which was painful to me but I was thankful my
wife children & friends were well & their lives preserved
~ Wednesday
31st Elder L Hardy was vary low to day and I am nearly
worn out with hard labour & care we travled 21 miles
& camped on the bank at the crossing of the south fork
of the Platt 20 miles from Ash Hollow
~ Thursday
Aug 1st We forded the Platt River with our teams to day
It was a hard days work it required 8 or 10 yoke of oxen
to draw a ton across the river it was about half a mile
across I got some goods wet.
~ Friday
2nd we lost 20 head of oxen which detained a part
of the oxen waggon I started out all that were able
to go the rest of us went out to hunt cattle I found
them in the bluffs in a bason & drove them into
camp the men many of them had gone hunting cattle
I yoked the oxen & with the assistance of women & children
I drove the encampment on & soon the men returned
from hunting oxen they found their encampment gone
& followed on & over took us we got along well untill
we came to go down those tremendious bluffs into
Ash Hollow. Here Watts & Bess both smashed each a
hind wheel to peaces & broke evry spoke out I worked
untill eleven oclok at night to get the broken waggon
into camp & then left them by the way side & walked
into Ash Hollow & camped for the night wearied out. 20 m
~ Saturday
3rd the day was spent setting tire & mending waggons
~ Sunday
4th Sunday I spent the day in camp Had a meeting with the
Saints. As my men had broken down two wheels & I must stop
to mend them I advised Elders Hardy & Petty to go on with
with the first division & I would stop & mend up & keep
some of the 2nd Division with me this council was heard
by the first Division with great surprise they did not feel
that they could leave me there was much feelings upon the
subject
~ Monday
5th The first Division left according to my council though with
great reluctance I spent the day at Ash Hollow mending waggons
we had good cold spring water in this Hollow which was
a great benefit to the camp as most of the water we had
to drink on the way was either slew or platt water
and seemed to be unhealthy
~ Tuesday
6th We spent the day setting waggon tyre
~ Wednesday
7th Wednesday After setting 80 tyre filling two wheels all new
putting in some tongues & hounds we left Ash Hollow &
continued our Journey we travled 5 miles through deep sand
and camped with Brother Whipple who went the day
before we made two Divisions of our company 5 mile
Elder Whipple & Gardner was organized with me we called
8thours the 3rd Division we had 26 waggons & the 2nd Division
18 we made this Division to forward us on our journey as we
would travel faster with few than many together
~ Thursday
8th We travled 12 miles through Deep sand in the region of
Castle Bluffs & camped on the platt
~ Friday
9th travled 15 miles through deep sand & camped on the
platt in sight of Ruin Bluffs on the south side of the river
some of the Soldiers who went to Larimie returned & camped
by us to night they reported that President Taylor was Dead
~ Saturday
10th Travled 18 miles & camped on the Platt 25 miles east
of Chimney Rock 2 & & 3rd Division camped together
~ Sunday
11th Sunday morning our men found a large splendid bull
on the north side of the river they went over & drove
him across the river to our herds we have many lame oxen &
cows which we doctered this morning we spent the day
in camp held a meeting at 2 oclok Elder Whipple addressed
the meeting upon the first principles of the gospel spoke of the
difference between Jew & Gentile I followed him in few words
~ Monday
12th Travled 18 miles camped within 6 miles of Chimney Rock
~ Tuesday
13th I visited Chimney Rock in company with others Br Branch
measured the base of the foundation or mound upon which the
main shaft or pillar stands found it to be about 600 yards in
Circumference, 100 feet high from the base the pillar is 50
by 25 feet in diameter & holds nearly that proportion about
125 feet high making about 225 feet high from the base, the
whole column appears more of a hard clay formation than
rock except a few veins runing through it of white stone
we travled around it & clumn the pillar as far as possible
Mrs Woodruff myself & many others engraved our names
as high up the piller as possible the whole appearance of
Chimney Rock would indicate that the Ancient Nephites or
some one els had built the mound & erected a great tower
upon the top of it and the whole formation of the bluffs
in this region of country appears more like the ruins of Ancient
cities than of Nature, we had a hard thunderstorm
& travled several miles in it we camped 6 miles east of Scotts
Bluff
~ Wednesday
14th Travled to scotts & Elder Allexander Badlam & myself
explored scotts Bluffs from top to bottom for about 10 miles
they hed many grand formations of Nature in some places we
rolled of[f] large rocks of near a tons weight that would go
thundering down the mountains & into the vale beneath levelling
the ceders to the earth & starting the woolves from their hiding
places as it bounded on its way for half a mile from its starting point
After spending several hourse of hard labour though plesantly
among those grand lofty ruins or bluffs we left them & returned
to camp we passed Burdoe trading post He inquired for me but I did
not see him Brother Currier turned his waggon bottom side upwards
down a bluff broke things bad, the Indians tried to raise a stamp-
ede among us but did not do it travled 20 miles & camped
~ Thursday
15th Rode to Horse creek & camped 12 miles good grass & water
~ Friday
16th Drove 16 miles without water camped on the platt
~ Saturday
17th Drove 12 miles & camped on the Platt near Indian lodges the
Indians had the small pox many Died with it one child left
to Die the lodges deserted the child cralled out came towards
us as we passed by for bread we gave him some to eat
~ Sunday
18th A rainy day drove to Laramie fork crossed it went to Fort
Laramie drove 1 1/2 miles from Laramie camped on the Platt
had a cold rain storm through the night
~ Monday
19th The rain continued through the day an exceding cold day
through the day & night
~ Tuesday
20th I have one fine ox dead this morning the Camp moved
on 5 miles & camped we remained in camp I traded some
~ Wednesday
21st I bought three yoke of oxen at $60 each I went on to
our encampment 5 miles & spent the night
~ Thursday
22nd Travled over the Hills to Bitter Creek 15 miles & camped
~ Friday
23rd We travled 20 miles on the river road & camped for
the night on the platt saw one buffalo
~ Saturday
24th I met with Elders J. A. Stratton & Hanks sent as messengers
from the valley to look out camping places & feed for the companies
through the Mountains they travled with me through the day
they brought a good report of things in the valley we camped
on the platt had a meeting herd the Letter of instructions
from the President Young read to us
~ Sunday
25th Travled 18 miles & camped on the La Bonte Brother
Stratton camped with us we travled together through the
day
~ Monday
26 Elder Whipple took some of my loading to carry one
sack of coffee from Bess wagon 160 lbs 1 box of paper
from Watts waggon 200 lbs we travled over 17 miles of
the worst road on the Journey our oxen wearied out &
darkness overtook us in the Hills we camped on a Branch
or near the La Prele river we find but little of any grass for
cattle in this region & expect to find grass vary short on much
of the journey. The first & 2nd Division of our company was
camped on this creek they killed two buffalo this evening
~ Tuesday
27th Hardy & Morfet companies moved on we found
92 of our oxen gone this morning & knew not whare to
find them men went out in evry direction & returned
& could not find them two horsmen went back on the
road 6 miles & tracked them back on the road to a small
creek & lost track of them returned at night & brought
3 oxen with them I went on to a high mountain & with my
glass could explore the country for many miles I saw many
Herds of Buffaloos on the platt Bottom Brother Stratton & Atwood
followed a grisley bear a distance but did not kill him
Sommers shot at a panther near camp did not kill him
the country abounds with buffalo, elk, deer, antilope
bear, panther, woolves &c.
~ Wednesday
28th Our situation seems to be serious this morning having
lost more than half our cattle Elders Stratton Hanks
& Whipple started on horsback after the oxen & 4 men
on foot to try once more what could be done I staid in
camp & took care of the herd
~ Thursday
29th The brethren returned & brought in 39 of our oxen
~ Friday
30th The Brethren brought in the remainder of our
Oxen all but 4 Brother A. O. Smoot brought in about
30 of them the other 4 could not be found I went out
with several of our men to get some meet I killed one buffalo
& capt Bess & co one buffalo I got mine into camp they did
not get any of theirs in & the wolves eat it up at night
we were all much rejoiced to hear that our cattle were
found so that we could continue our Journey
~ Saturday
31st We travled 11 miles & camped on the platt
~ Sunday
Sept 1st Sunday we travled 13 miles & camped on ^crossed^ Deer Creek
& camped on muddy creek saw Br Smoot
~ Monday
2nd travled some with Brother Smoot we travled 13 miles
& camped near the upper crossing of the platt
~ Tuesday
3rd we forded the river without difficulty but for severel
days we have had much difficulty in finding grass for our oxen
~ Wednesday
4th Travled 8 miles camped on the Platt A. O. Smoot camped
near us we drove our oxen cross the river for feed
~ Thursday
5th Travled 14 miles camped on the willow springs the creek
was full of dead cattle also the road is strewed with Iron
of almost evry description tyre, bars, plates, chains, boxes waggon
Irons of all kinds we found no grass for our oxen
~ Friday
6 Travled 16 miles camped on the greese wood near the sweet
water 8 miles below independance Rock. Brother Hanks caught
a wild mare the fa[s]test & most beautiful animal of the horse kind
I ever saw He run by the side of her on a small bay horse flung a
larriett over her head flung himself from his horse onto the
ground the wild horse drew him half a mile over the sage plains
untill she was stoped by being choacked down, she then tryed
to bite, kick & strike him but he fought her by whiping her with
a rope untill he conquerd her & led her in triumph into
camp
~ Saturday
7th We travled 8 miles & camped under Independance
Rock. A O Smoot camped a mile above on the sweet
water men women & children went onto the rock to
visit it some wild animal supposed to be a panther
jumped onto one of my cows & nearly killed her
~ Sunday
8 ^Sunday^ we travled 15 miles camped on the sweet water in comp-
any with Mrs Woodruff & several other Ladies I [went] through
the whole length of the Devels gate
~ Monday
9th Travled 9 miles to the sandy Bluffs & camped I shot
one antilope cut his throat with a bullet
~ Tuesday
10th I turned off Mr Case Hedges & Summers went also
it was no loss to us as they were stirring up strife daily
we travled 8 miles & camped on the sweet water
~ Wednesday
11th I went on to the mountain saw two salaratus Lakes
1 mile North of the sweet water I travled 16 miles & camped
at the Ice spring but we found it a poor place to
camp all swamp & salaratus water A O Smoot camped also there
~ Thursday
12. We crossed the 5th crossing of the sweet water
by the guide & travled 15 1/4 some cattle gave out I had hard
work to get them into camp
~ Friday
13th The air feels like snow this morning the wind River
chain of mountains is in sight coverd with snow we travled
6 miles & camped on the sweet water we killed a cow for Beef [in]
the Evening of Br Whipples I had about 200 lbs for the men
~ Saturday
14th We travled 14 miles the whole distance of strattons
New cut off or road it was 3 miles further & 5 miles worse
without watering or feeding our oxen on the road the road ought
not to be travled
~ Sunday
15th Sunday we travled 6 miles & camped at the crossing of
the sweet water 8 miles east of the south pass Brother Woolley
and his company camped near us Brothers Woolley
& N H Felt attended our meeting in the evening & we had
a lengthy meeting they preached some strong doctrin for
some of the congregation we had a good meeting and the spirit
of the Lord was with us
~ Monday
16th A plesant morning we travled to the South Pass I here
found capt Petty & Hardy & company camped on the sweet water
Capt Hardy was stuck fast one yoke of his oxen had died & the
Indians had stolen his horses & he could not move He was furnished
with a team & we all moved on to the Pacific springs & camped
distance 16 miles we turned our cattle on to the ground of
the pacific springs it was all quagmire yet covered with grass I
17 waided to my knees in mud & water untill midnight among the oxen
to keep them from the mire
~ Tuesday
17th ^[FIGURES]^ Our encampments started on their Journey about noon
I mounted my wild mountain ranger & in company with Brother
Atwood I started in search of the Indians who had stolen Br
Hardys horses they were encamped at the foot of the wind river
chain of mountains when we came in sight of them they were
moving we headed them on the sweet water whare they stoped and
pitched their lodges their was about 500 Indians & 1000 horses
I had an interview with the Chief informed him that they had
got three of our horses and I wanted them I made him some
presents they were the Snake Indians going to war with the chians
& after Buffalo. He treated us kindly invited us to his camp or
wigwam which we excepted I had no interpeter yet he informed
me that our horses were taken away & he would send after
them he started many Indians on horseback to seek after
them they brought in one horse to me at sundown another at
midnight I sat in council with the chief & warriors untill
12 oclok at night they wished me to draw on the ground the
river & road & tell whare the buffalo were I did so they
wanted me to tell whare the Indians were the chief showed
me whare he had been shot & some scalps he had taken
they had there whole band with them men women & child
they brought in much antilope & gave us some to eat. we
lay down at 12 oclok slept 2 hours awoke at 2 oclok vary
cold & chilly we got up made a fire the chief & squaw got
up & set up also & talked much about going to war & the
buffalo
~ Wednesday
18th At sun rise the Indians came in & informed me th
that the 3rd horse had got away from him & could not be
found & the chief wished us to get on our horses & go among
their horses & see if we could find him we did so rode many
miles untill 12 oclck & could find nothing of him and Brother
Atwood went with two Indians several miles & they showed
him the track whare he got away from them. He returned
at 2 oclok & we made up our minds to return to camp
we were over 30 miles from any of our encampments we
took our 4 horses & started rode hard for 30 miles &
arived at Br Woolleys encampment at 8 oclok & both
man & beast was weary & hungry
~ Thursday
19th we started early in the morning to find our camp
we travled 5 miles & met two of the Brethren on their
way back to Woolley camp to enquire after us & if they
did not hear from us were calculating to raise all the armed
men they possibly could & go into the mountains after us but
we soon arived at our camp which ended their fears concern
ing us and their shouts of Joy on our arival made the wolkin
ring we gatherd up our teams travled untill night & camped
on Big Sandy
~ Friday
20th we travled 15 1/2 miles & camped on Big Sandy our oxen
began to fail
~ Saturday
21st we Travled 15 1/2 miles camped on Big Sandy our old
buffalo ox Died at night He had drawn timber for the Temple
in the pine country, had been in the punkah expedition & had
piched his living for several years past through hard winters
& died after a hard 3 months work in drawing goods towards
the valley
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday Drove 8 miles & camped on Big Sandy within 4
miles of Green River Ford we were informed that Elder Hyde
would call upon us in a day or two many wrote Letters to
send by him to the States I wrote a Letter to I. F. Carter &
gave him an extract from my Journal of each Days travel
[FIGURE] up to this date
~ Monday
23rd Travled to Green river put in 6 spokes into a waggon
wheel crossed the river & camped 5 miles below 9 1/2 miles
~ Tuesday
[24] Drove 18 1/2 miles & camped on Hams fork many cattle failed
[I le]ft one ox & one cow died after ariving in camp Bess lea
& reed cow I met two men from the valley Brothers
Robinson & Stringham who informed me that their had
been some Difficulty with a party of snake Indians they had
commenced stealing & made war on our people they had
killed one of the Brethren & one Indian was killed they had
made an attack on Brownville The Brethren had sent 200
armed men to their assistance & had sent these men to
warn us of the danger that we might be on our guard fear
ing that they they might attack us while on the road I called
both Divisions of the camp together at night & required them
to have their guns & amunition ready for inspection early in
the morning I spent a sick night
~ Wednesday
25th I was quite unwell this morning the Encampment
came out in companies of tens & 50th armed for inspec-
tions there were 22 men in 3rd Division & 12 men in 1st Di
vision their were 34 guns & 50 Pistol shots
we travled 12 1/2 miles & camped on 3rd crossing of Blacks fork
~ Thursday
26th Drove 10 1/2 miles left one ox that Murphy Drove
~ Friday
27th Drove 8 miles camped at Fort Bridger in the evening I
took my trout rod & line & caught 22 trout in one hole in
10 minutes we lost at night 6 oxen that went back on the
road
~ Saturday
28th We had to lie in camp while men went back after
the oxen many went to fishing as there was a rushing creek
which abounded with trout I caught 30 another man 32
and many caught about a Dozen each the men returned
at night with the oxen
~ Sunday
29th [FIGURE] We left Fort Bridger this morning I went forward
with my Division to day and the first Division or some of the[m]
complained or murmured much about it & their was sin
committed by so doing I called them together at night
& gave them a sharp rebuke & reproof for I was constrai[ned]
by the spirit of God so to do. And I advised that divisio[n]
to go ahead in the morning & not wait for me we came
down a long tedious hill & broke down one exle tyre & one
wheel travled 11 miles & camped on a small stream
~ Monday
30th The first Division went ahead & we staid in camp
to mend the ex[le] & wheel
~ Tuesday
Oct 1st Drove 15 miles & camped lost one cow
~ Wednesday
2nd Travled 8 miles on a bad road & camped on Bear River
~ Thursday
3rd Travled 10 miles & camped on Yellow creek lost anot[her] cow
~ Friday
4th Travled 10 miles visited the cave had an interview
with Elder O Hyde who past us with his train on his
return home
~ Saturday
5th Travled 7 miles camped with hunters camp on the
echo creek found a bad road
~ Sunday
6th Sunday travled over a Rough Road 9 miles & camped
on the Webber River
~ Monday
7th Lay in camp caught 15 trout
~ Tuesday
8th Travled 12 miles on a bad Road camped on a small creek
2 1/2 miles from canion creek met with Brothers Atwoods &
Branch with cattle from the valley to our assistance with
12 Yoke which we much stood in need of
~ Wednesday
9th We had a rain & snow storm we lost some oxen but
found them lay in camp
[FIGURE]
~ Thursday
10th Travled 8 miles & camped on kanyan creek Brother
Tross Turned my family waggon over & made quite a
smash up inside, my family was inside the waggon & run a
narrow chance of being killed but escaped unharmed
~ Friday
11th Travled 3 miles left kanyan creek turned up the big mountain
travled 2 miles broke evry spoke out of one wheel & one
tongue out stoped & mended waggons
~ Saturday
12th Travled 8 miles over the second mountain and O Horr[id]
what a road we had to repair the road near one third of
the way gutted out by the late storm we were in Danger of
breaking waggons
~ Sunday
13th We travled & stoped within one mile of the Kanyon &
President Young came to see me but he returned and I
Did not see him
~ Monday
14th [FIGURE]
I Drove to the mouth of the kanyon met L Hardy & company
and I drove into the city of the G. S. C at the head of
the company I was truly glad to gaze once more upon
the city of the great Salt Lake & valley of the mountains
I met with Elder G. A. Smith & many others I drove to
the two rooms that I made while in the valley before
~ Tuesday
15th I visited many of the Brethren Had our oxen on hand
I got a state brand to brand our oxen which was recorded
as follows [FIGURE] on the left shoulder
~ Wednesday
16th I put into the hands of Willis & Co 52 head of oxen &
18 cows Total 70 head to heard at one cent per head each day
I met in council with President Young Kimball & Richards
P P Pratt G. A. Smith P P Pratt & others I found President
Young sick abed the subject was discused of esstablishing
a treading company to do business for the Church instead of
suffering the Gentiles to come in & [gol] the Church Adjourned
untill 2 oclok at the Dr W Richards office to morrow
~ Thursday
17th Met in Council with the Presidency & Twelve and it was thought
best for me to open the goods with Heywood & Woolley
~ Friday
18th I spent the day at home
~ Saturday
19th I moved my log cabbins from the old fort on to my
lot Joining the Temple Block
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I met with the saints in the Bowery was called
upon to address the meeting I gave an account of my mission
to the East I spoke of my dream I dreamed of diying & going
to the place of the departed spirits I saw Brother Joseph &
Hyram Smith & many of the Saints who had died they all
appeared to be in a hurry I thought strange to find them
in a hurry and I enqiuired the cause they informed me that
the time was set for Christ to come as the great Bridegroom
to the Earth to meet the Bride the Lambs wife & they had
not had time to prepare as those of other dispensations &
had to be in a hurry in order to get ready. And when
I awoke I was overwhelmed with a peculiar sensation
at the view of the work ofthe Latter Day Saints Had to perform
in order to prepair the Bride for to meet the Bridegroom I
was followed by P. P. Pratt who spoke well
~ Monday
21st [FIGURE] I Loaned $1000 to send to Sanborn & Carter of Portland
Maine on the goods which I brought out I sent it by Mr James
M. Livingston
~ Tuesday
22nd I spent the day in covering my house
~ Wednesday
23rd I spent this day in work upon my house
~ Thursday
24th I went into the Bigfield to see some Hay of Mr Vancotts
~ Friday
25th I went into the Bigfield & drew 4 loads of Hay home
~ Saturday
26th I spent most of the day at Home labouring at
~ Sunday
27th Sunday In the fore part of the day I attended meeting at the Bowery
G A Smith addressed the meeting & spoke from the word of Samuel
to Saul when he returned from the battle bringing the beasts to offer as a
Sacrafize "Obediance is better than sacrafize and to harken than the
fat of Rams" He spoke much to our edifycation He spoke upon the subject
of Tithing He was followed by President Young who spoke very
plain unto the people & told them what the consequences would be if
they did not pay their tithing. I met in council with the president
in the upper room also the Twelve and had prayers before the Lord
I read to the presidency Mr Copways speech also Col Kanes views of the
Government of Deserett & other matters Elder Joseph Stratton
[FIGURE] was vary sick Brother P P Pratt & myself had administered
to him also Br A Lyman was sick
~ Monday
28th The Presidency on consideration of the case thought I might
as well settle my own affairs so I commenced this morning to
sell some goods which I had on hand the people crouded hard
around my waggon to buy sugar coffee &c &as they had not had a
supply in the valley
~ Tuesday
29th I spent the day in trade & had many costomers In the
afternoon I attended the funeral of Elder Joseph A Stratton who
31st I spent the died Last night. P. P. Pratt preached his funeral sermon & spoke much
to our edifycation tracing the state of man from his birth to his deth
at which period of his life he would be transplanted in a field
whare he could act in a far wider sphere than he could do in
this life I followed him & bore my testimony of his good conduct
while on his mission with me to England
~ Wednesday
30th I spent the day at Home in trade in my business
~ Thursday
31st I spent the day at Home
~ Friday
Nov 1st Brother Benbow called upon me also President Young
came & purchased some things of me It was a cold rainy
day
~ Saturday
2nd I spent the day at Home
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I attended meeting Elder G A Smith
the Twelve & presidency met with the Regency and
much was said in relation to Schools &c in the
afternoon I met with the quorum for Prayres
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
4th 5th 6th 7th 8th & 9th The time this week was spent
in merchandizeing selling my goods I met once with
the Regency during the week
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I met with the Twelve & Presidency for
prayers
~ Monday
Nov 11th Monday I opened my store of goods this morning
at the House of Brother Baylis was to give $24 dollars
per month for the same. we had considereble company
to day to trade
~ Tuesday
12 Spent the day in the store
~ Wednesday to ~ Thursday
13th & 14th Spent the time in the store, Father Woodruff
went with Ezra Clark to day to find his oxen He is
74 years of age this 14th day of Nov & will walk home
with his oxen in a day about 20 miles
~ Friday
15th I spent the time choreing & at the store
~ Saturday
16th I spent the time in the store
~ Sunday
17th I attended meeting in the Tabernacle G. A. Smith preached
a funeral sermon much to the edifycation of the congregation
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
18 to 23rd I spent the week mostly in the store
~ Sunday
24th Sunday I attended meeting President Young addressed
the meeting in an interesting manner much to our edifycati[on]
said even those who were keeping the celestial law had their imper-
fections were found in a fault here & there yet they would pray
to God Angels & men that they were willing to sacrafize all things
for the sake of the kingdom of God He exhorted all men to
do right as they would wish to be done by for the saints would judge
the world
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
25, 26, 27 & 28 My time was spent about Home
~ Friday
29th I went into the mill creek kcanyon in company with Br
Bess I went onto the mountains & cut timber & slid it down
the mountain loaded one horse waggon who took it home we
spent the night at Brother Porters at the upper Mill
~ Saturday
30th I went into the Kaniyon with Brother Bess we climed the
mountains & worked in 3 feet of snow & cut 120 post &
150 poles & slid them down the mountain 1/4 of a mile drew them
a quarter of a mile & slid them down another bench I had
water in my boots & suffered all day we spent the night at
Brother Porters
~ Sunday
Dec 1st I walked home 20 miles
~ Monday
2nd The legislature of the State of Deserett met in session
this day. I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
3rd I laboured at home to day
~ Wednesday
4th I attended the legislature to day herd many interesting
remarks from Gov B. Young He requested me to meet with
them as he wished me to become a member of the
senate
~ Thursday
5th Dec [FIGURE]
Senate of Deseret
I met to day with the Legislature of the state of
Deseret the House of Representatives & senate sat in
Joint session as there was two vacancies in the
Senate by death viz Bishop Newel K Whitney & Cornelius P Lott
the Govornor appointed Wilford Woodruff & Charles C Rich
to fill their places in the Senate. Several were appointed places
in the House I was also appointed by the Lieut Gov as chairman
of the committee on counties in the place of G. A. Smith, who
deliverd his farewell address to the senate & had taken his depar[ture]
as chief Justice of Iron County, many bills came up to day &
passed the Legislature adjourned untill the 1st Monday in Dec
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
6th I spent the day carting hay also the 7th making fence
around the hay & yard
~ Sunday
8th Sunday I attended meeting & was called upon to
preached to the people I addressed them in a brief manner
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
9th 10th 11th 12th 13 & 14th I was quite out of health this week
I bruised my hand took cold got inflamation in it & it
confined me to the house most of the week
~ Sunday
15th Sunday I spent the day at home
~ Monday
16 I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
17th I butchard one ox weighed 720 lbs made some posts for
fence
~ Wednesday
18th A snow storm I spent most of the day writing
~ Thursday
19 I spent the day making fence
~ Friday
Patriarchal Blessings
On this 20th Day of Dec 1850 Father John Smith the
Patriarch over the whole Church appointed to bless the people
met at my house and gave unto my Father Aphek Woodruf
his Patriarchal Blessing also Sister Sarah B. Foss and her
family received their blessings at the same time. Phebe W.
Woodruff & myself had both of us received our patriarchal
blessings from under the hands of Father Joseph Smith
the first Patriarch to the church in his day which were
recorded in the Church Records Father John Smith however
blessed Mrs Woodruff with the rest to day Before commencing
to bless Father Smith made sum remarks upon the subject
said he considerd the mark spoken of by Ezekiel set in the
forehead of the righteous by the one having the writers inkhorn by his
side [Ezekiel 9:2] was the patriarchal blessings & seal in the last days and the
Revelator St John had the same thing in view when he spoke
of the one hundred & forty four thousand sealed out of the Twelve
tribes of Israel [Revelation 7:4]. Also spoke of the blessings of Abram Isaac and
Jacob to their children the Patriarchs and many other Edifying
remarks were made. The following are our Patriarchal Blessings
as sealed by the Patriarchs upon our heads
Aphek Woodruff Patriarchal Blessing
A Blessing by John Smith Patriarch upon the head of
Aphek Woodruff son of Eldad & Dinah Woodruff born
in Farmington Hartford Co Connecticut November 11th 1778
Brother Aphek beloved of the Lord I lay my hands upon thy
head in the order of the Priesthood and notwithstanding
thy great age I seal upon thee a Fathers Blessing inasmuch
as thou hast obeyed the gospel with full purpose of heart
left thy Native land disregarding persecution thou hast
passed through many trials and difficulties thy faith hath
not failed thou art determined to persevere in the ways
of truth and righteousness and thy name is written in
the Lambs Book of life and is not to be blotted out the
Lord will grant unto thee evry blessings which your heart
desires for thou art a lawful heir to the Priesthood of the
Blood of Ephraim which Priesthood shall be confered
upon you in its fulness in due time. Thou shalt have power
to heal the sick in thine house and do any miracle that was
ever done by man in the name of Jesus when it is necessary
for the salvation of Israel. Thy posterity shall become num-
erous upon the Earth and shall fill a station in the House of
Israel which shall endure unto the end of time. The days
of your years shall be according to the desire of your heart,
even to see Israel gatherd and Zion esstablished in peace in the
plenty Earth. Thou shalt have health peace & plenty while you dwell
in the flesh. Thou art called to do much good in esstablishing
instructing the saints even to preach the gospel not ownly while
you live but beyound the veil [thou] shall gather thousands of the
remnants of the House of Israel and bring them to a knowl-
edge of the resurrection of the dead. Thou shall live many
years and see much good accomplished among the saints
be satisfyed with life come up in the Resurrection with thy
former companion and all thy Fathers House to inherit a
Kingdom which shall endure forever and ever Amen
Wilford Woodruff Patriarchal Blessings
At a blessing meeting held at the Lords house in Kirtland
Ohio on the 15 day of April AD 1837 Joseph Smith Sen the
Patriarch of the Church of Latter Day Saints confered a
blessing upon the head of Wilford Woodruff son of Aphek
Woodruff born in Farmington Hartford County Connecticut
March the 1st 1807
My beloved brother I lay my hands on
thy head in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living
God and seal a blessing on thy head which shall reach thy
posterity a seal that shall not be taken from thee. I bless thee
as Melchesideck blessed Abram when he returned from
the slaughter of the Ten Kings. I confer on thee all the blessings
of Abram Isaac & Jacob which includes all the blessings of
both temporal & spiritual the blessings of Heaven & the
blessings of the Earth. Thou shalt have all the power and
authority of the Melchesideck priesthood. Thou hast a great
work to do in the Earth. Thou shalt visit many barberous tribes
of the Earth they shall seek to take thy life yet God will give
the wisdom and Power to frustrate their Designs. Thou shalt
be blessed with posterity thy sons shall receive the Priesthood
and be an ornament to the Church of Christ yea they shall be
great men in the Earth. Thou shalt be honord by them and
they shall call thee blessed. I place a seal on thy head and
No power shall be able to take it from thee if thou art faithful
in keeping the commandments of God. This ^seal^ shall guard the[e] against
the destroyer. Thou mayest have the administration of the Angels of
Heaven an Holy Angel shall soon administer unto thee and reveal
unto thee thy duty yea and give unto thee many instructions
Thou shalt have the spirit of God to instruct thee in thy mission
and lead thee into all truth. Thou shall be filled with the spirit
of God. Thine eyes shall be open to look within the veil to behold
the things of Eternity. Yea the Lord of Glory shall appear
unto thee thou shall put thy hands upon his feet and feel
his wounds with thy hands, that thou mayest be a special
witness of his name. Thou shall understand great mysteries
in this generation Yea all the mysteries of the kingdom of
God and the wisdom of God shall cleave unto thee
I seal all thy former blessings upon thy head, and they
shall be fulfilled. Thou shall be a great man in the Earth
Thy intellectual powers shall be preserved and thy understand-
ing shall be great. Y God has looked upon thee from all Eternity
and has known thy blood thou art a descendant of Joseph
Thou shall stand in the flesh & witness the winding up scene
of this generation. Thou shalt stand ^remain^ on the Earth to behold thy
Savior come in the clouds of Heaven. Thou shalt be numbered
with the One hundred forty and four Thousand and shall stand
upon Mount Zion & shall sing a song that no man can learn
or sing except thy company. Thou shalt have access to the treas-
ures hid in the sand to assist thee in thy necessities an Angel of
God shall show thee the Treasures of the Earth That thou mayest
have riches to assist thee in gathering many orphan children
to Zion
Thou art one of the Horns of Joseph to push the people together
to the Ends of the Earth. No power shall stay thee. At thy word
the winds shall be stayed. Thou shalt walk upon the waters. At
thy command the waters shall be divided. Prisions vaults & chains
shall not hold thee for thou shalt rend them in twain. Thou shalt
be deliverd out of the hands of thy Enemies by the mighty power
of God and by the prayer of faith. Thou shalt have great blessings
Thou art of the Blood of Ephraim. If thou will claim it by faith
thou mayest bring all of thy relatives into the kingdom of
God Se[e] vol 2nd July 1st 1838 for they are of the blood of Ephraim
In the name of Jesus Christ I seal this blessing on thy head by
the Authority of the Holy Priesthood I seal thee upunto Eternal life
Even so Amen [FIGURE]
Phebe W. Carters Patriarchal Blessing Nov 10, 1836
At a blessing meeting held in the Lords house in Kirtland Ohio on
the 10 day of Nov AD 1836 Joseph Smith Sen the Patriarch of the Church
of (Jesus Christ) Latter Day Saints confered a blessing upon the head
of Phebe W Carter born in Scarborough Cumberland County State
of Maine the 8th March AD 1807
Sister in the name of Jesus of
Nazareth and by the power of the Holy priesthood which God hath
confered upon me I lay my hands upon thy head and place a
seal upon thy forehead and if thou art faithful & keep the commandments
of God No power shall take it off it shall be a seal against the destro-
yer. No blessing in heaven shall be two great for thee. Thou hast
thought much on thy Redeemer. Thou must call on God the Father
in the name of his Son and He will open the Heavens & rend the
veil that thou mayest see the son of man stand on the right hand
of power. Thou hast suffered in former days by being deprived
of friends unto whom thous couldest unbosom thy mind thou
hast sorrowed in the night season & in solitary places none know
thy sorrow or saw thy tears but God thy Father Be comforted for
thy troubles are over and God will pour out his blessings to thee
thou shalt have long life & see good days. Thou shall be the
Mother of many children they shall be an ornament to the
Church of Christ. Thy husband shall be a man of wisdom
knowledge & understanding let thy heart be comforted & have faith
in God & his word. Thou shalt labour in the Temple of the Lord
thy God. Thou shalt teach thy companions the ways of righteousness
Thou shall have many temporal blessings riches shall flow in
unto thee & thou shall rejoice rather than complain thou must
put thy whole trust in God for thou art of the Blood of Ephraim. Thou
shalt have a Celestial Crown. Thou shall have a residence in Zion
& do a great work there. Thou shalt sew the veil of the Temple and
rejoice in the work of thy hands. If thou wilt keep the commandments
thou shalt have all of thy friends they shall be members of the
covenant I seal all of these blessings on thy head in the name
Jesus I seal thee up unto Eternal life Amen & Amen
Father Smith recorded my Fathers blessing my own, Mrs Woodruffs
Sister Sarah B Foss & her familys blessings all together in his record
~ Saturday
21st Dec I spent the day labouring with my hands diging sullar
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I attended meeting at the Bowary and herd
[FIGURE] an interesting & edifying sermon preached by President
Brigham Young. His text was truth. His subject Salvation,
His circuit the world. He said we see the child seeking the knife
fork or raisor or sumthing to hurt itself with so with many of
the saints & Elders they seek for that which is not good for them
and they know it not many seek for things which tend to death
& not life spoke of some wishing to go to the gold mines he spoke
of the desire for tobaco alchohol coffee tea &c and the desire for
such things was because they contained poison & excited the
nervous system & it was death & not life & many useful remarks were made
I attended a prayer meeting at the Presidents in the afternoon
& had a good time
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
23 & 24th I spent the time drawing rock from the Canions
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
25, 26, 27 & 28 was spent most of the time at hard labour
~ Sunday
29th Sunday President Young preached & was followed by
Elder Kimball & we had an interesting meeting
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
30 & 31 I spent the time labouring with my hands I met with
the President & Council of the perpetual Emigrating society and
was appointed by the president as a member of that body I
gave bonds in the panal sum of Ten thousands dollars for the faith-
ful performance of my duty as a member of that board accordi
ng to the rules governing the Council Abram O Smoot &
Leonard Ha W Hardy
was my bondsmen
Thus ends the Time & labour of another half centaury AD 1850
Yes Eighteen hundeed & fifty has gone to make anoth[er] link
in the great chain of this Earth probation. It has been an
important year in many respects the revolutions & changes
& signs of the times among the Nations of the Earth indicate
the fulfillment of the word of God & the preparation for the
coming of the son of Man. It has been a year of blessings
upon Zion & her children. The Lord hath preserved my life to
lead one of the camps of Israel out of the midst of the gentiles to
mingle with their Brethren in Zion now building up cities in
the rich vallies of the mountains of Israel. The Saints have been
abundantly prospered & blessed during this year in all they
have put their hands unto some thousands have emigrated
this year to Zion from the States
The following pages contain an account of my travels during AD 1850
[FIGURE] WW
I Travled through fourteen
of the United States Organized
a Company of 209 Latter day
Saints at the City of Boston Mass.
led them to Bethleham Iowa
from thence across the plaines over
the Rocky Mountains to the valley
of the Great Salt Lake into the State of
Deseret. the whole distance Travled 4617 Miles
I held public meetings 32 Meetings
I Baptized 14 Persons
I Confirmed 14 Persons
I administered unto 20 sick Persons
I attended Councils with the
Presidency & Twelve 5 Councils
I was appointed a Member of
the Senate of the State of Deseret
Sat in Joint session with the Legislatures 5 Days
I Wrote 172 Letters
I Received 126 Letters
I was appointed a member
of the Council of the Perpetual
Emigrating Association met with
them in 3 Councils
I was appointed one of the Regency
of the University of Deseret
[FIGURE] WILFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL FOR 1851
~ Wednesday
Jan 1st AD 1851.
Wednesday I met with the 14 ward of the city of the Great
Salt Lake of Deseret to dedicate a new school house which we
had built for the purpose of schooling our children. Elder P. P
Pratt delivered a very interesting address on the occasion
took for a tex[t] "the fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom["]
He was followed by President Richards in a few remarks &
the dedication prayer after which remarks were made
by W Woodruff W. W. Phelps & Bishop Murdock when
there was an intermission one hour
Met at 2 oclok when it was moved & carried that W Woodruff
deliver a discourse to the people from the following text
"Bought wit is the best if you do not buy it to dear" I addressed
the meeting in a areaf manner as required of me after
which the evening was spent in recreation under the direction
of the Bishop of the ward
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
2 & 3 I went into the canyon & drew rock for stoneing a suller
wall for a dwelling house which I intend to build to locate my
family in Zion while I go abroad to preach the gospel to the nations
of the Earth
~ Saturday
4th I met with the regency at the school house, remarks were
made by the chancellor concerning the classifying of the
scholars of this city many remarks were made upon the subject
I also attended in the evening a meeting with the President
& council of the perpetual Emigrating company Edward Hunter
lade an account of his summers labour before the board &
his report & account was accepted
~ Sunday
5th Sunday I met with the Saints at the Bowery the pres-
idency & Twelve were present Elder P. P. Pratt preached a
good serman to the people was followed by A Lyman &
Major I met in the afternoon at President Youngs for
prayer I was unwell through the day I met in the evening at
the school house a large congregation for meeting the meeting
was addressed by Bishop Murdock Elders P. P. Pratt W Richards
W Woodruff P Richards & Wm W Phelps we had the spirit
of the Lord & a good meeting
~ Monday
6th I met with the Legislature of the state of Deseret I
found the supreme court in session two men were tried on
Saturday for stealing cattle the Jorors brought in a verdic of
guilty two other men were brought in in chains for breaking
in stores & stealing money the court soon adjourned to the
Bowery and the Legislature opened by prayer & commenced
business. Reports of committee were heard
~ Tuesday
7th A coad of criminal laws were presented before the
Legislature & scanned closely through the day without
passin one section of the Bill the Govornor made some inter
esting remarks to his council in the evening
~ Wednesday
8th The Legislature had an interesting day both Houses sit
in joint session the criminal code of laws came up again
to day and it caused many interesting & edifying debates
from many members of both houses. Also remarks from the
Governor who said the law was written in their hearts & it
was difficult to put it on paper and even in criminal cases
it should be left much to the discretion of the court
ownly 3 sections of the bill passed during the day
~ Thursday
9th I spent the day in the Legislature most of the day was
spent ion the Legislature Criminal Code but little done
except debating. Adjourned at night untill next Tuesday
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
10 & 11 was spent diging suller
~ Sunday
12th Sunday I met at the Bowery. The meeting was addressed
by B. Clapp Z. Pulsipher Major, & President Young. Among
other remarks of the President he spoke upon the subject of
swareing or takeing the name of God in vain A covenant
was made by the whole congregation to put down swareing through out
the City & state President Young remarked that the time might
come when the Lord would require him & the Elders of Israel
to sharpen up their swords & go fourth & hew down the wicked
in their midst He said any righteous man that herdrd any
one of his children take the name of God in vain that he
might whip them untill he was satisfyed.
I met in the evening [with] the seventies at the Council House
the meeting was addressed By W. Woodruff B Young J. Young
J M. Grant
~ Monday
13th I spent the day diging suller
~ Tuesday
14th I met with the Legislature they passed several sections
of the Criminal Code during the day
~ Wednesday
15 Spent the day in the Legislature a portion of the Criminal
Code was passed to day
~ Thursday
16th I spent the day in the Legislature the Criminal Code was
finished to day
~ Friday
17th I spent the day in the Legislature we had an interesting day
Councellor O. Spencer made an interesting speach & was followed
by the Govornor who presented light & truth in the spirit of God
I spent the evening in A Lyceum of the seventies the word of
wisdom was the subject discused five speakers were called upon
who addressed the meeting & was followed by president Young
who made many interesting remarks He spoke upon the word
of wisdom of its origen &c said it was well kept when it was
first given
~ Saturday
18th [FIGURE] Joseph Young the President of the Seventies appointed
a two days meeting for all the Seventies they met to day at
10 oclok. A large assembly gatherd together at an early hour
meeting was opened by prayer & singing remarks were made
by Joseph Young after which those were called to come
forward who were to be ordained as members of the Seventies
when 104 came forward [and] were taken into the state house & ordain-
ed under the hands of the presidency of the seventies they then
returned to the congregation the assembly was addressed through
the day & evening by many persons the spirit of God rested
upon the congregation & we had a good meeting much instruct-
ion was given
~ Sunday
19th Sunday The people assembled in a vast body the presidency
Twelve & seventies were in their place. The meeting was opened
as usual by singing & Prayer was addressed by Joseph Young
Lorenzo Young George Grant was followed by president
Young who informed the Saints the time had now come
to begin to prepare to build a temple & the people must pay
their tithing & he requested the presidents of evry Quorum
to take the names of evry member of their Quorum &
they should sign a paper & covenant to pay their tithing &
they who would not do it should be cut off from the
Church. The ground wants to be laid off for a Temple
& garden & materials prepared this season A font wants
to be built & the Endowments commence as soon as possible
those who went through the Temple at Nauvoo know but
vary little about the Endowments their was no time to learn
them & what little they did learn they have most of them
forgotton it many other interesting remarks were made
by the president and he called upon the congregation to raise
their right hand towards Heaven as a token & covenant
that they would help him build a Temple and it was one
unanimous vote. President Kimball next spoke & backed
up the testimony of president Young & spoke much to our
Edifycation He was followed by Elder P. P. Pratt who
spoke lengthy & to Edifycation After an intermission of one hour
the meeting was addressed By E T. Benson A Lyman & W. Woodruff
& the spirit of God rested upon us through the day and a referm
ation appeared to present itself among all the saints At the close
of the meeting the Presidency & Twelve met in concil & herd all
the ordinances redad over that had been passed during the present
Legislature during the day Truman Angel presented a draft
or plan of the Seventies Hall about to be built in the city of
the Great Salt Lake before the congregation if it is built
according to the plan it will be an ornament to the city
there was also about 30 others ordained to the seventies
to day this two days meeting has been of much interest
to the saints in this place
~ Monday
20th Monday President Young with several of the Twelve
& others started on a mission to Brownsville this morning
I commenced laying my suller wall to day
~ Tuesday
21 I spent the day laying wall
~ Wednesday
22 I spent this day laying my sullar wall & hewing post
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
23 & 24th spent the time at home labouring
~ Saturday
25th I rode with my family to the Big cotton wood & spent
the night with Brother Kington 10
~ Sunday
26th Sunday I preached in the morning to Brother Kingtons
and blessed 6 children in the evening [I spoke] to a large congregation in
the school house
~ Monday
27th I rode Horse Back to porters Mill in Mill kcreek kcanyon
& back again & spent the night with R. Allexander 20
~ Tuesday
28th I returned to the city with my family I there
learned that some brethren had arived from Calafornia
bringing a mail with them bearing the news that Brigham
Young was appointed our Governor L. W. Heywood state
Marshall the Judges to be sent from the states. There was great
rejoiceing in the valley that the Government had given us our
choice in a Governor President Young had gone North on
a mission was within 15 miles of the City the Band of
Music & an Escort went out to meet him & on ourtheir
arival in the City a salute of 10 guns was given & fire
works &c I shook hands with the Govornor at his house
& spent the evening with him & council at his house
the News brought is that the people are holding large mass
Meeting in the states against slavery that the gold digers
were dying 20 per day
~ Wednesday
29th I spent the day at home I received to day for the first
time the deserett Almanac got up by W W Phelps
~ Thursday
30th I dined at the Bath House with The Presidency
of the Church and the Twelve & their families the
keeper of the Bath House Brother Hendricks had a
daughter married the ceremony was performed by
President Young a[f]ter which he addressed the assembly
& said here are elements gathered together which
will create & make a heaven or create & make a hell Just
as the course you choose to persue He exhorted the
people to righteousness & wished them to keep the command-
ments of God we spent the evenigng together
~ Friday
31st [FIGURES] I wrote two letters one to I. F. Carter one
to Azmon Woodruff
~ Saturday
Feb 1st I bought a ten acre lot of [blank] Brown in
the Big field for Sarah B. Foss paid $120 for the same
rode down to the lot & back to the city
~ Sunday
2nd ^[FIGURE]^ Sunday the congregation met at the Bower and
Mr Bateman requested the privilege of addressing the meet-
ing in behalf of Elijah the prophet who he sayes is in this
city president Young made some remarks before he
spoke Bateman addressed the meeting 9 minutes & bro-
ught forth Just Nothing President Young followed
and said we have herd what Bateman had to say but
he has brought forth Nothing many have arisen in these
last days professing to be Elijah the prophet but they have bro-
ught forth Nothing of interest to the people will any one tell
me what the office of Elijah the prophet was to be to the
Earth when he come the answer is to turn the hearts of the
children to their fathers & the fathers to the children lest I
come & smite the whole Earth with a curse [Malachi 4:6] the answer
is right. In what way is this to be done by sealing upon
the head of the prophet Joseph those keys to remain in the
Church & kingdom of God untill the winding up scene
the Elders of this Church know those keys were sealed
upon the head of Joseph Smith & still remain in the Church
what are they to accomplish as the saints could not
be perfect in former days with out the Latter day Saints
Neither can we be perfect without our Fathers who have
died for many generations & these keys of Elijah confirmed
upon the president of the church are to seal the fathers to their
children the children to their fathers, & to assist in welding
the great link connecting evry gospel dispensation togeth-
er I see the wheat growing in this dispensation ripening for the
harvest I see the tares also growing for the burning I saw [say] to the
wheat & tares grow on I sawy to the Goats & sheep both to
go ahead unto the End, the Saints of God are increasing
in knowledge fast but they have got to be a hundred times
better, wiser & advance in knowledge befor the end I have
watched the windings & progress of this people & the spirits
that surround them I have seen many arise as it were to
Heaven & in a moment of temptation fall down to Hell and loose
their hop[e]s of glory I know the spirits of men & the invisible
spirits that affect men & operate upon them better than
I do the faces of men I want to speak a little upon natural
philosophy we sow the grain it dies, rots in the ground & then it
brings forth a hundred fold the elements which surrounded
us produce these effects if we had a correct knowledge of the
elements & knew how to control & separate them we could
make bread as well out of the elements as Jesus did when
He fed the multitude. the day will come when we can go [on]
a Journey without taken any food with them would have
power to make it as they went along. Many other interesting
remarks were made by the president.
Amasa Lyman followed spoke upon the word of wisdom said
if a man was wise in eating drinking & they would begin to
learn wisdom in work & walking would walk & not
be weary run & not faint for they would have wisdom
enough to stop before they got weary
At the close of the meeting President Young invited all the
Twelve to come & dine with him we did so and feasted
upon a fine large turkey supposed to be the first ever killed
& eat in the valley we had a good time in the upper room
of prayer Capt Hunt met with us at the Dr office in the
evening He made a report of the situation of Williams Ranch
said he wanted to sell to our people a company was to be organ-
ized to go down & settle a stake or colony & to buy him
out Brother Hunt brought some papers & Letters from
the states one paper contained the account of the appo-
intment of the Govornor & other officers for Utah Terri-
tory & spoke of Mass Meetings being held in the free States
expressing public sentiment against the fugitive slave bill
~ Monday
3rd [FIGURES] I met with the quorum of the Twelve at Brother
Bensons Elder P P Pratt president prutem there were present
P. P. Pratt W. Woodruff E. T. Benson C C Rich the meeting was
opened by prayer by C C Rich. P. P Pratt then presented
the record of the Twelve Apostles which was read before us
this record commenced in the valley of the Great Salt Lake
at the filling up of the quorum of the Twelve it contained
many items of Interest. After it was read & remarks
made it was moved & carried that the record of the Twelve
Apostles be put into the hands of Wilford Woodruff to keep
& record such acts as was necessary we then appointed
a meeting for the Twelve to meet each Monday night whi[l]e
we could be together as the time would soon come when
P. P. Pratt A. Lyman & C C Rich would be called upon to go
abroad on their mission we adjourned untill next monday
night
~ Tuesday
4th ^[FIGURE]^ According to adjournment the Legislature met today to
transact business for the state I spent the day with them
An ordinance was passed granting a liberal charter to the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints protecting them in their
religious rights. During the pasage of this ordinance many interest
ing remarks were made by the president or Govournor of the state
He says we do not want the church to pass laws to punish crime
ownly to try members on church fellowship if the members shall
transgress the laws of the Land turn them over to the Laws of the
Land but we want to protect the church in their right of
worship & so we will evry other sect that comes here when
the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of Our Lord &
Savior Jesus Christ will they all be members of the Church
of Jesus Christ & obey the gospel No not one 8th part of them
No more than the Telestial kingdom is a Celestial one and they
stand in about the same relationship one to the other. If a
society of the shaking quakers was to come here & settle in
this valley & wanted a charter to be protected in their worsh-
ip let us give them one & if they believe it right not to marry
a woman let them live without it & not compel them to it
so if the Latter Day Saints wish to have more wives than one
to live holy & raise up holy seed unto the Lord let them enjoy that
privilege Now the Gentile Christian Nations & Legislatores
guard vary strictly against passing any laws to do away with whore-
doms but they will make it almost Death for a man to have two
wives but they will have as many whores as they please yes thou-
sands upon thousands of the Christian Nations are rotting with
the pock & filty corruption & they think this is all right
but for a righteous man to have several wives like Abram
Isaac & Jacob, David & others to raise up a holy seed unto the
Lord & will keep themselves pure before God they think this
is an awful sin but if I had power I would take all
good virtueous females from all wicked corrupt adulterous
husbands & give them to holy men of God that they may raise
up seed unto the Lord I have more wives than one I have many
and I am not ashamed to have it known some deny in the
states that we have more wives than one I never deny it I am
perfectly willing that the people at Washington should know that I
have more than one wife & they are pure before the Lord and
are approved off in his sight I have been commanded of God
to persue this course &c many other interesting remarks were made
~ Wednesday
5th [FIGURE] I spent the fore part of the day in the Legislature the subj[ec]t
of Distilling Ardent spirits in the valley was brought up After hearing
the arguments brought up on all sides the Govournor addresd
the Assembly and among other remarks said that As we have
to learn to handle & controle all the evils that oppose the Heavens or
effect the Earth can we not control Ardent Spirits. we can
many interesting remarks were made. Adjourned untill tomorrow 92 ock
at 2 oclock I attended a funeral at Brother Shirtliffs Mother
Shirtliff aged 74 years & some months died yesterday the 4th
and was buried this afternoon I spoke from the last chapter
of Daniel on the Resurrection
I met in the E[v]ening with the Emigration Association the High
priest also met at the Council House
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
6th 7th I spent the time in the Legislature at the close of the 7th we
adjourned untill monday Morning
~ Saturday
8th In company with Leonard Hardy & Celey I started in a
two horse carriage to go to Toilla valley we travled 20 miles
to the cave bated & went on after turning the point of the mount-
ain we broke down our forward Iron Axletree we left the waggon
went to Bensons Mill got another waggon went back & drawed
it up to the Blacksmith shop & got it mended Brother Hardy &
myself spent the night with Brother Badlam on spring Creek
opposite the Big Rock 30 m
~ Sunday
9th We rode to Brother Willis herd ground & spent the night 10
~ Monday
10th The day was spent getting up cattle I found I had lost
10 head of oxen & cows
~ Tuesday
11 I left the herd ground took with me 20 cows & 6 oxen
& drove to Badlams took dinner then drove to the big cave
& spent the night in the cave with a number of men
the cave was in a solid rock 100 feet long 30 wide & 8
to 10 feet high 25 m
~ Wednesday
12th we were visited this morning with a severe snow
storm which was severe all day & night 20
~ Thursday
13th It was exceding cold today I drove my cows to Br
Holebrooks & spent the night with him. I delivered into
his hands 18 cows, which he takes on shares delivers
to me one half of the butter cheese & stock to me.
I saw a sample of the 7 headed wheat which Brother
Holebrook had raised. He gathered 75 bushels of wheat
from the acre I never have seen such a country to raise wheat
as these vallies often they cut 40, 50, 60, 70 & 75 bushels of
wheat from the acre 10
~ Friday
14th An exceding cold day I returned home today 10
~ Saturday
15th I spent the day at home sister Mary Nobles died to day
~ Sunday
16 Sunday I was quite unwell President B Young preached
a funeral sermon on the death of sister Nobles. in the afternoon
Mrs Woodruff went with me to president Youngs I was in
Council with the Presidency & Twelve Among other things the
President said he was afraid there would be a spirit with
A Lymon to build up Williams Ranch & loose sight of this place
He says to Brother Rich remember if this is the case that I
have seen the bud of it & other things were said He thought
there were many more going than was wisdom to go.
I took supper with the President & Lady & returned home
and had quite a sick night
~ Monday
17th I was quite unwell this morning drew one load of
straw had much company &c
~ Tuesday
18th I went into the Kanyon with with Ezra & tumbled rock
from the top of the hills all day to get two loads to draw home
I left one wagon by the way I returned home vary weary
~ Wednesday
19th [FIGURE] I spent the day with the President & others at the Council
House preparing a room for our council.
~ Thursday
20th [FIGURE] I spent the day in council had a good time was anointed &
blessed under the hands of President Young
~ Friday
21st Elders Appleby, Wells, Allen & Hammond was admitted
into our council to day we spent the day in council
~ Saturday
22nd We had a tedious snow storm the most severe of any
storm this winter I spent the day at the store settelled up all
accounts with Elder L Hardy
~ Sunday
23rd [FIGURE] Sunday I met with the saints J Murdock [blank] Sherwood
& A Lyman addressed the meeting & was followed By President
B Young who spoke much to the edifycation of the saints
~ Monday
24th The Legislature of the State sat to day I spent the
day with them the Govornor addressed the Assembly in
an interesting manner upon various subject
~ Tuesday
25th ^[FIGURE]^ I spent the day in council in the upper room & had
a good time Father Aphek Woodruff was ordained to the office
of High Priest under the hands of Heber C Kimball & W Woodruff
~ Wednesday
26th I rode in company with Mr Coffin to the
Island in the Salt Lake & spent the night with Mr Garr 20 m
~ Thursday
27th It was a cold day I returned home to the city 20 m
~ Friday
28th I spent the day at home
~ Saturday
March [FIGURE] 1st 1851 This is my birth day I am 44 years old
this day may the Lord Preserve me in rightousness in
all my future days & help me to build up his kingdom
I spent a part of the day in the upper room and a
part of the day in my labour
Brother Lorenzo Young was shot by mistake or accident
through the left arm on Jordon Bridge came nigh looseing his life
~ Sunday
[FIGURE] March 2nd 1851 Sunday The Assembly was addressed
by P. P. Pratt as a farewell address on his taking his
leave on a foreign mission Among his remarks he
said he had been connected with this church about
twenty one years. He had laboured travled Joyed Sorrowed
felt & experienced with them during that time He had
seen men rise & fall & one thing he wished to speak
off he had seen many of the Sisters in at various times
feel disposed to marry out of the Church & think their is
no harm in it they can marry a Gentile and no harm
in it. But what is the truth in the case it is the same now as anci
ently for instance in the days of Noah the daughters of Noah
married out of the Church in some instances & were not saved
with him in the ark but they & their seed were cut off from
the Earth forever. So with Lot some of his daughters
married Gentiles out of the Church while in Sodom & Gomorrow
and would not go out with their Father Lot but were destroy-
ed they & their posterity from off the Earth so it is with the
Sisters in the Church in this day those who marry out of the
Church marry those who are doomed to destruction & their
posterity while those who are in the Church & are faithful
will live & their children to the last Generation. Brother
Pratt exhorted the Saints to unite in building up the kingdom
of God He felt that their was a good spirit generally prevail-
ing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints He was
going on a long mission He wanted the prayers of the saints in
his behalf & those who were going with him that they might
save the souls of men & open the gospel to those of other tongues
& languages I think the time has come when it should be done
but I feel that I can do nothing of myself in this matter exc[ept]
the Lord helps me. I feel thankful that I can leave my family
& children here in the midst of the Saints I do not wish
to go to the states to preach the gospel to the nation that has driven
us out if they want the Gospel let them come and ask for it
as we have travled with blistered feet to carriey it to them &
then, then they would curse us for it many other good
remarks were made by Elder Pratt.
President Young addressed the meeting some minutes before
it closed concerning the building of the public works & other things
we met in the upper room for Prayer & had a good time
~ Monday
3rd ^[FIGURE]^ I spent the day in the upper room in council I ordained
one High Priest & one to the Quorum of the Seventies I administered
to 7 others & addressed the saints in the afternoon
~ Tuesday
4th I spent the day at home & made 10 rods of post & board
fence on 1st west Temple street
~ Wednesday
5th I laboured at home Ezra returned at night from the
herd bringing my cattle with him
~ Thursday
6th I drove my oxen to Lorenzo Young herd distance 25
~ Friday
7th I drew 16 dead oxen out of the carell & then returned
home to the city 25
~ Saturday
8th I drew 3 loads of sand for making morter & commenced
again to lay up my sullar wall
~ Sunday
9th Sunday The meeting was addressed in the fore part of
the day By Elder J. M. Grant who spoke well on Prayer, faith
industry & other things was followed By President Kimball
who spoke much to our edifycation He prophesyed that
we should have an increase of work & labour to all Etern-
ity. During the intermission President Young Kimball & the
Twelve called upon Brother Richards & his sister Rhoda lay at
the point of Death we all administered unto her by the laying on of
hands President Young said she should live & not die at this
time. President Young Addressed the meeting in the afternoon
upon the subject of building the Temple, Tithing, & labour on the
public works He said oif evry man was willing to do what
was right their would be no need of Tithing He said he
would not be responsible personally for the labour of any
man on the public works if the people paid their tithing the
workman would get their pay. if we build Temples, public works
or fit out missionaries abroad ior feed the poor it has to be by the
Tithing of the people. He also spoke of the merchants who had
trusted the Saints if they did not get their pay they must not
turn around & dam the presidency & the church & undertake
to mob us as they did in the states for that we shall not suffer
here. During the evening we met for Prayer afterwards we
met with the Regency.
~ Monday
10th I spent the day laying sullar wall
~ Tuesday
11th I drew 6 loads of sand & clay
~ Wednesday
12 I drew 2 loads of stone from the kanion & 2 masons laid the wall
~ Thursday
13 I drew 2 loads of stone
~ Friday
14 I drew 2 loads of stone
~ Saturday
15 I drew 2 loads of stone for the foundation of my house
~ Sunday
16th Sunday Elder Appleby preached in the forenoon & was
followed by W. Woodruff. In the afternoon the meeting
was addressed By W. W. Phelps. we met in the evening for
Prayer & had a good time
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, & 22 This week was also spent drawing stone
& laying wall for the foundation of my house
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday W. Woodruff addressed the meeting in the forenoon
& E. T. Benson in the afternoon President Young was gone to
Utah
~ Tuesday
25 I spent the day laying wall
~ Wednesday
26th I went into the Bigfield & commenced ploughing &
sewing wheat
~ Thursday
27th spent the day ploughing
~ Friday
28th We had a mail come in from the states we received
letters & many papers the world is in great confusion &
trouble.
~ Saturday
29th I spent the day at home The Nauvoo Legion came out Elder
Benson & myself were appointd Chaplains of the legion
~ Sunday
30th Sunday Brother Kimball addressed the meeting & was followed
by others
we met for Prayer in the evening
~ Monday
31st We had a snow storm I went into the big field however
to ploughing
~ Tuesday to ~ Friday
Apriail 1, 2, 3, ^&^ 4 I spent this week in the field ploughing
we sowed 13 acres of wheat 5 acres of 7 head wheat
5 acres of club wheat & 5 of Touse. Another Eastern
Mail on the 3rd
~ Saturday
5th The legislature of the state of Deseret met in Joint
session for the last time and after closing the business of the
day the assembly was dissolved as a Territorial Government
was about to be esstablished
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I spent the day in the Boyery at Meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
7th 8th 9th 10th 11th & 12 I spent sewing wheat
~ Sunday
13 Sunday we had a meeting in the Bowery
~ Monday
14th I spent the day furrowing out the land.
~ Tuesday
15th I went to Bishop Robinsons & got 40 bushels of wheat
~ Wednesday
16 We went to Mill
~ Thursday to ~ Friday
17 & 18 We ploughed J Benbows lot for oats
~ Saturday
19th I spent the day at home
~ Sunday
20th We spent the day at Meeting
~ Monday
21st Monday I spent the day getting ready to go with the
President & others to visit our Brethren in the south part of the
Basin Br Young thought it wisdom for us to go as far south
as the Little Salt Lake to visit the Brethren
~ Tuesday
22nd President Young & many others left the city to start on their
Southern Mission Brother Young spent the night with Brother
Smoot I rode to Brother Kingtons & spent the night with him
~ Wednesday
23rd I prepaired myself to go on the Journey with Br E T Benson
He came along this Morning I went with him to A O Smoot
their Joined President Young & Kimball & started on our
Journey we had 20 waggons & about 40 men to go on our
Journey to visit our Brethren 250 miles to visit the Brethren &
comfort their hearts I do not think their was ever a company
of men of the same number ever left as much business to go on
a visit as we did. We crossed the Mountain into Utah valley
& camped for the night this was the first time I ever was in
Utah valley I found it to be a splendid valley of Land
~ Thursday
24th The company went on I rode to the fort on the N West
side of the Lake dined with some friends on some fine trout
then Rode to our Encampment on the provo fort was vary [blank]
~ Friday
25 I rode to Brother Behannans & spent several hours with
him then rode on to camp on Hobble creek I here found
Walker the Utah Chief with his band I here saw him for the
first time he is an ugly cunning chief
I called upon Aaron Johnson & wrote a letter to Mrs Woodruff
~ Saturday
26th I rode with Br Wells across the battle ground whare the Indians
fought our brethren with Br Wells as the leader of the saints He gave
me an account of the battle which was interesting. We rode to
Petatenich creek met with the ox teams here who were appo[i]nted
to go to Iron County they went along with us we travled to
Summit creek & camped for the night in the evening a meeting
was called to organize the camp Brother Wells was our captain
B. Young President H. C. Kimball W. Woodruff E. T. Benson & J Young
councellors. President Young while speaking of the Resurrection
said that we should receive the same bodies that we lay down
if our dust was blown to the four winds of Heaven
~ Sunday
27th We rode to Salt creek & camped by the salt cave which is
composed of about 2/3 salt & 1/3 clay & it is suppose that many of the salt
springs originate in this way by the wash of the salt
~ Monday
28th We rode about 5 miles into the Kanyon to visit a salt spring which
forms salt on the rocks sufficient to supply many families
we rode into san pitch valley & camped on a creek for the night
~ Tuesday
29th We Rode to San pitch Settlement As we came in sight we
were saluted by the fireing of cannon & waveing of flags we
were received with warmth by Father Morley & the people in
general their is about 100 families here they are farming have
a school house commenced a council House, &c I called upon
Brother Brown & other friends Capt Jones &c we had a meeting in
the evening B Young addressed the meeting in an interesting manner
said his faith was that the Earth would not have produced for
the Gentiles as it has for us & if we had faith & power with God
to have the curse taken off instead of the sage brush & other
useless shrubs we should have the apple pear peach grape & evry
good fruit but if this people do not take a different course
from what they do in some things their blessings will prove a
curse & wo will be unto them & other remarks were made
He was followed By Elder Kimball who spoke well & backed
up his testimony W. Woodruff followed & expressed his feelings
I spent the night with Br Brown
~ Wednesday
30th We met for the purpose of organizing a High Council
there were twelve men chosen & were ordained to be High
councellors & 4 were ordained to be High Priest under the
hands of E T Benson & W. Woodruff the meeting was
then addressed By John & Lorenzo Young. In the afternoon
W Woodruff E. T. Benson & J M Grant addressed the Meeting
the People met in the evening & had a time of recreation
~ Thursday
May 1st We left Sanpete in the afternoon & travled
6 miles & camped on South creek
~ Friday
2nd We travled to the severe & camped on salt creek Kanyon
I visited a Mountain of Rock salt
~ Saturday
3rd In company with several others we went 3 miles up salt
creek saw a spring of salt water which forms a beautiful white
salt on the rocks as it runs down it makes several tons each
year we visited one mountain of Rock salt pure & clean the body
was more than 40 feet high & so hard it was difficult to cut it
with an ax we also saw the ground white made from salt springs
we saw a plenty of the quarts rock & Isonglass we rode to the
severe & camped on its bank shot one deer while he was
swiming the creek
~ Sunday
4th Sunday we crossed the severe rode 25 miles through
the sage & camped on cotton wood Wells explored the other
Kanyon but could not get through
~ Monday
5th We crossed the Mountain into Mary vale which was a plesant
place but most of the severe River & valley is rightly named
for it is a barren world this stream abounds with beaver &
it is said a plenty of trout. A 200 mile stale from Salt Lake is in
this vale
~ Tuesday
6th We travled over a high bluff & had a rough road all day
we camped at night on a creek
~ Wednesday
7th We crossed the severe twice today camped on the side of the severe
Mountain had a rough road
~ Thursday
8th A plesant morning the Mountain scenery that surrounds us is truly
beautiful & romantic the air breeze clear & serene & healthy
we travled over a vary rough road the fore part of the day but a bette[r] [one]
in the evening we camped as usual on the Mountains with the towe[ri]ng
rock around us
~ Friday
9th We are met this morning with a tremendious snow & hailstorm
which met us in our faces & we suffered much we started
early before breakfast hoping to get down off the Mountain
out of the storm we travled 25 miles before we stoped to eat.
we came in sight of the valley of Little Salt Lake about noon drove
down into a kanyon made a fire warmed us & took dinner
we then descended into the valley over a rough road of rock
& sage found a road drove to Red Creek & camped for the
night, we have been over the worst road for a few days
past that I ever knew waggons to pass over we had to draw
our waggons up & let them down with ropes it was so sideling
we had do hold our waggons up to keep them from turning over
we camped within 4 miles of Cedar City during the
evening G. A. Smith & two other Brethren came down to see
us it was a happy meeting Red Creek was a good place
for a settlement
~ Saturday
10th We had another snow storm this morning the snow
fell 8 inches in the valley whare we were which was a great
blessing to the people as it watered their wheat there had
not been such a snow in the valley during the winter
we took breakfast got up our teams & started for Cedar
City we were met by G. A. Smith & a horse company
who came out to escort us in when we arived we were
saluted by the fireing of cannon & the flag of the stars & stripes.
we took up our abode among the Brethren in the fort Brother
Benson & myself stoped with Bishop Robinson we took a
a walk to see G. A. Smith saw mill which was up so he could
saw. He informed us they had an abundance of coal, magn[acted]
Iron, Allum salt timber &c nearby we found the Brethren
had done much since their arival they have about 100 men
have been there 3 months. Have enclosed a fort containing 19 acre
& 96 rods of ground and have ploughed & sewed about
1000 acres of wheat have fenced about 6000 acres of land
Have built one saw mill and got a Cooncel House up the 1st
story. This is an important point and probably will be
next to the great salt Lake in importance as they have found
an abundance of coal & Iron
~ Sunday
11th Sunday It was a stormy day Br G. A Smith addressed
the meeting a short time and the people was dismissed
~ Monday
12th A company started out this morning to examine the coal & Iron
the President & council remained in fort to hold a cooncil &
do such business as was necessary. A meeting was called at
4 oclock to ascertain the minds of the Brethren it was found
about 30 wished to go home 15 to get their families & the other
15 to remain at the great salt Lake each one made there excuse
President Young then addressed them & said he would express
his feelings upon the subject to those who wished to go home
If you were now on a mission to France England or any other
part of the Earth preaching the gospel you would not sit down
& council together about going to get your families or go
home untill your mission was ended. this is of quite as
much importance as preaching the gospel for the time has now
come when it is required of us to make the wilderness blos-
som as the rose. Our mission now is build up stakes of Zion
& fill these mountains with cities & when your mission
is ended you are at Liberty to go & be free & ownly do right.
When I go on a mission I leave my affairs in the hands of
God. If my house fields, flocks, wife or children die in my
absence I say Amen to it. If they live & prosper I feel to
say Amen to it & thank the Lord. He wished the Brethren
to finish the fort & secure their grain &c wished the land to
be surveyed so that the Brethren who laid the foundation
could have their choice of farms. He councelled the Brethren
to buy up the Lamanite children as fast as they could &
educate them & teach them the gospel so that not many
generations they would be a white & delightsom people
for the Lord could not have devised a better plan than
to have put us whare we are in order to accomplish this
thing
~ Tuesday
13 The Saints assembled this morning & was addressed by
E. T. Benson in the morning who spoke lengthy in the afternoon
the meeting was addressed By John Young J M Grant &
W Woodruff who expressed their feelings upon various subj-
ects B Young followed and advised to have the logs so close
that arrows could not be shot into the fort. He would prefer to
have many address the saints so as to get Ideas from many than
to have one occupy all the time. He wished the boundaries of the
citieys to be altered on the charter as their was a mistake in also the
name was to be altered from Cedar City to the Indian Name PAROWAN
~ Wednesday
14th We rode to Red Creek to see the country we had a feast at
Brother Baylis House of the rich luxeries of Earth. Our exploreing
party returned from the coal & Iron mines brought specemins &c
~ Thursday
15th we rode to summit creek to day whare we could
view the land & see the country 10 miles from the fort south
we concluded to start home tomorrow. In the evening
In company with Elder Kimball I went to the water & saw
the Baptism of 6 persons Brother Kimball & myself confirmed
them Brother Whipple & family was 3 of them
~ Friday
16th Met with the citizens to agree upon electing officers
President Young said that he cared nothing about the feelings
of the Nations who had driven us out. we should not follow
in the path & political foolary we should have one candidate
& but one as delegate to congress we can speak our feelings
freely here but when we vote let it be for the candidate of our
choice should we have two candidates & they have about
eqal votes the United States would know we had apostitized
from our faith & union or we were trying to deceive them
we would stand better in their eyes to take our own indepe-
ndant course & act united. if we have but one track
the saints will walk on it if we have two tracks their will
be a plenty of Devils to run on them. If we begin right
we shall go right if we begin wrong we shall keep wrong
the United States are afraid of our union & so is the world
In speaking of the Indians he said these Indians were the
descendants of the old gadianton robers who infested these
mountains for more than a thousand years.
we dined together in the city of Parowan & then left
amid the roar of cannon & drove to red creek & camped
for the night. About 30 of the citizens returned with us
to go back to the Great Salt Lake City
~ Saturday
17 we left the valley crossed the mountain & camped on
Beaver creek which abounds with Beaver & trout G. A. Smith
& several others came as far as this creek & camped with us
~ Sunday
18th Sunday we parted with George A Smith & his company
who returned to Parowan we drove to willow creek & camped
I felt quite unwell through the day
~ Monday
19th we travled to chalk creek & camped for the night
Brother Smoot & several others are quite sick with the
mountain fever I am quite unwell with it
~ Tuesday
20 several of the Brethren went to the chalk mines to get some
chalk they brought a quantity with them. I rode with Br
Kimball to day all the sick are getting better we camped in
dry valley we found the country filled with the best of
grass for cattle
~ Wednesday
21 We had a rainy morning we rode to the severe crosed it
& nooned the ox teams came up with us & crossed the ferry
also, one waggon turned over in the river we drove to sage Hen creek
& camped for the night I saw about a dozen Beaver play in the swamp at night
~ Thursday
22nd we had a good road to day we drove to salt creek Nooned then
passed Mt Nebo & willow creek went to summit creek & camped we
drove 36 miles to day
~ Friday
23rd we rode to Petetenich & to Provo fort & on to Battle creek &
camped
~ Saturday
24th we drove into the salt Lake valley. I left Brothers Smoot &
Stewart quite sick they were glad to get home I took tea with
Br & Sister Smoot. I then called at Thomas Kingtons Left a
letter went on with the company to the city. An escort of
100 horseman came out to meet us we went into the city
amid the roar of canon I went home to my family & found
them all well and we found on our return the Lord had
given our crops a plenty of rain it had rained 12 days in
succession and the people were blessed. Little Salt Lake
is 250 miles from Great Salt Lake so the whole distance
of our travel to & from was 500 miles
An Eastern mail arived an hour before we did & brought many papers
[FIGURE] 25 And Letters I received 2 letters from I F Carter & one from Foster
~ Sunday
25th ^[FIGURE]^ Sunday The People assembled in the Bowery & filled the
House President B Young addressed the meeting spoke of our
Journey over the mountains & made many interesting remarks
In the afternoon the meeting was addressed By W Woodruff E. T. Benson
and President Young then preached a loud sermon to the people
told them if they went to the merchants as they had done
& run in debt they would soon find themselves slaves to their
enemies & fools told the people to go to making leather & cloth
& the women to card their wool & flak spin their flax & make
cloth & many plain & pointed things were spoken in the evening
we met for Prayer & had a good time
~ Monday
26th In company with Father Woodruff I rode to Thomas
Kingtons & spent the night 10 m
~ Tuesday
27th I went to fishing & caught 49 trout spent the night to Br Kingtons
~ Wednesday
28th I returned home 10
~ Thursday
29th I spent the day at home choreing
~ Friday
30th I spent the day hunting a lost cow rode 15 mils
~ Saturday
31st [FIGURES] I received a letter from Ilus F Carter conta-
ining an Invoice of goods sent by Mr Monroe I wrote
him one letter containing one sheet & a half giving him
what News I could
~ Sunday
June 1st 1851 Sunday when I arived at meeting President
Young was speaking & the following is a synopsis of his
discourse "If a man does right he shall have the spirit of God
to enlighten his mind in all things yet all men will be
tryed, buffeted, & tempted more or less in this probation & he
that governs himself is wise. If a man is unrighteously
angry he should let it sleep & not show itself untill he is right
again. good men may be left to commit a gross sin but
if he had watched closely he would have escaped the evil. the
Lord intends all men to be tryed in this life & if you build
your faith upon a true foundation that faith has got to be tryed
All men have an oppertunity of appearing wise or foolish
of governing themselves or making their folley manifest
Peter commit a gross error had he have been on the watch
tower he might have turned away in silence & not denyed his
Lord. Many have been tryed & turned away from us
at a time when they expected to have gained sumthing by &
in doing so they have lost all. Others have been blinded &
overcome & done evil then their eyes were open to see the conseq-
uences. But it is the privilege of all men to live so that they
can see what each act will amount to either good or evil How
different the prospect would be before the world or this people if
they would live so from what it now is. I endeavour to do right
in all things & then leave the event in the hands of God & am satisfy
with the result. If a man is led or tempted to do a thing that you do
not comprehend the result of & that result ^not^ lead to good then let it
alone.
During the past week one remarked to me that my observat-
ions last sunday ought to be observed & was good but it ought to have
been spoken in the right spirit. But I wish to say that I am
satisfyed with the power & influence the Lord has given me. The Lord
directs things according to his own will, I know my feelings & zeal
would make my words like a sharp two edged sword so that they
would seperate the sins from this people that they should practice
sin no more not be tempted with it but this is not the will
of God the people still must have their warfare & trial & if the
storms & waves overwhelm the ship still all is well for we have
a good captain at the helm. Some people are vary anxious
to reprove others while they are wrong themselves and do not know
the spirit they are of theiry are ready to say How do you
do Peter & Judas Jesus, & How do you do Mr Devil And are
vary pious but will go to Hell with their spirit & the whole
world will go to Hell with the same spirit Awake ye Elders
of Israel & make your calling & election sure lest you go to
Hell with the wicked, I do not point you to the sectarian
Hell whare Devils are tosting you with a pitchfork in the
billows of Hell fire eternally. But go & mingle with the wicked
in the states wrangle & fight with them get their spirit
& feelings & loose the light & spirit of God & you will begin
to feel the true state of the Damned. The wicked killed
Jesus Christ out of mallace & wickedness & they did not
know that His death was to save the world the Lord turns
many things for good which the world means for Evil the
whole Earth is filled with misery, sin & wickedness I
could find no worse Hell than to be confined among them
I labour for the welfare of this whole people I wish my
Brethren to be a happy free people that their course of
life may be such as to get an Eternal & temperal salvation
I labour to effect this, their is time & change to all things
Their has been a code of Laws given in former days
which was for all people which is the gospel of Jesus Christ
In the dasyys of Christ the Apostles & Elders were sent out
to preach the gospel & warn the people they did so but were
then martered for preaching it & the saints were killed off
the Earth, that time is gone the change has come, for now
the set time has come to favor Zion to build it up in
strength power & glory to gather Israel to build Jerrusalem
& Zion to fight for our liberty & freedom. we have sent the
Gospel forth & preached the Book of Mormon and the minstry
of Jesus on this continent in Ancient days Now the time is come
to gather Israel & polish them. Their is a great excitement in
the world about slavery & the abolitioneist are vary fearful that
we shall have the Negro or Indian as lslaves Here we have a
few that were prisioners that we have bought to save their lives
but what will the Abolitionest do If you owe them a dollar they
will Jog you up. Neither will they liberate the slave by buying
them & setting them free. The Master of Slaves will be damned
if they Abuse their slaves. Yet the seed of Ham will be
servants untill God takes the curse off from them but they are
not all the slaves their is in the world. The whole world are
slaves to sin & wickedness & passion. I have two Blacks
they are as free as I am. Shall we lay a foundation for
Negro Slavery No God forbid and I forbid. I say let
us be free. we will be rich but we must be rich in
faith first or we shall be rich in no other way. we must
lay a foundation to manufacture our own goods if we do
not we shall be slaves to our enemies we must stop being
so much dependant oupon our enemies & a foreign market
or it will make us trouble and this people must sceace getting
in debt to the merchants for if you will get in debt you
shall pay your debts but I say stop getting in debt let No
one come to me & complain that he has got in debt & the
man will sue him & ought to be cut off from the church
for you that get in debt & wont pay your debts are the ones
that ought to be cut off from the church. dont get in debt
go in the spring & get the bark off the shrub oaks their is enough
in this valley to tan $200,000 worth of leather, & here your
hiydes are roting over the Earth & your are paying 50 cts pe[r] lb
for leather & you pay the merchants $80,000 annually for shoes
but instead of persueing this course if you will lay a foundation
for taning leather making cloth making what we want you
then lay a foundation to build & sustain Zion. I drove sheep
to this valley & bought others & brought a carding machine
here to card wool who will put it up I have done more to
stock this valley than any 4 men in the place. I want
others to do sumthing set up the mashine & make the cloth is there
any woman in this valley who will make me a suit of clothes
so if I do not wear them. what is the spirit of the times
in the world if a woman pays a great price for an article
it is considered vary nice & all want some of the same but
you get a thing cheap & all are ashamed to wear it you are looked
upon with disdain but if you pay a great price you are vary
respectable. their is many practices not right to see the men
ride through the streets they go as though they were in a hurry
to get to Hell. To men of wisdom such things look vain &
foolish but to the world it looks glorious & the mark of fellow[shiping]
with them is fine clothing & splendor, I want the saints to
adorn themselves first their hearts with faith & grace then
their bodies with the workmanship of their own hands if
it is silk & satin all the better it will show your art
wisdom & ingenuety in temperal things true friendship is
not known on the Earth if it is not among this people But the
friendship of this people is the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ
this must continue to improve untill they are perfect
In speaking upon the subject of tithing the President thought
their had not Been $200 dollars paid in cash during the
past Year inby this people in tithing but they have paid the
merchants $200000 in cash, & their is now 30000 bushels
of wheat due on tithing. Shall we dispens with the Law of
Tithing. Dont you want a building to meet in to worship God
we want a Tabernacle, & a Temple for our Endowments
also a Tower to hang a bell on & we want to keep building
up Zion that Israel may have a place of rest. if we do this
we do our duty we have duties to perform and a warfare
to accomplish but the victory will soon be ours the greatest
warfare is with ourselves if we can gain a victory with
ourselves so as to have peace with ourselves our wives & childn
we shall do well. many other interesting remarks were
made by the president.
In the afternoon the meeting was addressed by O Spencer
in an adifying manner. And was followed by Elder
Kimball who spoke much to the edifycation of the people
we had our prayer meeting in the evening & was in
council untill 10 oclok
~ Monday
2nd June I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
3, I went to porters Mill & got a load of Lumber &
caught 15 trout
~ Wednesday
4th I went to see my herd of oxen that was brought down
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
5th 6th 7th I spent the time about my labour
~ Sunday
8th Sunday President Young addressed a full assembly of
the Saints as follows. I want to speak such things as are
in my heart. All that are acquainted with me know that my
religion embraces all things that belong to the duties of life
The Religion I have embraces all the principles of present
future, progressive & Eternal Salvation in evry sens of the
word. I labour for the salvation of myself & my Brethren I would
be glad to speak to thousands even the whole world if they could
hear I would not like to preach in this house to 20 or 100 persons
when more than 1000 could get in here then for 20 or 1100 more come
& have to preach 20 or 50 times to have the people learn when
they could learn it all at once. The President of the Seventies
called a separate meeting to day I come & dismissed it what if the
Twelve Seventies High Priest, Elders, priest, Teachers, Deacon & member
should do the same there would be bear walls for the house to
preach to & what Good would it do. If the presidency of the seventies
have such important things to lay before the quorum as to get them to
-gether on sunday let them come & teach us all. I now want to
give council in this matter from this time forth & forever let
not the president of any quorum ever again call a separate meeting
from the public congregation unless the president of the Church [order]
it. The seventies should be here and all the people should be here
let the seventies Hall go & all other business when Sunday comes
let the Saints of God come together & hear the Elders teach
Apply your hearts unto wisdom & get it. If I am full of
the spirit of God I shall not get any more than I want
It is the duty of all to come here that can come & let the
power of Eternity rest upon us and you should not be asleep
but wide awake. When I contrast the present with the past
situations of the Saints I[t] gives me a great variety of feelings,
both good & bad Joyful & sorrowful I have seen this
people waiding through a school of affliction they then
were prayful & had faith their trying situation made
them remember the Lord their God. But now prosperity
is heaped upon you and as this people are to be tryed in all
things when prosperity comes some forget God wax fat
& rich do not realize the blessings they are enjoying. some
who are in poverty abroad desire to gather with the saints
when they arive & get rich they forget what they have
been. Could you see the feelings of thousands now
who are abroad who desire with all their hearts to come
here they would be willing to lick up the dust of your feet
if they could but be here they still are with the wicked
Bring them here they look upon many who were poor
but now rich, they then desire to be rich also they want
gold & will soon be willing to sacrifice the society of the
Saints & go to the gold mines & plunge themselves again
into Hell as it were from whare they came to gratify an
unlawful desire thus it is with many men some were
to go to the plat to Bear River & keep a ferry to get gold
& wait on wicked ungodly men to get gold whare are
their minds like the fools eyes. I told them I would
not wait on the devils for loads of gold I would rather
stay here & serve the Lord. All I want of property is
to serve the Lord & build up his kingdom with it. I suppose
many of the Brethren & Sisters are much tryed to think
they cannot have all they want. I will tell you what
to do, do all you can to day & let the rest go untill to morrow
do your duty to day and all will be right what
good would it do you to have 999 years to search & hear the revelations
& commandments of God if we have no time to carry one of
them out. If any one wants to get more revelations than they
improve upon they are greedy dogs. It will take 20 years to do the
work that God has revealed through the mouth of his servant
Joseph which he laid out for us to perform before his death
even during the last year of his life to say nothing of what he
gave before. I will tell you your duty. Command your minds
from evry thing that is not for you to day & sit & worship God
not sit & sleep but worship the Lord today, go home at the close
of the meeting & get your food & rest then come to meeting again
ponder & reflect upon the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ & his sufferi-
ngs. if their is any thing necessary to be done do it if an ox or an
ass falls into the pit pull him out, drive any beast out of your Neigh
bors grain & put up the fence. Do you meditate do you pray in
your families & in secret to get the spirit of God. you say you
have my ^your^ tryials I have mine I will tell some of them Brethren will
come here to meeting on Monday morning go through my field leave
my fence down let their cattle & horses eat my wheat
Borrow my cart waggon, shovel, hoe, ax & evry thing I have
got & that to without liberty & never bring it home and if
it was not my duty to stay here I would lay my hands
upon some I could pick out who I have confidence in &
would go & form a colony by myself & would not admit
of any person who was not proven I cannot get grass in the
Big field but many of you do it. But I now warn you not to
steal my wood nor any of my property for if you continue
to do it I will put a mark upon such men that they will
carry all the days of their lives they are hypocritts and
think all others are the same I dont love them vary well
Again I say to you it is not your duty to get in debt to these
Merchants I say you shall pay your debts if you say you cant
pay I say you shall pay them.
I speak of the faults of my
Brethren you may ask shall we forgive our Brother his trespas
if he repents I say yes "How many times untill seventy times seven
in one day if he repents & asks for it even all sins except
the sin agains[t] the Holy Ghost. If you will bring back my tools
grass & grain which you have taken unlawfully or any of my property
and ask forgiveness I will return forgive you I will not cast
of[f] any man untill he cast himself off I will not reject any
man untill he rejects himself, I will hold on to any man as long
as he has any prospect of salvation.
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
9th 10th 11th 12 13th & 14 This week has been spent in hunting lost
cattle, wattering wheat & common labour
~ Sunday
15th Sunday President Brigham Young addressed the congrega-
tion of the Saints in the following words.
I would like to say enough in few words to fill three sermons
I have had to deliver my discourses in few words. I wish the
people to sustain the priesthood as the priesthood. As to the opin-
ion of men concerning myself as a man I care no more about
it than I do the dust under my feet. I dont care what you
say about me If you will ownly serve the Lord our God do the people
live so as to know the voice of the Good shepherd. I wish to state
one item here which concerns you seriously, that is concerning
the Indians here. They are Ignorant have been taught to steel
& kill from their childhood & those who could do the most of it were
considerd the greatest Braves & chiefs as soon as they begin to steal
here many of you want them killed compare their circumsta
nces with your own. You are taught from your cradles not to
steal or kill as it is a great crime now do you kill a white man
as soon as he steals weigh this subject well. Those who wish
them killed for stealing a horse reduce themselves far below the
Indian. You love them as well as I do, but when the curse
is taken off they will again be fit for society but while they
are in their degraded state it rests upon us to use wisdom &
judgment in their behalf. I say to the saints kill evry white
man you see stealing & not kill the Indian for it for the white men
know better. I speak to the saints not as the Govornor of Utah but you
& I are sent to save Israel not to kill them. Evry Elder that croses
a certain line I do not wish to see him but those who do right or
seek to do right if they commit an error we will forgive them
I do not ask for influence ownly what God gives me neither will
I give any man influence ownly what the Lord & his own good
conduct gives him for if God does not give a man influence
all els will be of no use to him. If I do the work of God i all is
well but I will give no man influence ownly what God gives
A Few words to families who have not a head to Govern
will be destroyed. The man is the head of the family & should
govern it. the hand may say to the head if I really thought you
would govern right I would be governed by you but I am afraid
you will not and I want to govern you & dictate the head then the
shoulders & stomach will want to dictate but does not good sens teach
you that your head should Govern your body your experience teaches
the same. Your head dictates you what to do & when your head
dictates the body to do wickedly & pollute the body then the head
should be cut off so as not to pollute the body any longer
G A Smith remarked that there was some bodies who could not
act unless the belly told the head what to do. In the strict sens of
the word no man is qualifyed to be jud[g]e & rule in the priesthood
untill he is qualifyed to rule himself, & be king over himself
it is thus in families children & mothers Have you a good
Husband & Father let the wife rule the Husband & she will keep
him tied to the dish cloth & kitchen all the days of his life & it
proves a curse upon him. Their is a curse upon man that
I would not take off if I could for in the experience you
have you are led to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
Do you know your calling Mothers It is your duty to brace up
your feelings as men have to do & be mystress of your house
I go to the house to rest the Mother sayes I cannot govern the
children I wish you would but this is not right the Elders
of this church have to go abroad to preach the gospel they
cannot be with their children when they come home to
spend a little time they want to daudle their children upon
their knee & not go to whiping them the Mother should go[vern]
them wuntill the sons go with their Fathers in the field then
let the Father Govern I can govern my children when
they are with me I would rather one of my sons would
stab me to the heart & kill me dead than to conquer &
master me in government when any undertake to
govern out of their place they do not prosper. As an ensample
P P Pratt & John Taylor undertook to govern & controll &
set right my affairs at winter Quarters while I was on
a pioneer Journey to the Mountains & they liked to have destro
yed many but I said peace be still and I saved the people
I say to Mothers in the Name of the Lord God of Israel do your
duty dont ask the Father to whip the child do it yourself if
necessary & let Mothers controll their daughters untill they go
to their Husbands, but let the Man rule & preside over his household
and I say to the Men do not go home & abuse your wives becaus
of what I have said but treat them kindly what would
you think of a man who would get up before a glass &
cut & tear his own heart out as well of him as I would
of a man who would beat & abuse his wife.
President Richards remarked Evry man makes his own Hell or Heaven
if we keep the commandments & do right we have a Heaven within
us all the time 40 Men & all the devils in Hell cannot make a Hell for us if
[we] do right but if you stop to parley with the devil he will soon get the advantage
over you & make a Hell for you
[FIGURE] During the evening we met for prayer after which the president
taught us much to our edifycation. The spirit should controll the
body the monitor whispers to the mind of man when it does [wrog] wrong
& sayes this is wrong points out the right path & sayes walk ye in it
the soul or spirit of man wants feeding as well as the body or it
will dry up & wither like the quakers & other sects
A Mormon boy will whip out the priest we will advance untill we
can stand in the society of the gods, then let us do right & keep the
commandments of God in all things. Our knowledge comes by experi[ence]
it is Necessary that we should have crosses & trials of all kinds
in order to gain knowledge by experience if we overcome we
get a great victory continue to do so untill we arive at our high
stations to become Gods Organize worlds & controle them. All
our passions God gave us but we must controll them & make a
right use of them. Our spirits were pure from Eternity but
condescended to take a body in its impure state was married
to it will continue with it through time in mortality through
Eternity in Immortality. In speaking of the married state
sayes if man & wife become alliniated from each other it is
in one sens the spirit of adultery
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
16th 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21, this week was spent hunting lost
cattle & at hard labour
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday President Young addressed the saints as
follows. If I can see the motives of the heart of man & know
Eternal things by the spirit of God it is far more beautiful
than to hear their words of men. should an Angel come
& convers with any man in the congregation No other one might
know it. He would think the person spoke to him as one speaks to
another face to face when he would not be seen at all ownly by
the spirit of God or by vision. we may know by the spirit of
God what is in a mans heart before he speaks, at all times listen
to the still small voice of the spirit of God and it will save the saints
from many snares. If you get angry dont sin nor let the sun
go down upon your wrath I do not expect perfection in men
not what the world calls perfection I have seen a perfect prophet
and perfect Apostles, that is perfect in their calling. But not the
perfection the world looks for. If Joseph had been as perfect as
the people wished him to be he could not have lived with the people
nor stayed this side of the veil as long as he did, we co[u]ld not have
herd his voice nor seen his face. He would have had to been veiled
Israel could not endure the face of Moses at times. The Lord exp-
ects us to be in the path of Duty when we get in Eternity we
shall be Angels or Goods we shall their advance to the God head
if we do right.
In speaking of the Law what a simple thing it is
what is the Law to those who do right. It is not made for any
body but the transgresser & lawless & wicked. If we do not infringe
upon the rights of others all things are ours in Heaven & Earth time
& Eternity Life & Death Heaven Earth & Hell & all that is therein
is ours if we do not infringe upon the rights of any other being
we shall become Gods & fill immensity as our Father in Heaven
does I can weigh all the sleepers philosophers, & Learned men
of the Earth in the scale & know just what they weigh & can cir
cumscribe them all. All is mine Heaven Earth, Hell wives children
and I am Christs & Christ is Gods. It is not known to us whare
the stakes are set to Gods immensity. Take the world at large and
they get to the end of their chain when they get to the mill
pond. It is a startling Idea to think we are worshiping a God
that once was once in the situation that we are in ourselves
they had to pass through a probation of pain, suffering & the fall
like ourselves & He made perfect through sufferings. The Son of
God passed through it & the Father would not require of a son
what He would not do Himself. All our sufferings will exhalt
us in the presence of God if we endure them patiently. A word of
advice concerning lawing I dont never want to hear of another
law suit among the Brethren. Is it anything but good common
sense to Never have another suit before a jud[g]e to say nothing
of revelation. It does not require any great perfection to
accomplish this, let men do right do your Neighbour good not
evil. The Lord will burn up the Earth to cleanse it as you would
an old pipe. You think it hard to have to water your land here
but it is far more healthy than to have rain it was so in Egypt if
it did not rain in Illinois & Missouri more than here it would
be far more healthy this could be reasoned out on Natural
principles. A word more upon Law suits their would not be a Lawsuit
in this valley if all men would do right & were saints but the net has
gathered all kinds good bad & worse let twelve men get drunk
in this community & it ruins the place in the estimation of
of good men we have to bear the character of the drunkard
a few stinking fish in the net defile it. & the whole net stinks
and it creates a prejudic against it. Those who were acq-
uainted with Joseph know that if he delt any in temporal
things it created a prejudice against him. He bought many
goods to help carry on the public works but the people were ready
to get it all away from him. So it is now but I say unto
all men who are saints put to your hands & help build up Zion
& the Kingdom of God we are scholars in the great school & must
learn we are a kingdom & must bring the kingdom in subje[c]tion
to the will of God
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
23rd 24th 25, 26, 27 ^& 28^ This week was spent in prepareing to build
~ Sunday
289th Sunday President Young remarked I Join in testimony
with the Brethren I wish to be a doer of the word I feel the import
ance of the remarks of the last speaker Brother Spencer those
who are not ready to meet the Bridegroom will not be invited
to the supper and the time is near. Jesus Christ is an ensam-
ple to all Saints, He was filled with wisdom in his youth but in
his childhood & infancy He was like other children. It has
been said that He was in infancy wise as in manhood but this
is not the case He was subject to temptation as we are but was
not overcome by it. If we have become acquainted with our follies
let us put them away & apply our hearts unto wisdom. let us have
compassion on others as we wish God to have compassion
on us we should increase in wisdom untill the day of redemption
No person can receive all at once but increase little by little untill
the day of perfection. Apply our hearts to wisdom & it will produce
peace, health, wealth & evry good thing. should you see a people
carry out the principles of wisdom peace would be the fruit &
you would never see contention unto the day of your death
Ask the world if they do not like a people who live in peace & are
contented & they will say yes it is beautiful take the world at
the present time & they are like wolves eat each other up they
fight & contend & devour each other the abolitionest become heated
& say the Negro must be made equal to the white man at the table &
all other places they will at the same time turn away the widow &
orphan & put into prision a poor man for debt, and deprive him
of his time to pay the debt, instead of this we should feed the
hungry & do good to all men as we have an opportunity
then we have a Zion it is peace in the heart we should
bear an evil from a Friend as well as an Enemy you ask the
Lord to bear with your infirmities so we should bear with
each other. what is the necessity of doing wrong having law
suits & contending with each other go to Law & spend $100 to
collect $5. you may be told you are independent & have rights
you have a right to do good & not evil. The God I serve will
deal out good to his saints & evry thing that is necessary
for them & reveal his will unto them, & teach them what
to do He will not lie or decieve me I will ask O Lord
did you do this or that did you bless this man or that man
so & so or did you suffer that evil to be so & so yes I
have done this to try men so & so, do you want me to do
so & so. If I am going to do a thing I ask is it the will of
God if I cannot get the will of God upon it I refuse to
do it lest I do a thing wrong, we want to do right then we
prosper. is the people doing right is the kingdom growing
is their principles in this kingdom to govern all men with
All that the Nations of the Earth Now possess would not make
this people happy as they now are. Give us the kingdom of God
instead of the glories of the world. their has been a great stir to
exhalt the Negro & make him equal to the white man but
there is a curse upon the seed of Cain & all Hell cannot wipe
it out & it cannot be taken off untill God takes if off
when a person unlawfully seeks for power & exhaltation
by taking the blessings which belongs to another he will
sink far below the other. As Lucipher the son of the morning
sought the glory that belonged to Christ the first born
He was thrust down to Hell. so Cain sought Abels blessi-
ng & took the life of his brother the consequence was
Cain was cursed & his seed & this curse will remain
untill Abels posterity will get all the blessing their is
for him then the curse may be taken from Cain or
his posterity but his posterity will be below Abels. All
are slaves Polititions are the worst slaves and if we dont
do right we shall ketch the lash we are the freest
people on Earth. Queen Victoria is a slave had to ask
the liberty to marry prince Albert but we are free we have
the right God & kingdom let isus not dishonor God His kingdom
or our Brethren if we do we shall sink below them & their
children. If the wife dishonors the Husband the children
will dishonor the Mother & she must welter under it
Honour the priesthood in all its parts. Be more faithful be
more prudent. Administer to the wants of all as far as you
can I will not quarrel with my neighbor about the water
if I loose the wheel for if my Neighbors raises wheat I
can obtain some of it to eat. Other remarks were maid by
the speaker
~ Tuesday
July 1st I commenced laying adobies in my house this day
~ Wednesday to ~ Thursday
2 & 3 We continued building the house
~ Friday
July 4th In celebration of the Independance of America
the City of the great Salt Lake poured forth her inhabitants who
went forth in good order with her Legion of mighty men
As an Escort to the Govornor & citizens of the state. The company
organized at the Temple square & started at 9 oclok in the
morning to take a ride to the great Salt Lake their was about
140 carriages of waggons besides the Horsemen the car
containing the Band of Musicions was drawn by 16 mules we
arived at the rock on the Lake at 2 oclock A.M [p.m.] we had
a meeting was addressed by Govornor Young & several
Orators who spoke much to the edifycation of the people in
the evening many went into the salt lake to bathe at 10 oclk
the signal was given for prayers when all assembled in
the carrell or circle and prayer was offered up before
God & the encampment retired to rest we were 24 miles
from the city
~ Saturday
5th At 10 oclok AM all the teams were hitched up &
we returned to the City of the Great Salt Lake in the same
Order that we came out. It was as plesant a forth of
July as I ever spent my own family & Sister Foss & her
family went out together in a large family waggon
drawn by 4 Horses
~ Sunday
Sunday 6th President Young remarked we get good
from all men who speak by the spirit of God & according to their
calling I speak free so may all men. If we speak
incorrect we should be corrected we want to speak free that
we may gather good whether it is in the past present or to
come Brother Kempton has been speaking. He professes to
be a scholar I do not, but he has murdered the English language
today I want speakers to speak the English language correctly
for our children sake. As to principles their is no principles
in Heaven Earth or Hell but what the Saints have to appley to
their proper place. If we could understand all things we
should know that here is the place to begin to make the people happy
if we could understand the dealings & providences of God
with us & the object of it their would not be the discontent
& murmerings of the people that their now is but we should
have peace Joy & contentment. Concerning spiritual
& temporal things I would say that temporal & spiritual
things are one but what we call temporal are the courser
things which we see with our Eyes but the finer or spiritual
things we cannot see with our Eyes unless they are touched
by the spirit of God. Then we could see spiritual things
to say the spiritual eye cannot see temporal things is folly
but it looks unnatural to see people put out their own eyes to
spite their Neighbor. Anciently God Angels & Eternal things
were considered Natural my mind can see ma:37-38ny things when
clothed with the spirit of God that my Eyes cannot. In
speaking of Hell it is called vary hot but our God is
a consumeing fire. [Hebrews 12:29] Hell is here it is said the devil was
cast down to the Earth al[so that he was cast down to Hell [D&C 29:37-38]
He is in our midst striveing to lead captive the children
of men I want the Brethren to speak freely to speak
all that is in you & if you have an Error let it out
& exchange it for true principle. some of the Saints
want more Revelation mysteries, great things, but do they know what
they ask for or what they have already got if the request of many men
was granted it would be like casting pearles before swine they would
trample them in the mire [Matthew 7:6] we have enough now of the key words &
tokens to take us through the veil into the celestial world & lead us to the
Throne of God, & what more do you want. Have you ever pondered in
your hearts by visions & the spirit of God Eternal things even the redeeming of
all worlds from there down to the smallest things God has made Have
you ever reflected upon the great system of salvation of the creatures
of God Is man contented He is not. Can man alter the decrees of
God concerning the seed of Abraham or any thing els He cannot
why not quarrel about Christ coming instead of the Father
when the Father appointed Jesus Christ the first born to come &
redeem the Earth there was contention got up the second brother
Lucipher the son of the morning [Isaiah 14:12] He wanted the honour to come & redeem
the Earth but Christ was the Appointed one it was his right by appoin
tment & birthright. But the war & contention became so hot & the
influence of Lucipher was so great that he got one third of the hosts
of Heaven to Join his standard & when he was hurled down to Hell
like lightning from Heaven one third was cast down with him whare
is he & those that were cast down, with those spirts that accompanied
him they are here on this Earth and they have blinded the child
ren of men & still seeking to overthrow the kingdom of God [Revelation12] [Doc trine and Covenants 29:36-39]
He is a thorn in the flesh to the children of God but this is all right
& we should be contented with what God sees fit to grant unto us & to
contented with our lot. If the devil had been contented & acted in
his place he would not have been thrust down to Hell. Any man who
seeks to do a thing that he cannot do & should not do it cast him
into Hell & makes a Hell for him when men ask for things that
does not belong to him & it makes him unhappy. But do what
God wants you to do & wait on those who are above you & all
will be right. why did not one of the Apostles quarrel with
Jesus Christ to redeem the world Jesus set a little child in
their midst & said if ye do not become as this little child you
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [Matthew 18:2-3] If you would be the
greatest man in the kingdom of God you must be the greatest slave
or servant you will do more than any other man. The Apostles
did not quarrel to know who should or should not be president
why do I or you not quarrel because we were not Joseph Smith
to want to & cannot is Hell. Never seek to do a thing you cannot
accomplish. Evry man has his lot appointed him & he should be
contented with it. Their is the work of God, Angels, men & Devils
Is the Bible good the Book of Mormon Doctrins & Covenants
yes they are good those Book contain the words of God Angels men
& Devils. And if you dont want to be in Hell all the time be contented
with your lot if you dont learn to be contented you will be in
Hell with Brother Kempton who sayes he was in Hell one year
then learn to be contented and you will be happy dont complain
because you are not God, Jesus Christ, an Angel, Joseph, Brigham
a man, a woman a Father a Mother, a son a daughter or
any thing els but be contented with the lot in which God has
placed you then you will be happy & blessed. The Blacks cannot
take the curse off themselves untill God takes it off make all
men saints & they will treat each other well. So the Laman-
ites are cursed but is there not blessings for them yes the same
as their is for the Saints for Joseph Brigham & Jesus Christ
& all Faithful men & women in their time & season so be contented
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
7th 8th 9th 10th 11 & 12 This week was spent in building my house
except Monday the 7th I spent in the council House with my
Brethren labouring in the duties of my office
~ Sunday
13th Sunday met as usual at the Bowery. Elder Sherwood preached
in the forenoon a lengthy discourse which was edifying to the people
In the afternoon Elder Kimball Father Smith E D Woolley &
President Young spoke. Among the Presidents remarks he said
why should we not know our own talents & abilities as well
as others if we do not their is sumthing lacking. concerning singing
theire isare some men who know sound & others do not & those
who do not know sound ought not to sing, we should act
upon what we do know & let the rest go Sherwood said he
thought we were kicked out of the fire into the frying pan
President Young said we were kicked out of the fire into
the middle of the floor when this people get their eyes
open so as to see that their interest lies in building up
of the kingdom of God then the kingdom of God will roll on
and the people will do better
~ Monday
14th I spent the day in the council chambers with my
Brethren I herd two interesting letters read from our
Friend & Brother Col Kane of Philadelphia. Kinkade had
a large train of goods arive to day
~ Tuesday
15 some of the government officers & their train arived
to day
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
16, 17, 18 & 19 I spent the time building my house
Bulah Augusta born this 19, July 1851
~ Sunday
20th Brother Kempton was vary anxious to preached
from text Abrams bosom liberty was granted him
and he went ahead but did not do much President Young
followed & said Brother Kempton has had his liberty
as is given to evry man who speaks here he has not satisfyed
his mind at all he may have much in his mind but can
say but little here. He is not able to handle the scriptures & know
all the spirits in the world as some can when the dark sayings
in the scriptures are understood they are plain. The scripture
here that speaks of Abrams bosom is not as given by Br
Kempton Abram is in paradise Lazarus is with him [Luke 16:20-25]
for me to explain is to tell the truth a man that feels &
talks to the people should be a Bible of himsel if a man that
teaches & leads the people is not filled with truth so as to be able to
teach the people without quoting the teachings of others altogether is
a blind guide & will go to Hell with those he leads. It is the intenti-
on of the Lord to teach men principle in progression untill he
shall know all things [2 Nephi 28:30], that he may arise through faith power
& victory untill they obtain evry good thing even to arise
to be Gods even the Sons of God which blessing we cannot
obtain without experience we should not sin when we are
tryed & tempted but overcome which will give us glory
honor & eternal life as fast as I improve upon what I have
more will be given me. The Saviour was subject to all that we were
from his birth to his death. He applyed his heart unto wisdom
we should do so to apply our hearts unto wisdom from day to
day and you will receive all that He did. If I through out
all that is in me what faults I have will give place for truth
& that is good I feel to praise the Name of God for all
He has done for me. My heart is like Aminidab continually
all persons see times when they wish truth to prevail. Mormonism
is all theruth the Lord has raised up a Prophet & Seer who brought
it forth & esstablished it. He was faithful unto death & sealed
his testimony with his blood. A certain prophecy sayes when
the Book of Mormon shall come unto the gentile the Jews shall
be gathered at Jerrusalem. All truth is ours in Heaven Earth
& Hell it is all the truth we want. But does the church or Elders
want correcting yes for they have errors & fals botions the net
has all kinds of fish we have some as cursed rascals among
us as dwell on the Earth and we find Evil here as well as any
whare els. Yet Zion is here it is in my heart peace dwells
with me & good principles will prevail Here untill all evil
is overcome even in all the Earth let no man find fault with
his Neighbor untill He is righteous I dont ask any thing of
others that I wont do myself and never find fault with
another about any thing you allow in yourself dont you
sware, scold, & do wrong yourself then dont find fault
with another for it untill you subdue your own passions
& the Evil that is in yourself some will do any thing
to preside over another when they cannot preside over
themselves. Now remember this that we will have Zion
when all wickedness is gone. we have got to fight fight
fight untill we gain the victory over ourselves. Remember
this & overcome what is the feelings of my heart it is to bless
the people & do them good
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
21, 22 & 23rd spent the time on my house
~ Thursday
JULY 24th [FIGURE] This is an important day with the saints
of God in thes vallies of the mountains
The following is an extract from the Deseret News
"The celebration of the 24 of July" The Anniversary of the enter-
ance of the Latter Day Saints Pioneers into the valley of the Great
Salt Lake. The approach of the rising king of Day was hailed
by the roar of cannon & the stillness of the morning was broaken
by the moveing of the mammoth carriage of the Nauvoo Brass Band
sending forth on the wings of the morning its sublime straines
of martial & cheering music & the citizens of Great Salt Lake
shot forth from their domestic circles dressed as in the robes of
beauty concentrating towards the scene of a congregated throng
of life whare the ebullitions of Joy the rose of Health the glaness
of intelligence & the combined feelings of an united & redeemed
people shed a lustre of glory through all the congregated Saints
"The order of the day was kept up by the fireing of cannon 110
times the organization & parading of streets by an escort consisting
of the Nauvoo Brass band the Military Band the Pioneers of
47 the Regency, the aged Fathers, young lads, followed by
the Mothers in Israel young girls, young men & young women
the Presidency with the officers of State formed the escorted
party in their rear were 24 Bishops forming a phalanx of
the combined wisdom & strength of the Kingdom of God in the last
days the numerous flags & banners the various emblems of art
agriculture, & industry & the music accompanying the procession from
the presidence residence to the Bowery could ownly be surpassed
in the Armies of heaven
The bursts of feelings by music, singing, speeches, orations, toasts
the order of arangement during the exercises in the Bowery was beyond
the most exquisite calculation of the most fastidious & was unsur-
passed by any preceding it among the most refined & civilized
nation on Earth. Here was the power of truth the literature
of Gods spirit, the Eloquence of Apostles, the laws of the kingdom
of Heaven, the songs of Zion sung not in a strange land & the
harps hung not upon the willows the beauty & ornament of the
beau ideal of mans existence the ladies of Deseret the Heroism
of the valiant of the Earth & the Enjoyment of the luxuries and
productions of a consecrated land in all its richness &
profusion & the enjoyment of contentment
The closing shades of evening came over the city without the
alloy of any accident to mar the procedings of the hallowed day
no curses of a drinking rabble no feelings of an ignorant or
Jealous bigotry, no effusion of party strife but all that could
elevate the mind of man & add to the enjoyment of a social
& civilized.
Among the speeches made was an interesting one
from W W. Phelps
In many respects this was the most interesting day of my
life. My Father, myself, & my children making three
generations in the linage of my Fathers was in that Grand
Escort to Honor the Holy Prophets of God while on their
march from President Youngs House to the Tabernacle which
was filled with the Saints of the Most High
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
25 & 26 I spent the time about my dwelling
~ Sunday
27th Sunday I attended meeting we had a good day. Brother
Kimball addressed the meeting a part of the day among other remarks
He said Jesus Christ was the first Born of the Father & He was
the candidate & elected to redeem the world. Lucipher set
up as a candidate to run against Jesus Christ but He was overcome
& thrust down to Hell with all that followed him and we will have
no more division henceforth & forever in Israel we will have but one
candidate for office but No opposition. All will be elected &
proven. If a person is qualifyed to fill a greater station than he holds
He will have a chance. The Presidency & Twelve will fill in Eternity
those stations appointed them so with all men but I expect to
remain on this Earth untill I am able to create a world of my
own & people it the lord has given us rich portions of the Earth
to inherit we have been driven from tim to time from there
we now inherit a goodly land the best land on the Earth for
vegitation & it will be good for fruit & the people of the Earth
will yet come to us for fruit
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
28, 29, 30, 31 I spent in my Harvest field
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
Aug 1st & 2nd I spent harvesting I had 20 acres of wheat 5 acres
of 7 headed wheat was vary stout supposed to yield 60 or 70 bushels
to the acres I had 10 acres of touse & 5 acres of club
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday I attended meeting Dr Bernhisel accupyed the time
in the forenoon giving an account of his procedings in washington
also his obtaining a library for Deserett
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 I spent this week harvesting & going to Dr
Richards kanyon which was a horrid road
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I attended meeting Brother Babbit attended
meeting & addressed the assembly in the forenoon mostly upon the gospel
& priesthood
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
11, 12 & 13 ^14 15 & 16^ I spent the time mowing & harvesting
~ Sunday to ~ Wednesday
14 15 16 17 17 Sunday I was unwell & was at home 18 19 & 20 I laboured
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
[FIGURE] 214 225 & 263 I spent the time in council with some 40 or 50
men and they were some of the best days of my life much
good was done light truth & the power of God was manifest
difficulties of long standing bet[w]een men were settelled the power
of God was upon president Young who is made by the power
of God a great good & glorious man & a Father indeed to the
church & kingdom of God
~ Sunday
24th Sunday Elder O Hyde addressed the meeting & said
the floods in the western states had been exceding high
so much so that many could not emigrate there were
about 700 waggons on the way. The spirit of emigration
was among all Nations the seas were white with the
sails of evry Nation who were emigrating to this country
to find a home many might embrace the Gospel & come
to Zion & help builb it up. The feelings of the saints are
if I can get to the valley then I shall be happy
then some want to go to Sanpete to Iron county &
& to Sandiego then they would not be satisfyed & people
wish to emigrate to another world & think when they
get to Heaven their sorrow will end but their will
be things for us to reach after still when we are there &
it will continue through all Eternity. Their is many Novels
written & painted out but we do not want fals things to inter
est us. But Just look into the Book of Nature & evry
thing whether it looks up or down points to God. God is seen
in it all. Evry substance is surrounded with an atmosphere
& in some respects shows what is within
so their is an atmosphere surrounds all persons which you
feel when you meet with them, some persons atmosphere you
light like others you do not with some you feel safe other you do not
it is so in meeting with families. Jesus said when you go
into a house let your peeace dwell upon it but if they do not
receive you let your peacece return unto you again. This is true
doctrin (let my atmosphere be good so that the spirit of God &
good men may dwell with me in peace for that person who dwells
near the Lord & has an Eye single to his glory can tell whether he
has the spirit of God or not when he meets with him many
bodies are opake & not luminous but when the light of a lumin
ous body strikes them it sets them all in a blaze so with one
who has the spirit of God when his spirit rests upon another
it overshadows him it sets him in a blaze & the great light
can see the Heart. We are all as it were painters painting our
own characters and evry good deed will give our sign a
white coulor & evry wicked deed a black colour & when we
have painted unto the End of our days our character will be
presented before God in its true light & we shall see as we are
seen & know as we are known some think the Judgment
will not be untill after the resurrection of some thousands
of years but remember that when you lie down at night & are
weary and fall asleep before you are aware of it the morning
comes the time is past & you are awoke. But in the church &
kingdom of God what is sealed on Earth is sealed in Heaven what
is bound on Earth is bound in Heaven and if a man sins
he is soon brought into Judgment for now is the Judgment
with him. God will Judge the world but He may not Judge one
individual Himself but His servants will Judge them under his
direction. It is said the saints will Judge Angels but what
Angels why fallen Angels for those Angels who remain in
Heaven are now above us while those who are fallen are below
us for who is better able to Judge them than the Saints who
cast them out. Many other interesting remarks were made by
Elder Hyde.
Elder H. C. Kimball arose & said the remarks of Elder Hyde were
good and I will apply them and I want all to lift up their
sign and I want to imitate the best painted sign in Israel
& the character that is most like God I never expect to see a
time in all Eternity but what I shall have to abide a law
be trimmed & scourged untill I am a fit subject to become a
God. If you get into Heaven & rebell you will be cast out
their is always danger of falling as long as we are going up a
ladder.
~ Monday
[FIGURE] Aug 25th [FIGURE] I spent the day in council with my
Brethren & while in the council the mail arived from
the States in 20 days from Independance the largest ever recieved
about 400 lbs I received 3 letters one from Azmon one from Thompson
& one from Ilus. My Brothers Azmon & Thompson Woodruff
informed me in their letters that my Step Mother Azubah Woodruff
Died [FIGURE] March 20th March 20th 1851 at 7 1/2 oclok P.M. and that
that my Brothers Azmons wife Elizabeth Woodruff
Died [FIGURE] Jan 3rd January 3rd 1851 Both were own sisters by birth I found
from Brother Azmons letter that he was in much sorrow he was
baptised into the church of Jesus christ of latter day saints with
myself the last of Dec in 1833 He was ordained an Elder and
myself a teacher in the church under the Hands of Zerah Pulsipher
Elizabeth my Brothers wife with the assistance of the Devil made
war on my Brother & soon caused him to leave the church he
has been in sorrow ever since with the help of the Lord I now
intend to feel after my brethren & bring them here that they
may be saved. On my arival home with my letters I called
My aged Father into the Room with me & red him the letters
from his two oldest sons containing an account of the death of
both his own wife & his sons wife he was quite resigned to the
providence of God in these things
~ Tuesday to ~ Friday
26, 27, 28, 29, I spent a part of the time in council & a
part of it in the Harvest field
Brother G A Smith arived home from Iron County
on the 28th in good health
~ Saturday
30th I was in council with the Elders & herd a long letter red
from Lorenzo Snow
~ Sunday
31 Sunday Elder G. A. Smith preached to the people &
was followed by Elder O Hyde
~ Monday
Sept 1st [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters one long letter to Ilus
one to Thompson Woodruff & one to Father Carter
I sent Sanbon & Carter $1825.30+1237.32=3062.62 sent a draft
to Sanbon & Carter from B Young on Deseret coin
Dr J. M. Bernhisel Total sent
was $772.50
I aslso sent a letter to uncle Ozem Woodruff giving him
an invitation to come & settle with us
~ Tuesday to ~ Thursday
2, 3, & 4 was sick & not able to labour
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
5th & 6 spent the time hunting our family cow Moset
~ Sunday
Sept 7th 1851 Our general conference of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints met in the
tabernacle this day at 10 oclk AM. there being present of
the First Presidency B. Young H. C. Kimball & W. Richards of
the Quorum of the Twelve O. Hyde W. Woodruff G. A. Smith
& E. T. Benson. The first seven presidents of the Seventies
with the other Quoroms & a large congregation of Saints
President H. C. Kimball arose & said the conference was
not for the benefit of one but for the whole. Is the store House
full of wheat is the tithing butter & cheese brought in. some
of you will ask can I get my Endowment but I will say not one
of you will get your endowments untill you pay your tithing
Prayer by O Hyde then singing.
President Young arose and said as far as you can exercise patience
you should do so, we are oin comfortable circumstances & now let
us sit here & worship God & let our business rest & let us reflet
a little & exercise ourselves in our religion let our houses rest &
farms & crops let the people be still & not talk in the house or about the
window. In my meditations I am like other men who reflet
and I marvel to see men so intent upon objects that
will so soon perish. How many their are here who ask the
question how long will this Conference last I want to go I cannot
stop and others will be willing to stop & worship God some
spirits are like the troubled sea uneasy. If I could have my
wish about it I would wish such spirits to pass out of our
midst leave the congregation & let us worship in peace. We
are such an industrious people that we could not commence
conference untill Sunday. I care as little about our gardens
farms lumber &c as you do about snuffing ashes. If you get
all the riches of the world you cannot Hold them. If you will
get the wisdom it is your privilege to possess you will know
that God cares more for you than the ravens[Luke 12:22-24] if you seek
the Kingdom of God & its righteousness the Lord will add
all things els that is necessary. Our first duty is to
provide for our families but we must take a course to accom
plish it. Fools are often rich & the wise in begery this is the
providence of God we may be ever so rich to day we may
be beggars to morrow thise is the case with those who are before
me let me draw the line between the Good & Evil Have you not had
more good than Evil more than you would had if you had been in
the world more peace than in the world & happiness than in the meditati[on]
of the things of God than in the world yes you have then shame on
the man who complains of his hardship the worst persecutions of the
people are their best days. I went to Mo in 1834 walked 2000 miles in
70 days was so weak I could not step over the fence 3 feet high. I now
have better health & strength than ever before I would not give all
Geauga County for the experience I have had in 6 months. Now stay
here dont go home untill conference Ends. Many of the Saints forget
mormonism any body who Enjoy the light of the revelations of
Jesus Christ must have the spirit of God the [FIGURE] key to mormonism
is all the truths their is all Eternity that was ever revealed or
ever will be that exhists with God Angels or men. whare shall I
go to Find truth in Mormonism. If you get a truth any whare it
is there as that covers all truth when the light came to me
sin did not revive in me and I died but I revived & lived I
had not consented to the death of any good man like Stephen
as Paul did.[Acts 7:59] But let him come to any of the Churches reared
in honour to his name & the world would kill him if they could
I will ask you are you excepted [accepted] of the Father & Son you will
say I dont know, well it is because your minds are taken up with
the things of the world then let us stay here untill we do know
I am a Mormon or what is called so and I know that Joseph
was a prophet. It was revealed to me long before his death
I always thought while reading the Bible about a prophet that I
would go around the world to see one or any man who knew things
as they were & not have to guess at them. Evry thing will have
to bow to Mormonism or Eternal light & truth we have the true
government of all the Earth I know the path this people has to walk
I am prepared for Mormonism there was no better man
than Joseph Smith ever lived on the Earth. Hear it O ye Heavens
O ye Earth and all men this is my testimony that he is theas good a
man as ever lived save Jesus. The world will not vote for
a man because his religion governs they will not have God govern
them because of their cursed meanness but if God did not
or can not dealedout Justice & rule in righteousness who can
E T Benson spoke to edifycation said some bore record of the things
of God as they were revealed to them others believe on their testimony
the servants of God bind & seal on Earth & it is bound & sealed
in Heaven I bear testimony that we have a prophet that will hold
the keys of the kingdom of God through all Eternity also a
Patriarch both have sealed their testimony with their blood
for the cause & kingdom of God Mormonism is true & the keys of
the kingdom of God are with you the presidency of the church who
now live with us and are righteous men the Twelve, High priest,
High Council, Seventies & Elders of Israel are righteous men
Joseph said we went into the little End of the Horn & came out
of the big End of the Horn. Any thing is ours if we are faithful &
do the will of the Lord.
O Hyde took the floor and said this is one of the happiest
periods of my life. The testimony of all is good if the Brethren
who have spoken have broaken a clean loaf still I may gather
few crumbs we are living in the most important age and
when the Greatest events are to take place evry thing is on the
move the testimony of this work will go through the Earth and
the Lord will arise out of His hiding place and reign King
of Nations as He does now king of Saints, this would destroy
all the Governments of the Earth. Do the Latter day Saints
wish the Nations of the Earth any Evil No we would save
them all if we could. But it was a mercy anciently to cut
off the wicked from the Earth that their posterity should not
inherit the Earth to follow the wickedness of their fathers
Gog & Magog [Revelation 20:8] [Ezekiel 38] will ere long gather to fight against the Saints of the
Lamb of God and when hope is almost fled Christ will come
and End the scenery. If a prophet has been schooled in the
society of the Gods to come to the Earth as a prophet to do a
work for the kingdom he has the power of God with him
to help him do it the same as we ordain a man to build
up a county whare we cannot go so when a prophet
comes he comes holding the keys of the kingdom of
God & binds & seals on Earth that which is bound & sealed
in Heaven [Matthew 18:18]
G A Smith arose and said if I did not know the truth
I should not have taken the pains I have to preach it to the world
and act the part I have in it but I know that God has sent a
Prophet to us and ordained a Priesthood & set up his kingdom
on Earth and a religion that is not evry thing is nothing
Jesus broke bread & said Eat in rememberance of me and
this do untill I come and always remember me [Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24] when Joseph was
murdered the piety of the people did not oppose his murder
when they arise will it be with white robes No but with garments
spotted with blood of the prophets. None on the Earth had sympa
thy but the Saints. I have been spending a time to build up a
stake in the wilderness. Why is it we have been driven
to these vallies of the mountains is it not that we may be
sheltered when the Judgments of God come on Babylon
A man should not be so taken up with his farm as to Forget
this work some will say I have done so much for this Church
that I must now do sumthing for myself there is
now many in Jackson Co who are waiting for the Saints to
come there but they will not get the blessings those will
who have come to the Salt Lake valley this is the best way
to Heaven. Some want to go to Calafornia to get rich I
want men to go with me who want to go to meeting and
get reproof & kiss the rod I had such men with me & we
done well. I bear testimony that God is with this people
W. Woodruff addressed the meeting & said he was much
interested & edifyed in the testimony which had been bour[n]
by the presidency & Twelve & those who had spoken President
Young had borne testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet
of God He was well qualifyed to bear testimony of him He
has been with him day & night in his public & private
councils he knows his life and he has followed close in
his footsteps He always loved him and [had] he have been
in Nauvoo at the time of his arest he would have stove
the barn doors into kindling wood bwith his fist if he
could not have liberated him any other way. their
is sumthing interesting in the testimony of men the anci-
ents were martered for the testimony which they held
which they bore of Jesus Christ so men in this day
are opposed for their testimony but I know Joseph
Smith was a prophet of God so is Brigham Young the
mantle of Joseph rest upon him and he has power to
lead this people and my soul is filled with Joy
when he stands here & speaks the word of the Lord &
brings forth the glorious things of the Kingdom of God
President Young said I read that when the wicked
rule the people mourn. Ask the world do the wicked rule
yes And they mourn do they seek a righteous man [to]
rule No if the curse has followed the rule of the wicked it
will follow but let them sleep on & take your rest but
we understand the Lord has rent the veil sent Angels
to us and the gospel to preach to the poor the difference
between us & the world is they say but do not nor
believe not we say & both believe & do the world spend
thousands of Dollars to preach the gospel but do not
believe it when the Judgments of God rest upon the
wicked & they are cut off then will be the [glory]
of Grapes after the vintage is done. let the righteous
reign & the righteous will rejoice in the House of Israel God
takes up the Isles as a little thing builds up & pulls down at
his pleasure and why are not the people willing He should
reign Because of their meanness some may ask do not
good man reign. I will ask a question should an Angel
come to President Fillmore & tell him how to govern
the Nation & he was to tell of it they would shut him
up in a mad house and if God was to reveal to him
truth concerning the people & he was to tell of it the
people would kill him this is the situation of this
government the best on Earth. But let the president
sware & take the name of God in vaine & curse God all its
form [and] they would let him stay with them as Hail fellows
well met and the Nations will be damned & go to Hell
who killed Joseph the State of Ill in connexion with
the Carthage Mob and the whole Government ofsustained
it & they will be damned from the President to the least
member I think no more of a King or President
than of the meanest ^poorest^ begger the worst scoundrel
would is the most popular man in the Nation
this Nation is the first the gospel was sent unto she has
killed the prophets that God sent unto them & their doom
will be the Neithermost Hell
W Richards says we have had much testimony to day
I will add a few words when Hiram Smith fell in
Carthage Jail and exclaimed I am a dead man then
Joseph Smith fell dead John Taylor fell wounded I carried
him to another part of the Jail covered him up I walked
out before the people & said that Joseph & Hiram Smith
who lay before me slain were two of the best men that
ever lived Joseph Smith was a prophet of God & Hiram
a Patriarch two better men never lived two better
men God never made. Joseph was a Prophet Brigham
is as great a Prophet and he that believeth it may be
saved & he that believeth it not will be damned.
~ Monday
Monday Morning 8th Judge Brochus requested the privilege of
addressing the people it was granted him he arose and commenced
his speach by testifying ^of^ his kind reception among this people
He had been sick among them & been kindly treated the flyies
had been brushed from his face by a Lady & he was thankful He
refered to the Judiciary requested the people to sustain it
& professed to be vary sorry that he was going to leave
it. He then refered to a report in circulation that he
came here for the Purpose of being returned a delegate to
washington & other things that were reported against
him &c. He then took up the subject of his appointment
and said that President Fillmore had appointed him
although he was a Democratt & said he should not have
received his appointment had he not been a capable virt
uous good man He then addressed the Ladies upon the
subject of the Washington Monument wished them to
procure a block of Marble & to present it to washington
also wished them to donate for the building of the Monument
talked much about the virtues of washington & his bat
tles & good deeds. He spoke of the persecution of the Saints
considered them badly treated, sent to Winter Quarters
whare our Dead was buried & had a sprig of Myrtle plucked
He carried it in his bosom it was now dryed up He showed
it to the Congregation. Isn speaking to the Ladies said he hoped
they would become a virtueous people he did not wish them to send
the block of Marble unless they could do it in full fellowship
with each of the seperate states composing the United States He
had red some things casting reflections upon the United
States Government concerning our persecutions but he would
defend the government as long as he had an Tongue to speak or
hand to lift and said the Government could not do any thing
for us as they had no power but if we wanted redress of our
wrongs apply to Missouri & Illinois whare we had received our
(this part of the speech stired the blood of the whole congrega-
tion) much was said by the speaker which was calculated
to stir the blood of the people and offend them He then closed
President Young arose & said the Judge Brochus was
either profoundly Ignorant or wilfully wicked
In presenting some sentiments which he had to the assembly this
day & had he have supposed for a moment that he was going to
throw out a challenge upon that stand in a religious Meeting
& present such sentiments as he had he should not for a
moment have given his consent to have had him spoken
on that occasion. He said several stood by & wished to take up
the challenge given by the Judge but he would not permit
of it for some might get their hair pulled if not their
throats cut. And he would not have it He wished the
meeting to adjourn & meet in the afternoon & transact
business in the capacity of a conference for which the meeting
was called Meeting adjourned one hour
Met according to adjournment. After singing & prayer Brother
Kempton addressed the meeting was followed By Broth Gifford.
Br John Young next addressed the House & was followed by
H. C. Kimball who said I will tell one thing that will
have a great effect upon us will remove the mist when we
come to the House of the Lord Bring an offering to the Lord I
wil make an Offering to the Lord & to the priesthood as Abram
did to Melchezedic & offer the best you have. did this law
come from Joseph who was ordained under the hands of
Peter Brigham Young was ordained under the hands of
Joseph to hold the keys of the Kingdom of God if you strike
against him you strike against God who sent him
The Judges came here to Judge criminals not to Judge us
who keep the Law. He then sat down & we had a song from
the welsh Brethren
President Young then arose & said I will speak of principle
you may think it is a Novel conference How long has it been
since we have had the privilege of spending a conference
undeisturbed a long time I would like to hear Brother
Kempton speak or any good man. I will preach Br Abbott
funeral sermon and the funeral sermon of all the faithful
His body is laid in the dust to rest untill the resurrection forever
blessed is the man that lives & dies a Saint. I will tell whether
the Messenger sent to Brother Kempton was of God or the Devil
If the Messenger sent was of God he would know it, if the messenger was
any whare els but here he must have come from Heaven or from
another Hell for we are in Hell go to the world & preach the gospel
you will find some people as honest & good as Angels as far as they
know but do they have revelations from God & know the things
of God No they do not. If Brother Kempton has had his sins
forgiven & remitted without baptism so could all men
but this is false for no man could have forgiveness without
the sheding of blood & baptism the Bible says unless you keep the
commandments you cannot be saved when Br Kempton sayes
he knows his sins were forgiven before he was baptized
he dont know what he sayes At times the spirit of God is given
to men to see the kingdom of God and they think they are
in it when they have not entered the door of baptism dont
go & call the different Denominations because their sins are
not forgiven them that they are always going to dwell in Hell
for if they aere honest they will have a glory greater than
many who carry the Gospel to men their is as good people
among all sects Gentiles Jews & Heathen as their is on Earth
they act according to the best light they have. what is the condem-
nation of this Government, light has come into the world & men love
darkness rather the light they reject that light fight the prop
hets & shed their blood for this they are damned
Elder Sherwood arose & said that the priesthood had made Joseph
Brigham & all men what they were by the assistance of light & truth
as far as we follow light & truth so far we shall appoxamate
towards light & truth & God if God & Angels were made what
they are by truth as far as we learn that truth & follows out
the council of it so far he will be like God & when he leaves that
truth he goes into darkness & misery. If the United States were practi-
zing truth they would be vary different from what they now are
the practice of right things make men rejoice the practice of Evil
things make sorrow we are agents to do right or wrong if a man
feels disposed to go to Hell he has a right to it is no mans business
He goes on his own responsibility and agency so if he wishes to
Go to Heaven he has a right to by keeping a Celestial law let me
do my work to acceptance. we know many truths we cannot think
off [of]. Adjourned untill 2 oclok
Met according to adjournment. The officers of the church were
presented to the assembly and accepted in the following order
The Presidency, Twelve, President of the stake, Patriarch, High
council, High Priest, Seventies, Bishops, Elders priests Teachers
& Deacons Perpetual Emigrating Company, & Historian, Building
Committee.
President Young sayes I want to esstablish some travelling
Bishops a thing that we never have done. when I approach
the subject of the Bishops I pause not with a trembling hand
but I want to take time & look at it all day until we can see
clearer than we now do. this people still stick to the world
love the world, we should use the world & not worship it
No man is free indeed untill he is free in Christ and
above the world dont worship the world you will not be free
Is their any one that has anything but what God gave him
you cannot make one hair white or black. Now it is our
duty to feed cloth & sustain the families of those who are in
the vineyard preaching if we let them suffer & they die their
blood will be required at our hands we as a people have never
done it yet but it was time it was done. The Bishops are reproved they
dont do their duty. N.H. Felt & John Banks was ordained Travelling
Bishops. E. T. Benson J. M. Grant & O Hyde were set apart to
go to Kanesville & gather out all the Saints in that region of country
Samuel Richards was appointed to go to England. Willard
Snow & A. O. Smoot was appointed to Go to England.
D Carnes to Jermany, Dorr P Curriss & Venson Shirtliff on
a foreign mission Dr Donyan to preach in the Eastern States
Clayton then red an account of the Tithing.
The Patriarch John Smith said I rejoice to have the
privilege of speaking to you I have been in the work since
Jan 1832, and am about the oldest man here I was ordained
an Elder under the Hands of Joseph Wakefield. The
Smith family was chosen to bring forth this work My
team halled the first load of stone to build the kirtland temple
my Son George A Drove the team. There was 4 Brothers
us in the stand in Kirtland I am now left alone. I was in
Jail with Joseph & Hiram the night before they were killed, next
day 3 guns were snaped at me I could not weep for a long time
when I did weep I wept much. I have laboured much from
that untill this to keep things right. It is the little Foxes that spoil
the vines we have a Prophet for a leader now pay your tithing
& make good measure when you sell any thing, & fulfill all your
covenants if made right we shall then prosper in this valley
I am an old man & cannot say much but I will write a peace
to be published in the paper
H. C. Kimball said I am going to make an offering to president
Young Abram paid tithes to Melchezedeck. A certain woman gave
a purse others filled it Br Rhodes gave the President sixty
four pounds of gold for the public works He has not lacked anything
you should give the best you have to the Lord & He will pour you out
a blessing that there will not be room to receive it
Bishop Edward Hunter spoke said he was appointed the Chief Bishop
was thankful for the confidence put in him. I want to bear
my testimony of the things of God He spoke of his experience wanted
to know his duty & was ready to do it.
W. W. Phelps spoke took for a text Pay your tithing
Brother Chase speaks, start right, keep right & then you will
come out right He spoke well upon tithing
Z Pulsipher spoke & said I feel thankful to hear the aged
Brethren speak & bear their testimony of the Prophet Joseph
we have had many revelations let us improve upon them
B. Young said I will put the motion will the sisters
vote to quit using tea & coffee, the Brethren have voted
not to use tobaco I will speak of the Bishops I spoke of them
yesterday, & reproved them sharply some wanted them ^me^ to offer
an apology to them I will not I will see them in Hell before I will do
it. If this people do not do better than the Bishops have they will
and if you do not do better than you have done you will go to Hell
I will begin with myself. I have taught the Bishops principle &
their duty Ask them if they can do it No I will cut the Bishops
off from the Church if they do not do better. did I ever council
them wrong you have trampled my council under foot I shall
not shrink from duty. I say to all old & young pray in your
learn to pray. Pray in your families. Be content in all circumstances
whare the Lord shall place you. scease your contention one with
another Never go to law. gather your families together &
pray for me & my Brethren & yourselves untill a blessing [rains upon]
us.
Noah Packard spoke said many things said he wanted to
be a son of thunder.
E. D. Woolley addressed the meeting made many good remarks
said we had a Joseph with us in the person of B. Young
B Young wished to say a few words to the Mormon Battalion those
who are wanting their extra pay are applying to William, Blair
& Babbit if you apply to these men & give them the papers &
they cheat you out of it dont complan, & I say to those
men not to take any papers from those who have had their
pay or sold their claims to others. If you want your pay apply
here, & you can get it. You did not enlist to get $8 pr month
they enlisted us to kill us and because we speak our sentimets
we are accused of treason I dont ask any odds of the U.S. I will
express my feelings to drive us from our Millions & possessions
than require us to fight their battles is not right.
I shall pay my tithing. The Twelve will pay one 10th of their possess[ions]
& the Bishops and all will pay their tithing. This is the kingdom
of God & if it falls I am willing to fall with it. I had rather
fall than stand if the Priesthood falls. All covenanted
to pay their tithing one tenth of all they possess
Bishop Hunter spok upon the tithing would begin with himself
& wished all the Bishops to do the same
Lorenzo Young spoke upon the Tithing
President Youg said he wished all the people to pay their
tithing to the Bishops of their ward. He refered to the remarks
made by Father Smith on the word of wisdom. He said $50000
dollars had been spent in the valley during the past year for needless
things for Coffee tea Tobaco &c many others remaks were mad
By president Youg "Elder Banks spoke upon the law of liberty
President Youg followed in reply & said the liberty of the Holy Gospel
was peace & righteousness we had no liberty to take away another
mans rights but the first principle of liberty was resignation &
submission for go whare you will to Heaven or Hell you have to submit
to laws we are at liberty to adobt evry Holy principle to all
Eternity go East North or South keep evry thing you want for
yourself wife children houses cattle & create out of the elements
evry thing you can yet you are not at liberty to infringe
upon the rights of men you may have the privilege to do all
things that is done in heaven. Organize the elements give commands
& rule over kingdoms but be subject to such laws as you
are under the law of liberty is to do right for God to all
Eternity the opposite principle is to be discontented with things
to be different from what they are this is Hell & all the Hell their
is I dont care how things are if I do right we shall find the law
of liberty to be Eternal life light & peace which will increase
to all Eternity we ought not to do an Evil to cause pain to any crea-
ture, still their are some things that would appear to be evil I know
to be good to cut some mens heads off as it would be the ownly
way they could be saved. God will increase his kingdom to
all Eternity so shall we increase our kingdom to all Eternity
Abraham seed will reign as kings of kings & Lords of
Lords & to his seed their is no end let this people live
& do right & the blessings of God will atted you to all Eternity
Conferenc was adjourned untill the 6th Oct
~ Sunday
Sunday Oct 5th Elder O. Pratt addressed the assembly
and said I feel thankful to once more tread my feet in
the valley after being absent 4 years I feel thankful to behold
the faces of my brethren & friends & see the improvements
that have been made in my abscence. I could not tell whare
I was I was in danger of being lost without a guide I trust
that while I have been absent on a mission to Great Britain I
have also been assisting to build up the kingdom of God &
when I left I believed it would continue to roll forth
the work had taken such a deep root the powers of darkness
could not break it up it seemed at times as though we
should take the kingdom. The organization of the Churches
by the Twelve in that country was so perfect that notwithsta[ndin]g
the great spread & increase of the work we can know
monthly the state of the Churches increase &c throughout the
whole realm. The faith of the Saints in that land was
increasing a great spirit of enquiry was manifesting
itself in the High ranks of Society esspecially when they
hear of the rapid progress of the work & prosperity of this
people we are not hid up as some suppose. It is the general
Idea that we are destined to become a great people & a
Mighty Nation (is this treason) we are a strong people &
destined to be stronger untill our News reaches the utmost
parts of the Earth so that when the Mail comes the question
will be asked what News do you hear from that mighty
people in the Mountains as the emigration increases & ship
arive It will all increase the work & it will be as impossible to
hide it from the world as it would for the shining of the sun
to be hid & Zion will be terrible to the Nations of the Earth
I feel as great a desire to help bear up the kingdom as a
man can I am willing to spend my life & all I have
to build up this kingdom I am willing to stay here or go
back tomorrow I presume this is the feelings of the Elders
here in this body their is Nothing so Joyful as to build up
the kingdom I would rather be abroad binding up the
grain than to break up my Farm if I had all the welth
of the Earth I would rather go without purse or scrip than to spend
the time to work for myself when I look at the magnitude of
this work I cannot feel otherwise with the spirit of God in my
heart I want to see the Seventies going forth & gathering from
all kingdoms & countries & from every Island of the Sea untill
all Israel is gatherd. I do not feel to say more to day but will
sit down & hear from my Brethren, I wish to do my duty while here
G. A. Smith said it is with pleasure I behold the faces of O. Prat
& others this is my Fathers House we have had good instruct
ion from our Brother here I have spent my time to settel
other Colonies we cannot all settel down here we should
spend our lives to improve & prepare ourselves for immortal glory
and exhaltation. I have exhorted my new comers to go down
to the south before they settel here & help to build up a stake
if you remember the words of God in the days of Joseph
says Ye are laying the foundation of a great work and ye
know it not. [Doctrine and Covenants 64:33] we are now preparing to have a state
soon, soon the Brethren will come by 10 100 1000 & 10000
We have at Parowan 80 men & boys we want to have
evry man who knows any thing about making Iron
go to Iron Co. & make Iron as long as we have to buy
evry thing & pay 3 prices for it we shall be poor I
would rather mak our own ware & ploughes than to be a slave
to Missouri or Ill. I never dreamed that when I or any Elder
had a mission to preach the Gospel or build up Zion to ask
to be dismissed or return home untill my work was
closed such an Idea Never enterd my brain. If the
Saints will scatter abroad & settle these far vallies we can
come up here & present our tithings & offering & come & wor
ship as they did in Jerrusalem come & raise 1000 bushels
of wheat & potatoes & say to the Nations of the Earth come
& eat & do sumthing to build up Zion.
Afternoon President Young sayes we hear the Brethren arise
& return thanks for the blessings received we can respond to it
the work is of all importance to the Human family the
Brethren are all willing to do right & they say Lord not
my will but thine be done. If the Lord should say come
& preach to us we would say Amen to it the Lord has his
means to carry on his work and also his own means to do it
when the peoples hearts are prepared to do the will of
God the victory is ours if we come to understanding so
as to have the organization of the kingdom of God so that
evryone acts in unison like a beautiful peace of machinery
[when] we gain the victory we shall then know how to order our
speech & conversation aright before God this is a good
people cannot we be better we have faith & knowledge
cannot we have more of it yes their is an Eternity of it. we
have learned to obey by the things we suffer but what do we
behold their is evil surmising, speaking, & doing. the Evil intruder
has not left us. who is keeping this commandment that loves
his Neighbor as he does himself will save his Neighbor
Garden & crops &c we shall then believe & practice all
the commands we shall have one common interest I
dont care what you believe if you practice right & act
as though you love the Lord & then you will do right their
is no school like your own experience when I herd Geore
A. Smith speak I thought of former days when men
from Canida & other places [would] stop 50 miles this side of
Kirtland leave the money with the wife go & see Joseph
& say how I love you. But let Joseph ask him for a
few dollars & they would instantly dodge at it while in
the world you would go away now you are here I canot
get you to go to the far vallies because warfare & [carthage]
are not there I felt like crying abot Amasa company they
were ready to go to Hell. How ready the people are to go to Hell
let the Eyes of the saints be open I had to plead with
A Lyman & company for days not to go I could not stay
them Now I want you to go & you wont go I want to have
you go to Iron Co. the people here are so full of wheat & good
things that they loath it. If you dont want to pay your
tithing the Lord dont want you tithing untill you go into Hell
if you dont want to save yourself nor your children
nor your dead dont pay your tithing if you do want to save
then pay your tithing for it is for your benefit not
mine you cannot do the Lord any good in it or add to
his glory but it is for yourself. The cattle have come
in well of late and I think the best has been sent in
you should be industrious & saving, I dont want my children
to b[e] lazy if I die I dont want any man to foster them in
idleness make your cloth yourself I wish my boys
had to work as I did for a living.
~ Monday
Monday Oct 6th Conference assembled according to
adjournment singing & Prayer by W W Phelps
President Young said the time had come to commence
the business of the semianual conference the business
of the last conference was productive of more good
than any conference we ever held. the keeping
of the word of wisdom has done much good I will be
exceding glad when we arive at wisdom in all things
the word of wisdom was given in Kirtland 20 years
ago for the benefit of all Saints when we live 20
or 50 years longer we shall see that we do not
understand much of the word of wisdom we are
but babes in understanding wisdom who understands
it, was all spoken that might be spoken their is but
one ysystem of explaining any Revelation & that is the Rev-
elation of Jesus Christ in the heart of man when he
possesses the Holy Ghost we are forbidden to use meat in hot
weather. Hot drinks & tobaco is not good for man you should
not eat to over load your stomach. their is a greater
lack in my system of wisdom of tempering my food &
exercise than in eating meat or tobaco. Tithing is com
ing in so fast their will not be room to receive it
I wanted this conference to come together so I could
see their faces not to scold them I want to see their
faces they look better to me than all the Glories of
the Earth I said when the Brethren got out of
prision I wanted to sit & look at them three weeks Our
graineries & stour house are full of wheat & good things
If this people are rich beautiful & happy I am with
them. If they are miserable I am still with them if this
people are not Crowned & saved none of us will
be [FIGURE] it is in vain for one man to build himself up &
neglect his brothers interest He will fail in it. we
must begin to manifacture all we want or we are slaves
to every thing in all the Earth evry thing is against
Mormonism & Mormonism is against evry thing everything
is against us Hear it O Earth for the kingdom of God is
against all Earth & Hell this is true & we shall fight
them untill the kingdom of this world become the kingdom
of our God we shall fight battle after battle untill
the victory is won we have to fight & lay down our
lives for Christ sake we now want to gather companies
to go to the different vallies. I want the potters to rem[ain]
here & work at their business. Jesus descended below
all things before He ascended above all things we have
got to sacrafice ever freely in order to be exhalted
before God. I once said I will go & build me a house
on the hill out of the mud. Joseph said you will stay
whare you are this was enough I dodged as quick as I
could I said enough since I have been willing to be
Governed by circumstances that have surrounded me
& leave the event in the Hands of God
Judge Snow said I arived in the valley in July last
I expected to sit & hear & learn I have been a silent
observer of your temporal & spiritual matters. Your
Governor has laid a foundation for you to build upon
I consider it to be the province of this people to determi[ne]
for themselves what they most need I do not see that
you will break any law of God in doing right & your
own will I like the remarks made that you be free
& not abject slaves make what you want & be free
buy all you want & be slaves. we say we look to gGod
& do his will. We are a little people upon a little patch
of the Earth but if we all pull together we shall become
the Head. I did not run with the rest because I thought
it right to stay. If I thought it right to run I should
run, but it was right to stay so you must be right
the Lord said you must gain your bread by the sweat
of the brow you must make your own leather or you
cannot get money enogh to buy it with so with
tea coffee & sugar you must raise & make it or go
without it you must make your own Iron or fail
for Iron must be had. leathier & Iron must be maid
& make your own clothing. I like your conferences
& to hear the best men speak to communicate intel-
ligence to others the church all draws one way & this
puzzles the world they all draw one way & have a
reason for it this I glory in I would not obey
if their was not a reason for it I would leave
Z Snow would not draw with you if he could not
give a reason for it. I came here to deal out Justice
to all Jew & Gentile alike I came not to watch for
iniquity but to punish iniquity when it does appear
I have had 200 cases in a year with the same No
as you are I hope you will not have a case you will
never be destroyed unless you destroy yourselfves
if you do not war with yourselves I hope others will
not war with you
B Young said at our conference we appointed Felt
& Banks to be travelling Bishops to visit other Bishops
to call them to an account & see that they are
Faithful Bishops & you should feed the poor & do your
duty untill the spirit of God rest upon you & you hold
the keys of the Melechezedek priesthood of the Eternal God
& the power of it rest upon you forever
Brother Banks & Felt were Ordained under the hands
of the Presidency.
Afternoon prayer by A Cordon. H. C. Kimball
says A Cordon is nominated to be a travelling [Bishop] carried
unanimously He was ordained under the hands of HCK
John & G A Smith Heber C Kimball sealed upon
his head all the keys of the priesthood said the power
of God should rest upon his head to preside over
other Bishops. Another thing is necessary which will
effect the whole world that is a reffermation chose
men who are filled with the Holy Ghost to go forth as
missionaries to stir up the feelings of the Saints in
all these vallies of the Mountains I thank God
that we are free Joseph Young D Fulmer &
Z Pulsipher was appointed as missionaries
G A Smith arose & said I feel perfectly at
home here I want to speak concerning Iron Co I
had but 20 or 30 with me there President Young wants
John D Lee to get a company to go over the rim
of the Basin & form a settlement in a good place
for wine fruit & corn I asked some of Amasas
company what they were going to do they said they
were going to plant a vineyard if they had done
it there they would have done good you should
go to Iron Co settle your families then go down
in the winter & build a fort the Indians there
are well supplyed with arrows on foot No arrows
or guns it is poorer than Iron Co it borders upon
the Great sahara desert I felt that we are
free when I heard that Iron & coal was found in
abundance within 15 miles of each other in Iron Co. we
have not the Great Blast Furnises that are in the
world but must begin with the Native Element. He
also made other remarks
B Young made remarks concerning the education of our children
wished parents to pay particular attention to teaching their children
after which the conference closed it was one of the most
interesting conferences ever held by this people.
~ Thursday
Nov [October] 9th Sunday O Pratt addressed the assembly &
said he did not believe any man capable or qualifyed to
speak acceptable to God no matter what his abilities
were unless he had the spirit of the Holy Ghost He would
not take any office on Earth if the office of the president
of the United States was offered him he would disdain it
as far as the honor of it was concerned He would rather
have the office of a teacher in this church as it would last
forever while the office of president of the U.S would not
last but 4 or 8 years I should be glad to live to see the
day when their should not be a Kingdom or government
on Earth ownly that ordained of God to govern the
world I do not know as I shall live to see it but I have
much desired it for a man to desire to live merely to
get honor to himself would not be right but for him
to desire to live to honor God & build up his kingdom would
be a good desire. If I knew I could be translated to all
the glory of the Celestial Kingdom in an instant I would
rather live & suffer with my Brethren through all their
troubles untill the coming of Christ I am sorry to see
the old vetrans who have helped to lay the foundation of
this church lay their bodies in the Grave I believe
many will live those who have had it promised unto them
if they remain faithful untill the coming of Christ & help
build up the kingdom this has been promised to me by
the patriarch & prophet while receiving my Endowment
the hearts of men were inspired to give us these blessings
while their hands were upon our heads. this always stim-
ulates us to hold on by faith when death is around us &
slayes thousands upon our right & left hand it is an easy matter
for God to strengthen a man in his Tabernacle in the midst of
Death & plagues all around him He did the Ancients who lived
to a great Age their Eyes were not dim their Ears were quick
to hear but we all have weaknesses & much to contend with
this is that we may increase & arive at Great Glory by
getting the mastery over the devil & much evil if we were
not tempted & tryed & overcome we should not get the
glory that we otherwise shall. How could God trust a man
who would be overcome by temptation it would take him
a long time to get confidence in him again Jesus was
a fair sample subject as He was to temptation in all things
He overcame so can we & follow in the steps of our Elder
Brother Better to do this than to Enjoy the pleasure of sin for
a season then die as the fool dieth if a man had power given
him & had not discretion given him to use it he would ruin
himself this is the reason why this people 20 years old
has not power greater power they have not wisdom to use it
we have the gifts of the Gospel to heal the sick to speak
with New tongues, to cause the blind to see lame to walk
deaf to hear, & cast out devels & with these gifts some
have been so lifted up taken honor & glory unto themselves
they have fallen. I thank God for sparing his gifts any
further than they prove beneficial to us if God gave us all
things at once it would kill us but if we were proven in all
things then we could endure all things (things are freq-
uently given of the Lord that men cannot all endure they
are more than they have wisdom to manage when this is
the case they cannot advance untill they master what has
been given let this be remembered & not ask for more after
what we can manage for if we ask the Lord for a Revelati-
on & He gives us a New commandment we are under the greater respon-
sibility for we have to keep all the commandments of God
if commandments are given us & we dont obey then our
light becomes darkness then how great is that darkness
it would be better for him not to have the light at all
If the Lord had given all men all they have asked for
they would many of them been out of the Church now I have
herd many say I have Asked the Lord to reveal certain
principls unto me & He did not do it but this is because it
was not wisdom to give it unto you but if you are faithful
the day will come when God will give any man what he
asks for if he asks for it in righteousness. I believe the
Lord loves this people & is preparing us to recieve all good
things the day will come when the Lamanites will build
a city called the New Jerrusalem. They not we build
it we with all the Gentiles who repent will help build it
the powers of Heaven will be revealed & Jesus be in our
midst and the power of Heaven be revealed by Adam
& all men will hear it in the kingdom of God and all secrets
& key words of the priesthood & all things will be revealed
I hope you will harken to council & do all things which
God Requires of us in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
~ Sunday
Sunday 12th S M Blair spoke to the people & gave a
good exhortation
Brother Simeon Carter followed the same day spoke of the deeds
of the prophet He knew the Twelve had to lead, had no desire
to follow any body els. He was followed By Brother Major
~ Sunday
Sunday 20th [19th] Oct Elder O Pratt spoke upon the death
of Sister Hendricks. He was thankful we as a people were
settelled in these vallies of the Mountains whare it was
healthy we have here to fore suffered much by sickness in
other places but we cannot get entirely away from
sickness & death let us go whare we will in this life
for all men must taste of death even those who
were translated had to have a change to Immortality
their may be some pain attending that even if it
was ownly for an instant. Their must be some space
between death & the resurrection sin is the cause of this
evil even death without sin men would have been
Immortal. If I should hear of a God who had made
man to have pain & sorrow without any agency or sin
I could not have any confidence in him, & the Heavens could
not it may be said it is necessary to have sorrow & misery
in order to Enjoy good the Lord when He made the world
knew how to fix things so that man should bring upon
himself death evil & sorrow if he had ag[ency] He planted
the tree of knowledge of good Evil in the midst of the
garden little children did not commit sin but their
parents did it was not our own sins that brought death
but the sin of our first parents death being introduced
into the world we all partake of it if we had not the great
plan of salvation revealed we should be without law
if it was not for revelation we should not know that
we had an Immortal spirit within us we should take
care of the spirit as well as our bodies the spirit needs taking
care of as well as the body the spirit is a being that
possesses certain capacities that are as Eternal as
God himself that were never given to it I do not believe
that any matter that ever saw the time that it could not love
hate fear &c can ever do it again but I believe it is Eternal
the formation may not be Eternal but the substance of which
it is composed is Eternal the capacities may be enlarged but
its capacity always exhisted their may be a time when our
spirits had a begining of formation but the capacity always
exhisted the Infant at first appeared as a blank page but
that spirit before it came here was full of knowledge as was
the case with the Babe of Bethlehe[m] Jesus Christ He had wisdom
to construct worlds before He came here but had now descended
below all things came from His Fathers throne but his knowledge
power & wisdom was laid aside & nothing but the bare capacity
was left can any man remember the first month of his
life in the flesh No Neither can you remember the time
of your exhistance or doings before you came here this
is to prove men if they will prove faithful while this know
led[g]e is taken from them in infancy childhood & manhood
life & Death if one man Jesus Christ can ascend &
overcome all things so can another. If we find anything
that is good lovely, virtueous, good, exhalted then let
us lay hold of it untill we are exhaulted then the spirit
will adorn the body & do away with many of the Evils
of the fall their is sumthing in the countena[n]ce of a
man who takes care of his spirit that is glorious
& good the Lord made the spirit of man according to the
plan devised in his wisdom but this was made of
Eternal substance of many beings composed in orse
in ourselves brought together into one & Gems given to our
spirits then let us take care of our spirits. many thing
may be said about the object of our bodies & spirits they
are destined to arise in glory Exhaltation And Eternal
life then let us take care of our bodies & spirits we have
our minds filled with the cares of life & yet when
we die we have to leave all our temporal affairs it
seems to be the object of God that we should earn
our bread by the sweat of the brow if this was not
the case we might be Idle which would produce more
evil than it would to labour if we improve our time
we shall get glory that we should not get if
we were Idle for when we die the knowledge
we have gained will be of benefit to us we cannot
get a fulness of Glory while our spirit & body is
seperated we may think reflect & know right
from wrong but we cannot act as in the body we
shall look for the resurrection of the body with much
interest & great anxiety if it was not for the resurrection
of the body we should be subject to the devil & death
temporal & spiritual those who kept the celestial law
will be redeemed from all sin & death restored to
God and all blessings their is for man such will have
Joy in paradice. Joseph says if we keep the law we shall
we shall have a celestial paradice & our spirits return
& hunt up our bodies & enter it again with a fulness of
celestial spirit. How will the Resurrection be brought
to pass & when will be the different times of the resurrection
the good ^{and bad}^ will arise before those who die after the Resurrection
of Christ the good did arise at the Resurrection of Christ
we find mummies in the catacombs of Egypt who died
long before christ arose who remain yet some saints in
Asia & America did arise & appear unto many. I do not
believe the resurrection will take place by being born again
as the doctrin of some is I would not believe it for the world
unless President Young was to say the Lord had revealed
it to him I believe the Saints will arise out of their
graves [Ezekiel 34:12] as Ezekiel said they would. The Resurrection
will take place before the son of Man comes as the scriptures
declair. Before He comes their shall be a great sign appear
in Heaven all the Nations of the Earth shall see it together
An Angel shall sound his trump that all Nations will
hear it saying that Babylon will be burned then after
half an hour of silence the veil of the covering will be
taken off the face of Heaven will be revealed & the
face of the Lord will be unveiled and the graves of the
Saints will be open & the Saints on the Earth will be caught
up to meet the Lord this is the first Resurrection the
Zion of Enoch will also appear & dwell on the Earth
the Saints will then receive their Everlasting inher
itances Joseph got a promise from the Lord that
he should have a right to an inheritance in the Nauvoo
House forever. if the Saints do not get their possessions
by covenant as Abram did Canaan or Joseph
Nauvoo their will be Judges appointed to give evry
man his inheritances for an Everlasting inheritance
then comes the time when Joseph and all will receive
their keys & turn them to the saints in this dispensation
& reveal the mysteries of Eternity to the Saints who
have their celestial bodies they will be qualifyed
to receive a fulness of celestial glory & spirit & will
receive all they can Endure but they will grow to
all Eternity in knowledge & power will the Saints be
confined to this Earth No they will be caught up
& not die & lie in the dust Jesus will have a Throne
in Jerrusalem & the Saints will have thrones on the
Earth but they will go to other worlds or in the Heavens
& all will be free Adam will give instructions concerning
the garden of Eden we will go on foreign missions
to visit other worlds we shall also remember our works
in this life & inasmuch as they have been good it will
be a consolation to reflect upon them
I Baptized Sister Foss & family & my own family & confirmed
them 9 in all.
Rhoda Foss was Married on the eve of Nov 30th 1851
President Youngs medical lecture deliverd before
the board of Health at Great Salt Lake City Dec 1851
President Young arose & said I wish to impart intelli-
gence to the people my first proposition is the science of
medicine. The study & practice of medicine as a science if it
may be called a science is the most imperfect of any science
in existance as is practiced by the doctors of the present day
The doctors & priests of the day send more to death & Hell then
any whare els. about one in a million may get some glory
A bigger set of cursed scoundrels never graced the Earth than
that class. surgery is a different class & is vary necessary in
many instances & that system can be learned. But to learn the
system of man they cannot no more learn that than they
can learn the Heavens. A worst set of Ignoramuses do not
walk the Earth. they do not know how to turn {the [illegible shorthand]} wind in a mans
body when it gets cross ways. If you cut their infernal throats
the people will live I know what this society is here for it is to impart
what knowledge they have to others. But I have seen the folly of the
doctors even at my own doors. take them as a whole they are
the most damnable set on the Earth their practices are infamous
& their medicines produce death; If the people want to Eat
Calomel let them do it & be damned but dont feed it to
any of my family if any doctor does & I know it I would
kill him as quick as I would for feeding Arsnic. I do not
employ such doctors to visit me. I dont Employ any doctor
to visit me. The practice of Doctors in visiting women in child
birth is damnable woman should be let alone & let Nature
have its part at work let a woman keep her child if she can
2 or 3 years but she cannot do it when the time has come Nat-
ure will deliver her of her child without a Doctor dont
fret let evry thing take its proper course & sickness would
depart away. The Doctors in New Haven Ct by mutual
agreement to see how far they could frighten a man did
actually frighten him to death a robust harty man. many
things should be said to this people. their has not been a
Doctor baptized into this church that has the Holy Ghost
but what will acknowledge they are a fool. their is not a
Physician in the church or in the world that is taught
from on high by revelation but what will acknowledge
this to be true doctrin if their is a doctor who can see &
know a man from head to foot & know how to cure his
deseases by revelation such are the ownly true & safe
Doctors on Earth all others are fools I see men die
in the hands of the doctors. the medicines kill them. why
dont they tell what ales the patient or acknowledges
they dont know.
The foolery their is among this class
is disgraceful & makes me mad & the day will come when you
will not wonder at my feelings you are natural persons
& God has made you natural if you are with child that child
will come forth by nature without a Dr the Earth is just
so will bring forth of itself seed after its kind. If a person is
sick & have not faith to be healed give them herbs the product
of the Earth & it will cure you until it is time to die
when a cat is sick she will eat catnip without a
doctor & she gets well Nature promps her to it if a
dog is bit with a rattlesnake he will dig a hole in the Earth
& lie in the ground untill the poison is gone out so
Nature will teach us as well as the cat & dog when a toad
is bit by a spider [it] will go & eat plantain if he can get it.
If a child is to die in being born let it die but dont
employ a Dr to kill it. How will you be instructed I will
tell you what to do if you are taken sick dont be frightened
but be ca[l]me. if you get a cold let Nature be jo◊◊
disease will go up & down through the system to find a
place to be located it is as much our duty to know how to
cure our system as to feed our body the Doctors would
say you are deseased & dont know it who made the Doctors the
Devil. The Lord did not make the Doctors of the present day
such a thing as a man midwife was not known untill
about 1500 why did not the women all die before this time
look at the Indians for 100 years millions of children
have been born in the wilderness of male & female & they live
& not die without a doctor. You may ask what shall we do
I will tell you I will give you a lessen & I want you to remark
it when you go to visit a woman in trava[i]l let her alone
untill her full time has come remember it let the mother
alone let your system be natural teach them also to exercise
all that they can that when they come to be deliverd it will
be better for them. A doctor if he had good sens would not
wish to visit women in child birth, and if a woman
had good sense she would not wish a man to doctor them
on such an occasion I want you to teach your children
the principle of truth I talk as I do for the people will
not sens any thing unless they are half knocked down or
thunder rolls in their Eaers soft words will not do I
want you to hear & understad their has been some difficulty
in this Board of Health. If I had been with you you would not
had had any difficulty. It has been through a misunderstanding
if you understand principle you would not quarrel you
may spread calomel on your bread & butter & eat it if
you wish but it is deadly poison as Arsenic but not as
quick it is not good you may ask if it was ever good
in any case there may be cases whare it might be a
benefit but it would want a revelation to tell whare
it was. Their is not poison in lobelia I will give
$5000 dollars for the 16 part of an oz of poison that
can be extracted out of all the lobelia in this valley. it is
not probable that any two persons are organized just alike
in all respects. Then who is a Physician Now unless he
be taught of God & is a prophet or revelator he cannot
understand the Human System know desease & what will cure it
I dont care how a man acts if he inte[n]ds to act right & when they
act wrong are willing to be righted. we will take the Best physician
of the day that lives the closest to the Lord I dont care how will
he is he will be brought down as a fool for he will be
made to let God be honored. I have been on a Journey in
the dust I have got dust on my brain that is what ales me
It will wash off could a doctor tell what ales me No
can a doctor tell what ales a sick man by feeling of
his pulse No more than he could by feeling of a dogs
tail. Their is no Physician except he is taught of God
you should learn how to doctor yourselves you should study
your own system, any people who must trust to a doctor at
all times will die but trust in God & you will live longer
what a diferent time it would be if all trusted in God
rather than in the doctors for 9 out of 10 die under the
doctors care who would live if they trusted in God alone
dont get freightened & you will do well enough it is Just
as reasonable to send for a doctor to have a calf, colt or
pig brought forth as it was for a child.
After you receive your reserrected bodies you will bring
forth spirits to all Eternity who will go to some world & take
a tabernacle or body the same as we have you dont want a
doctor any more here than there if the members of this
society are true either male or female they will inpart all
useful knowledge they have to others if they are not willing to
do this they are corrupt if one man knows more than another
let him tell his knowledge & if a man knows more than
all the rest let him be a Father unto the people & teach
them & not act like a boy, if I hold myself Equal I am
Equal if I am soperior let me manifest it by doing a
better deed & being superior myself. It is the man that rejects
light & knowledge when shown him that God condemns & I
condemn him some say we have spiritual wives but I
think God has made us all natural & I think we should be
Natural.
We received several lectures from Judge Zerubabel Snow
concerning law our Legislative Enactments & various other
subjects. He commenced with the constitution of the United
States said the several states sent delegates & formed a
general convention & there after deliberating upon the
situation they agreed to form a constitution & to cede up
a portion of their state rights for the purpose of forming a
general government constitution & congress of the United
States and all the power that was not ceded up still
remains with the people and it was his opinion that
we as a people had a right to make such laws as suited
our own convenience Notions & circumstances, as long as
it did not conflict with the constitution of the united of
the their were rights belonging to all civilized men
which no power had a lawful right to take from them
and he advised us to make such laws as we wished without
any regard to the common law of Englan or the laws which
any of the states had adopted as long as we did not interfere
with any of the constitution of the United States. He dwelt
lengthy upon the criminal code which we should adopt that
criminal law was considerd more for the suppression of
crime than for the punishment of the guilty
I ordained 8 High priest & 7 members of the quorums of seventies
at different Councils at the Council House not befor recorded
[FIGURE] I Travled with the Presidency and
others to Parowan Iron County and explored the
country from Great Salt Lake there whole
distance travled 764 miles
I attended public meetings 28 meetings
I Preached 14 discourses
I Baptized 9 Persons
I Confirmed 9 Persons
I Ordained High council 12 High council
I Ordained High Priest 10 High Priest
I Ordained to the Seventies 8 Seventies
I Blessed Children 8 Children
I administered to sick persons 12 sick
I Married 2 persons
I Met with the Regency 8 times
I spent with the Legislature of Utah 12 days
I met with the perpetual Emigrating Co 4 times
I met with the Presidecy & Twelve 25 Councils
I wrote 10 Letters
I Received 8 Letters
I was appointed Chaplain of the Nauvoo Legion
[FIGURE] WILFORD WOODRUFFS
JOURNAL
FOR
1852
Eighteen hundred & fifty two has commenced each year is
big with events to Both Zion & Babylon to the kingdom of God &
the kingdom of the world. what this year will bring to pass time
alone can determin but great deeds & scenes are crouding to the
birth we may look for great revolutions to commence in the old
world for confusion & disunion in the States, & for some opposition
against the Saints to be manifest but the Lord will govern the
helm of the States & Nations for the final good of the world
& to his honor & glory & for the benefit of the Saints
~ Thursday
Jan 1st 1852 I spent the day as a day of Thanksgiving
according to the proclamation of the Govornor
~ Monday
Jan 5th Monday The legislature of the Territory of Utah met
according to the appointment of the Govornor I met with them
~ Tuesday
6th House met & received the Govornors Message
~ Wednesday to ~ Friday
7th 8, 9th I spent the time in the Legislature attended to the business of the same
~ Saturday
10th & 11 I spent the time in the Legislature
~ Sunday
11th spent the time in meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 I spent the week in the Legislature
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
19 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, I spent this week in the Legislature
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
26, 27, 28, 29 30, 31 I spent this week in the Legislature
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
Feb 2, 3, 4, 5 I spent this week in the Legislature. The Legislature
was adjourned on the 5th to meet on Monday the 16.
[FIGURE] I wrote 4 letters to Azmon Woodruff, D. Webster
I. F. Carter & J. M. Bernhisel
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
6 & 7 I spent the time at home
~ Sunday
Sunday 8th I attended meeting at the Council House President
Young Preached his sermon is recorded on another page
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
9th 10, 11 & 12 I spent the time at home was quite unwell
a part of the time
~ Friday
13, [FIGURES] I made a party for the Presidency & Twelve
They arived at about 3 oclok took a rich supper & enjoyed
themselves in the dance untill about 12 oclok
~ Saturday to ~ Sunday
14th & 15 I was quite sick with teeth ake & ague in the face
~ Monday
16th Monday [FIGURE] I made a party this evening for the
company that came to the valley with me also some of my Neighbors
I had between 40 & 50 persons present after taking supper
they danced untill they were satisfyed then all returned home
apparently satisfyed with their party I was quite sick
~ Tuesday
17 I took a course of medicine to day which done me good
~ Wednesday
18 I was quite weak & confined to my house
~ Thursday
19 I was better to day but still feeble
~ Friday
1220th I spent the day in writing I visited the ward school exhibition
during the evening
~ Saturday
21st I met with the Legislature this morning but it adjourned
till Monday morning
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I spent the day at home writing in my Journal
I met in the evening with the 12 & Presidency for prayer
I have not given the procedings of the Legislature in this Journal
as it is to lengthy for insertion. The following is the population
of the valley according to the census Bills Great Salt Lake Co 6155
Davis County 1128, Utah Co 2005 Tooele Co 152
Sanpete Co 365 Green River Precinct 46 Iron Co 360
webber Co 1143
Total of the whole population 11,354
The following Judges were appointed by the Legislature
Isaac Clark for Webber Co. Joseph Holebrook for Davis County
Elias Smith Salt Lake Co. Alfred Lee Tooele Co
George Bradley U[ap] Co George Pecock in Sanpete Co
Anson Call in Millard Co Chapman Duncan Iron Co
Preston Thomas of Utah County
~ Monday
23 I met with the legislature in the morning they adj[ourne]d
till to morrow at 10 oclok I spent the time in counsel
I ordained two Elders
~ Tuesday
24th Both Houses met in Joint session I spent the day
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
25th 26, 27 & 28 I spent this time in the legislature
~ Sunday
Sunday 29th [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Dan Jones
I F Carter & E T Benson I received 1 letter from
Dan Jones
[FIGURE] I also wrote a letter in company with G A Smith
to Hon J. M. Bernhisel I met in the evening with
the counsel for prayer Herd a letter read to J M
Bernhisel conserning our governmental matters it was
a bold independent spirited thing such as is worthy
of the master spirits of the age the government officers
in many respects seem disposed to try to destroy us
the same as the state officers have tried to do
~ Thursday
Jan 1st 1852 Govornor B. Young Next made
a proclamation of thanksgiving for the inhabitants
of the Territory of Utah to set apart the 1st day of Jan
for the purpose of thanksgiving & prayer the following is
a portion of the proclamation
"And I recommend to all good citizens of Utah that they
abstain from evry thing that is calculated to mar the or grieve
the spirit of their Heavenly Father on that day that they rise
early in the morning of the first day of the New Year and wash
their bodies with pure water that all men attend to their
flocks & herds with carefulness & see that no creature
in their care is hungry thirsty or cold while the women
are preparing the best of food for their housholds &
their children [are] ready to receive it in cleanliness & with
cheerfulness then let the head of each family with his
family bow down upon his knees before the God of Israel
and acknowledge all his sins & the sins of his household
call upon the Father in the name of Jesus for evry blessing
that he desires for himself his kindred the Israel of
God the univers of man praying with full purpose of
heart & united faith that the union of the United
States may be preserved inviolate against tall the devises
of wicked men untill truth shall reign triumphant
& the glory of Jehovah shall fill the whole earth
then in the name of Jesus ask the Father to bless the your
food and when you have filled the plates of your
houshold partake with them with rejoiceing & thanks-
giving & if you feel to make merry in your hearts sing
a song of thanksgiving and lift up your hearts con-
tinually in praise & acknowledgement of the unbounded
mercies you are momentarily receiving
~ Sunday
Sunday Jan 4th 1852
President Young addressed the assembly & took for his
subject sin & the forgiveness of sin I speak upon this subject
because we are in the midst of it, it has been among all classes
it has been in our houses in our families & in our hearts and
although it has been a constant companion their is but
few that understand the Nature of sin. Many have made them-
selves miserable thinking they had sined against the Holy
Ghost. others that they had sined a great sin. But what
have the Revelations of the Lord said upon these subjects we learn
that Jesus Christ came & took a body & redeemed the world
but Lucipher rebelled was cast down without any body and
He has sought to vex & destroy the children of men. He seeks
diligently to draw all from the right path esspecially if a Saint
tries to follow the track & get whare Jesus was then the devil would
try hard to over throw them. Many have thought they have committed
much sin when they have not understood the nature & work
of sin. we must understand many principles & arive at much
knowledge before we can fully understand the Nature of Sin. The
veil of Darkness is over the Earth so that the inhabitants of the
Earth are so overwhelmed in tradition & darkness they do not
know light from darkness truth from Error wright from wrong
or the difference between the dictation of the Holy Spirit or that
conscienc which has been framed for them by the dictation
of their mothers & priests. many think far more of the
traditions of their youth than of any principle that God
could reveal from Heaven unto them. their Mothers must
not do any thing on Sunday ^to^ darn a stocking would be a great
sin, sin is one thing & tradition is another. The word of God
revealed will tell what sin is while tradition will not
The Education of the world is good as far as they have any
truth found in any science which they possess but they do not
understand truth as connected with the plan of Salvation. I
want the saints here to understand that they cannot sin against
God, & Jesus Christ & the priesthood, against his family
& the Saints then come & ask forgiveness of the church
then pass on smoothly & ^think they will^ go to Heaven this is to cheap a way
to get to Heaven I want this subject riveted on your hearts
if it is not you will not remember it. You must remember your
covenants & the Law of the Lord that is given to us. It is written
that sin is a transgression of the Law whare is it, in the Books
that is given us in the main yet this does not go into all the me-
anderings of life. whare do you find a law that you shall
not drive a team across your Neighbor lot nor go to his hay
stack or suffer your families to take liberties that you are not
willing should be done to you yet you know it to be wrong. But
do unto others as you wish others to do unto you is the Law & the
prophets. Some men who have been ordained unto the priesthood
& are vary high in Authority will take the Name of God in
vain & swear by this & that does such persons suppose that
that the Church can forgive that sin if you do your hope is vain
they can never forgive that sin. No man can do it none
But God alone & it never will be forgiven untill He does it
the time will come that if a man will take the name of God
in vain he will be hewn down without judgment or trial
Hear it O ye Elders, for it is time. Let this people
sanctify their hearts & then take the Name of God in vain
& they will not be forgiven the time will also come
when if the parents are scanctifyed before the Lord & their
children rise up in disobedience against them they will
be hewn down. If you sin against God & take the name
of God in vain if you get forgiveness it will have to be forgiven
by Him & not from man. some think if they are alone
& sware or sin nobody will know it but they will find
themselves mistaken still if a man has to sware let
him be alone if a man damns himself let him be alone
that others may not be polluted by his sin. If you take
the name of God in vain I will not forgive ^it,^ for I cannot
if the Lord will forgive you I will forgive you for maring
my feelings by speaking it in my ears the more you
see the veil parted & the more you learn the more you will see Gods
ways are not as our ways this people are passing through a great
school of experiance I remember while in Kirtland if any of the
Brethren felt their rights infringed upon in any wise or abused would
retaliate & be ready to quarrel about it & be ready to get up a law suit
for ^a debt of^ three dollars but the minds of the saints have become more noble
Now if a man is abused who understands principle he is above quar-
reling about it and he feels to say it is nothing to me I am not to suffer
by it but you that have abused me has the penalty to pay. But
if the devivel can ownly make you think that you are abused or
ill treated and you begin to fret about it and you give the devil
power ^over^ you & in the end it is as bad as though you had done wrong yourself
Now if a man sins against you untill seventy times seven & he repents
& with an humble heart asks forgiveness you should forgive him
for this is the law & the prophets He must ask forgiveness & be humble
or he cannot be forgiven. As much has been said & many fears
entertained by many concerning the sin against the Holy Ghost I will
speak further concerning that subject to sin against the Holy
Ghost is a sin against God the Father the Son & the Holy Ghost that
bears record of them. A man cannot sin against the Holy Ghost
untill the Holy Ghost has revealed unto him the Father & Son &
a knowledge of Eternal things in a great degree degree
when he has a knowledge of these things with his eyes open he
rebels against God & defys his power He sins against all things
if a man does sin against the Holy Ghost the people have nothing
to do with it for they cannot forgive that sin & none but God
can do it & probably He will not in this world nor the world to
come for they become sons of perdition & probably will never
repent of [their sin] or have a disposition to.
If you blaspheme the Name
of God dont ask this people to forgive you for they cannot do it
you may ask them to pray God to forgive you. If God does
forgive the sin then you can go down into the waters of baptism
when you get knowledge you will be ashamed to sin
Now I want to bring this subject home what are the acts of the people
do they not sin & trespass against their Brethren Parrents against
their children & children against their parents the husband against
the wife & wife against the husband this is with us & this we
can reach & manage & tell what ought to be done you ought
to cease from taking the liberty of any person but do unto all as you
would wish them to do unto you infringe upon the rights of no
one Borrow no tool but what you will return according to promise
take no wood nor any thing els but what belongs to you and if you
find any thing that is not your own do not hide it away but
report it that the owner may be found. If I had some stones
here in my hand I could cast them & hit twor or three in this
congregation in the head who are guilty of these acts you may say
why dont you tell who they are why you poor Devil are you not
going to repent of it by & by. If not when the day of clensing & santi
fying of Israels comes you will have to be sacraficed & your blood
spilt upon the ground for the day will come when iniquity must
scease in Zion and the Profane man who takes the Name of God
in vain will be slain.
In the days of Ancient Israel Justice
was dealt out in a manner that showed they understood principle &
revered the commands of God. it was a mercy to many to have
Justice & Judgment executed upon them on the Earth even to
be slain & have their blood poured out upon the Earth that it
might be tolerable for them God made a Covenant with
Abraham & his seed that He would save them when they
commit sin He slew them that He might save them by
their spilling their blood as an offering. Had they have lived
in sin they might have sinned so as not to have been forgiven
or saved. it was a mercy to slay them. Now Brethren if
you sin against God go to God to get forgiveness if that sin is
not unto death their is a sin unto death which we were told we
need not pray for. if you sin against your Brother go to him
to get forgivness ask forgiveness at the hands of the inocent
if you sin against your family your parents your husband your
wife your childrn seek forgiveness at their hands but what
is done in secret should be forgiven in secret & go no further
that sins may be hid. But if sins are committed openly they
should ask forgiveness & be forgiven openly these are true
principles & let them be rememberd forever
Govornor B. Youngs address before the legislative
assembly of the Territory of Utah upon slavery
He remarked that the whole world were slaves Eve partook
of the forbidden fruit & also Adam & it brought slavery
upon all their posteriy in some way or other & thi[s] will
continue untill we become righteous enough to drive
the devil & evil from the Earth. Adam had two
sons Kane & Abel. KCain was more given to evil than
Abel Adam was called to offer secrifice also his sons the
sacrifice of Abel was more acceptable than Canes & Cane
took it into his heart to put Abel out of the way so he
killed Abel the Lord said I will not kill Cane but I
will put a mark upon him and it is seen in the face
of every Negro on the Earth and it is the decree of
God that that mark shall remain upon the seed of Cane
& the Curse untill all the seed of Abel should be redeemed
and Cane will not receive the priesthood untill or
salvation untill all the seed of Abel are redeemed
any man having one drop of the seed of Cane in him
in him cannot hold the priesthood & if no
other Prothet ever spake it before I will say it
now in the name of Jesus Christ I know it is true
& they know it the Negro cannot hold one particle
of Government but the day will come when all the
seed of Cane will be Redeemed & have all the blessings
we have now & a great deal more but the seed of
Abel will be ahead of the seed of Cane to all Eternity
let me consent to day to mingle my seed with the
seed of Cane it would bring the same curse upon me
and it would upon any man and if any man mingl
his seed with the seed of Cane the ownly way he could
get red of it or have salvation would be to come forward
& have his head cut off & spill his blood upon the ground
it would also take the life of his Children It is said if
a man kills another that he takes that that he cannot give
if a mans head is cut off his life is not destroyed or his
spirit that lives, his tabernacle is destroyed but I can
make as good tabernacles as I can destroy if you do not
believe it look at my Children. Much blood was
shed in ancient days both of man & beast the firstlings
& best of the flock was sacrafized [sacrificed] on the Altar & in
some instances many men & almost whole Nations was
sacraficed or put to death because of their sins & wickednes
this was the ownly way they could be saved at all
if Jesus Christ had not had his blood shed the blood
that He received from his Mother Mary the world
would not have been saved. Their is not one of the seed
of old Cane that is permitted to rule & reign over
the seed of Abel and you nor I cannot help it
Those that do bear rule should do it in righteousness
I am opposed to the present system of slavery
the Negro should serve the seed of Abram but it
should be done right dont abuse the Negro & treat
him cruel. It has been argued here that many of
the Jews were black. Whenever the seed of Judah
mingled with the seed of Cane they lost their
priesthood & all blessings. as an ensample let the
Presidency, Twelve, Seventies, High Priest Bishops
& all the Authorities say now We will all go & mingle
witth the seed of Cane and they may have all the privileg
they want we lift our hands to heaven in support of
this that moment we loose the pristhood & all blessings
& we would not be redeemed untill Cane was. I
will never admit of it for a moment some may think
I dont know as much as they do but I know that I
know more than they do. the Lord will watch us all the time
the Devil would like to rule part of the time but I am
determin He shall not rule at all and Negros shall
not rule us. I will not admit of the Devil ruling at
all I will not consent for the seed of Cane to
vote for me or my Brethren if you want to know
why we did not speak of it in the Constitution
it was because it was none of their business
any man is a Citizens Black white or red and if
the Jews come here with a part of the Canaanite
blood in them they are Citizens & shall have their
rights but not to rule for me or my Brethren
those persons from the Islands & foreign countries
know nothing about governing the people. The Canaan
ite cannot have wisdom to do things as the white man
has. We must guard against all Evil I am not going
to let this people damn themselves as long as I can
help it
~ Sunday
Sunday Feb 8 President Young addressed the assembly
and said I trust in the Lord for light as I have
heretofore done when the minds of men are open
to understand they will see things as they are. we are
subject to all the evils which are in the world. I have
thought this world as fallen as any of the creations
of God. when the Lord created the Earth or any world
if they have an Exaltation they will have to experine
all that we Experiane I see no reason why they
should not be tempted as we are tempted. If we
are candidates to exhaltation & glory & that we cann
ot get that Exaltations & glory in no other way then
we should be reconciled to it & be satisfyed to let the Lord
do with us as He pleases is their any Evil upon any pe
person or affliction upon any Nation or kingdom
that God does not permit their is not we should
then be faithful to God in all things to be his
secret counsellor if necessary why should we com-
plain or find fault with God about any thing we
should not. Se the Example of the Nations of the
Earth they complain about evry thing and against all
his providences their is no proceding of ours or act or ex
periance but what He knows all about. If it would
be any satisfaction to you I would say that God has
passed through all the trials & experience that we have
Jesus Christ has passed through all the trials & experine
the same as we have it would not be prudent for
me to say that the Father has not the same experiene
that his Son had. He had quite as much as his Son
had, let the Saints look about themselves & se if
they hadve as great things as they expected when
they first received the gospel & the Holy Ghost opened
their minds they saw that Zion was to [be] built up &
Israel gatherd the power of God & the Holy Ghost to be
poured out upon us. If we could get a place by ourseles
how faithful we would live & thank God. Do you have
the same things you looked for well I dont know you say this
shows that somebody has let down their watch & inf-
luenced others & they have not lived up to their privileges
when we first received the gospel we were humble
but since the tempteor has come & we are tempted with
many things but this is right the Lord permits it
we could not get glory without it let me ask if any
one is here who went to Jackson County in 1831
The feeling was If I could get with the Saints all
my sorrow & trouble would be at an End so it is
with the Saints in England. Before we preached
the gathering to them the lord revealed to them that
they would be gathered we told them not to reveal
it untill the time came do you have any thing now
that you looked for in the begining if not sumthing is
the matter you dont do right you dont settle this
difficulty or that but what is the matter you are wrog
yourself what henders you from praying all day &
fasting and prayer you have enough to eat but the
great difficulty is when they moved to Zion they
brought themselves with them you had so many devels
in you that they trouble you. when the devel & wicked
men have afflicted & persecuted us as far as is for our
good then the Lord says stop & go no further they are held
up but if we take evry thing patiently all our afflictions
will work together for our good. But do you at the present
time have any thing to mar your peace except what you
bring upon yourselves you have privileges here but do
the people prize their privileges why do the people go to
the kanyons after wood on Sunday why have they gone
today why dont I do it why do I not visit my farm
the Bath House on Sunday because it is not right & sets
a bad example I cannot do these things on the
Sabbath Some will take poles of[f] from his Neighbors farm
take a chain or an ax without liberty this is wrong
their is nothing on Earth to mar our peace but owur
own acts but the great difficulty is they cannot get
away from themselves. they think perhaps if they
go to the gold digings they can get away from themselves
but they cannot. When persecution & trials come
they search the good seed and it dries up. How are you
going to get Zion nothing henders our having Zions
but ourselves we have all the privileges of Angels to
worship God & get all blessings we need. we mean
to war with all Devils temptations & trials untill we
overcome I will fight untill I overcome if I fall
in the grave their is others who will take my place
their are many who will fight & if it needs be we
will take the sword I hope all who want good principles
will have the privilege of receiveing them to day is a day of
tithing & sacrafice tomorrow cometh the burning I would say
that you cannot be perfect without me nor I without you
the providences of God has so interwoven & identifyed
the interest of the Children of Adam together that they
cannot be perfect without each other do you enjoy your-
selves & have peace. I have peace & no man can take it frm
me if you do not have peace it is because you drive stakes
& the Lord will not let you do it but let the will of God
be done if you dont Enjoy Zion it is because you dont say
let the will of God be done their is nothing to take your
Zion away but yourselves we are to be tryed & tempted
in evry way in order to prove ourselves the friend of God
in all things & God will bless you my prayer is that God
will bless this people & that they may be faithful and
a friend to God. I told the Legislature that I would be proud
to have the world know that I told the assembly to fast
& pray untill they get the spirit of God to do their duty
I would like to see the Judges upon the bench to ask God to
bless them and all the Jury & witnesses to assist them
in all their testimony & decissions
~ Monday
Monday March 1st 1852 This is again my birth day
I am 45 years of age this day the Lord hath preserved
me thus far in life I pray that He may still preserve me
and lengthen out my days to behold the work of the Lord
on the Earth & to assist in carrying on that work I spent
the day with the Legislature
~ Tuesday to ~ Wednesday
2 & 3 I spent the time with the Legislature it was a vary
busy time with us As we were about to close The members
of the Joint session concluded to have a day of recreation
feasting & rejoiceing on the morrow
~ Thursday
4th Thursday The Govornor President of the Council
[FIGURE] Speaker of the house with all the members of
both branches of the Legislature assembled with
their ladies at the Council House & Legislative Hall & partok
of an exellent fest and had an excellent social party
{We all went forth in the dance} The Govornor gave an interesting
address in the evening which closed with a shout of Hosannah
All returned home satisfied with the procedings of the day
~ Friday
5th Both Houses met in Joint Session this morn
and spent a busy day
~ Saturday
6th Saturday Both Houses met in Joint Session
and closed up all the business of the Session
and adjourned untill next December the Govorn
blessed the assembly and the President of the counsel
& Speaker of the House returned thanks to the master
The Assembly returned a vote of thanks to the Govorn
and all returned their homes I spent the evening in
school learning Fonography
~ Sunday
7th Sunday I preached in the school House in the
13 ward visited Brother Hardy in the Afternoon & foud
Charles Hardy was fast sinking with the Consumption He
will not live long. At 4 oclk in the evening I met
with the Presidency & 12 for Prayer
~ Monday
8th A snow storm in the morning I spent the day at
home I set out a bed of Raspburies
~ Tuesday to ~ Thursday
9th 10, 11 I went to dry creek after my horses & oxen
it was a hard Storm 30 mls
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
12 & 13 I spent the time at home
~ Sunday
14th Sunday I Preached at the Council House in the after
noon & was followed By O Pratt & H. C Kimball we had the
spirit of the Lord
~ Monday
15th I spent the day in the Council House with my Brethrn
~ Tuesday to ~ Wednesday
16, 17 I spent the time settelling my Accounts
~ Thursday
18th I commenced ploughing in the Big field
~ Friday
19th we had a snow storm I remained at home
~ Saturday
20 [FIGURE] I planted 8 wine grape slips large on the East & 7
Rhode island grape slips small on the west. I spent the day oin the
Big field ploughing
~ Sunday
21st Sunday I preached in the 14th ward school House to
a large congregation & had the spirit of Preaching
~ Monday to ~ Friday
22, 23, 24, 25, & 26th I spent the week ploughing &
putting in wheat I put in five acres of wheat at
Parley Pratts House
~ Saturday
27th I spent the time in the Council House
~ Sunday
28th I Preached at the 13th ward School House in
the forenoon & wrote in the Afternoon thill 4 ock
[FIGURE] then attended the prayer Circle withe the presidcy
and Prayer Twelve. The president called upon me
in the Evening with several others & spent a little time
with us. Sister Mary Meek Giles took up her abode
with us As a Boarder ^And was sealed to W Woodruff
for time & Eternity^
~ Monday
289th I spent the day at home writing I wrote two
[FIGURE] Letters one to I F Carter one to A O Smoot with
an enclosed letter of Sister Smoots
~ Tuesday to ~ Wednesday
30 & 31st I spent the time in the field ploughing & sewing
Oats
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
1, 2, & 3rd I spent the time ploughing oats & sewing oats
Except the 1st day of April I attended a party at
the Bath House, about 50 Gentlemen & 100 Ladies present
I addressed the assembly at 8 oclock in the Evening &
returned Home. The Presidency & Twelve & those that had
[FIGURE] been at work in the Council House assisted in the Endowmts
were washed & annointed I did not get word of it & was
not present. The Eastern Mail arived this Evening which
had been anxiously looked for for many weeks the
Mail was large I received 34 letters one from Azmon Woodruff
[FIGURE] one from Thompson & one from Ozem Woodruff & one from
I. F. Carter. A large amount of Papers were received &
contained much news from various sources. A Fire in
Phila $200000 of Dollars loss A water spout destroyed 500 lives
& much property Dredful Steem Boat Disasters & fires all
over the country All Europe in commotion England preparing
for war. warm times in Congress because the Utah Judges
had gone home and made reports against the Judges Mormons
Govornor Young & others
~ Sunday
Sunday 4th In company with G A Smith I visited S. M
Blair who was sick but found him better. I went to the
presidents Office & spent most of the day in Council Hearing
the news from abroad during the Evening we had a prayer
meeting.
~ Monday
5th Br & Sister young nailed on the Cushion to the Tabernacle
stand I spent the day at home writing
~ Tuesday
April 6th 1852 The general Conference of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
met in the New Tabernacle built on the Temple Block
in the city of the Great Salt Lake on this 6th day of
April
There was present B Young H. C. Kimball &
W Richards who compose the first Presidency
O Pratt W. Woodruff & G A Smith of the Twelve Apostles
Also the Patriarchs John Smith & Isaac Morley
The president of the Stake D Spencer
The Presidents of the several quorums
The Tabernacle was filled to overflowing in an
hour after the doors were open & hundreds could not
get into the house
The President took the stand at 10 oclok and said
we adjourned last conference to meet in the tabernacle
to day we are here in the New Tabernacle according to apoint-
ment. The Hymn was read & sung (Lord in the Morning thou
shalt Hear). The diedication Prayer was offered by
Willard Richards it was great & good is published in
the Deserett News then two Hyns were sung. The Prsidt
dent I arise to say a few words as we have offered the dedi
cation Prayer upon that subject who could foresee
the way of the Lord as we now See it we can now beho-
ld the manifestation of the Lord. He has done what we
could not have expected but we have an experience
that teaches us to trust in the Lord. we should not
undertake to dictate the Lord for his work will go on
we have seen plenty try to dictate the Lord and try to build up
themselves & not this kingdom but they soon fall and the Lord
overthrows them but this work goes on the gospel is preached
& all his work goes on let the wicked do what they please we
have the privile[ge] of worshiping God and being happy. I wish to
dedicate all I possess unto God & praise him & do all He requires
of me. At the last conference I was sick & not able to be
with you not able to be up I meditated upon the state of the
Church. I see some going to the right some to the left some after
gold and the riches of this life I said I would tell the
Brethren my feelings I said I would go to work &
build a Tabernacle & worship the Lord so that we
would not be driven home by a storm I saw also
that some would say I cannot go for I must take care
of my cattle my farm my fields &c but I said I would
go & worship God as long as I wished If the whole
Earth sunk. Some delight in a fine Horse farm or
House or good things ofin this life but this is nothing to
you it is good in its place. But you cannot pray because
you cannot spend time. some women cannot spend
time to have prayers you know it is your duty to pray
& dedicate yourselves to God & your family & all you
possess some feel as though they must go to night to
the canyons. But if you will harken to council you will say
to all the world Stand By I am going to worship the Lord
let the dead Bury the dead and dedicate myself & family &
all I have to the Lord. No matter whather the Lord sets
you about go at it & do it. Their is a great change with
this people we have been sick now are well have been
poor now are rich, Have been distressed & mobed now
have peace How long will it last as long as this people
do right It has been 22 years since this Church was
organized we should serve the Lord Love the Lord with
all our hearts scease to do wrong or find fault with any
of the Saints if they do wrong Chastize them & not
hate them. are the people prepared to make a covenat
to dedicate themselves & their hearts to God from
this hour I feel to urge all the Brethrn & Sisters to
dedicate themselves unto the Lord. If we can
gain the victory & say I will do the work of the Lord in
all things. If He will make his will known I will
perform it. Not ownly say but perform it dedicate our
our affections unto the Lord. we may find some that
cannot feel it, they say I want some gold or somthing
to help myself with to get out of difficulty what will
be done in such a case, I will tell you what I would do If
I had got but one cow & she plagued me I would
give her away if you have any thing that is in your way
give it away to the public works Let nothing get between
you & God and I will tell you what to do if any thing
gets between you & God give it to the service of God for
you cannot get through the gate of the Celestial City
why are you not as pure as the Church of Enoch because
you are not a mind to be I will make my hands do the will
of God & my heart will go with it. The spirit of Envy will
not obey then unite your interest with this kingdom for
this kingdom will stand forever then put your inter
est with it so that you cannot get away then you will
stick to the kingdom but if your purse of gold is in your
pocket & you Apostitize you will go away but if your interest
is in the church & [you] do wrong you may stay untill you get
the spirit of God again & may be saved we must build
up this kingdom first & dont be afraid of Starveing for
this kingdom will be an ever lasting Kingdom that will
not be throne down it will Stand forever the more the
wicked try to throw it down the more it will stand
if you want it to stand unite your interest with it
in such a manner that you cannot get it away
then you are safe if I was to ask what your opinion
was concerning the Millenuam I should get a
great many opinions but the truth is all will be
in one sens as it is now you will eat, build, &
do all things as now ownly you will be more pure
& united and all will serve the Lord & not the devil
any more let this people possess this spirit & Here
would be the Millenium it would be with any people
that would do that the President then blessed the people
and asked God to bless them they then sung an hym
and adjourned till 2 oclok
2 oclok PM. The House was crouded to excess
O Pratt of the Twelve Apostles addressed the Assembly
(after singing & prayer) He said I address you but not without
many reflections upon my mind. It is no small matter
to address such a sea of faces if the Lord does not
pour out his spirit upon me it will not be but a little
benefit for me to speak yet I do feel a great desire
for the Lord to give me his spirit for your sake
that you may be edifyed I feel anxious to receive
principle & the salvation of the living & dead what has
that to do with the living it has much to do with it
it is a truth revealed from Heaven that we are to be
saviors upon Mount Zion to redeem the living & the dead
this is the subject that is given to me I am determined to
trust in God who will give any man their portion in
due season the responsibility of preaching this go[s]pel
to all the world & redeem the dead we must live before
the Lord in such a manner that we can have his appro-
bation what says the Book of Mormon upon this subject
those that assist in building up Zion & shall do it by faith
shall have the blessing of the Lord upon them How will we
do it by listening to the council of the priesthood of the
Church & consecrating ourselves before God to his service
as we were told by Presidet Young we shall then have
the power of the Holy Ghost & what greater gift can we
have then this for this will teach us all things and if
a faithful man is sent abroad to any Nation to preach the
Gospel & is faithful & follows the spirit of truth He will accom
plish his mission in spite of all Earth & Hell. when
Nephi was sent back to get the plates of Brass [1 Nephi 3:1-4] & his
brethren would not go [1 Nephi 3:5] the Lord told Nephi that He was stro
nger than 10,000 men to go & He would deliver the plates into
his hands he went & done as the Lord told him & got the plates [1 Nephi 4]
look at this people our enemies told us we must go away to
the west & not stay with them untill we were driven into
the Rocky Mountains but the Hand of the Lord was in it
& the Leaders of this people were as much inspired to
come to this place as the Nephits wer to get the plates
we can see that the Lord caused us to accomplish
what we could not have done we see today a great mass
of Saints before us we have been sustained by the Hand
of God in all thes things. The Lord hath said I will give
you an inheritance that you shall have in time & Eternity
and Israel shall be led by the keys which I have given
we have been led into a goodly land with our good Houses
& fields of grain & all good things so their is Hardly room
enough to receive it can it be possible that any man
after seeing all the goodness of God up to this time
can have a doubt about this work being true can you
find a people that has got wisdom enough to get a revela-
tion for themselves unless God is with them this people are
willing to do all things as far as they understand the Mormons
are increasing & will incres and their is no power that will
stop the work of the Latter Day Saints. I rejoiced this
forenoon while looking upon the faces of the saints & to see the spirit of
God upon them & that their union was increasing & that they wished
to hear & learn truth He refered to a certain Revelation that said
that Zion should look upward & their Union be incresed & was
strengthened then Zion should look down from above
refering to the Zion of Enoch And that Zion would come
& the Heavens would shake with gladness & the Earth would
tremble with gladness and they will build up each other
I want to see that day come that we may see the Old Jerrus Jentlemnt Adam this people will then look but small
alem
in comparison to what will be at that time. Here are the
Twelve & seventies & thousands who will bring the gospel
to all men and Israel who are numerous will have to have
the feelings all manifested to them they must be visited
& instructed as we have been they must be gathered
as we have been we cannot be perfect without
them no more than they can be perfect without us
they all must be gathered from the fore quarters of the
Earth & be instructed together & be prepared for
the coming of the Lord is there not a prospet of
this being done yes their is as much I wish you
could have a view of the state of affairs in England
their was some 40,000 saints baptized when I left
and there was not one in 400 but what would give
all they possessed ion Earth to be set down here
many of them would be faithful if they were here
again would not the saints of the western Islands be glad
to come here they would & they will come you remember
the parable of the vineyard that the servants of the Lord
had to labour & keep the top & roots Equal so that the top
need not be to heavy for the roots if we can get a
few thousands of the Saints that we can teach & instruct
so that they will become strong in faith & works then we
wan bring in thousand of weaker ones & they get tried
the strong ones can succor them & they become strong also
& the Devil have No power over them & Zion will soon
be Esstablished & thousands upon thousands will come from
the Nations to take shelter under the tree of Liberty in the
gospel & kingdom of God from the dire calaminities of
of famine Pestilence & wars which will be poured out upon
the whole Earth there is sumthing els to be done to prepare
this people for coming Events Here are many of the remnant
of Joseph that have got to be felt after & redeemed I believe
the signs of the times indicate that that the time has come when
the work must commence if they are sunk in the lowest depths
of degredation yet they are the chosen seed the desendants of
Joseph who was sold into Egypt the promises are unto
them they must be redeemed could we be placed in a better
condition to commence the work than we Now are we cannot
look what way we will they are all around us and the prom-
ises of God are to be fulfilled then shall we not pray for
them let us exercise faith in their behalf & do all we can
for them. No you not they are to be the main instrumts
that will build up Zion & Her Temples and all the
Gentiles who repent shall assist the remnant of Jacob to
build up Zion & the power of Heaven will come down to Help
them. First we are to introduce the gospel to them & teach
them the principles of the Kingdom of God & give them the prie-
sthood. Do you want to see the Zion of God built up & the
Temple of the Lord reared up in this Generation upon the conse-
crated land then pray for the remnets of Joseph & their
redemption for they have to assist in gathering all the House
of Joseph & when they all get together the Heavens can no
longer be stayed but their prayers & faith will prevail
& the Heavens will come down & meet with the Saints then
be ready ye Elders of Israel to go when the Lord calls
upon you by his servants to leave all to go to preach the
gospel to them in their own language & tongue and the
power of God will rest upon you I believe the Lord
will send forth his messengers who are ordained unto this
power to go forth unto the Lamanites & will clothe them with
far greater power than when they were sent unto the
corrupt Gentiles the Lord will not come untill we go to
this people we have a portion of the power of God with us
but not in its fulness as it will be in days to come this
people will have to be tried in all things & proven & whn they
are found faithful & united they will then thrash the
Nations by the power of the spirit of God & they cannot
Help themselves
Orson Spencer then arose & made
a few remarks. Felt to rejoice in the principle that had
been presented to us they had cheered his heart & the
Hearts of this people I hope we shall improve & be faithful
for these principle are true The Lord says my people shall
be willing in the day of my power that people who have givn
the war hoop & crept through the brush find the spirit of God
& of their Father Jacob once more running through their
veins & the people who think they are almost extinguished
will find they are still alive & will fulfill all that is
said concerning them. But I must say nothing I must
Hush. I will Hush. But will God Hush & be still
No He will stir up the remnants of Joseph in his our
& in his own time. The Nations of the Earth are trying to bond
together they may do so & be prepared for the day of burning
the child will be taken care of untill He can take care of
Himself we are on the stage of action & we have our part
to act in this great work and I rejoice that we have a prt
in the work and that it may roll on spedily is my Prayer
~ Wednesday
April 7th House filled at an Early hour to overflowing
conference opened at 10 ock. Singing & Prayer By Elder Sherwood
President Young then said we shall take up the Authorietis
of the Church. The First Presidency Brigham Young H. C. Kimball
& Wilard Richards were then sustaned Also the Twelve Apostles
& Father John Smith as First Patriarch. John Young & Coun.
as Presidet of the High Priest Quorum the Presidets of the
Seventies. The Elders, Priests, Teachers & Deacons were all
sustained in their places Also the Bishop and all authorites
& Committies. N. H. Felt John Banks, & A Cordon
were then ordained Travelling Bishops
Brothe Benjamin Clapp was rejected as one of the presidets of
the Seventies for not believeing in the Authorites of the Church
& not doing his duty and after a discussin upn the subjet
he was left without being recieved or rejected untill they could
hear from him Presidet B Young said I dont care
whether the people believe me to be a prophet Seer or Revelatr
or not I have been vary profitable to this people & I have
seen a good many things & I have revealed many things
He remarked that Brother Clapp was ruled by his wife
& children & they were ruled by the devil
E Hunter was sustained as the presiding Bishop. Brigham Young
was sustaned as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of LDS, &
E Hunter as assistant Trustee. Willard Richards was sustaned as
as the Historian of the Church & General Chuch Recorder
Brigham Young was sustained as the president of the perpet
ual Emigrating Company to gather the poor Also Heber C
Kimball, Willard Richads Wilford Woodruff Orson Hyde
George A. Smith E. T. Benson J. M. Grant D. H. Wells
Willard Snow E Hunter D Spencer T. Bullock John Brown
Wm Crosby A Lyman C. C Rich L. D. Young P P Pratt
Orson Pratt & F. D Richards were all sustained as presidets
assistance to the President
Daniel Spencer was sustaied as presidet of the Stake of Zion
H G Sherwood as presidet of the High Councel.
H C Kimball moved that Brigham Young be the Govornor
of the State of Deserett carried unanimously & H C Kimball
Lieut Govornor, which was sustained with Applause. Presidnt
Youg remarked that No doubt before you get home you will
hear we have committed treason.
with regard to the labour of this Tabernacle I will say the
cost will be read before the meeting and all the Tithing & outlay
but if you feel that if your Expectations are realized you should
be satisfyed I will say I never saw No one room as conven[ien]t
as this it will seat 2200 persons & their was is 2500 persons prst [present]
today. I expect the Tabernacle which we expet to build on
this Block will seat fifteen Thousand people we never did
build a House large Enough to Hold the people if we was to encl[o]s[e]
this whole 10 Acre Block so that it would hold 200,000 people
by the time we got it done their would be enogh to fill it. The
Lord is controlling our affairs & does more for us than we can
do for ourselves or ask him to do for us the more we are
humble & labour & prepare for the gathering of Israel the faster
they will gather the Esstablishment of this Tabernacle was
the result of my meditations while upon a sick bed
If their is any man that is full of the Holy Ghost & wishes to
speak let him rise up & speak & use his liberty I feel as
usual to praise the Lord with all my heart. The hand of
God has been as visable in leading this people as it was in
leading Israel in the days of Moses some had not faith to come
on for fear of Starveing to death. dont be in a Hurry to go
away but stay untill you have worshiped Enough at this time
Brother Kempton spoke a few moments believed this to be
the kingdom of God had No Doubt of it
Presidnt Young remarked that the Gentile would take exception
to what is said Here I know as the Lord lives that the people
of the United States have departed from the spirit & letter
of their Constitution and this people will be the ownly
the people that will sustain ^it^
G A Smith arose & said we are a singular people if we
signify that we cannot worship as other Sects do but want
to exercise our rights it is considered Treason but a
Senator from South Caralinia could rise up in the Halls
of Congress & declare that that the United States was more
tyranical than the Goverment of Austria & South Carolina
would reject the Goverment this would not be considered
treason but dont be alarmed God rules our destiny
& will rule the world & if we do our dooty their is no
power that can harm us for we will make God our ref
uge
Br Gifford spoke a few moments & bore testimony of the
work of God Had Been in the Church 21 years in June next
Wm W Phelps next followed said this was the third
time He had been to a Dedication of a House built to worship
God I was at Kirtland while the Angel of the Lord came in
& sat there During service. A Hymn was sung & adjned
till 2 ock
Met according to adjoument singing & Prayer. The President
then Said we shall now lay before the Conference the manifesto
of the Recepts & Expenditures of the Tithing from Oct 1848
to March 27th 1852
Amount Received in cash $28950.00
In Produce $90310.803
In Horses Mules Cattle &c 23515.45
In Houses Lots Lands & wggons 66546.21
In Labour 35445.04
$244747.03
Profits on Store goods 17711.70
Goods Bought not yet paid for 42372.43
Loaned Cash not Paid 17731.17
Expenditures
Council House $45833.00
$2000.00
Store & Store House $50000.00
$3000.00
Livingston store 8000.00
Wm Store 4650.00
Old Bowery & Removing 3500.00
Blacksmith Shop 3500.00
Tabernacle 18500
Bath House 6600
Mint &c 3500
Making fencees 5000
1st Church farm 15000
1000
Paid for City Lots 15655.97
1630
4500
Deserett Potery 7200
New Office 500
College 1123
4000
2500
Services of Tithing office Clerks
83883.35
11739.06
6000
Houses built 12462.34
3500
Cost of Hay fed to Horses 500
Teams & Provisions for Iron Co 3000
1750
7000
400
375
525
Total of All $353765.69
Yet to be accounted for 36495.12
Property on Hand 74550.04
Many remarks was
made by the Recorder
which are not here
incerted explanaton
of the same
Those figures with
No explanation opposite
was lost in reporting or
not put down
Presidet Young remarked for my own satisfaction & great
consolation there has not one Dollar gone into the hands of
a Lawyier as in the days of Joseph at that time almst
evry dollar had to go into the hands of the Lawyiers they
prosecuted him all the day long. But I said I would
kill any man that sought to take me many thought my
purse reached from Eternity to Eternity that there was
No End. we were Called bogus makers Brother Kimball
said we would go whare we could coin the pure gold $10
at a lick we have done so even $20 at a time Our Brethen
went to Calafornia the Hand of God was in all this they opened
the gold mines and the Lord had a Design in it to see who
would be tryed by it. Never did nor never will any of the
saints go to dig gold ther without being sent without being damned
by it mark my words if we go onto the devils ground we shall
be left to smell Hell we shall feel the wrath of God if I was
sent there by the Lord I would go but the Lord has not called
me to go many Elders in Israel good men have tryed
it & smutted themselves up so that it is quite a question if
they will ever be washed clean I have said I did not think
their was $1 in $20 paid in Tithing that has been spent
on the public works but it seems from the Book that
there has been about one fourth the other three fourths
I have had to borrow. If I have to borrow all the
money that is used and none assist me to pay it it will
make my head ake I have trusted the Lord & served him
all the day long and when I undertake any thing I persevere
untill I accomplish it I see the difference betwen trusting
in God & doing business according to the order of the world
their is not one hair droped from my head unnoticed
& does God not know what I want. their never was a
miracle ownly to the Ignorant. It is all to be accounted for
on Natural principles. The Lord will not turn stone & clay
into gold to suit me their is enough without it Jesus did not make
bread out of stone but He had knowledge & power & did call togethe
the Elements to make bread & the Elements into the water to make
wine & he can call the Elements together to make gold as well
as bread & wine. But the Lord is not going to work a miracle to cloth
us raise your wool & flax & spin & weave it &make it up & not
have to pay cash for evry pound you use & what you by is hardly
worth making up but what you make is strong & will wear
Brother Major spoke on Home manufacture a few momets
Wednesday Evng
there is a great many Books of Education of the present day the main
main Branch of our study is Theology I understand it better than
any of the world. Adam, Enoch, Moses & Aaron, Jesus & the Apostle
have all been in the same school in their day & have faithfuly lernd
that they might be perfected. They are my Brethren & will be my
company and I now tell you if you want me to have full fellowsip
with you scease speking Evil of God & all good men whether in
Heaven or on Earth.
When a man is in the right tract he will come
& lay down any thing at the feet of a Brother to settle a difficulty
& rather wrong themselves than to have a difficulty do for the truth sake
& my sake take my councel. The people want revelating this is
Revelation [FIGURES] If you wanted Revelation written I could
write Revelation evry day about Building a Temple diging gold going
to England or any othe place I profess to be an Apostle Evry Apostle
will have to be a Revelator & have Revelations if their is thousands of
then if they do their duty & live up to thei calling if not they will
have to be removed but a man that is not an Appostle has
not power to stand at the Head of the Kingdom of God Hold the keys of
the priesthood & build up & lead the church of God the Highest Authory
on the Earth is an Apostle
Jesus Christ will have a set of men
[By] Young said with him that will follow him to the [end]
and to all that He requirs of them they will have the greater glory
but those that cannot endure these things will have a Lesser glory
G. A. Smith followed & said I want to bear my testimony
to the saints Many want a mission but let me tell you that any
man who has been baptized into this kingdom that moment he
took a mission whill will contine untill death before it closes
if we do not work in all things agreeable to the Council of the Church it
would not be right talk of paying one tenth & buying our way to Heaven
Brother Joseph wished the Seventies to subscribe as much as as a gimbl &
handle to build up the Seventies Hall if Brothr Joseph Young had the
right spirit he would not ask for such subscriptions if the Elders
was as ready to build that Hall as they would be to go on a missin
they would rise up & do it right off & the quicker you commence
to build the quicker it will be finished & such a Hall will be worth
5 times the amount of personal property make your large farms large
large Houses & Have spare Rooms & neglect public Building it would be
a loss you may work yourself almost to death and then be
called away at a momets warning I was called to go to Iron
County. Some Elders that was called to go on that Mission sent
gold diggers to go in their place & fill the mission for them I
never thought of leaveing a mission that was given me untill
that mission was closhed closed up many worked all winter
to build & put in grain then Left it in the spring & go home. Our
Mormon News is our paper. we should sustain it. we are neglecting
the Education of our Children. knowledge is power the Lord will
help those who help themselves. the English by the knowledge they possessed
conquered 200,000000 of people & brought them in subjection to there own
Laws what we learn we shall carry with him us the mobs
will burn our homes & destroyed our property but they cannot
burn or destroy the knowlede of our hearts. we should keep
the Sabbath it is not right to spend this day in Hunting cattle &
labouring but should spend the time in the worship of God & we should
improve each leasure momet in treasureing up knowledge if we
could lay up one Idea each day for a year we should have a
store of knowledge that no man could exhaust in a speech of three
hours in length and the wicked could not stand before you. the
most learned man of the day is Burrett A Blacksmith He was a
self learned & made man pay attention to this Brethn & improve you
by it we now have the privilege of speaking in one of the Best Halls
in the world thak God Amen Zera Pulsipher spoke & bore testimy of the work
~ Thursday
Thursday 8th House filled at 9 oclok Meeting opened by Prayer
by Wilford Woodruff who also addressed the Assembly spoke in
sum measure upon the subjet of Education He said we are comm-
issioned to preach the gospel to all the world & stand before kings &
rulers it is our duty to store our minds with knowledge learning
& wisdom that we may be qualifyed to stand before all men the Lord
has called upon this people & ordained them to preach the gospel & make war
upon the powers of darkness & continue that warfare untill the Earth is
redeemed & the name of God honored am[on]g men who should spend all
of his life in preaching the gospel & should ownly bring in one man into the kingdo
of God who should be saved with an Everlasting salvation that man would have
cause to rejoice through all Eternity over the redemption of that one
Soul & if He brings ^m^any souls into the kingdom of God His Joy will be still
greater. The warfare of the saints is great in the Earth in this dispensa
tion & we should all take hold of it with a determination to conquer
& never scease untill our warfare is accomplished and evry man
will be satisfyed with his reward in the End. many other remarks
were made by the speaker who soon gave way for Orson Spencer
the chancellor of the Deseret University who delivered an address upon
Education
Orson Spencer Delivered an address upon the subject
of Education which he read from his manuscript which I suppos
will be published in the Deseret News so I did not report it
Judge Z Snow made a few remarks & said if a woman was an Educated
& Exalted minded persons she would teach good principles to her
children A person without any Education would be as ignorant as
the unborn child for whatever knowledge a person did possess he got
it by some kind of Education. Some think that Education consists
soleley in teaching Elementary Braches it may consist in farming or
any persuit of life. We have got to create all we have out of the
Elemets aroud us & we want to learn how to do it we
must manufactur all we use for if we get any thing from
the States we will have to pay High for it. if not bring us into
Slavery by it therefore we must lay a plan to beat our Enemies
or they will beat us
W W Phelps followed with some remarks
President Young next followed & said the subject I aim
at is to Enlighten the mind it is expected we have to learn
letters with regard to the principle of Education it commen
ces with the mothers I do not like to see Mothers attend to every
thing Els but their children they should teach their childr[en]
all they can for Early impressionn will last persons throgh
life whether they be good or bad I will tel you the truth as it
is in Eternity if the child does not have good instruction
in Early life it will be required at the Hand of the Mother
& not at the hand of the Mother ^Father^
the Child will think the mother is the best woman on Earth
& the mother has power to instill into the mind of the child
what they please, & what the Mother imparts unto them will
stay with them through life the Mother should take [care] of the
children & not spend their time watching the Husband
it is the duty of Mothers to Stay at home & take care of the
children. My duty calls me to be in this Stand I know not
what my children are about or what they are doing they may
be in the Streets swareing what I know as others do if they
should go to Hell it would be required at the Hands of the
Mother & not at my hands A Child of mine shall not
conquer me I would sooner see them die than that they
should conquer me. If any one of my Children will
not follow my footsteps I will disinherit & disown them
they shall not have part in my kingdom I would rather
get children adopted to me that will keep the command
ments. No child should rise up & teach & controll the Mother
Or woman should ^not^ rise up & dictate the Husband and the Husband
should not rise up & try to dictate His president or the Lord
In speaking of the English Language he said it was vary
incorrect He would not adopt it any more than he would the
Methodist disipline.
Education begins with the Mother to
the Child you must keep it in rememberane that the Lord
has commanded you to multiply & replenish the Earth
that you may have Joy & rejoiceing in the day of the Holy
Resurrection do you keep your minds pure & do you prey
night & day now pray from the time of conception till
the time of Delivery that your child may be filled with
[FIGURE] the Holy Ghost & that a Noble Spirit from Eternity
may come into the tabernacle & that the Holy Ghost
may rest upon the Father Mother & child often when
some speak you cannot understand they make use of such
High flown words but when I speak you can understand
for I speak to you understanding. the variety in the English
Language I would like to be with the Holy Ones who are
full of Eternal light. A point of the finger or motion
would communicate without words when I am full
of the Holy Ghost I can se a man as well behind me as
before I can see their hearts by the spirit of God & know
what is in them. Adjourned till 1 oclok
Met according to adjournet at 1 oclok President Young arose &
said red a Hymn which was sung. Prayer offered
H. C. Kimball then arose & said I wish to speak to the underst
andings of the people I never saw any room like this on Earth
the cock pit in Preston is some like it I am satisfyed that We
cannot build fast Enough to accomodate the People. Presidet
Young teachings are sweeter than the best morsel I ever tasted
if we are faithful in keeping the commandmts of God you will never
fall in battle but will be preserved to finish your work on Earth
Other intersting remaks were made by Brother kimball. Volenteers
were then kalled for to go with their teams to meet the Emigrats
100 was kalled for 88 names were taken who volunteered.
Some men were then appointed to go on Foreign Missions
as follows
Thomas Margaretts to Italy. T B, Bube Broderick
John Dolley, John Armstrong to England George Parmon to the
nations Wm Fatheringham go to Calcuty. Edward Stephen
son to Giberalter. James Dilly & two others go to Scotland
Alfred A Smith go on a Foreign Mission. Meeting was then Adjned
so the 70 could have the Room at 4 ock
The Seventies held a meeting & was addressed By Joseph Young
G. A. Smith W Woodruff & others conc[ern]ing buildings the 70 Halls
& other matters
~ Friday
Friday 9th snow storm in the morning House
Filled & meeting commened at 9 oclok After Prayer the people
were addresed By Phineas Young who exhorted the people & spoke
many good things
President Brigham Young said this people
are blessed with all that Heart can wish and yet many
are not satisfyed this is the case with smome some spirits & they
want things illegally but is it not necessary that we should
have a Temple it is absolutely necessary that we should have a
Temple to worship the Most High God in. A Tabernacle is to
assemble the Multitude for meetings but a Temple is to gather the
priesthood in that they may do the work of the Lord are
we prepared to go & redeem our dead is their a place prepared
to go & Redeem our dead No their is not we give Endowmets
Here but it is like trying to step on the top round first. if we
had the privilege of steping on building a Temple our works
would not be legal but we do these things untill we have time
to build a temple if we had gone onto the top of the mountains
if we had no room it would be legal & right Brothe Kimball
says we have to make our own heaven. The Lord cannot
save us if we do not save ourselves. if we expect to get ourselves
Endowmets we have got to follow the footsteps that God has set for
us to walk in & if we walk in that Channel God own our labours
& acknowledges all that is done. Now all the ordinances will
have to be attended to again when we get a temple yet if any
one dies in the faith those ordinances will be legal but all
that live will have to do it again And I want to say as a
Revelation that if you will not help build a Temple & have
faith in the work you will be lost a word to those who
have got their Endowments we shall work as fast as
we can and what we have done is legal if we had been
in own land & had a right to a Temple we should not do as we now
do many [who] have died in the faith have been worn out ther
ordinaces are legal. Those who came in the church first &
are faithful have a right to the ordinances first. I wish
the people to understand that when the People Lord has
any thing for them they will have it but when the
Lord has Nothing for the people I dont wish them
to teaze me for what they cannot have. when their
is to be a work done I will tell you. Now we shall begin
to build a Temple in 1853. This Tabernacle will have to
accomodate the people untill the Temple is built. if this wont
answer for the people untill we build a Temple we will make
a Bowery on the North & South sides of the Block as soon
as the Temple is built we will give you your Endowments
if their is any who was in Jackson County & other places
& have helped to build up the kingdom of God in the
early days we want to bless them first & if their is any
man or child who went in the Battalion or in
the Pioneers come forward & get your blessings before
others & we will bless you if you are faithful their
is no blessing in the Celestial Law or kingdom of God but
what you will get I want to be sealed to my Father before
I shall be a legal heir. If I was to die & their was not a
child of mine to live to do it for me Some Friend would be
raised up to do it for me if not my Body will soon be raised
up and I would be in some temple with my Brethren to
tell them what to do I can see the Hearts of man & the Spirits of
of men if they do triy to be hid I can see them I see many
who asspire to be the first & to be exhalted above their fellows
but I can tell you all you will be rewarded according
to what you do whether you do little or much or nothing
at all some wish to be above Brother Brigham why was I not
called before Brother Brigham Joseph why does not some
one ask the Lord to appoint them to be above Brother Brigham
but the Lord will laugh at you such forget the kingdom of God
they are corrupt let evry man say what can I do to build up
the kingdom of God Ask the Mother who is trying to do the will
of God what her reward will be they will say I dont know I
will say if you are faithful & satisfied with your condition in
this life and you will be blessed & satisfyed with your conditon
in the world to come let evry one strive to be satisfyed
with their condition in life & that will be a blessing to them
we are in debt & we can pay those debts in oxen now
we want to have the Brethren turn out some oxen to pay
those debts &c
Elder Banks followed in some interesting
remarks & said the spirit of God was burning like a fire
in his bones I dont ask Brother Young to say that the
Lord has sent him & that he must say this or that in the name
of the Lord I dont belive that any man has made a sacrific
for this kingdom for all that a man does he gets his
reward for not ownly in this world but in the word to come
Eternal life. it is distressing to hear men say they want
the president to get a Revelation in order to do this or that
his council to me is sufficient. I also hear men say that
we are the off scourings of the Earth it is a great burlesk on
the Church & kingdom of God for you are the greatest people
& the most blessed of any on Earth you have power to teach
kings & princes & potentates of the Earth tremble. I have seen
a man that had learned but 3 letters & forgotten 2 of them
was ignorant yet he made a learned Doctor fear & tremble &
leave the House this people are a wonderful people there are none
like them I have herd the Presidet say that instead of our
being called to pay one tenth we should be healed as Tithing & end
all we possess be ready to help build up the kingdom of God the spirt
of God is w with this people
Brother John Young next
addressed the assemble & bore Testimony tha Joseph Smith
was a prophet of God tha Brigham Yog H. C .Kimball & W Richards
were prophets of God & that we had many prophets of God
I remember the time when we were to work hard to build the
Temple in Nauvoo I remembered what Broth Brigham said that if
we were faithful in finishing this Temple we should have
our Endowmts if we had to get them in a Tabernacle in
the wilderness we ar now in a tabernacle in the wilderness
& getting our blesings He said he would lead us to a place wher
we should have helth & dirnk the pure stream from the mountains
we now see it & I bear testimony that we have a prophet of God
with us even a Reveletor & it stregnghts my heart continualy
I enjoy all I have for if you do not listen to the voice & cou-
ncil of the presidency of this Church it will be more toler-
able in the day of Judgment for Sodam & Gomorrow than for
this people this has been one thing that has been an injury
to me when Brother Brigham went to England he asked
me to go with him when he got into the waggon to start
I told him I could not go he said I could go & he kept
beckening for me as long as I was in sight I then misd
it & it was an injury to me. I have Enlisted for a great
salvation we make our own Heaven or Hell & have Angels
or Devils enough to fill it. I dreamed the Deveil had a look
ing glass by looking into it you could see all the faults of
your Neighbours but could not see any of your own
I also Dreamed a woman went into Bishop Hunters &
stole Sister Hunters dress & came out into the street I
followed her to get the dress when I looked into her face
I saw she was a Black Negro wench I asked her
name she said it was Mesmerism wyo who hav the
priesthood should be careful to do the will of God
President Joseph Young requested the Seventies & the prests
to meet him in the Council Houts Meeting Adjoned till 2 oclk
Meeting Assembled at 2 ock was addresed By Father
Morley who bore testimoy of the work & spok of the
Indians
Brothe Sherwood next spoke bore testimony of
the work spoke of the Endowments in kirtland the desire Joseph
had to come to the wilderness but the Brethren would
not come untill the Devel drove them out, would do
any thing for salvation Advised the Elders when thy go
out to preach not to teach anything they do not know
& stop when they get through
Brother ^Wm^ Hyde next spoke & made many good remarks & said
18 year ago I was baptized by Br J. Murdook confirmed by
Orson Pratt. Brother Kimball said I will give you a key whareby
you may never fall alway keep within your bosom a Teachable
spirits. Brother Joseph said Be Humball & Teachable &
the Lord will bless you speak a good word occasionally for
Brothe Joseph I believe the next time we are opposed the door will
be opened wider & wider then ever & we shall be Freeer then Ever I
want to live in such a manner that at last we may meet
Brother Joseph with a glad Heart & cheerful countenance & a smile
upon the face.
Brother Kimball next spoke & said our design is to teach the
people & perfect them for what is to come I have herd many
say what sacrafices they had made for this cause but I have
left all for the cause I do not call it a sacrafie you are
to be rewarded with me. The Saints will have trials to
pass through the day will come when the women will have
to Feed the Beef & pork while the men go to war, take the
counsel of Brother Young & the Leaders of this Church you have
got to follow your leaders & they will lead you to the celestial
kingdom of God keep the things that have been committed to
you & the Lord will preserve you come to meeting to night male
& female at 6 oclk & we will tell you sumthing I never saw
this people when they were doing better or felt better than they
do to day I know that Brother Brigham is tender & kind to this
people their is no woman more kind to a child than he is
to this people He is a Father to us continually I am going
to put in evry Ox I have got into the public works &
I want evry man to do the same untill the debts are paid
we must trust in God & cleave unto him as Jesus does unto the Fater
Meeting adjourned till evening when the House was filled agan &
was addressed By Bishop Hunter who told his experience since
he came into the Church & was followed By President Young
[FIGURE] President Young ar[o]se & said I will bear Testimony
to awhat Brother Hunter said that the Elders go work & pull
in ther wards & get the people to gathe at my house if nowher
els & preach if it is but few moments I would pray & labor
till I could Preach you say that you would go & preach to the
Stranger & teach them the gospel I know it is esier to t[e]ach
them than it is to get the Saints togethe & teach them to
be saved & exalted I now it is the desire of this people
to get sumthing new but you should improve upon what you have
Here is the place to expose your ignorance & fals views, to let
them out & be corrected if you have faults dont go into
private Houses & preach them whare thare is no one to correct
you nor while abroad among others countrys but here is the
place to let your Errors out not keep them back. Teach
people to controll themselves teach good doctrin & practice it
Here is the place to become a polished shaft I like to reman
here to see you to be with you. I want to say to the Elders of
Israel ofwere you ordained to preach the gospel if so it is not
wisdom or prudent to mingle with the excesses of the
wicked or in any of their exercises for then the devil will
have no advantage over you I mingle with the Saints here
in thei recreations & exercises but let me go abroad & subject
myself to mingle with the wicked I am on the Devils ground
& subject myself to him. If I mingle with any company here
for recreation I controll that company but if I step onto
the Devils ground He controlls it. remember then at all times
that what you do do it in the name of the Lord & let all your
acts be to do the will of God it is so that a man could not
exercise his privileges because of the tradition of the world all
Christians would think it a great sin to have a Fiddle
they would say it is wicked to have music they have made it
a sin I have not put a desire in my heart for music, but
the Lord has. Music will calm the ferocious beasts who
caused this the Lord. I want to say a few words about
tithing you now what was said at the last confernc the
Saints have done more during the last 7 months than
in 7 years before I feel to bless you call upon this people
to put their all upon the Alter & they will do it I feel like a
Father to this people. No mother can love Her babe more than
I do this people. when you do wrong I feel oppressed in spi[ri]t
& the Lord is grieved I feel to urge it upon you all to sceace
to do evel & learn to do righ all that we have is the Lords He
does as He pleases the Thrones & kingdoms of the world are
all governed by him & in the End all will be found right
& they will find they have an agency unto themselves &
all will do as they please if they do right they will be
saved get Glory & Exaltation & the wicked will go to Hell
there is no place whare God is not find Empty space & there the
Lord will not be.
[FIGURE] I will now preach you another Sermon
their is one great Master inand Head in all kingdoms & governments
So with our Father in Heaven is a Tabernacle He created us
in the likeness of his own image. The Son has also a Taberna
cle like the Father & the Holy Ghost is a minister to the people but
not a tabernacle who begat the Son of God Infidels say that
Jesus was a Bastard but let me tell you the truth concerning
that matter. Our Father begat all the spirits that were bef[or]e
any tabernacles we[r]e made when our Father came into the
Garden He came width his celestial body & brought one of his
wifes with him & eat of the fruit of the garden untill
He could beget a tabernacle and Adam is Michael or God
and all the God that we have any thing to do with they Eat
of this fruit & formed the first Tabernacle that was
formed and when the VIRGIN MARY was begotton
with child it was by the Father and in no other way in
no other way ownly as we were begotton I will tell you
the Truth as it is in God. The world dont know that Jesus
Christ Our Elder Brother was begotton by our Father in Heaven
Handle it as you please it will either seal the damnation or
salvation of man He was begotton by the Father & not
by the Holy Ghost. When you go to Preach & believe that
Jesus Christ was begotton by the Holy Ghost dont lay Hands
upon the Heads of Females for the reception of the Holy
Ghost lest it Beget her with Child and you be accused
I have told you nothing in this thing but what you have
red in the Bible I do not frame it.
The President then refered to the tithing & said if one quartor of
the Tithing money that was due had been paid we should
have had more means the merchanets have carried away
$200,000 to the States did the people pay tithing on that No
now Bishops se[e] to this matter & then see what your
feelings would be if you was in my place & see the
Hundreds that call upon me & my Brethren if the Tithing
was paid that is due we would have enough to pay all
debts I now say to the Bishops go to my yard & take all my stok
& lick all up clean then do the same by my Brethren untill
all the debt are paid All voted to follow the presidents example
~ Saturday
[FIGURE] Saturday morning meeting opened at 10 oclok House filled
[FIGURE] Prayer by W. Woodruff President Kimball called for
Professor A Carrington but made the following remark
you have learned Enough to know know that the spirit of
God will be grieved at any folly manifest in the House
of God Angels are ministering spirits to those who are heirs
of salvation but when you do wrong the Angels of the
Lord will leave and the Angels of the devil will take there
place & keep their company then you are on dangerous
ground & if you will not hear the prophets that God sends
unto you you would not hear the Angels of God some
have said that I was vary presumptuous to say this
Brothor Brigham was my God & Savoiour Brothe Joseph
was his God the one that gave Joseph the keys of the
kingdom was his God which was Peter Jesus Christ
was his God & the God & Fathe of Jesus Christ was
Adam. The Lord wants us to have wisdom to circumscribe
the Earth do you not suppose that God has pleasure in
seeing this people who are the weak things of the Earth to confound
the wise Noble & great some will tell the gentiles all that
transpires among us
Brothe Joseph Young followed with
a few remarks
[FIGURES] A Carrington was then called to the Stand who
arose & said I rejoice with you my Brethren in the
blessings you enjoy yes I rejoice with you. Brother Kim-
ball sayes that what I say will be right. All science
that is in the world that is not consistant with reason &
demonstration is false. But all that is truth is good no matter
who has it. with regard to Education we are all interested
in it yet we have different views of it. Their is three
things that are hard to speak upon 1st is a dinner
speech 2nd is a Temperance speech 3rd is a speech
on Education I despise that vain phylosophy that
puffeth up. I do not know of any truth that does
not belong to salvation that is of worth evry thing that
is knowledge pertains to salvation we have come unto
the work and have to save ourselves our Children & our
progenitors I dont know of any thing that we can do
to lay a foundation for this better than to disipline
the mind & Body & bring them both in subjection to
the mind & will of God the ownly way we can do right
is to keep the commandments of God. One of the command[ment]s
of God require us to multiply & replenish the Earth when a
young man gets married to a good young woman & the
Hunny moon is over and a foundation laid for posterity
then the man begins to scold his wife the wife gets the
same spirit & this goes to the child this is an Evil & foll[ows]
the child through life. The Blood nurses the embrio &
as the child grows the Evil increases with the child
the Hunny moon should last always & the Husband should
gratify the wife in all things that she righteously wishes as
far as he can & the mother should possess a spirit of contentm[ent]
& peace at least untill the child leaves the Breast then you
will see a Noble Tabernacle for a Noble spirit to dwell
in the spirits in Eternity have their times & seasons
would not a Noble spirit rather take a Noble Tabernacle
than a poor one when many children are born they
cannot suck the breast because of the corruption of
their parents this is probably the fault of the Doctors
for not teaching the female as they ought to be taught
& when the child is born the practice has been to give
it a Brandy tody or Chamber lie while the breast is the
place for the child let the child have the milk & let let
such foolery alone dont play with the tabernacles of your
children or treat them foolishly but treat them in
wisdom you dont see any body giving a Brandy Tody or
chamber lye & they do well to follow the course of nature
The gentile Doctors cannot cure deseases they do not know
how I will prove it to you the old school give medicine by the
shovel full. The New school will not give a pill as large
as the smallest Bird shot. is their any Equality in this I say
down with the whole system I have no use for them next
comes the Hdrapath the water cures well even water is
not to be trifled with look at the foolery & the difference
of the doctors it is much better to follow out the natural law
in all things than to trust to them who would ever think of
giving such a dose to a calf as they would give a child
Their is no such children as the Latter day Saints
If we cannot do what we want to our children may
if we cannot get back to the primeval platform
becaus of the primeval platfor iniquity of our Fathers
still it is our duty to teach them principle & truth when
children begin to talk dont teach them baby talk for
what you learn the child in that state has to be unl-
earned then be careful what you say or do before
your children for you would be asstonished at the atte-
ntion children pay to what you say. Be sure to take time
to teach your children & not neglect it many other
interesting remarks were made by Brother Carrington on
the occasion
Brother G A. Smith followed with interesting
remarks
President B Young next followed & said I want to bear
testimony to what Brother Carrington has said he
has spoken the truth I thank him for what he has
said what he has said is true and if we follow the testi
mony we will return to the power of our first parents
his is the way for the Nations of the Earth to return
to God. The Lamanites will be a white & delightsom
people through this procedure or principle the Nation
of the Earth cannot return to God upon any other
principle this kind of teaching is what pleases me the
Doctors are ignorant & they teach others to be ignorants
we should understand our organization but the people
of this day have lost all good scense they are a set of
fools because they have been taught to be fools now
have some sens & believe what Brother Carrington
has said I now these things are virtueous principles the
world are corrupt you have got to be pure in heart
or you cannot abide the day that is coming
at 2 oclok P. M D H Wells addressed the Saints &
bore testimony to the work of God
Brother Wm I Appleby made some remarks conce[rnin]g
parents & children
Brother G. D. Walt next spoke. He said he was the
first Baptized in England
Wm Clayton next spoke & expressed his feelings
Brother Kimball next spoke for a short time &
meeting was adjourned till Sunday morning
~ Sunday
Sunday Morning April 11th After singing & prayer Broth
Kimball addressed the meeting & said the spirit of God
would make a humbly man handsome I do not place
my affections upon any thing but God & Jesus Christ
you ought to love Brother Brigham enough to keep his
commandments so with my family if they love
me they will keep my commandments if you want to
be a friend to Brother Brigham & his counsellors live
Holy before God & do right & if you will do what you know
you will do right do by your neighbor as you would wish
him to do unto you Some men wanted to get women
from their husbands who are dead & get them
sealed to them such would rob the dead this is
wrong let me do for the dead what they cannot
do for themselves & this is right & the dead will plead
for that man to be blessed. Never take a course a
course to rob the dead I will have time to redeem
all my dead friends either in time or Eternity
the Malinium will be spent in the Temples of the Lord
in Redeeming our dead if my friends will not Receive
my testimony I will let them alone & when they
have been in Hell long enough I will go & Redeem
them I will take a course to get tothe Bless Blessing upon
my seed that Adam had upon his seed Joseph had it
& I have it if my children sin they will have i to
Repent of & pay for it but will be saved in the End.
we should not go to law with each other all that
will not go to Law say I all said I, I would as
lieves be damned without a man as to be damned
with a man that would steal a dead mans wife for
he will be damned any how. I will say that Broth[er]
Hunter is the chief Bishop & he has a right to
chose his two counsellors Bishop Hunter arose
& made some remarks & said he should choose men
that could assist He said Brother Brigham Young
was at the Head & his councellors were inspired of
the Holy Ghost I select for my councellors Brigham
Young & Heber C Kimball. Then Brother Kimball
& W Richards laid Hands upon Bishop Hunters
Head & blessed him in the following words
O God the Eternal Father I ask in the name of Jesus
Christ while we lay our hands upon thy head
that all our words may be dictaited b[y] the Holy spirit
while we set apart Brother Hunter as a presiding Bishop
we here by set you apart to be a presiding Bishop
& to be a Judge in Israel we bless you with the
spirit of your Office & calling you shall have wisdom
to Judge between good & Evil in all things & to be
a great Benefit to the House of Israel & that they
may uphold thee by their faith that thou mayest
administer in in faith & righteousness & be a great
blessing to the people & administer to the poor & nedy
thou shalt have desernment like the lightning to detect it
evil & those who seek to deceive & that all may receive
thy teachings & that thy work may work together for the
good of all the people even so Amen
Brother Truman Angel was Nominated to continue
in his office of Architect for the Church was carried
[FIGURE] Brother Kimball said to Brother Brigham
you shall be blessed & all your House & not one of them
shall be lost & no man shall get betwen me
& Brother Brigham & Brothe Richards & no
man or woman shall get between the Twelve
& Presidency if they do they will get pinched
& any man or woman that tries to get between
us will be damned they tried to prejudice Joseph
against us in his day & they will be damned
The Twelve are the best men that live and any
man that tries to put their feet upon their neck
will get the feet of the Twelve upon their neck
(Brother Brigham came in at this time) do as Br
Brigham tells you & all will be right & you will
not have sorrow follow my council & you will
not have sorrow. If my own family would take
my council & had faith in me I would never have
a doctor in my family but I have doctors here
that I have faith in but let me send for a doctor
& they have faith in him & not in me then what
for them am I. Brother Brigham said that is
true & worthy of note it is natural for a man to
be always borrowing trouble but we have trouble enough
without borrowing. If you are not one you are not
mine saith the Lord but if you abide in me you will
bring forth fruit to the glory of God when we
learn this lesson our sorrows will scease when we
get the cloak off we shall be in heaven In this
House is my Heaven for I am in a heavenly place
with Holy men & Angels The Bishop with Brothe Hunter
are good men. Seth Taft was appointed a travelling
Bishop others were spoken off as travelling Bishops
I have been talking about the union in the world their
would be a patition between the different Branches
but in the kingdom of God it is not so but they are
all united. If I hier a man to work I want him
to be faithful in all things evry man should earn all
they can & labour all they are able to do & not over labour
I believe a man should be paid according to what they
earn as God rewards men according to their works
The old Lions neck is out of the yoke & they will not
put it on again for Brother Brigham shall whip
them out & they shall not whip him out nor me nor
my Brethren. you shall be blessed & the Earth shall
bring forth for your good & your shlall be blessed in
your posterity And I say it in the name of Jesus Christ
Brother Brigham said it was a prophesy & was true
Conference was Adjurned untill the special confenc
in August
~ Monday to ~ Friday
From this conference till Friday Apriail 23rd I
spent the time at home doing my spring work & prepar
ing to go on our Journey to the South On this day April 23rd
I left the City of the great Salt Lake & rode to dry creek in
Utah through a snow storm & spent the night in company
with Brother Nobles on the Bank of the creek 30 miles
The object of this Journey was to accompany the presidency
to visit the Southern settlements & explore as far as we had
an opportunity
~ Saturday
24th we rode Held a meeting rode to Hobble Creek went
forth in the dance with the saints in that place distance of the day 25 mls
~ Sunday
25 Sunday we held a meeting at the school House the
people were addressed by O pratt was followed by B Young
H. C. Kimball much good instruction was given at the
close of the meeting we rode to Potetencte & camped
for the night 12 miles
~ Monday
26th we rode to salt creek & spent the night & president
Young Preached to the people in the school House
~ Tuesday
27th We rode through salt Creek Canyon into Sanpitch
valley to Canal Creek & camped for the night 26 3/4 mils
~ Wednesday
28th Wednesday we rode to Manti City & spent the day
we held a meeting with the people I reported the sermon
we had a hard rainy night distance 10 miles
~ Thursday
29th A rainy morning we spent the day in manti City
we held a meeting & the spirit of God was with him
~ Friday
30th We left manti City this morning & rode to sanpete
creek & nooned we then rode to a small stream &
camped for the night
~ Saturday
May 1st Started before breakfast & rode 8 miles & fed
then than went off the road & had to make a new
road went to a Creek & camped for the night in
a snow storm
~ Sunday
2nd Rode to Ceder Springs & nooned then rode
to Filmore City & spent the night it was and exceding
cold day with frost
~ Monday
3rd we held a meeting at Filmore City & President
Young Preached to the people I reported the sermon &
have it in manuscript we had a good time & the Lord
blessed us
~ Tuesday
4th 15 Mounted men armed & eqipt with provisions left
us this morning to go on an exploring tour after led & silver
Brother Major our artist took the likeness of an Indian
Chief
~ Wednesday
[FIGURE] 5th The Brethren overtook us this morning with the eastern
mail we had much rejoiceing with the much news we
obtained I received 3 letters from Willard Snow Mrs
Woodruff we drove to pine creek & camped
~ Thursday
6th we drove to Bever Creek & camped for the night
it was stormy
~ Friday
7th left Bever Creek rode to little Salt Creek
valley passed Red Creek & drove into Parawan
city I broke my doubletree & tongue on our arial
at this City we took up our abode among the Brethren
I stoped at Brother Groves
~ Saturday
May 8th The people assembled to gether this morning
for a meeting in the Counsel House I took minutes
of the same
~ Sunday
9th Sunday Meeting at 10 oclok O Pratt preached
in the morning & Presidents Young & Kimball in
the Afternoon I reported their discourses I spent
the day with the Saints
~ Monday
10 we rode to Ceder City & held a meeting with the
people President Young addressd the Saints I reported
the procedings of the meeting Have the reports in manusc-
ript
~ Tuesday
11th We also held a meeting to day with the saints
I preached to the people was followed by O pratt
H. C. kimball & President Young the Iron Company
was organized & many good remarks by President Young
we took a walk on the Hill in the evening & viewed the
Country we spent the night in the fort
~ Wednesday
May 12th The Rodeometer made the whole distance
from Great Salt Lake City via Sanpete to
Ceder Fort 314 1/2 miles 314 1/2 mils
[FIGURE] we met to day to organize the High Counsel & presidency
of the stake &c at Paroan having returned there this
morning John L Smith was appointed President
of the Stake. John Steel 1st & Henry Lunt 2nd Councellors
E H Groves M. Cruthers, R. Harmons Joseph Chatterly,
J Graham J. A. Little Wm H Dame, John D. Lee, Samuel
West, Eligah Newman Francis T. Whitney & Joel H. Johnson, The High Counsel
Philip Chicken Smith Bishop of Cedar City
Tarlton Lewis Bishop of Paroan
The above were ordained under the Hands of Elders
O Pratt W Woodruff & G A. Smith
10 High Priest 12 High Counsellors. 1 President
& 2 Counsellors of this Stake of Zion H. C. Kimball
addressed them
~ Thursday
13th Left Paroan & rode to Bever kreek & spent
the night 35 mils
~ Friday
14th Rode to dry creek & nooned met with a hard
hail Storm the ground was white with hail we
rode to Corn ^{corn}^ Creek & spent the night 28 mile
~ Saturday
15th Rode to Corn Creek nooned then rode to Filmore
City & spent the night 33 1/4 mils
~ Sunday
16th Sunday we spent the day in the Fort & held
a meeting O Pratt preached & W. Woodruff followed
him
~ Monday
17th I Entered a city lot in Filmore City the Capitol
to build a city inheritnce or House I also got one
Entered for G.A.S & O. Pratt we left the city &
rode to Cedar Springs nooned & rode to a creek
& spent the night 32 m
~ Tuesday
18th Rode to Severe Ford, to Chicken Creek then
to Salt Creek 37 miles
~ Wednesday
19th Rode to summit creek to spring creek, the[n]
to spanish Fork whare we spent the night I
have entered 160 Acres here for a for a farm
~ Thursday
20th we rode to provo & through Utah valley to the
foot of the mountain & camped I left the company here
& drove to dry creek & camped for the night distance 48 mils
~ Friday
21st I rode from Dry Creek to the City of the great
salt Lake we were all made welcome to the city again
~ Saturday
22 I worked in the Garden to day
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday I attended meeting to day in the Tabern
acle President Young Preached I wrote it
~ Monday to ~ Friday
24. 25. 26. 27. 28 I spent the time labouring
~ Saturday
29 The Eastern Mail came in to day bringing many letters
& paper
~ Sunday
30 [FIGURE] I rote 3 letters to Col Kane, Willard Snow, &
Bernhisel we held a meeting at the Tabernacle I report-
ed we had a prayer meeting in the evening
~ Monday
31st I spent the day in the garding
~ Tuesday
June 1st I rode to Brother Simons & back 20 miles
~ Wednesday
2nd I spent the day Hoing potatoes
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
3, 4, & 5. I spent the time gardning
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I spent the time in meeting & reported preaching
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
7 to 12. I spent the time watering land
~ Sunday
13 I spent the time in meeting reporting
president Young addressed the meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
14 to 19th I spent the time at hard work getting hay
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I spent the time in meeting reporting
meeting was addressed by G A Smith O pratt & B Young
~ Monday to ~ Friday
21 to 25 I spent the time haying & settleing accounts
[FIGURE] Brother I F Carter arived at my house early this
^Friday^ morning
~ Saturday
26. I spent the day haying
~ Sunday
27th Sunday I attended meeting Brother Richard
Cook addressed the Saints I reported it Brother
Carter attended meeting with us
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
28 29 & 30 I spent most of the time with Brother
I F Carter setling accounts
[FIGURE] On the eve of the 30 of June 1852 I baptized
Brother Ilus F Carter into the Church of L.D.S
~ Thursday
July 1st Thursday I rode 6 miles with Brothe Ilus
F Carter & took the parting hand with him as
he started for Calafornia
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
2 & 3rd I spent the time geting hay & in the garden
~ Sunday
4th Sunday I attended meeting A Corden prea
ched was followed by Joseph Young
~ Monday
July 5th Monday This day was spent in celebration
[FIGURE] of the 4th of July Govornor Young & Escort were
escorted to the Tabernacle by the Mormon Battalion
Silver Grays Horse company &c The day was spent
The day was spent making speeches singing prayer &c
~ Tuesday
6th We had a soaking rain I spent the day hoeing
& in the House
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
7, 8, 9, & 10 I spent the time farming
~ Sunday
11th Sunday I was at meeting
~ Monday to ~ Sunday
12 to 18 I spent the week haying the wheat that was
broak down by a great Hail Storm
~ Sunday
18 Sunday I spent the time at meeting reporting
C C Rich E. Miller & other spoke
~ Monday to ~ Friday
19 to 23 I spent the time harvesting
~ Saturday
24th [FIGURE] We held the celebration of the arival
of the pioneers into this valley it was a splendid affair
see the report of it in the Desarett News
~ Sunday
25 Sunday A sermon was delivered by O Pratt
Orson Pratt on the death & resurrection of the
[FIGURE] Heavens Earth & man I Baptized my daughter
Susan C. Woodruff & Mary Webster & confirmed them
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
26 27 & 28 Finished harvesting we had a meeting
each evening at 6 oclok & received good teachings
from the presidency & others on building the public works
the Eastern mail came in on the eve of the 28.
I was with the presidency & Twelve till midnight herg [hearing]
the News
~ Thursday
29th Calafornia Mail came in this morning
I spent the forenoon in the presidents office geting News
I [FIGURE] wrote a long letter to I F Carte at Sacrameto city
~ Friday
30th Brother C C Rich left us for Sanbarnadeno
to day at Presidents Young office hearing the news
~ Saturday
31st I spent the day at Home
~ Sunday
Aug 1st Sunday I attended meeting President Young
made some remarks & said I am willing you should be
a Methodist a Catholic or an infidel but I am not willing
you should steal from me or my Brethren or turn your
cattle into my corn or drive me from my house & home
but if my Enemies do it I will trust in God but if all
the world fight against me I will not deny my religion
or my God
In the evening Alfred Smith addressed the Saints advoca-
ting the claimes of Gladden Bishop who had tried for
many years to gather a company together that he might
lead them as many other foolish men & fals teachers
have tried to do at different time much confusion
rested upon Alfred Smith while speaking he made
many fals statements, & at the close was followed by
President Young made a few remark after which
Alfred Smith & wife & another person who Joined them
in their sentiments were cut off from the Church
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
Aug 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7. I spent most of this week in drawing and
stacking wheat
~ Sunday
8th Sunday I spent the day at Meeting & reported President
B Youngs discours G. D Watt reported the same as is published
in Extra Deserett News containing the new Revelatin
on Patriarchal Matrimony
~ Monday
9th I cut a load of wood & drew it home
~ Tuesday
10 [FIGURE] In company with Samuel Hardy & Father Woodruff
I went to Parley Canyon & caught 39 Trout & camped for
the nigh & cooked our fish
~ Wednesday
11 we took an Early Breakfast walked up into the
canyon about 3 miles & fished down we caught in
all 203 we had to wallow all day through a hard thicket
in order to keep by the creek it made it vary hard labour
we went home quite weary we had a hard thunder
Storm in the canyon 20
11th I spent the day at home we had a Rain Storm
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
12 13 & 14 I went to Cottonwood with Ms Woodruff
spent the time visiting friends & Hunting cattle 30 mils
~ Sunday
15 Sunday I attended meeting & reported President
Youngs sermon one of the greates ever preached it is also
published in the extra star
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
16 17 18 & 19. I went to Mill Creek Canyon each day & got
a load of dry maple wood. each day I had to travel some
34 miles clime the mountain cut some 3/4 cord of wood and
draged it down the mountain loaded it & went home through
a vary bad road It nearly wore both myself & team out
~ Friday
20 I attended a great feast at the South Cottonwood ward
President Young was taken quite sick so he could not
attend Brother Kimball, O prat & W Woodrff of the 12
were there & a great collection of people speaches were
made by President Kimball O Pratt & W Woodruff of
the 12, & W W Phelps Bishop Hunter & others
4 of the Twelve arived from their mission in the City to
day viz J Taylor E. T. Benson & E Snow & F Richards
~ Saturday
21st Met in council with the Presidency & 6 of the 12,
it seemed good to see so many of the 12 together again
we had a social time to gether for several hours then
dispersed to their homes. The Shoshonees or snake Indian
came into the city to day to make peace with the Utahs
& walkers Company they smoked the pipe of peace
& shook hands in Friendship & fellowship they have
been at wars for many years but through the wise
course of President Young they are brought to peace
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday six of the Twelve were at meeting
we had a good time. The Twelve addressed the Assembly
upon a varieyty of subjects
~ Monday to ~ Friday
23, 24, 25, 26, 27 I spent the week at hard work &
drawing wood
~ Saturday
28 [FIGURE] A Special Conference of the Church assembled
this morning to appoint Elders to foreign missions 100
were appointed to Foreign Missions & to almost all the world
I took minutes of the conference we had a good time
the spirit & power of God rested with the people
~ Sunday
29th Sunday the conference closed this evening
~ Monday
30 I went to the Salt Lake took 2 of my children
with me & I got 20 bushels of salt about 20 tons
was drawn from the shore to day shoveled it up from
the shore
~ Tuesday
31st I went to the canyon to get some Lumber
~ Wednesday
Sept 1st cut up my corn in the field
~ Thursday
2 I stacked up my corn
~ Friday
3rd I spent the day at home choreing
~ Saturday
Sept 4th I went to the canyons & got 2 loads of wood
I got a Horse off a Bridge I got wet & chileled
~ Sunday
5th Sunday O Pratt Preached a strong & Edifying sem [sermon]
I was taken sick at night with the chills & fever from getting
wet on saturday before
~ Monday
6th I was quite sick all day
~ Tuesday
7 I had a sick day
~ Wednesday
8 I was about to day some better
~ Thursday
9 I was quite sick to day
~ Friday
10 I am some better to day
~ Saturday
11 I attended meeting with the 12 & Presidency to
teach & bless the Elders who were going on missions
I wrote the blessings of 20 High Priest who were blessed
by the Twelve
~ Sunday
[FIGURE] Sept 12th Sunday 12th O Pratt Preached the Funeral serm[on]
of Lorenzo D. Barnes & Wm Burton who had died in
England & were buried there but their bodies were taken
up & brought to the vally of the great Salt Lake & buried with
dead Saints in this place. The follow is a synopsis of the discours
[FIGURES] L.D.B W.B.
Elder Orson Pratt arose & said the subject
before us this morning is one that fills my mind with
many reflections I think the Elders of this Church & kingdom
do not improve their time as they should but are to slow in
treasure up knowledge as God has commanded us to do
we shall want all the knowledge we can obtain when
we go to the nations of the Earth & visit evry circle of the
learned to teach them the plan of salvation if we have improved
our time we can bring forth out of the treasures of our
hearts things new and old. The subject before me
to day is the remains of Lorenzo D. Barnes & Wm Barton
the question might arise what benefit could it be to those
Brethren to be brought from their Graves in a foreign
country & be buried with the saints here. I do not think
it would be a great advantage to them in the Eternal world
I had as lieves to be buried in Asia or Africa as with the
the Saints here as far as my Eternal interest is conserned
but aside from this it is a great pleasure both to the living &
the dead to know that our bodies will be brought to Zion
from the Ends of the Earth to be laid with the saints
& then to be raised with them so that he can strike
hands with his relatives first & then with the saints
instead of being thousands of miles apart & having to
waft himself thousands of miles through the air to meet
with his brethren. An Immortal being can take
himself up into the heavens as Jesus Christ did when
he was raised from the dead He went to heaven So it
might be with them. How long would it take for Brother
Barnes & Burton to waft themselves to the bosom of the Church
Not long whare will be the bosom of the Church in the
clouds above the Earth before the wicked are diestroyed
the Lord will be in the Air & all the saints with him of all
generations and He will desend to earth & will bring all the
Saints with him. At what speed would the Saints travel
we are told that light is the power that governs all things
if the saints travel as fast as light they would go at the
rate of 200000 miles in a second. God can go as fast as light
and He has made the saints and I am led to conclude that
they can travel as fast as light for they have got to go on
missions to far distant worlds and if they did not go
as fast as light they would be a long time on their way spending
their time without doing any good if this is the case I had
as lieves lay my body down abroad as at home as it would
not take more than a second to meet with the Saints I say
this to encourage the Elders who are going abroad some may
die abroad some may Seal their testimony with their
Blood. The Elders should take Heed & not break the comma-
ndments of God if they were to commit adultery after
receiving their Endowments they cannot be forgiven but
must be destroyed in the flesh & his spirit given to the
buffiting of Satan untill the first Resurrection
How long it will be from the morning till evening I
am not able to say but after the day of redemption
He will come forth and inherit all the blessings that
were sealed upon his head no power can take them
from him If he has been sealed to any woman
thrones powers Dominions or Kingdoms or any
other blessing He will inherit them to all Eternity
if they do not shed innocent Blood. The scriptures
speak of these same subjects. Paul while speaking
to the Corinthian Churches speaks of delivering a certain
one to the buffiting of Satan that they may be destroyed
in the flesh that their spirits may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 5:5] we will now speak of David
who had a numerous family that was given him
He finally took Uriah wife put Uriah at the Head
of the Battle & He was slain. Here He lost all right to the
celestial Glory His wives Thrones Kingdoms & Eternal
lives All had vanished He Just escapes Hell & that is all
He will be a servant to somebody perhaps Uriah for
the Gods in Eternity will want servants to greece their
carriages makes crowns & Robes &c they will be Gods
& want servants. All may be capaciated to become
Gods but all will not keep the Laws whareby they
may become Gods. Peter spoke of a people who had
shed inocent Bloo & drew the Blood of the Savior they
were told to repent that they might be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was a chance for
them as they did not know the Priesthood or the fulness
of the gospel if they had know it they would not have
been forgiven. We will now speak of Brother Lorenzo
D. Barnes He was faithful but died before he received
the fulness of the gospel He had no Thrones, wives
or any thing els of that kind sealed upon [him] what shall we
do for him any thing that we do for ourselves
when we get a temple built such men will
loose nothing for they will be Judged by the same laws
that we are and they have a chane either in time
or Eternity to receive all we have. for all that
would have received it here will receive it there for all
men will be Judged like men in the flesh for all mankind
will have an Equal privilege there cannot be any baptism
Endowments or Ordinances in the spirit world performed
but we shall be called to perform in a Temple of the
Lord all the ordinances for the dead the same as for the
living all things will be sealed to the End of all things
preparitory to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ whether
they be appertaining to Thrones, kingdoms, families or anything
Els pertaining to Earth or Heaven time or Eternity. when
we fully consider our duty we shall not be at Ease in
Zion or spend our time to make farms & Houses orchards &
vineyards for ourselves alone. But we should go to work to build
up Zion & a Temple & do the great work of our God wo to them
that are at ease in Zion but wake up & do the work of our God
~ Monday
Sept 13th I had a sick day but wrote some blessings
~ Tuesday
14 [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to J.M. Bernhisel & sent him
$153.35 cts to be forwarded to Sanbon & Carter
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
15, 16, 17, & 18 I was quite sick & confined to my bed with
the Irricipilis
~ Sunday
19th Sunday I was sick & not able to attend meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25 I was quite sick during the week Mrs
Woodruff was quite sick also our youngest child Bulah
was quite sick during the week Also Mrs Webster was
taken vary sick
~ Sunday
26th Sunday I am getting some better Mrs Webster is
growing worse the rest of the family are geting better I
am not able to attend meeting
~ Monday
27th I am getting betting [better] but weak Mrs Webster is
dangerously sick the rest of the family are feeble
~ Tuesday
28th The Mail came in today I went to the office got
some papers from J. M. Bernhisel & red the news of the
day not much of interest Brother Joseph Russel of
Marimichi has arived in the valley with his family He
has spent several days with me but has now rented some
rooms of Father Taylor His Son Archibal Russel is sick
with the consumption Orson Hyde has also arived in
this City
~ Wednesday
29 [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to Thompson Woodruff & sent
the New Revelation to Thompson & Ozem Woodruff
I paid 50 cts mail postage all up to this date
~ Thursday
30th Mrs Webster is still failing I spent the day at
home
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
Oct 1st & 2nd Mrs Webster is constantly sinking
Mrs Woodruff is quite feeble
~ Sunday
Oct 3rd [FIGURE] Sunday Sister Mary Giles Meeks
Webster died at 1 oclok P.M. this day I sat by
her at her last moments & closed her eyes I attended
prayer meeting with my quorum in the evening I
had not met with them for 3 weeks in consequene of
sickness
~ Monday
4th I had sister Websters funeral attended at
my house at 3 oclok President Willard Richards also
Erastus & Lorenzo Snow & F D Richards of the Twelve
attended Erastus Snow baptized her Married her
to mr Webster and also preached her funeral sermon
to day I buried her on my lot in the public burying
ground
~ Tuesday
5th I spent the day at home
~ Wednesday
Oct 6th The General Conference of the Church of Jesus
[FIGURES] Christ of Laterday Saints commenced this day
they assembled in the new Tabernacle and preched
the busince of the day
~ Thursday to ~ Sunday
7th 8 9 & 10 Conference continued untill Sunday night
when it closed I attended all the time & reported all
the discourses as they were delivered It was a vary interesting
conference & a glorious time the spirit & power of God
rested upon the people & the Elders On Sunday night
I went with the Twelve to bless the Elders who we[r]e going
on foreign Missions & the spirit of prophecy rested
upon us while we laid hands upon the heads of the
Elders & set them apart unto their several missions
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
11 12 13 & 14, I spent the time at home in the garden
& in the store &c
~ Friday
15th I spent the time atin the council house with Broth
& other friends I ordained 2 High Priest we had a good day
~ Saturday
[FIGURE] 16 This was an interesting day I met at the Counsel
House A company of Elders & spent the whole day in
teaching 45 Elders that were going on Foreign Mission
to China Australia, Siam, Hindustan, the Isles of the Sea
Brother Joseph Young & J M. Grant assisted in blessing the
Elders. The spirit & power of God rested upon us in a great
degree the Heavens was opened unto us & our minds was
filled with visions Revelations & Prophesy & we sealed
great blessings upon their heads as we were moved upon by
the Holy Ghost & we told them things that would befal them
by sea & by land they will do a great work & gather many
saints & much wealth to Zion
~ Sunday
17 Sunday I attended meeting several of the Elders spoke
& I addressed the[m] a while
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
18, 19, 20, 21, & 22 & 23 I spent this week at home
P. P. Pratt arived at home in the valley on the 21st
~ Sunday
24th Sunday P. P. Pratt & J Taylor addressed the saints
to day
~ Monday
25 I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
26th I rode to Brother Thomas Kingtons 40 mils
On webber I was vary lame through the night
~ Wednesday
27 I started home with some cattle was taken vary
sick with the Diarea was vary sick all day & night I
spent the night at Brother Steads 18 mls
~ Thursday
28th I rode home to the Salt Lake City I suffered all
day immensly with the Bowel Complant cramp &c 18 mils
~ Friday
29th I spent the day at home writing
~ Saturday
30th [FIGURE] I was introduced to the secretary today He paid me
$1.62 for my services in the Legislature last winter I wrote
4 letters to day to Ezra Carter I. F. Carter J M Bernhisel
& Mr Webster. I sent to Sanbon & Carter
US Gold $1387.50
37 sovreigns 164.90
Order to J M Bernhisel 29
Total $1581.40
~ Sunday
31st Sunday P P Pratt preached in the fore noon & gave
an account of his travels in South Ameria & many
things of interest
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
Nov 1, 2, & 3. I spent the time about home
~ Thursday
4th I finished puting in 5 acres of wheat today it was windy
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
5 & 6 I finished diging potatoes today & carried my
tithing to the office 22 1/2 bushels potatoes & 6 1/4 bushels beets
~ Sunday
7th Sunday a cold stormy day O Hyde preached I attede
prayer meeting in the evening
~ Monday to ~ Friday
8th to 12. I spent the time at home labouring
~ Saturday
13 I rode to Cottonwood to J Benbows and spent the
night at A. O. Smoots I was sick in the night Sister
Benbows was vary sick
~ Sunday
14th I preached at the Cottonwood school hous was
followed by Brothers Smoot & Wright took supper with
Brother Smoot spent the night with Brother Benbow
~ Monday
15 I drove my oxen to the Salt Lake City 16 mls
~ Tuesday
16th I killed an Ox weighing 933 lbs Had 81 lbs trid tallow
~ Wednesday
17 I killed the other ox weighing 800 lb 45 lb trid tallo
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
18 19 20 I spent the time preparing lumber for a picket fence
~ Sunday
21st Sunday P P Pratt Preached on the Everlasting
[FIGURE] Covenant made to Abraham the law was done away
in Christ but the promises of Abraham remained
and all the prophesies of the prophets are to be fulfilled
the Jews gathered & all Israel with their wives & children
would come from the East west North & South & sit down
with Abraham Isaac & Jacob in the kingdom of God. the
speaker then asked the question who are the people to
build up the kingdom of God in the last days preparitory
to the coming of Christ whose laws rules & regulations
are agreable to the blessings and order of the Ancient patriar-
chs He called up the different sects & kingdoms & governments
& compared them to se who was in a situation to receive
[the promises] made to Abraham He brought up the Catholics & showed
they were not the Ones for their Priesthood had not the
privilege of Either wives or children and the greates
blessing to Abraham consisted in his seed & posterity
It could not be the protestants they did allow one wife
to be sure but no more so when they come to the kingdom
of God and find Abram Isaac & Jacob there with their
many wives concubines & children there they the protistant
Christian Nations if they had power would cast out those
patriarchs out of the kingdom for having more wives than one
& concubines & many children & for having the Names of which
they would call their Bastard children written on the Gates of
of the New Jerrusalem they would point the finger of scorn
at these things so they would not agree. But when we come to
the Latter Day Saints we find them the ownly people on Earth
that suit the case exactly in evry respect and they are the
the kingdom of God & hold the keys of that kingdom & they
fell disposed to honor & respect their Father Abraham & their
children & desire to render unto Israel all that belongs unto them
He was followed by O Hyde & W. Woodruff who bore testimony
to the same subject & expressed their feelings plainly
~ Monday
22nd we had a tremendious Snow storm
~ Tuesday
23rd The roads are blocked up with Snow Bulah was taken
quite sick to day
~ Wednesday
24th Bulah is vary sick to day
~ Thursday
25 Our chi[l]d grows worse
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
26 & 27 Our child is getting better Mrs Woodruff has
been on a visit to Brother Benbows as his wife was vary
sick
~ Sunday
28 Sunday The roads are vary bad I drove to cottonwd
after Mrs Woodruff but she started for home & arived
before me 25 mils
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
29th & 30. I spent the time making fence vary stormy
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
Dec 1, 2, 3, & 4 I spent the time making picket fence before
my house it is vary stormy weather
~ Sunday
5th Sunday O Hyde Preached & I followed him
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 I spent this week making fence
~ Sunday
12th Sunday I spent the day at home writing
~ Monday
Dec 13 Monday The Legislative Assembly of the Territory
[FIGURE] of Utah met this morning in the Counsel House
at 10 oclok the House was Organized by Appointing J. M. Grant
Speaker & Thomas Bullock Clerk. And the Counsel was
Organ[ize]d by appointing Willard Richards President & James
Furguson Clerk W Woodruff E. T. Benson & Lorenzo Snow of the
Twelve were member of the House, & O Hyde P. P. Pratt G. A. Smith
& F. D. Richards of the 12 in the Counsel the members took seats
permanently. The two Houses met in Joint session at 2 oclok & the
Govornor was recived with honor & delivered his message to the assembly
which was read by the clerk of the House it was a message of
great interest 200 copies was ordered to be printed for the benefit
of both Houses & to be printed in the news for the benefit
of the people
~ Tuesday
14th House met at 10 oclok & atten [blank]
~ Wednesday to ~ Friday
15 16 17 I spent the time in the Legislator
~ Saturday
18th No siting of the Legislator I spent the time at home
~ Sunday
19th Sunday I spent the time at home writing
~ Monday to ~ Friday
20, 21, 22, 23, 24 I spent the time in the Legislature
[FIGURE] Dec 22nd Wednesday evening The quorum of the Twelve met
In the upper room of the Council House at 6 oclok
Here was assembled together Eleven of the Twelve Apostles
all of the quorum were present Except Elder Orson
Pratt (who had gone to Washington the seat of Government
to preach Salvation & Eternal truth to Presidents Senators
& Legislators that they might be left without Excuse) The
meeting with Eleven of that quorum was a blessing I never
before enjoyed during my life, I never saw so manny of
the Twelve together at any one time. The Meeting opened by
prayer by President Orson Hyde who is president of the
Twelve Apostles. The names of the Twelve who were present
were O Hyde P. P. Pratt W. Woodruff J. Taylor G. A Smith A Lyman
C. C. Rich E. T Benson L Snow E. Snow & F D Richards
President Orson Hyde made some appropriate remarks upon
the rare & eventful occasion upon which we are now met
He offered up a fervent prayer & Thanksgiving to God for
his blessings that had been over us in our separation & in bring-
ing us together & asked for all needful blessings to qualify us
for our futur labours untill we arive in the celestial kingdom
of God He then said he did not feel like making a long speech
but merely interchanging our harty congratulations in ackno-
wledgeing the mercy & blessings of God
P. P. Pratt expressed his feelings and after happily refering
to our vast separetion & merciful reunion said this is the first
opportunity we have had of being together as a quorum
& feeling that each member has the most implicit
confidence in evry member of the quorum of the Twelve
& also in each member of the Presidency who presides over
us. I feel as though the day is not far distant when men
will stand among us in their Immortal Bodies holding the keys
of death & Hell & that Brother Joseph would say if he was a[mo]ng
us that we had suffered enough & that we should be numbered
among his Jewels He alluded to the great work we had to per-
form, the building of a Temple &c
W. Woodruff next spoke & expressed his feelings upon the subj-
ect of this meeting of the Twelve Apostles a blessing which he
never before enjoyed in his life. As he never had met
with Eleven of the Twelve Apostles. He considered there had
never been but two bodies of men since the days of Adam
who had met under such peculier & interesting circumstances
& those were the Twelve Apostle with Jesus in Jerrusalem & the
Twelve Apostle with Jesus in Ameri[c]a we know their History & works
& we know our own & they are three events of great importance
to the salvation of the world. He refered to the peculiar & strik-
ing fact that there had never been a death in the quorum of the
Twelve Apostles except in the case of David. W. Patten who fel
a martyr to his religion by a special request which he made of
the Lord that he might die that death. But the rest of the quorum
of the Twelve have stood in the front of the battle & the danger
for the last twenty years in the midst of mobs sickness & plagues
& dangers by sea & land but still they were preserved untill the
present day in bloom & health He refered to the great prosperity &
work of the Twelve abroad among the nations & rejoiced that the
Lord had preserved them to returned from the fore cornors of the
Earth to again sit in counsel together in Zion. He had the most im-
plicit confidence in each member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles
also of the Presidency who presided over us said President Young was a Father
to the whole church
Erastus Snow next spoke & said though he was one of the youngest of the
quorum of the Twelve yet he had known the quorum from the begining
when they were first together in his fathers house He expressed his
Joy in being with the quorum & his Entire confidence in each member
of the quorum & in the Saints generally. Since his absence to Denmark
he had felt & learned how to appreciate the society at home & the brethren
& anticipated much pleasure in the association of this present winter
hoped our meetings might be freequent & that we might become
much improved.
President O Hyde remarked that if we were at liberty to prophesy
it is while we are together as we are moved upon by the Holy Ghost
and if we dont fell to prophesy speak by faith & by faith it
should be fulfilled expressed his unlimited confidence in evry member
of the Quorum & of the Presidency and Prophesied in the name
of God that we should all meet & come forth in the morning
of the first Resurrection & receive our crowns in the celestial
kingdom it was confirmed by a good Amen by all the quorum
John Taylor next spoke said he glad to meet with the quorum
He refered to the changes taking place among the Nation of the Earth & he
believed we were destined to soon hold a great influence among them
He had felt moved upon at times to offer at times some counsl
to sir Robert Peel & Louis Napolian & such men & tell them that
he could give them advice that would do them good He believed the
day near when the kings near would seek counsel at our hands
in the begining the Elders went out & were weak & ignorant men now
they are full of intelligence & the Nations of the Earth will feel their
influence when I am with this quorum I feel as though I was
with the Gods.
G A Smith said he was delighted on the present occasion He
rejoiced to see the union of the quorum & their disposition to do right
we dont have to feel that one of the quorum like Lyman Wight is
drawing off one way & John E. Page another & A Wm Smith commit-
ing iniquity & we have to sustain him against our feelings. I have
the satisfaction of believeing that each member of the quo[ru]m
is doing right & I rejoice that the quorum is able to publish the
gospel in six different Languages & to gather the people
together Hoped we should meet once a week & with the Presid[enc]y
offer our prayers. He felt a proud satisfaction of being associ-
ated with 10 men which he believed to be the highest learned
best Educated & possessed the most intelligence of any man on
Earth That our circumstances were such that we were oblieged
to have the most knowledge whether we would or not. He believed
the prophesies uttered this evening would be fulfilled to the utter most
He closed with his blessings upon us.
A Lyman said he had so many things upon his mind that he knew
not what point to speak from He felt in his nature that he was
made up in the work of the Lord & he could not embrace any interest
any whare els ownly in this work. He has found out to his satisfa-
ction what that love & affection for his brethren is that surpases the
love of women for he had a confidence in his quorum that was
far greater than in his wives or children for they have been
brought up in the hard school of experience & have been tried in
all things & proven to be true & I have been proven with them
& I am wedded to my quorum with all my interest I go when
I am sent & come when I am called, & so expect to continue to do
my interest is inseparably conneted with this kingdom & I trust
ever will be through time & Eternity.
C. C. Rich said those who had spoken ^met^ his feeling. He concured
in them all I am happy in the present meeting. I had a dream while
on my way home I thought the Ancients in their resurrected bodies
were associating with us in this place. I have the most unbounded confi-
dence not ownly in the quorum of the Twelve but also in the first
Presidency. I hope the winter seasons may be profitable to us in our
associations and that we may improve our time
E T Benson said he felt to concur in what had been said I feel it
to be a great blessing to come together we have been blessed according to
the desire of our hearts before I Joined the Saints I felt as though I
would give all I possessed if I could find a people who wold do
right & be led by the spirit & power of God & I could be associated
with them I now feel that I have found that people. I now feel associ-
ated with men with whom I could trust my Eternal interes
I could leave my family with them any length of time & find
them all right on my return. I have the utmost confid[en]ce
in evry member of that quorum. there is nothing to be done
but what we can do. Evry gift & qualifycation exhists in
this quorum that there is in the church Els we cannot be
equal with the first Presidency & they must have all we have
got or they could not preside over us. If the first Presidency
were to be removed the quorum of the Twelve would have to preside
& if they had not the fulness of the gifts they wold not be
fit to preside. I feel excedingly thankful to be associated
with such men I have not language to express my feelings when
I was first called to be an Apostle in this quorum I could not
sleep for three days & nights I feel now as though I could
break a Nation to pieces I felt renovated with the Holy
Spirit while P P Pratt was speaking No blessing is to great or to
good for us & we shall possess them all.
[FIGURE] Turn over 3 leaves
A Speech of P. P. Pratt in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Assembly
Council Chamber Wednesday Dec 18th 1852 10 oclok A.M.
Councilor P. P. Pratt occupied the Chair in the abscence of the president
but resigned it to address the council. The Honorable Counselor said
Gentlemen. I resign my place to the Hon CounsellrCouncilor on my left
& beg the privilege to express my views on government at some length
No merely human Government ever had the power to originate
or esstablish a system of true religion but on the other hand a true
religious system contains within itself the inherant and inaliena-
ble germs of all true Government. True religion has the right
& the power to originate government & Laws for individuals
Families, Corporate Bodies, States, Nations, Empires, or worlds,
A true systems of Religions Embraces all the real government
that intelligent beings can need or reasonably desire in the
Heavens or on the Earth Mearly human government never
created a Prophet an Apostle an Eternal High Priest a God
or a Son of God. On the other hand the Eternal Priesthood has
created worlds & peopled them with man & with all the variety
of universal vegitable & animal resources. The Eternal priesthod
has Eternal Priesthood Elected ordained & anointed Kings
& priests upon Our Earth & filled them with the spirit of
wisdom knowledge power might majesty & dominion for the
benefit, instruction, government, & exhaltation of the race or
of the nations or nations thus favored. All governments not
growing out of the true system & authority of religion is a
perversion a mockery a dark unwieldy mass without
certainty, stability or guarantee for evin peace safety
or perpetoity all such government is either founded in
ignorance or self will wharein the people declair either in word
or in act that God and Inspiration shall not controll them
& that an Angel Prophet Apostle Priest or King Commishined
by him shall have no rule or have no sway in their National
Councils. All such governments are either in open violatin
Rebellion against the powers that be or act wholey ignorant
of the powers that have a right to be. I will illustrate this subj.
by refferane to the past. When man was first placed upon
the Earth did he create governments or was governments
given ^appointed^ to him by the Election of God made manifest by Revelation
did the lower Creation rise up & Elect Adam or dig God say
Have thou dominion from whence then was the first introduct-
ion of merely human government upon our Earth. The
answer to this you will find in the words of God which He spake
unto Moses on the mount as revealed in those days by our great
Prophet & myrter [Moses 1]. informing us that Adam begat Sons &
daughters who went out & peopled the land in pairs long before
the birth of Cain & Ableel [Moses 5:3]. And when Adam taught them the word
of the Lord & the principles of righteousness & true government
Satan came also among them & said unto them believe it not
and they believed not in the teaching of Adam but they believed
Satan more than God or more than the ruler He had appointed
Thare then arose the foundation of self Government withot God
A government which was perpetual for many centuries
and which finally filled the Earth with violence & corruption
& was overthrown by the flood of those who survived the flood Noah
was of course
the lawful king Patriarch or ruler and after him the Election
of God continued through the loins of Shem down to Abraham
but in Abrahams day according to his own writings lately
taken from the tombs of ancient Thebees & translated and
published by our great Prophet we find a man made goverment
existing in Egypt under a race of Phariohs. This Egypt according
to Phario Abrahams account was first discovered by Egyptus or
Daughter of Ham who afterwards settled her sons in it & from whol
whom sprang the race of Pharaioh's & the Ancient Egyptians the same
authority also informs us that Ham & his race were cursed as it
regards priesthood but blessed in matters pertaining to the
fruits of the Earth & of wisdom. And that the Pharioh's & their
priests had not the priesthood although they pretended to have
received it from Ham their progenitor. Hence we find a
Government in Egypt of mere human origen and a pri-
esthood and Religion by law Esstablished which worshiped
several Gods among which was the crockadile & which sacrafized
Human sacrafices upon the Alter of State Hence the calling out of
Abraham & the reesstablishing of a government of God to be per-
petuated in his linage for Ever. which linage is Elected to reign
& rule & hold the keys of religion Priesthood Power & Government
while the Earth endures & in worlds without End. This govern-
ment was perpetuated in the family of Isaac & Jacob & was exem
plified in the person of Joseph who by the gift of Revelation became
prime minister of Egypt & saved his Fathers house & the Nations
from Death by famine. Here is an instance of a mere Human
government yielding to be instructed & benefited by a Revelation
& a prophet Behold the result Descending the stream of time & traceing
the fortunes of the chosen or Royal linage we next find a Moses
a man in whom was the spirit of true Religion. By this religion
He overthrew the Egyptians delivered the nation from bondage led
them forth to freedom & gave them laws. By this Religion his
successor Joshua was also Elected & qualified through him
by the laying on of hands and by this religion were all the Judges
chosen & qualifyed to fill the Judiciary with equity & Justi[c]e
Now Mr President it is Clear that none of these glorious
events were the result of popular Elections or of human
institutions.
God gave a system of Religion Embracing
Inspiration visions Prophets & Priesthood & that Religion
& those prophets & Revelations Created Nations Governments
& Laws. Hence true government in all its Branches and
Ramification is the legitimate result or production
of true Religion. For instant the Prophet Samuel by virtue
of his Religious gift had power to Elect by the word of God
& to Anoint Saul to be king of Israel and by the same
religious authority he had the right to reprove & even to
reject that same king & to anoint & place upon the head
Throne a shepherd boy called david in his stead And
when Samuel was dead & David was king of Israel Nathan
another Prophet had power to reprove him for iniquity &
to pass Judgment upon him for his sins. Again when Elijah
had rebuked King Ahah & all his wicked rulers & adulterous priests
& had fled to the mountains because they rebelled & saught his
life He was commanded to return and Anoint Jehu for King
of Israel. Haziel for King o[f] Syria & Elisha for Prophet in
his Stead which he performed & was taken up.
In all these things I see not a vestage of the trumpary
of modern human institutions Either of democracy whigery
monarchy or Arisstocricy I see nothing in fact but religion
standing forth in its own native simplicity & clad in the
panoply of its own legiteimate heavenly powers giving government
& Laws to Nations and appointing and Anointing majestrates
kings & Judges to administer the same. But leaving for a moment
the events of palestine I glance for a moment at Babylon
whare sat Nebuchadnezzar in all the pride of self confidence
& self government. This Monarch had denyied the hand of God
& imputed to himself the power & glory of Babylon and the
magnitude & glory of his vast dominion He had also
Esstablished a Religion & created it by law at a given signal
all person ^on pain of death^ were to bow down to his images & idols. But Daniel & his
fellows were their with the true Religion
Dreams, interpetations, visions, prophesyings, and Miracles
& the word of God Rebuking & punishing him soon converted
him to the truth He then published an Epistle to all Nations
& Tongues under his dominions & in all languages the perpose
of which was that God was a revealer of secrets a worker
of signs & wonders & an originator & controler of political
power & government. [Daniel 1-4] In Babylon it was soon conseded
that the wisdom of one Revelator or Prophet was ten
times more valuable than all the combined wisdom of its
sages without this gift. Hence Daniel was wisely placed
in power as president of the Presidents of more than a
hundred provinces. [Daniel 6:1-3] This same Daniel by the word of the
Lord afterwords reproved & Dethroned Belshazer and placed
Cyrus the Mede upon the Throne of Babylon. [Daniel 5:29-31] This Monarch
obeyed the word of the Lord so far as to restore the Jews &
rebuild their City & Temple. [Ezra 1] So long as the Jews obeyed
the voice of their Prophets they prospered & were free
but loosing the spirit of prophesy & true religion they
forfeited their institutions laws & doctrin. Hence John
the Baptist & Jesus Christ found them in bondage to a
Government Called Rome.
These Romans like the
Greeks before them had manufactured their own Govern
ment & Religion & then enforced it upon others insom-
uch that the Jews themselves having lost the power of
their own religion were oblieged to submit. John the
Baptist & Jesus Christ reproved all the needless trash
& powerless forms of Jewish sects & of Gentiles supers-
titions & restored to the world the gifts of prophesy visions
Revelation ^&^ Miracles. which would have broaken the human
yoke reesstablished the independance of Israel & made
Jerrusalem the perpetual seat of Government for all
nations. But they would not. Jesus Christ would have
made their Temple a house of prayer for all Nations in all
coming time He would have placed there the Eternal keys
of priesthood power & Government & wisdom. ^* A page missed
turn to the star^
The Blackness of Darkness veiled the Earth in morning
Ages—Centuries—now fled— Politics— Laws— Religions have
multiplied- Empires— Kingdoms— States— Repub[l]ics have
filled the world. But whare— O whare!— The keys powers
Religion knowledge or Government of God— Our puriton Fathers
fled to the American wilderness to rid themselves from the corr
uption of ages. Their children made a Government wise &
Free. But—Alas— The Priesthood—The Power—The Religion
of Heaven had long since been lost to man— Prophets &
Apostles were no more — Our Fathers knew this — And tharefore
as wise honest & consistent men they refrained from man
ufacturing a State Religion.
Again were the heavens opened. The Silence of Ages was broake[n]
The gloom of overhanging night was pierced with a ray from
the worlds of Endless day. A Celestial spark from the heavenly
Altar was rekindled upon the Earth. The mystic veil was rent
in twain. And the fogs & mysts of long Ages began to roll away
as the gloom of a long night before the rising dawn. In the midst
of the ownly great & free nation upon the Earth the God of Abraham
raised up a mighty Prophet gave him the ancient keys
of Religion, Government & power & Restored the Apostleship
with its keys of Revelation vision & Prophecy. Through the
administration of which the laws & government were restored
to man & his Kingdom organized upon the Earth no more
to be thronewn down. People, Magestrates, Senators, Govornors,
& States have opposed its progress with fire & sword & death
but all in vain. It has waded through calumny hate & oppression
& blood & fire & martyrdom Till it organized itself amid
the strong holds of these Eternal Mountains & Stood forth
a Noble spectacle for the wonder & admiration of all Nations
A Government created by Heaven preserved by the matchless
power of the Almighty & led and id instructed by Prophets &
Apostles with the keys of Revelation. The United States
were constrained to recognize & sustain that which no
human power could subdue. Hence the Territorial Govern-
ment of Utah. And Hence the local capacity in which
we are now siting as Senators & Representitives to give
Laws to a Territory. In our Local, political capacity
Executive, Legislative & Judicial we are limited to the geogra-
phical boundaries prescribed by the act of Congress in this
sens our Jurisdiction is bounded by Oregon On the North
by Calafornia on the West by 37 of North Lat on the South
and by the snow clad sumits of the Backbone of our continent
On the East & thus confined in its immediate bearing to a
country not much larger than the British Isles
But the Eyes of the Nations are upon us, we are a city on
a hill a candle on a candlestick that cannot be hid
The great the noble of heart, the Enterprising, the oppressed
of all Nations will flow to us as a continues stream
Senators Govornors Kings & Rulers will cast their
Eyes to Utah & to her Prophets, Apostles, Revelations
laws & institutions as a model a pattern in miniature
for the renovation of the world. In our capacity as
Prophets Apostles & Elders we have the keys of Authority
to Organize & give laws form & constitution to a thousand
local governments like this. Yes Mr President it is ourse
to teach Judges How to rule, To give Senators wisdom & to
repprove instruct & impart wisdom to Presidents and Kings
It is ours to impart wisdom & knowledge & strength &
salvation to the Rulers & people of the great Nation which
gave us birth. Untill they know this & seek it at our
hands they will never arise to any considerable degree
of permanent prosperity & peace. But On the contrary
vexation Disunion perplexity division is their doom and
bloody wars & pestilence & storms & fires & whirlwinds
& tempest Earthquakes & famines will continue to waste
them till they shall be constrained to acknowledge the
hand of God & to humble themselves as in the dust &
seek wisdom & instruction at the hand of prophets &
Apostles as did Kings & rulers in days of Old. Untill
like Nebuchadnezzar they shall acknowledge that God
is a Revelator a worker of signs & wonders and an
originator & controllor of political Governments.
Yes Mr President Our Nation & the world shall be
b taught by the prophets & all Nations feel the influence
of the Institutions now being developted in thes Halls of liberty
the chambers of the Eternal Mountains of Deserett
Let the United States go on in their course own strength
without the inspiration & institutions of the Almighty now
offered them by our Prophets let them spread abroad
their dominions on evry side. Let the principles of conquest
or of annexation add the Canadies British Amarica and
even Greenland on the North, Spanish & Portugue Amarican
to cape horn on the South. The west Indies on the East & the
Isles of the Pacific including Japan on the west Let these
countries be gathered under the wings of the wide spread Eagle
& let them be peopled by the Enterprising of all Nations by
Hundreds of Millions. Let their rich & almost boundless resources
be developed by all these & still remain Ignorant &
destitute of the keys of knowledge & power which lead &
govern the destinies of Deseret or of Utah yet shall
the Institutions of that same Utah or of her people outweigh
all this have more present influence in the Destinies of
the world and abide & give Laws & Religion to Man when
the best of mere human, civil, Political, Moral, social and
Religious Institutions has sceased to be and its memory
ownly shadowed forth in the dim History of the past.
* as was^is^ predicted by the Ancient Prophets Though
Heaven & Earth should be moved from their foundations
Though the bright lumainary of Day should refuse
its light. The moon cease to fullfill its monthly ordinan[ce]
and yonder Stars be hurled from their places spheres
yet the Government the Nationality the priesthood
the Oracles, the Religion, the Throne of Israel should
never be removed, a man be wanting to fill that Throne
or a priest to minister at the alter of her Holy Temple.
All nations would have to come to worship before the
Lord and from this center they would have drawn their
light & power. Their Kings chosen & anointed and
instructed by her Prophets & Apostles would have esstablished
peace & Equity & Justice & truth in the Earth. In short ther[e] [page torn]
would have been One Lord & his name one in all the Earth
but the Jews rebelled against their King & prefered their
own powerless forms of religion. Jesus & his Apostles on
this account removed from their midst the Keys of Gove
rnment & power & left them a prey to civil war
pestilance & famine & to the raviges of the Romans After the
over throw of the Jews the Romans were suffered to imbrue
their hands in the blood of Apostles Prophets & Saints till
none to remain who possedssed the keys of religion and
government. It was then the powers of darkness triump-
hed upon our Earth. Self constituted Government and
human religions overran our Earth. Truth was banished
& fled far away. Equity could not Enter. Justice was
paralized & stood Aghast. Mercy retireing droped a tear
of blood.)
[FIGURE] E T Benson continued
from 6 pages back
Ask whatsoever you will and it shall
be ours my love for the quorum of the
Twelve Apostles & the First Presidency is far above the love of women
{You may take the most virtuous woman on earth into your bosom and there is something [illegible shorthand] in it.} There is not
exhisting with the most virtuous man on Earth (while destitute of the
priesthood & Holy Ghost) that spirit of life that there is with the
servant of God. My ownly hope is with you it is life when we met
& life when we part He closed with Thanksgiving & blessings
Lorenzo Snow next followed & said he felt some as Amasa
did know not whare to begin He felt that his sentiments & feelings
were shadowed forth in his labours. I have great Joy in meeting
with you & beholding your faces & contemplating the influence & power
of this quorum & the greatness of their work I anticipate much
this winter in our meetings & in enjoying the blessings of God. I have
rejoiced this night to hear the exhalted expressions of the quorum
in rendering thanksgiving to God & not one word of complaint or hardships
imprisionments or affliction of any king but are filled with
hidden Joy & pleasure. I feel determin to do all the work that is
assigned me that I may be worthy of a place in this quorum
I felt thankful to hear the blessings pronounced upon us bo [by] our
president He closed with Joy & Thanksgiving
W. Woodruff addressed the quorum upon the importance of ther
writing. the importance of their keeping a private History of ther
lives labour & ministry, & als[o] a Joint History of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles He said he had ever been inspired since
He had ben a member of the Church not ownly to write
all of his own acts & life, but to write all the sermons teachings
& prophesies of the prophet Joseph, president Brigham Young &
counsel & of the Twelve Apostles as far as he was acquainted
with their labour He said each member of the quorum should
keep an account of their missions, works miracles & the bless-
ings of God unto them. And that the history of the quorum of the
Twelve could now be easily obtained but if we omitted it untill
we were dead our friends could not get it correctly before the
world
P. P. Pratt spoke of the filling up of the quorum of the 12 in 1848
& of their commencement of a record of the quorum & wishes it
continued. He said he did not know how far & minute we ought
to be in writing a Journal but thinks we ought to record our
official acts & considers it for our interest as well as duty thus to
do
E. T. Benson said that President Richards wished him
to requst the young members of this quorum to hand to him
a short statement of their lives & ministry the time they recvd
the gospel &c to go into the Church History
G. A. Smith W. Woodruff & P P Pratt interchanged a few words
upon the subject of Journal keeping &c
F. D. Richards next spoke & said he felt highly to participate
in the common Joy of the evening & felt it was an omin of the
times, an eventful epok in the last dispensation to us & the world.
I feel behind most of the quorum in not having the privilege of so
much counsel & teaching from Brother Joseph as they. when I
contemplate the future I feel that the field of our labour was equal
to the Noblest amibition which man could entertain both in this world
& in the next felt his Joy tempered in the recollection
O. Hyde said while I have been listening I have had an unusual
train of reflection of necessity we shall soon be called again to
separate & the Kingdoms of this world must become the Kingdoms of
our Lord & his Christ. we are trained in the school of experience
I may live to see you all in different parts of the Earth & while the Kingdoms
of the Earth are falling you will in many instances be enabled to stretc
out your hands & give counsel & save many people & be enabled to
rule governments & thus fulfilll the prophesies, & many of thes
things are not afar off. All is Eternity to us whether this or
the other side of the veil. we are born in Eternity, & let us be
whare we will, it will be our calling to win souls to Christ
The Presidency are unwell or they would be here. I wish the
Journals of the Twelve to be written up so they can be on hand
when Needed to be published I wish each one of the quorum wold
write as good an Epistle as they are capable of & have then put
in book form & send them forth unto the world
P P. Pratt Thingks the subject is abounding in us & we owe
the world a testimony not as individuals but as a quorum
of the Twelve Apostles & suggest that each contributes & write
an Epistle & form the whole & compile & embody a Book to
go forth with the signatures of all the quorum as the combined
History of all the ^12^ Apostles
G. A. Smith thinks it vary important that an Authentic
History of each member should be preserved
W. Woodruff made mention of certain items which he consid[ered]
necessary in the preservation of our History He lamented that
David W. Patten had not left any record of his life for he
was a prophet & an Apostle & a mighty man. many miracles
were wrought by him in his ministry. He told a rich man
in Tennessee who fought the work of God that he & his family
should beg their bread Robert. C. Petty saw that same man
cry at a blacksmith shop because he could not get trusted
to have his plough sharp[en]ed
President Orson Hoyde moved that Wilford Woodruff
be the clerk & historian of the Twelve Apostles carried unan-
imously
P P Pratt proposed a new Record & wished that the Nar
ative of each of the quorum of the Twelve be first recorded
in it begining with the president of the quorum & going through
in rotation with each member as he stands in the quorum
W Woodruff says he is willing to serve the quorum as Historian
as faithfully as he can. although it will be a heavy tax upon
his time
E Snow enquires if this history contemplated is confined to the
present quorum or of the members from the begin[in]g P. P. Prat
thinks it should include the present quorum merely E Snow
would like to see included all that could be found of D W.
Patten. C. C. Rich said he heard Brother Patten say the
morning that he was martered that the Kingdom of God shall
be delive[re]d or he should lay down his life. P P Pratt wished
Brother Woodruff to leave all temporal business as much as
possible & bring this history up. A Lyman says their is no
date of his ordination. O Hyde proposed for the Twelve to me[e]t
with the Presidency & also to meet each week for mutual
exchange of thought
Adjourned to meet one week from to night at this place
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
Dec 23, 24, 25 I spent the time in the Legislature on Christmas the
25 I attended the dedication of the school House in the 14 ward
~ Sunday
276th Sunday I spent the time at home writing
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
27, 28, 29, 30, I spent the time in the Legislature
~ Friday
31 [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to I F Carter & sent him an account of
the money I had sent him it went via Calafornia
The quorum of the Twelve met on the 29th Dec & spent the
evening in conversation abot laying some plan to liberate
ourselves & familyies so we can be foot loose & go & preach
the gospel & leave a support for ourselves & families speches
were made by all the quorum present upon the subject
On the next sunday Jan 2nd 1853 President Brigham Young
& H. C. Kimbal met with the quorum of the Twelve & the
same subject was brought up & talked over & President
Young said the best way for the Twelve to get a living for
themselves & familis was to preach the gospel with all
their might & your means will come in your way T. B
Marsh once said he did not know what Joseph called the
Twelve for without it was to abuse them I told him if the
Twelve were faithful they would soon see the day that they
would have all the influence they could wield that day has come
He said laying plans in our present situation for perpetuity
was all a shadow we may lay plans but they may be frustrated
On the last day of Dec 1852 I looked over my Jounal &
recorded on the following page the result of my labour &c
[FIGURE] W W
W W
I travled with President Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball and a large company
of Elders through the southern part of Utah
Territory visiting the cities villages & settlements
on the way teaching & instructing the people as far
south as parawan & Cedar cities Travled 876 Miles
I Attended Public meetings 45 Meetings
I Baptized a daughter, wife & Brother in Law 3 Baptized
I Confirmed 3 Persons
I Ordained 12 High Council 12 H. C.
I Ordained 12 High Priest 12 H. P.
I Ordained 2 Elders 2 Elders
I Ordained 1 President & 2 Councellors 3 Stake of Zion
I Blessed 45 Missionaries sent to all the world 45 Blesed
I spent 13 days in General Conferences
& reported & recorded the doings of the same 3 Conferences
I attended 14 councils with the presid[en]cy & Twelve
I Recorded 6 sermons & 20 Blessings of Missionaries
I wrote 21 Letters (I recei[ve]d 8 lettes) 21 Letters
I attended 30 Prayer meetings with presidcy & 12
I was Elected a member of the Legislature of
the Territory of Utah and spent 50 days in the Assembly
I was Appointed Clerk & Historian
For the quorum of the Twelve Apostles
I married three couple 3 Married
WILFORD WOODRUFF'S
JOURNAL
FOR
1853
~ Saturday
JAN 1st 1853 The commencement of a new year
in the midst of a New Era. O how time
flies and how great, how important how magnificent, and how
mighty are the Events born on its wings it is the opening of a dispen
sation that swallows up all other dispensations since the world
began the deeds of the last thousand years sink into insigniff-
icans in comparrison to the work of a year at the present time
The Heavens gaze upon the scenes as they pass with deep interes
while the whole Earth beholds the scenes in wonder & amacement
The ancients Prophets saw by vision & revelation the scenes which
were to follow each other in quick succession in this age in the
esstablishment of the great Kingdom of our God to be thrown
down no more forever. The little stone cut out of the mountain
without hands that was to roll forth untill it became a mountain
& filled the whole Earth & broke in peaces & subdued all other
kingdoms & was to stand forever as seen by the prophet Daniel
has commenced its work. that Church & Kingdom of God is
now on the Earth & is being esstablished which must endure & the
world are gaziong upon it, it is now located in these vallies of the
mountains like a city set upon a hill which cannot be hid. its
first Prophet & Founder has laid down his life in its defence
He has been martered, & his blood is crying from the ground
for vangance upon a great Nation. many others have fallen
a martyr to the truth & the gospel of Jesus Christ since the organiza-
tion of this church in A.D. 1830 & many others may, yet the
Church is bound to arise & prosper untill the Zion & Kingdom
of our God shall stand forth in bold relief containing all that
power, strength, might, majesty & dominion which God has
decreed concerning her & been spoken through the mouths of
his Holy Prophets since the world began. This Church & Kingdom
has continued steadily to arise since its first organization amid
oppostion, oppression, persecution, & martyrdom untill it has become
esstablished in the midst of thes everlasting hills & mountains not ownly
gaining strength in church but also in state. Ephraims Nobles are
of himself & his Govonor has procedid out of the midst of him. And
while truth inspires my heart shall I fear to write it MShall I fear
that the present or future Generations shall read those truths which
are burning in my breast enkindled by the Holy Alters of Heaven No
God forbid for the voice of truth whispers to me that Our Govornors
Presidents & senators now arising out of the Kingdom of God will
be inspired to take bold measures, to perform daring acts, rise
up in their stregngth & power & stregth [stretch] forth their strong arms
& save from annihilation that Holy instrument the Constitutin
of the United States. which the American People are about to sell
for a mess of potage & triying to consine it to the grave. Their is a
power who has decreed that liberty freedom & the rights of the
Righteous & the meeke of the Earth shall not wholey die & that power
is God. And He has decreed to inspire & nerve up the Soul the
sinew & the Arm of his Govornors Senators & prophets &
Arm them for the contest, and defend them in their warfare
That Nation or Kingdom or Toungue or people, from this time forth
who shall rise up against Zion & the Church & Kingdom of God
to oppress her. They shall be visited by the Judgments of the
Most High they shall be overthrown & brought to desolation & may
God spedily Hasten it May the Almighty begin this year to rend the kingdoms
of this world with his Servants & continue it untill all nations shall acknowled[ge] ther is
a God in Israel
Jan 1st 1853 The quorum of the Twelve Apostles met at the Council
House at 8 oclok being eleven in number the whole quorum except Elder
Orson Pratt (who is at Washington preaching the gospel) The quorum marched
to President Brigham Youngs & wished him a Happy New Year President
Young received them with Joy & gladness & after the greetings were over
President Young asked what he should treat them with. The senti-
ment was instanteneous in the hearts of all the quorum & spoken by president
Orson Hyde, treat us with your blessings then President Young blessed the
quorum of the Twelve & said they always had his blessings. And the Twelve
Apostles felt & realized that the blessings of the Presidency of the Church
& Kingdom of God was of far more worth & benefit to them than any
Earthly gift or the Treasures of the Earth their hearts were full of joy
& gladness which was unspeakable at the blessing of once more having
the privilege of returning from the four corners of the Earth & beholding each
others faces & sitting in council together & meeting with the president
& his counsel & receiving blessings at their hands. The Twelve left their blessgs
upon President Young & his house while the Twelve were paying their respts
to President Young the band was playing a lively tune in front of the House
the quorum saluted the two bands with a Happy New Year & received in
return some excellent music. The quorum then visited President Heber
C Kimball & wished him a happy new Year. He also received
the Twelve with Gladness & gave unto them his blessings which was also
highly prized. In his blessings unto them he said his faith & feelings were
that no one of the present quorum of Apostles should ever fall & no power
should ever take their Crown & Kingdom but they should come forth
in the morning of the first Resurrection & be exhalted to glory immortal-
ity & Eternal lives, and their blessings should increase from this time
henceforth & for ever & they should not want bread but they should
have means to support themselves & families. My Feelings have ever
been good towards this quorum & ever will be. The Twelve left their
blessings upon presidet Kimball & household. And next visited Father
John Smith the aged Patriarch & wished him a happy New Year. He
manifested much Joy & satisfaction in seeing Eleven of the Twelve
Apostles beneath his roof. This venerable Patriarch also bestowed upon
the Twelve his blessing, & said they should live to see the Kingdom of God ^& Zion^ ess
tablished to be thrown down no more forever & that none of them should
ever fall but should have part in the first resurrection, no power should
take their crown but they should be blessed in all their labours in
the Earth & that the blessings of God should increase upon them from
this time forth both temporal & spiritual. The Apostles also left their
blessings upon the Patriarch & his household they next visited President
Willard Richards He also received them with Gladness & an open hart
they wished him a Happy new year. He also gave the Twelve his
blessing He believed this is a begining of an Eventful year in the History
of this Church & kingdom on the Earth & he believed each suceeding
year would be more & more so untill the coming of the son of man
He said the Twelve were ever before him in his thoughts prayers &
blessings notwithstanding they might be scattered to the fore cornors of the Earth
they were men of God & were destined to perform a great & mighty work in
the Earth & they should live till they were satisfyed with life they should
see light & truth prevail over sin tradition & Error & triumph in the Earth.
The Twelve next went to the house of Elder P. P Pratt & there united with his family in singing the return
of the Twelve & other songs of Zion. The spirit & power of God rested upon the quorum of the
Twelve while their hearts were filled with praise & thanksgiving to God in all their visits
on this the new year of 1853. The bands also continued their salutations to Presidents Kimball
Richards & Patriarch Smith & many others in various parts of the City & their enlivening
music was evry whare received with open ears & harts of Joy God bless the bands
during the evening the quorum of the Twelve with the Presidency with about
200 Latter Day Saints met with their familis at the Social Hall & dedicated
it for the purpose for which it was built, after which they went forth
in the dance & all seemed to enjoy themselves well
~ Sunday
Jan 2nd Sunday I attended meeting Brother Joseph Toronto Preached
& gave an account of his Travells out through Italy & the dangers he run in
in Preaching the gospel to his native country He was among the waldens
He spoke of the hard labour they had to Endure in order to get a living
that they not ownly backed up their hay & wood upon their back
but also the Earth to make gardins to raise their vegitables. his rehers
account of his ministry was quite interesting. He was followed
by a sailor who baptized Brother Toronto in the commenemt.
The Presidency & Twelve met in counsel at 3 oclok & we had
a good time
~ Sunday to ~ Saturday
2 3 4 5, 6 7, 8 I spent the time in the Legislature
~ Sunday
9th Sunday I attended meeting Brother P. P. Pratt addressed the assem
bly in an interesting manner upon some interesting subjects He was
followed by Brother Growuard who gave an interesting account
of his mission on the western Islands He gave a description of his
travels among the natives his sufferings among them [and] opposition by
the French Government He was 9 years on his mission & several years
without hearing any thing from the Church his mental sufferings
was vary great the first information he did obtain upon
the subject was from a letter which I wrote him & that he did
not obtain untill two years after it was written. He made
many interesting remarks concerning the customs of that
people
during the Afternoon I attended meeting for prayer with
the Presidency & Twelve
~ Monday to ~ Friday
10, 11, 12 13, & 14 I spent this week in the Legislator
~ Saturday
15 [FIGURE] I spent this day in reading the Official Report
of capt Howard Stansbury capt of Corps of Tipogra-
phical Ingenear of the survey of the Great Salt Lake
it was truly an interesting work He has given a true correct
Just & impartial account of President Brighm Young & the Saints
over whom he presides in the great Basin of North America
~ Sunday
16th Sunday I attended [meeting] C. C. Rich preached & said that
he was seeking salvation this was his object & chief persuit in
life & the people would have Zion as soon as they learned to do
& act [right] & if all the people were righteous & did right they would
have Zion & the millinum would commence He made many
good remarks upon the subject & his exortation was good
President Brigham Young followed him & remarked that
the whole human family were seeking salvation as they suppose
but all in their own way but many man could not comprehend
the truth Many Phylosiphers could believe & comprehend that matter
was Eternal but could not comprehend that God was Eternal
or never had a begining but I can Brother Rich remarks abt
Zion are correct I have had Zion with me ever since I have
been in the Church I have it all the time & thousands of others
have it but many do not what is the matter the[y] receve
the gospel because it is almighty because they see that it will prevail
& be upper most they receive the truth but do not receive the love
of it, & hence they fall out by the way & if you want to know
[who] receives the truth but not the love of it see who falls out by the way
some who are in the Church sware take the name of God in vain
they say they will be damned if they do this or that so they will
be they are Damned already. Now is the time to get your salvation
& exhaltation it has to be done here your words thought acts & deeds
are daily either Exhalting or debasing you if you are not geting
your exhaltation here you will not get it hereafter then try to
improve your time here & get salvation daily if you pay strct
attention to yourselves in all things you will not have much time to
attends to the faults of your neighbors met in the eveng for prayer
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
17, 18 19 20 I spent the time in the Legislature
~ Wednesday
19th I maried Edward Allen & Mary Ann Wright today
~ Friday
21st [FIGURE] Our Legislature closed this night it sat till a vary
late hour bothe houses sat in Joint session with the Govornor
& they closed with the best of feelings on all sides speeches were
made by the members speaker President & Govornor the
Govornor said in refference to diversion that he never wished
to see any sport made of any mans religion or the mane [name] of God
or the Sav^i^our named in sport it always grieved him to hear it
& he did not wish to have any of his friends call for any
play or scenery whare he was present that would call forth
any thing of the kind many good remarks were made by all
who spoke. The clerk of the House said that he had never called the roll
during the session but what there was a quorum present
& the speker had never had an occasion to call any metn [meeting]
to order neither had one member ever called another to order
~ Saturday
22nd I spent the day at home was quite unwell
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday I attended meeting Elder O Hyde preached
said we should acknowledge the hand of God in all things refer
ed to Martin Luther the refermation &c & said the hand of God
was in it & that He had inspired Columbus & many men to per
form certain works & who knows but what he inspired Mohomd
to cause the people to acknowledg one God & one prophet. Martin
Luther with others created a great change in his day from
Popary, to more freedom of conscience in religious & political
matters & the way has been prepared in process of time so the
kingdom of God has been esstablished & so with all the events of
the present day steem power, rail roads Telegraph lines, & all the
Revolutions of the present Nations may we not acknowledge the
hand of God in them all as bringing to pass the purposes of the
Lord. The Lord says he is angry with none exsept those who do
not acknowledge his hand in all things No man can find out God
we shall not noknow as much as God for then there would would
be two competitors on the Throne we may see the day when we
shall know as much as God does now but then He will know as much
more at that time than we as he does now. if we do wrong we shall
be chastized for it if we do well we shall have our reward for that
P. P. Pratt followed & said how could doors be open in China
& other parts of the world if God had not moved upon some
of the Nations to cause a change among the nations & to have the
bible printed in the different languages so the people could have
the scriptures to read. After men have published the bible &
got $50,000 dollars for the same if they wont receive the fulness
of the gospel when they hear it the Lord can say to them you
are well paid for what you have done & if you wont do any more
go your way I will raise up somebody else so dont you complain as
you have got your pay I fell thankful for a few truths that are abr[oa]d
in the world as it prepares the way for many more
Brother A Lyman followed & said he was glad to hear what
had been said He felt to acknowledge the hand of God in all things many
might say we would have bettered our condition if we had gone to
Calafornia but if you had gone there you would have gone whare
the devil would have had a chance to have spewed his filth over you
fo it would have been like going into the midst of hell some complan
about these Hills, deserts & mountains it is in consequence of these
things that we are here if we were in a desireable spot whare
the gentiles would wish to occupy it we would have trouble
from them & these are some of the things we ought to be thakful
for those persons that would be discontented with this people
would be discontented in paradise & they might have the
making of it themselves it would add much to the happiness
of mankind if they would be submissive to those powers which
they cannot controll but which ought to controll them
I met in councel with the Presidency & Twelve in the Afternoon
for prayer. I attended meeting in the Afternoon evening at
14th ward school house & preached to the people
~ Monday
24th I spent the day at home
~ Tuesday
25th I spent the time at home Mrs Woodruff was sick
during the night
~ Wednesday
26 [FIGURE] Aphek Mrs Woodruff was delivered of a son this morning
at 1 oclock which died at 3 oclock living but 2 Hours I named
it Aphek & blessed it before it died I buried it during the
day in my garden. I felt it to be quite a loss to us.
~ Thursday
27th [FIGURE] President Young appointed a party for the
Presidency & Twelve & some other friends I attended at
the social Hall A good feast was prepared & all enjoyed
themelves well
~ Friday
28th Mrs Woodruff is quite poorly today I spent the day at
home
~ Saturday
29th [FIGURE] I wrote a letter to I F Carter today Mrs Woodruff
is still quite poorly
~ Sunday
Jan 30th Sunday P. P. Pratt preached. his subject was the
Kingdom of God which was to be set up in the last days He
said if we were to take the present order rules & regulations
of either the Jews, Gentiles Christian or pagan as as Standrd
standard to set up as the patern for the great Kingdom of our
God of which the prophets had spoken their was none of the
which would fit compare or answer the purpose at all for the
last dispensation when did we ever see a generation or any
Nation make their own prophets & Apostles to get Revelation
& do the wok of God. In order to set up a kingdom & gov[ernme]nt
in the last days to gather the 10 Tribes of Israel the Jews & gentiles
& all Nations break down the Romon power build up
esstablish Zion & maintain it. it must be sumthing diff[ere]nt
from any Human government or device of man it must
originate from the heavens be governed & controlled by the
God of heaven led by inspiration & Revelation in all of its
undertakings & it must contain within itself all the blessings
& covenants which God made to Abraham concerning his
seed & posterity. This Kingdom is here in the valley of the
mountains it has been esstablished by the hand of God and
it embraces all that God has promised, or that is necessary to
perfect the great work or all that Jew or Gentile can look for
it embraces the whole of the New & everlasting covenant the fulness
of the gospel, with all the power & Authority of the same the
Keys of the Kingdom the endowments sealing powers the patriarchal
Matrimony & the foundation laid for gathering all Israel.
The Ancient deciples & Apostles did not set up this
Kingdom as some have supposed when they inquired of
Jesus if he would at that time restore again the Kingdom to
Israel Jesus informed them that it was not given to
them to know (even) the times & seasons which the Lord
had reserved unto himself when he would set up the
Kingdom so they were not permitted to know the time
much less to perform the work They asked the Saviour
what they should do then He told them they should bear
witness of his name before both Jew & gentile & for
this same testimony they would have to lay down their lives
the Kingdom of God was set up in their day but the people
would not permit it to remain long among [them] for they killed
the prophets, Apostles, & Elders who preached the gospel of the of the Kingdom of God & the priesthood & Kingdom
kingdom
of God was taken from them & they have fallen into darkness &
Error. But now the Kingdom of God is set up for the last time
to again restore Israel & you cannot force Israel even
by the sword to receive a Kingdom & Laws & acknowledge the
great standard which is to be set up in the last days for the
governing gathering & controlling of all Israel except it
is right & according to the promises made to the Fathers & this
Kingdom of God when it was to appear was to be like a mustard
seed it was to be the least of all herbs but was to grow untill the
folls fowls of heaven lodged in the branches thereoff. should we
attempt to take any of the Kingdoms of the world as this great
standard out of which to build the Kingdom of God it would not
compare at all with the parable given. but when we take
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it does compare
in every respect & contains within itself evry thing that is promis
in the great standard that was to be set up in the last days it is no
matter what this is called at the present time a church a republic
or a Kingdom. the Kingdom is certainly here & in vary deed
it has commenced like a mustard seed vary small but as the seed
gathers its seed mosture from the Earth which causes it to spring forth
& take root so will this Kingdom continue to gather the good from
all Nations untill it becomes the greatest of All Kingdoms under
Heaven & untill the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom
of our God & his Christ the signs of this Kingdom are appearing in
the heavens & the Earth that was spoken off by Christ & the Apotles
& why should not the Kingdom appear some may say I have been
Baptized Joined the church am in the Kingdom Now why may not
I go to Calafornia & get gold & take all the comfort I can in this
world well if one part of the Kingdom of God have a right to
go the whole have & scatter abroad then whare is your Kingdom
& gathering we are now in as good a place as we can get in
if we were to go to calafornia we would be whare we would
be in the midst of the scum of Hell. If we should go to Cal
or New Orlens because we could get sugar for 3 cts whare would
the work of the Kingdom of God be my views are that when
we are gathered we keep so & build up Temples give Endowments to
the living & dead except as we go on missions abroad in the
world as the Angels would go to hell on a mission & [be] glad to
return as soon as they got through. If you want gold build
up the Kingdom of God make Zion a city on a hill that cannot
be hid & carry out the purposes of the Lord & then gold will
flow in unto you from all Nations your Presidency & Apostles
will then hardly have time to go out of the Temple to get their
breakfast instead of runing about to know how to get their land
ploughed so as to raise bread to eat & while all Nations are brea
king up[.] the rich am[on]g them will invest their wealth among the
institution of Zion & not trust it among the sinking Nations
& those that wished to save their lives will flee to Zion for safety
for they will be the ownly people that will not be at war one
with another many other Edifying remrks were mad by the speakr
Elder Amasa Lyman followed & said that the members of
this Kingdom possessed that faith & knowledge that if all the
world would say they did not believe it it would not make
any difference with them for they know of its truths The
sectarian world can write & say many putty things but
why do they not carry them into practice the main difficulty
is their is no nucleus around which to gather, in order to
practice what they preach. but we believe that when God said
he would set up a kingdom which should break in peaces
all other Kingdoms & stand forever that He will perform what
He has spoken. The Lord has said that that Nation that
fought against Zion should be broaken in peaces & utterly
wasted away & while the Elders are gathering the Saints from
all Nations & Kingdoms & will continue untill the winding up
scene we can make some calculation what Zion is destined
to be. many other remarks were made by Brother Lyman
I attended prayer meeting with the Presidency & Twelve in the Af-
ternoon & I preached in the evening to a full House in the 14th
ward school House I also spoke upon the kingdom of God
said that none of the words of the Lord spoken would retu-
rn unto him void but would accomplish all that he had
declaired that the Elders were gaining more strength &
confidence & power, in declairing the Kingdom of God to
the world. I confirmed one member of the Chuch
~ Monday
31st & 32 I spent the time at home writing
~ Tuesday
Feb 1st I spent the day writing we had a hard snow storm
at night
~ Wednesday
2nd [FIGURE] I wrote a Letter to Benjamin Baker
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
3, 4 5. I spent the time writing my byography
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I attended meeting Elder Lorenzo Snow preached
He spoke vary well exhorted the saints to faithfulness the
young men to study the different languages that they might
be useful among the Nations He exhorted the saints that was expetg [expecting]
to stay in the valley to do all they could to forward the work of God He said
if any of the brethren wanted to be marterd or lay down their
lives for Christ sake they can have a chance by going to
Europe or some of those foreign Nations He said that after
the Danish Government had banished the Amarican Elders from
the Kingdom that the native brethren said to the poliece the
seed is sown the truth is here it is in our hearts & we are here
ourselves & shall defend the truth many interesting remarks
were maid by Brother Snow
President B Young followed & said the organization
of man is one of the deepest subjects that the phylosopher of the
day attempt to investig[at]e the mystery of man in his organiza
tion has been a study for ages it has been a mystery but it
is because of ignorance their is no such thing as mystery or miracle
ownly to the ignorant any intelligent being that knows the
caus & effect of things it is no myracle or mystery it is our
privilege to asspire after that knowledge that the greatest intel
igance possesses we should take that course that we may ever
increase in knowledge than we are sure of exhaltation
why I make mention of this thing is because I look
upon this people who are now before me I am like the
rest of you that when the light of truth shines upon me
my mind enlightened and I am asstonished to look at
the world of mankind their actions are like little Children
you look at your children about the House & you will see pe[r]fect
pattern of the world the children will fight & cry about &
after evry thing that they ought not to have they want a looking
glass hammer razor & many things that they would injure
themselves & are not old enough to handle so it is with all
the world if they had all their desires granted them they
would leap deaches, fences, hedges & gutters & go to hell across
lots & never wait to take the road even old men like children
will ask for things they cannot use and I can see the same
in this Church many of the people ask for things they cannot
handle I see it evry day. I wish to exhort the people here to an
item of our religion yet I am happy to say that the item that
I am about to exhort you to the people generally are ready to carry
out firstly I would say let us observe the mormon creed let
evry mind their own business evry one has weeds enough in
his own guarding to attend to without attending to the weeds
in his Neighbors garden for while you are attending to
the weeds of your Neighbor those in your own will grow vary
thick & tall & will finally spoil the good seed I am asstonished
that the people do not see that they can get along much better
without doing evil than with. if a person does you an injury dont
retaliate & you get a great advantage of the person doing the evil
if a person injures you do him good & you get the advantage
of him & the victory. Follow the counsel of Brother Snow and
improve your time in study & treasureing up knowledge childn
should have their times of recreations for if they are kept still
from seeing & knowing any thing appertaining to amusements till
they are 18 yars of age when they do get out they will act
vary wild. but let the children sow their wild oats do up the
dancing & frolicking while young that when they get older they m[a]y
read the Bible Book of Mormon & preach the gospel & do goog [good] on
the Earth I want to know all their is on Earth in Heaven
& Hell so that no person shall know more than I do but
in obtaining this knowledge I do not wish to sin their is
no need of singing.
If the weather had been good I should have called upon
the people to have commenced diging out the foundation of the Temple
I want to lay the cornor stone of the Temple on the 6th day of next
April if the Lord will if you want to know what size I am
calculating to build the Temple I will say I am expecting to
break ground 150 feet by 220 And the foundation for
the building to stand upon 20 feet deep & 20 feet wide
& 10 feet high the basement story will then commence on
the top of the foundation & that will be 16 feet high 8 feet under
ground & 8 feet above then the main building will commence
on the top of the basement story. what is there here in this
valley that should hendor this people from being happy I am
happy because I do not fret about any thing that I cannot
do. I wont fret about any thing what henders your
praying & praising God No body but your own selves if you
are seeking to weed your neighbors garden you will have
business enough. but this is a happy people I wish they
would prize their blessings. You have not got to mourn
as did the Ancients because their children would Apostitise
turn from God & be cursed Our children will not Apostitze
they will not have time but will have all they can do to perform
the work of God as it rolls upon them to prepare the kingdom
for the coming of Christ gather up the Nations &c Then be
happy & do the things required of you
I attended the prayer meeting in the Afternoon And preached
to the 14 ward school House in the evening to a crouded House
I took for my text the mormon creed mind your own
business I told them what our own business was to preach
the gospel to the Nations of the Earth gather Israel & build up Zion
weed our own gardens & let our neighbors alone. dont interfere
with your neighbors affairs for that is his business & not ours
~ Monday
7th I walked to Snows herd ground & back distance of the day 20.
~ Tuesday to ~ Wednesday
8, 9. I spent the day at home writing
~ Thursday
10th I spent this day at home writing
~ Friday
Feb 11th [FIGURES] This was a painful day I was called at about 1 oclok
this morning to administer to sister Rhodes who had
been labouring in Child birth for two days she was nearly worn out
as she could not be deliverd. Brother Franklin Richards with myself
administerd to her but she died at 2 oclock amid the greatest Agiony I closed
her eyes. At 3 oclock PM. there was a Post Mortom examination made
the Presidency and several of the Twelve were present the surgical operation
was performed by Dr Andrews and no blame was attached to the mid
wives who officiated {the following is the result of the examination the child lay across the womb with
one hand oblong the head lay on the right side the feet on the left the child had torn the womb
to pieces with his feet and the afterbirth so [if] the child had been born the woman could not live
the doctor gave the following instructing to the women if the child presents feet first put a hand into the
womb and bring out the child feet first and if the child's face is outward so the chin would hook under
the [illegible shorthand] bone turn the child with the face towards the back bone then it can be born if the child
should come doubled up put up the hand and bring down one limb at a time in the womb and turn the child
he said the woman's [feelings] should not be consulted at such times but the
midwife should use their own judgment}
~ Saturday
12th [FIGURE] I attended sister Rhodes Funeral The President Twelve
& a large congregation of people assembled and President Young
preached & said that the few remarks I have to make I will endeavor
to speak to the point my text is it is better to go to the house of mour-
ning than to the House of feasting for that is the end of all men & the living
will lay it to heart. [Ecclesiastes 7:2] When we are in a situation so that we cannot
know any thing ownly what we know by the natural senses it causes
us to mourn the loss of friends but if we could understand all
things it would often times be a source of Joy instead of morning
when a spirit enters a tabernacle here in this life it enters
into a state of sorrow yet if we understood things in their
tru light we should be satisfyed with it. When the spirit
enters the body it enters a dark sell and is left to sorrow &
to be tried in all things but when the spirit leaves the body if
a saint it enters into the brilliant light and glory of God like
taking a prisioner out of a dark sell whare he could see a
little glimmer of light through the grates & put him into the
blaze of the mid days sun. when we loose our Friends we mourn
but what is it that mourns is it that light, truth and intellige[nce]
of the Almighty that is in man that mourns No it is the grocer
part of our being that mourns let a person be unclothed and
we could see the spirit of our sister and all other friends & shake
hands with them & spirit be tangible to each other as our bodies
now are to each other when I am filled with the spirit of God
I can see men and what is in them and the more we are in
refined in spirit the more we can see the reason I cannot shake
hands with Sister Rhodes is becaus of this gross body. Women
were not made to die in child bed as Sister Rhodes has done
but what is the matter death is here it is death that has caused
it death is in the land around us it is here Children die before they
are born this because their is death around us we cannot
se it we have the Head ake we cannot se that (yet it exist) because we are
in the body but if we were out of the body we could se it we should advance
in the phylosophy of Eternal things and learn as we live when
we go to the House of feasting we go to feast our bodies when we go to the
house of mourning we mourn as it were in spirit and our minds
are called to serious truths but what would really be a case of
mourning it would be to follow a person to the grave who had not
improved their day of salvation had an oppertunity of being saved
& exhalted & had neglected it that would be a case of mourning but
a person that had done the best they could & improved their oppor-
tunities of salvation we have no cause to mourn for such I would
say to the children dont mourn for your mother I would to God you was
as sure of salvation as your mother is If I was to mourn for any thing
in this case it would be because we have not more power to
cast the devil out of the house and out of the Neighborhood. Can we
realize that sister Rhodes is not dead she lives now more
than she did before it is the sinner that will die not the Righteous
when the spirit of this woman left the body it was ushered into
a flood of light but her body is as any other clay but her spirit
is in open day she saw a little light in the body so as not to put her eye
out when she came to the full light
I wish to give a little counsel to the children here Brother Snow will
take charge of the place I want the children to go to school and
want an inventory of things here taken for the benefit of
Brother Rhodes & brother Snow both I request the children to do
as well as your mother has done according to the light you have &
I will warrant you salvation & Eternal life & I would say
the same to all who are here but upon no other principle
can I warrant anybody salvation exsept upon the principle
of doing good & obeying the Lord do good to your families & to
each other. I want to say to all present there is no blame to be
attached to any of the sisters who waited upon Sister Rhodes they
have all done as well as they could for I have enquired into
the whole affair & her time had come to die & so will [yours]
in its turn.
~ Sunday
13th Sunday Meeting was addressed in the morning B[y] Brother Joseph
Young He spoke of the blessings of the people it was not wealth &
riches that made men happy but it was by having the truth & obey-
ing if this people are called a happy people well they are in a great
measure yet many of the saints have disappointment in their path
yet we should trust all our affairs in the hands of god we should
do right & follow the counsel of those that are set over us & carry
out their views & the blessing of God will attend us & we shall be happy
J. M. Grant followed and said he hoped all would
attend to their prayers it takes as much to damn a man as it
does to save him some wonder why we dont have revelation
now in our day as well as in the days of Joseph. in his day the bretn
would not build a log cabin till they went to Joseph to ask counsel
how they should set it whare they should put the door &c but at
the present day men have learned to do sumthing themselves without
troubling the president or the Lord about it some have thought if they
could get to Jackson Co Mo or in this valley they would be Holy & amdng [and among]
a Holy people but I do not know of any soil that will make men
Holy if men are not Holy themselves I dont know of any particular
spot of ground that will make them so. Joseph had to give written
Revelation to get men to go on missions but I do not believe that any
men were ever called more by Revelation or as much as any
that were ever called to go on a mission to preach the gospel than
were our Brethren last fall nor do I believe any men wer filled
more with Revelation & inspiration in blessing those set apart then
were our Brethren who blessed those set apart last fall their is no
other kingdom like this on the Earth the Ancient Apostles had no more
of the spirit of God to prepare them for their work then our Apostles
have for the work which they have to perform in our day I would
say that the dispensation of Moses & Christ & the Apostles looks like this dis-
pensation though this dispensation will eclips all other dispensations
for it is the finishing up of the building Moses never began to do what
we have to do. I am of the opinion that men that are our prophets
Apostles & leaders that have laid the foundation of this Church & kingdom
& are building upon it were reserved forom Eternity to come forth
in this dispensation to accomplish the great work which is to be
done neve[r] did men live with more nerve desission of character
perseverance faith & power than those that lead this dispensation
Had they have lived in the days of the Apostles they would have raised
the devil with both Jew & Gentile. Had they have lived in the days of
Moses they would have raised the vary Devil with the Canaanites
& various Nations. the commencement of this Church & Kingdom
may not appear as great as it did in the days of Moses & Christ & the
Apostles but look at the progress of this kingdom. & the deeds & work
of Our leaders & the people are startling. even their exidous out of
the states to these mountains & the results that have & will follow
are greater than the results that followed Moses & the Israelites a
mighty great Nation have sent their Judges & rulers to us They
did not behave themselvs as they should do we cast them out &
sent them home if all the world was consolodated into one Nati[on]
& sent delegates & rulers unto us if they run against the priest-
hood & infringed upon our rights we would cast them out &
send them home regardless of consequences we know what the
consequences are.
I want to say to the mass of the saints here
you do not keep up with the Presidency of this Church & those
that are associated with him & if you are not careful I fear
they will get out of sight of you & perhaps be translated & leve
you I pray God to keep you in the path of duty so that you may
inherit all the blessings that are promised you
President Young Kimball followed & said he believed we had more to do than
other dispensations yet they had the Keys of the kingdom if they
had not had them they could not have given them to us Jesus says my
sheep hear my voice & will follow me if they dont pray I
think they are not the sheep of Christ if you dont ask the savio
saviour for what you want how do you expect to get it then ask
the Lord for what you want Brother Brigham holds the Keys of
this Kingdom & no body els holds them as he does others hold
keys but they hold them under him He holds the keys that Peter
held. some want to go to Calafornia whare it is warmer but
going to Calafornia wont warm your hearts the majority of
this people have great hearts & you want to be able to stand alone
without leaning upon any one if you dont do it you will be apt
to fall if I ever get to glory I expect to be tried some think they
been tryed by leaving their homes but how is it you was on other
mens lands & servants & now you have houses & lands of your own
so this was no great trial but a blessing but you have to be tried. we
are going to build up a Temple I expect the devil will kick up a fuss
by & by to try you well Let it come I hope the chaff will be blown
away but when Brother Brigham says build this Temple let us go to
it rit up. Some have asked if we could do any more good in the
States I say yes when those that profess to be saints will gather
out & not much before
B Young followed & said if the people will be on the Temple ground
to morrow at 11 oclok we will break the ground for the commencement
of the foundation of the Temple. I do not believe that Enoch & his
people eincreased in wrighteousnes faith & obedience & improved any
faster than this people have since the commencement of this Kingdom
I said this in the days of Joseph I have no doubt but God expects
us to improve more than any other people that ever lived on the
Earth then let us double our dilligence & let the parents both men
& women never scease untill they govern themselves in all things
and if we are tempted to do wrong never scease untill we conquor
that spirit & bring it in subjection under your feet that you may ere
long become rulers Kings & Priest unto God
~ Monday
[FIGURE] Feb 14th 1853 This was an important and interesting
day to the saints in the valley & even in all the world the saints
met upon the Temple block in a vast body to break the ground
for another Temple the people commenced gathering at an
early hour & at 11 oclok there were thousands upon the
ground President Young & Counsel The quorum of the Twelve
with many of the quorums of the Church were on the ground. All the bands
of music in the City were present. at 11 oclok President Brigham Young
Heber C Kimball & Willard Richards got into a buggy inside
the square surrounded by the quorum of the Twelve President Young
arose and addressed the people and said our history is to well
known for me to speak of it now. We shall now again attempt
to build another Temple we have tried it many times bet have
not been able to finished them so as to occupy them for any length
of time we may not now but we will triy it we may Just as
well build a Temple that will cost a Million of dollars as well
as not & we would be just as well off & better to than before
And I would just as well build a Temple that would cost
a million of Dollars if I knew we should be driven from
it in a month by our enemies as though we should occupy
it a Thousand years it is all the same with me for when the
Lords Commands us to do any thing we should do it just
as freely without asking the whys & wharefore whether we have
the privilege of enjoying it or not. If you ask if it is the will of
God for us to build a Temple I answer yes it is the will of God
we should build a Temple we cannot attend to the ordinances of
the House of the Lord without it. If you ask if I have received a
revelation or vision upon the subject I would answer yes I
have been in vision much of the time upon the subject I knew it
was the will of God that we should build a Temple on thise same
ground when I first came into the valley and while the brethren
were exploring out I said all the time this is the place for the City & Temple
it is the will of God that we should do all we can in this valley
& surrounding country for the benefit of the people if the people needed
it I would give them a written Revelation upon this subject
but do you not know that it is your duty to build up Houses for your
own benefit you want a buttery bedrooms & other convenient
rooms in your dwelling house well we want a Temple more
than we want dwelling houses. I will relate some of the sayings
of Joseph while in Kirtland He said conserning the building of that
Temple that it grieved him & also the spirit of God to think that
the saints were not willing to build a Temple by the counsel of the
priesthood without a written revelation & commandment from
God that was it not for the penurious feelings of the people the Lord would
not give revelations & commandments as he does whenever the
Lord finds the people willing to do good build up his Kingdom & do good
without being commanded He will be more pleased with them
I will bring forth my art & plan for a Temple then if any
man can present any better plan or get faith enough to
call to his aid any of the old Nephites or any of the Anci[en]ts
& will present a better plan than mine will be we will
receive it.
A word to the people I wish to ask if you want
a commandment evry year to require you to pay your
Tithing when it is a standing law unto Israel & has been
from the days of Abraham you all know this well if you
dont want to pay your tithing or any portion of you I dont
want you should it is for your good not mine I dont
want a Temple to get my endowments in For I got my
Endowments and all the blessings appertaining thereto under
the hands of Joseph before his death & before the Temple was
built in Nauvoo & so did so my counsellors and a part of the
Tweleve get theirs before the Temple was built. Brother Joseph
seemed urged by the spirit of God to perform this work
had he not have done it he might have died without conferring
the Keys upon others. if this people pay their tithing we
shall have an abundance in the store house to build a
Temple with without giving all you have got yet all
you have should be upon the Alter ready to be offered if
necessary I shall ask the people to come & work out
their Tithing by labour for that is what we want I
believe we shall have your help.
7 years ago tomorrow
at 7 oclok I crossed the Missippi River I believed then
that God had a good place in the mountains for us &
would lead us to it and He has done it for which I feel
thankfurl. if some feel quite sorry for not having the
privilege of suffering with us but I will promise you all
if you will be faithful that you shall have the privilege of
suffering & being tried as much as you will wish let all
men be satisfied faithful & Humble and God will bless you
Heber C Kimball then arose & with uplifted hands to heaven
offered up a fervent Heart felt prayer to God imploreing his
blessing upon President Young & Councellors & all the Authorites
of the Church with the whole house of Israel He then dedicated
the ground unto God & prayed for the blessings of the Lord to
attend them in building the Temple & all the public works in
Zion
At the close of the prayer the presidency & Twelve walked to
the South East cornor of the ground laid out for the Temple
the ground being frozen President Heber C Kimball commenced
breaking the ground with a pick then President Richards then
Orson Hyde Parley Pratt, W Woodruff, J Taylor A. Lyman
C. C. Rich E. T. Benson L. Snow E Snow & F. D. Richards then
the ground was broke & President Young took out the first turf
while taking it out silver Dollar was flung from some one in
the congregation which strut in the hole brother Kimball said
that was an Omen that we should hav a plenty of mony
to build the temple with (Orson pratt was at Washigton &
G. A. Smith at Provo all the rest of the Twelve were present)
as soon as the turf was taken out the congregation was dismissed
& the people rushed to the hole to get a chance to throw a little
dirt out. My Father Aphek Woodruff aged 78 years, myself
Wilford Woodruff aged 46 years and My Son Wilford Woodruff Jr
aged 12 years, all flung out dirt out of the foundation for
this important Temple. After leaving the Temple ground I went
in company with the Presidency & Twele to see the New sugar
works opeprate I saw the Hydraulic press oparate in pres[ing]
out the Juice it was a splendid esstablishment Brother Joseph
Russell of Marimichi had furnished about $50000 dollars
to purchase the machinery & apperatus & get it to the valley
to make sugar from the beet. My Children Willford, Phebe
& Susan also Emma & Sarah were all present at the breaking
of the ground for the foundation of the Temple
~ Tuesday
Feb 15 A meeting of the seventies was called in the Tabernacle
the House was filled. The meeting was opened by prayer by Z
Pulsipher. J M Grant Arsose & said this meeting is to transact
business, preach & teach the people Regulate the diffent quors
&c. The Meeting was then addressed by Z Pulsipher who spoke
well & made good remaks
Henry Harriman next followed & spoke to edifycation
Milo Andrews next followed & also Edifyed the people
Harrison Burgess next followed He also spoke well quoted
some prophesies said the Seventis were to go out under the
direction of the Twelve & build up the Kingdom of God &
regulate all the affairs of the same in all the world who
of the seventies are prepared for all this we should improve
all our time in treasuring up Knowledge & instruction
& dont spend it foolishly for we shall want all the knowledge
we kan obtain in filling our mission to the Nations of the
Earth I was baptized in 1832 & have spent more than
half of my life in the work
Adjourned till 2 oclok Met at 2 ock according to adjournment
Prayer by W. Woodruff who also addressed the congregation
the following are some of the remarks he made. I am always
interested in meeting with the saints esspecialy with so many
of the Seventies & Elder as are here to day. There never was a
school in any age of the world that presents as much of interest
to the reflecting mind as the one presenting itself to us in this age not
ownly the affairs of the church but the History of the Changes & Revelo-
tion of all Nations on Earth. the Time has come when the Earth
is to be redeemed from the power & dominion of the Devil
& the heavens with all the prophets that have ever lived are inluded
in the great work the Elders who are before me to day have
this great battle to fight & the victor to win I never saw
a time in any age of my life when I have had more
desire to live than at the present time I want to see the work
progress, the kingdom rise that it may become esstablisd
in all the Earth & the Effects that will follow. yes the Elders
should improve their time in treasuring up knowledge &
counsel for you will want it when you go the Nations
of the Earth dont spent your time in playing cards
dice chess or in any such foolish way but improve the
time to the best advantage & seek to conquer yourselvs
& preside over yourselvs & bring all your passions in subjection
to the law of Christ as our president has taught us One
item which I count of importance I wish to speak off
I wish to exhort the 70s & Elders to keep a Journal &
History of their lives for the record & history of this
Church & Kingdom will be wanted in a future day ther
has been no dispensation on Earth the procedings of
which will be more interesting than the one in which we
live. Should we ever have the privilege in our resurrected
bodies of visiting other planits & the inhabitants of the same we
should want to learn the history of that people if they had
kept no records of their lives, & the dealings of God with them
so we could get their History we should feel much disap-
pointed so would they should they visit us. it is true
that Joseph Smith kept a History of his own life & those
things in some measure connected with him He is now
dead but his life & Testimony is now being published to the
world in seperate peaces in our publications. Also president
Young has scribes who are recording his daily acts & life
which is right & good. but does that record the life
History & dealings of God with the many thousands
of the Apostles & Elders who are or will be in all the world
among evry Nation under Heaven No varrily No. then
all ye Elders of Israel write your History & the dealings of
God with you in all the world for your own benefit
& that of your posterity, for the benefit of the House
of Israel, for the benefit of Jew & Gentile for the benefit
of futur generations, & in fine for the benefit of those
celestial beings from other planets who may see fit to
visit us either in time or Eternity & wish to visit our
libraries & peruse the History of the inhabitants of the
Earth esspecially the saints in the last dispensation & fulness
of times then write & do not neglect it; many other
remarks were made by the speaker which are not recorded
Here
Brother Wood next made a few remaks said he
would do all the good he could would follow the counsel of the prophets
& leave his conscience in the states for he believed the people would
be led by the Holy Ghost if they followed the counsel of the prophets who
were set to lead them. He thought they were safer than his conscene
for paul once thought in all good conscience that he was doing
Gods will by persecuting the saints so his conscience decvd him
A. P. Rockwood next spoke & said my text is in the words
of the Apostle Wilford that we are the people chosen to build
up the Kingdom this I believe to be true many glorious
principles have been displayed in the words of Brother Woodruff
& they are worthy to be written & handed down to all generations
as it would be profitable for all to read all should write &
learn to write in short hand that we may report speeches &
sermons let us pay up our tithing & obey the authorities that
are put over us the brethren had much rather be brought
before the Authorities of the land than the Church
Meeting adjourned till 6 oclok in the evening when the people met
& about 40 were ordained to the Seventies & remarks made
from several of the brethren
~ Wednesday
16th Meeting commenced at 10 oclok Brother Greward who had
been to the Islands on a mission preached in the forenoon gave
an account of his mission & closed up by speaking & saying the
Lords prayer in the Tahitain language. I was not present at
his discourse so I could not write it
A Lyman followed at some length said he had no Different
feelings abot the seventies than he had abot the Elders or High priest
He was no more partial to one than the other He did not know of any
ordination that was of any benefit to him aside from his own
exheriton He never boasted of any office he had He wished to live
in such a manner that I can say to all men follow me I dont
wish to be under the necessity of citing evry body to follow Brother
Young or Brother Kimball I want to be able to say to all follow me as
I follow Christ many other remarks were made by Brother Lyman
Brother Coleburn made some remarks said he was baptize by Brother
Brigham Young in 1833 was ordained an Elder by Joseph Smith
Brother Joseph Young addresed the meeting wished all might soon
be enabled to govern themelvs I am president of the Seventies
& the quorums were set in order by Joseph Smith & I suppose it
is right their is a president over each quorum of the seventies
And I want evry president to keep their quorums in order
it is the privilege & duty of evry president to try & cut off any
member of his quorum if they are worthy of it I dont want to
be to slow or two fast but as near the line as I can get. And I wish
others to do the same I wish All the seventies to take the Desarett News
& read it & let your children read it & put it in your library & preserve
it. I also want you to sharpen up your swords & keep your arm in
order & learn the art of war and I want all to do military duty
Joseph once said if we did not keep our arms in order an enemis
might come upon us as unawares & destroy us but if we are prepared we
need not fear I was at the slaghter at Hauns mill I dont want to see
any more of it. I also want the Seventies to pay up their tithing
it has now become a matter of Church fellowship & I hope you will
not forget it
E T Benson followed was rejoiced to hear what he had it had warmed
up his hart I wich to obey the Lord & fulfill my calling we have had
good counsel & we will do well to follow it we are about to begin
another Temple I epect the devil will be mad I dont care if
we dont stay hare a month if the Lord wants we should go away
when I look back to the days of Nauvoo & compare them with
these days A [I] am satisfyed that evry move we make is for our
good many said then we could not travel but would be destroyed
Brother Brigham said we could Journey & not a man be lost & it
has proved true we are here & in a good situation yet if ye will live
godly in Christ Jesus ye shall suffer persecution this Kingdom has
to be built up by manual labour I hope this people will soon be in
a situation to live by their own resources & not trust to the Gentiles some
dont pray but a man can no more live without praying than they can
without bread if you dont keep the commandments of God the devil
with use you for his deciple. Blessings will not stick upon an unfaith
ful man but they will upon one that is faithful. let us pray in secret
as well as in the family circle any body that dont know that
mormonism is true is not fit to send on a mission the priest of
the day say they preach from the bible I tell them they dont know that
it is true it is true but I know that mormonism is true
Erastos Snow followed & said that he was glad to hear what was
said it was good I am glad to see the seventies together you have
as much of a calling as you can fulfill dont wish for any greater
calling the day has come when this body of men will be
called into immediate action & if evry one of you could be in
20 places at once you would find enough to do it is better to
wear out than to rust out the Seventies are the bone & sinnew
of Israel the Battle Ax of the Almighty what a mighty influence
they must wield in Israel & the world we are begining to
become one as a people Joseph said he had got a lever under
the earth & he ment to turn it over that it might be right side
up the seventies I expect will do much towards turning it over
it is for our best interest to build up the Kingdom of God
& do his will
Erastus Snow followed Meeting continued through the evening
some two New quorums of seventies was organized during
the evening but I was not present & could not give particulars
but the evening closed up the meeting for business preaching &c
~ Thursday
17th I spent the day at home writing
~ Friday
18th I spent the day at home the west side Jordon hunting
for my horses & cows found my cows but not my horses
~ Saturday
19 I spent the day at home choring & writing
~ Sunday
20th Sunday Erastus ^Snow^ addressed the meeting & spoke well He said
[FIGURE] if he spoke to their edifycation it would have to be by their
prayers & faith he said he felt dull & did not feel as he did while
in the vineyard preaching he felt he said as the little boy at
sea in the storm his Father was captain of the ship & had the
helm & all were afraid of being lost the boy was asked why
he was not afraid he replyed that he had no fear for
dada had the helm & their was no danger so I fell H[◊◊]
dada has the helm here so their is no danger He spoke
of his mission in denmark the Lord showed him that
the King & counsel was taking counsel against him to
to stop his preaching he herd their conversation in a
night vision but he said as I kept the Law & my brethr[en]
they could find no accusation against me. He exhorted
the Saints to faithfulness & said many interesting things
He was followed by presidet Young
[FIGURE] President Brigham Young arose & said he does appreciate
the blessings we enjoy. There is no other people on earth that
enjoy as great blessings in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some suppose
that no people but ourselves have enjoyed the light of the Lord
no other people do enjoy the fulness of the gospel but all men more
or less have had the light of the Lord as he hwas LIts light that enlight[en]ed
evry man that cometh into the world. we are now living in the
times of times the dispansation of all dispansation none have
put it down no matter how it may be disspiced it is the Kingdom
of God on the Earth hear in our midst. now ask yourselves the
question are you as happy as you expeted you would be when
you got to Zion have you got what you anticipated you would get
All the world cannot disprove this to be the Kingdom of God
Here the Saints are gathered from the states England & other parts
of the world what were your feelings while there it was if I could
ownly get to the valley with the Saints I would be satisfyed for I
cannot bear to stay in the wicked world & hear the blasphemes of the
people but I want to be with the saints, well now are you not
with the saints & are you not the saints then are you happy
whad did you anticipate why it was that there would the blesed
Saints dwell whare there would be no more sin or wickedness and
I shall bask in the smiles of my Lord well how is it now is it as
you anticipated what henders your enjoying all that you anticipated
I can answer it for myself if I dont have all the light truth Joy
& happiness & glory that I anticipated [it] is because of my vary self and
my will prevents me. All hell cannot hender me if I am right
from enjoying all that I expect. If any other man does wrong
trespasses steals my polls fence or any thing els it is no reason why
I should do wrong again, because my neighbor does an evil
It is no reason why I should do an evil in all the days of my life
& say that man that will do right in all things let his Neighbor
do as he may shall have heaven here. Who has got power to che[a]t
me out of my crown, Glory, Heaven, Kingdom, &c who is it that
has an influence over you who is it ^[◊]^ will deprive you of all that
you expect nobody but yor own selves And any body that
does not know enough about salvation to judge what to do
when you are instructed continually are not capable of
receiving a Celestial Kingdom they are not worthy of it
No one that cannot preside over themselves is not worthy of
it but it is those who are valient in the Testimony of Jesus
Christ & bring themselves in subjection to the Law of Christ
& say I will serve God let others do as they may.
Another question I will do all I can to ask the Lord for
wisdom all the day long & if I do right am i not capapble of
knowing things for myself I am. when the people first
went to Jackson Co they thought if they could ownly get
there they would be in glory nearly all seemed anxious.
to get there I did not go myself but went into the world
& preached the gospel to the people but by & by the people in
that place had more trouble than we did. but I now
will ask if they suffered in their feelings as much as
they would have done if they had anticipated the trouble
& known it before No, for they could not bear it the
anticipatin of trouble or happines is far beyongd the
reality in this life. Some think they could not bear the
troubles that this Church have passed throgh, but I have passd
through it & bourn it well enough & never felt better
than I have in the midst of the persecutions of the Saints
We talk of sacrafize do we sacrafize in the building
of this Kingdom If I had millions & used it in
the building of this Kingdom bwould it be sacrafize No
If I was called to go & preach the gospel all the days of
my life & never see my family again it would not
be sacrafize what is our reward for our labour & faithfu-
lness it is Thrones, Kingdoms, principalities Eternal
Lives & a seat among the Gods then is it sacrafice No
such thing I believed that all would be better to gather togethe
with the saints than to remain in the world I thought all wou-
ld be honest I laid aside all my account Books I thought I
should not need to keep any accounts with the saints but I
have found it quite different many do not fell disposed to pay
their debts if they can gag red [get rid] of it. many of the saints are
fearful. The little time that I talked on the stand to Judge Bro-
cchus their was more suffering in the flesh ^&^ in spirit in the
few minutes & for months afterwards than you would suffer
in reality in years of persecution many in their imagin-
ation saw us all hung, shot, drown murdered massacred in
evry imaginable shape that you could think off & one reaso[n]
that you suffer so much more than you expected here in
Zion is you have brought yourselves with you but at last
you will lay down self & it will go to the dust now I want
to give a text for evry body to preach from & that is
take a course to restore confidence throughout the whole
land of Zion & the whole kingdom of God let confi-
dence be restored to all men by an upright course
of life & doing right unto all & practice it commence
with your family your children. If you give your child
any thing for instence a trunk to put their things in dont
never go to that trunk or disturb those things in any wise
without the special leave of your child so by your wife any
thing that she possesses or that you give her never disturb
that or take any thing that is hers without her leave so
let the wife do by the Husband never disturb any thing
that is his without his leave so with children they
should never touch any thing that is their parents
without their leave. I never opened a trunk belong[ing]
to one of my wives in my life but once & that was to get
a portrait to send to the states as I could not wait for
her to return before the messenger left then from your
families let this principle go through your neighborhood
& throughout the whole Kingdom of God pay all men what you
owe them fulfill your promises and if your Neighbors Horse
ox cow or any thing that he has is suffering by your door feed
it & save its life as you would if it was your own
and then let your Neighbors woods poolls fence & evry thing he
has got alone & let all of mine alone & I will yours And in
this way you will restore confidence dont trespass upon
any body but do right & the blessings of God will attend you
Brother Richards said owe no man any thing I owe gratitude
to God & to all mankigd in a measure but in a measure
or anoth[er] sens owe no man any thing but do right in all
things & you will have all the Heaven & Zion that you can
enjoy in this world
~ Monday
221st [FIGURE] I spent this day in Company with President Young
and had a vary plesant agreeable day with him I dined
with him in company with E. T. Benson President Young gave
me a mission to go onto the Temple Block & take Charge of
the tithing hands I agreed to do so
~ Tuesday
22nd [FIGURE] I spent a part of the day in company with Brother
Wells & Brother Angel in learning what was required of me in
taking charge of the tithing hands Brother Angel showed me the
Temple plot or ground plan which he had drawn I assisted Brother
Coray in taking the names of the Temple Ha[n]ds at night.
~ Wednesday
^[FIGURE]^ Wednesday 23rd I commenced my labour this morning on
the Temple ground in diging out the earth for the foundation
I found it a busy place
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
24, 25, 26 I spent the time on the Temple block
~ Sunday
[FIGURE] 27th Sunday I attended meeting President Brigham Yg
preached & he presented some of the most interesting &
deepest principles ever presented to man on the earth
I had not paper & did not write them the following are
some of the items given in speaking of the privileges of this peop[le]
He said the people should first perform evry known duty
& not neglect them to enjoy any pleasure in speaking of
danceing he said when the saints were taken up with the
spirit of the fiddle & dancing & had not the spirit of God
they were wrong & in the wrong road a man should
never go to a dan[c]e to the neglect of other Duties neith
should he unless he could have the spirit of God as well
as in a prayer meeting. He said some Elders would
threaten to curse their wives if they did not obey him
because he had the priesthood He said the curses of such men
wer of no force & the women need have no fears of it
He said again some men had a desire to stick to the
work because it made them kings & priest so they could
sway a great septer & rule with a rod of Iron & damn men
here & curse them there &sc and had not in view the
principles of Justice Jud[g]ment mercy truth &c but they cou[l]d
not arise upon such principle even God himself should
He act upon this principle He would scease to be God for
the principls that sustain him & his Throne would
forsake him & he would scease to be God for light &
truth & evry other good principle cleaves unto itself
And these all sustain the throne of God & He sustains them
He & all righteous men love the truth for the truth sake
& embrace it & maintain it because it is just & true
not because it gives them power to rule with a rod of
Iron Some men want women sealed to them at the
same time they will steel my property I want such
men to go to Calafornia as soon as possible for they will
go to Hell any how who should have women sealed to
them those men who have proved to God Angels & man
that they are willing to do any thing that God requires of them
at the sacrafice of all their own private interest or
feelings & have been faithful all the day long such should
have women sealed to them for they will be saved. I ha[v]e
told the brethren that all good men might have this privilge
but they must be their own Judges if men ask for this
privilege & abuse it they sell their birth right like Esau they
cannot never regain it in all Eternity men that have wom[en]
sealed to them & abuse them & turn them out doors & treat
lightly those sacred things given unto them it will prove a
curse unto them then beware O ye people how ye treat the thi[n]gs
of God that are committed unto you. for many will wake up
from an awful dream & find themselves wifeless & childless
in the morning of the resurrection who thought they had
possessions, for they will sceace to increase & when they
scease to increase they will decrease the diff[ere]n[c]e between Christ
& the devil is Christ will increase & the devil will decrese
untill Christ will have power to destroy death & him that
hath the power of death which is the devil yes the devil
will finally be destroyed & disorganized & will scease
to exhist as a devil & the Elements of which he is composed will
go back into its mother Element & the Devil will scease to be
& so will his Angels & evry thing that does not increase will
decreas untill it will be disorganzd & he expressed it as his
opinions that there were many who had a tabernacle on
Earth that would never have a resurrection many other
interesting remarks were made by the speaker
~ Monday
28 I spent the day on the Temple block
~ Tuesday
March 1st 1853 This is my birth day I am 46 years
of Age this day this birthday finds me having charge of
the tithing hands in commencg to prepare for the building of ano[t]h[er]
Temple to the Name of the most high God may the Lord enable us
to finish it
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
2, 3, 4 & 5 I spent this week on the Temple block
~ Sunday
6th Sunday I attended Meeting. J. M. Grant Preached to the people
compared this people to the chequer board that they would rush
the men on to the King row they could then jump any way he asked
the brethren to make their ditches fences guardins &c & said m[an]y good
things brother Kimball followed & took up the clay upon the wheel
in the hands of the potter & dwelt lengthy upon that subject &
taught many excellent principle He was followed by P. P Pratt
followed & made mayny good remks & g[a]ve good council &
W Woodruff spoke concer[nin]g the Temple
~ Monday
March 7th [FIGURE] I wrote 4 letters to I F Carter Maine & Mo St Louis J M.
Bernhisel washington H. S. Eldridge St Louis Mo, requesting them to let
I F Carter have $1000 or $1400, & I would pay them here &
I spent the day on the public work
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
8 9, 10, 11, 12 I spent the time on the Temple Block diging out
the suller.
~ Sunday
13th Sunday I attended meeting & Elder John Taylor preached
it was a vary cold day we had a prayer meeting in the
evening or afternoon
[FIGURE] March 13th 1853
Wilford Woodruff born March 1st 1807 In Farmington
Hartford County Connecticut
Phebe Whitmore Carter born March 8th 1807,
Scarborough Cumberland County Maine
Wilford Woodruff and Phebe Whitemore Carter
was sealed for time & Eternity by President Hiram
Smith in Nauvoo at 9 oclock P.M. Nov 11th 1843 it was not recorded
Wilford Woodruff and Phebe Whitmore Carter was
sealed at the Counsel House in Great Salt Lake City for time
and Eternity by President Brigham Young at 7 oclok
March 13th 1853
Wilford Woodruff & (Emma Smith born March 1st
1838 at Diahman Davis County Missouri) was sealed
for time & Eternity by President Brigham Young at
7 oclock P M. March 13 1853
Wilford Woodruff and (Sarah Brown born in
Henderson County New York Jefferson County New York
Jan 1st 1834) was sealed for time and Eternity by
President Brigham Young at 7 oclock PM March 13, 1853
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
March 14 15 16 17 18 & 19th I spent this week in diging out
the foundation for the Temple
~ Sunday
20th Sunday I attended meeting P P. Pratt Preached
was followed by David Whitmore. Brother Pratt Preached
upon the first principles of the gospel said the Ancient prophets
had a knowledge of the gospel & of Jesus Christ & bore testim
ony of him and the Apostles were called to preach it to
the nations I always was anxious to have the same gospel
esstablished in my day A methodist once asked me if I
did not rejoice to see that denomination prosper so I told him
no I said I wished that denomination & all others would come
down He asked why I said so the Church of Christ might be
built up in its stead. I had a man a few days since come
to me with a flying Roll from Gladden Bishop & wished to tech
me I herd him awhile I then asked him if He believed
Joseph Smith was a prophet of God & set up the Kingdom of God
on the Earth & ordained Twelve Apostles to build up that Kingdom
in all the world He said he did I then told him as I was
one of those Twelve Apostles that I should be damned if I
was not in a situation to Judge him & all other men that that
I come in contact with whether their work was of God
or the Devil and I know your Rooll & work is of the Devil
& not of God while you say I shall be damned if I dont
received it. we know the Lord is with the leaders of this
people we know through the wisdom which God has given
president Young he has fed & preserved this people in the wilderness
& in other places & has done well we know he has done well &
that he is the good shepherd that feeds the flock A true shephrd
does not stand in need of telling the flock all the time that
He is the good [shepherd] for the flock knows it without being told of it
met for prayer in the evening
Brother David Fulmer made some good rem[ar]ks & was followed
by brother Kimball who brought up the parable of the threshing
floor & compared it with this place & people He gave good
instruction was follow by W. Woodruff who requested
the people to contine their labours on the Temple
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
21, 22, 23 I spent the time on the Temple Ground On the 23rd
the large barn owned by Hornor & Egan was burned to the
ground with several horses
~ Thursday
24th A severe snow Storm
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
25 26th My time spent on the temple ground
~ Sunday
27th Sunday Elder John L Smith addressed the meeting
& spoke well after he closed
President Brigham Young arose & said many interesting
things concerning the Gladdenites & Apostates in this pla[c]e
his discours is published in the Deserett News vol 3, No 10
which is highly interesting was followed by P P Pratt J Taylor
& W Woodruf I also preached in the evening in the 14 ward school hous
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
28 29 30 & 31 was spent on the temple Ground
~ Wednesday
[FIGURE] 30th I wrote 4 letters to I F Carter Ezra Carter
J. M. Bernhisel & H. S. Eldridge. I also wrote a letter
to Levi Stewart to be opened at St Louis
[FIGURE] I sent $1000 by Levi Stewart to Sanbon & Carter
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
April 1 & 2nd I spent the time on the temple ground
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday Meeting was addressed by Erastus Snow &
followed by A Lyman we had a good meeting attended
praying circle in the evening
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
4 & 5 I spent my time at hard labour to prepare
the Temple ground for laying the Cornor Stones of the Temple
~ Wednesday
[FIGURE] April 6th 1853
The General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter day saints commenced this morning & this
day was one of the most interesting ever witnessed by
the Church since its organization. The procedings of the
day is published in the Deserett News of April 16 1853 so
I will not record it here I will say however that the four
Corner Stones of the Temple in Great Salt Lake City [were laid].
The presidency laid the S.E. corner stone with the patriarch
Bishop Edward Hunter & Counsel with the lesser priesthood
laid the S.W. Corner Stone. John Young the president
of the High Priests quorum & counsel, the president of the Stake
& Counsel, with the High Counsel proceded to lay the North
west cornor stone. The Twelve Apostles First Presidey
of the Seventies, & presidency of the Elders quorum laid
the North East cornor stones their was a prayer
offerd Oration Deliverd & song sung on each cornor
stone as they were laid. there was the largest Assembly
of saints ever gatherd together in Deserett on the ocasio
it occupied the whole day untill 2 oclock after the 12 had
laid the last stone on the North East cornor & closed the
cornor ceremony. President Young ascended the stone
& gave his benediction as follows. Brethren & Sisters
I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth &
pray my father in heaven to encircle you in the arms of his love
& mercy protect us untill we have finished the Temple receve
the fulness of our endowments therein & then build many
more. And I pray also that we may live to see the great
Temple in Jackson County Missouri you are now dismi
ssed with the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon your
heads Amen. The possession then returned to the Tabernl
& were dismissed by presidet Youg untill 23 ock P.M.
Met at 3 oclok prayer by A Lyman President Brigham Young
arose & deliverd a vary interesting discourse which is published
in full in the Deserett News of April 30th 1853.
Brother Kimball said that the seventies had a portion of the Apostleship
as had all the Elders but none were ordained to the fulness of the
Apostleship except the Twelve or those who are ordaind to the
office
A Lyman spoke told a dream said Joseph came to him &
told him to dip a large lake dry & gave him a spoon to do it
with said he could not have any impression upon it with a spoo[n]
he thought but still would obey counsel & went to dipping
& soon lowerd the lake 5 feet than Joseph told him he
could not always Judge of things by appearances but the Lord would
do all for us that our hearts could desire Adjourned till tomorrow
~ Thursday
7th Conference called to order by president Youg. who presented
for a text a set of fire Irons made by the brethren from the Native
Iron in Iron County.
Benjamin Clapp arose & made confession that he had been
in darkness & done wrong in many things & wished to be forgive
& retained in the church He was forgiven
The Presidency & Twelve with with all the presidency of Diffent qurums
patriarchs High Councel Bishops &c were presented to the people
& sustained
G. A. Smith was called upon to preach an Iron sermon when
he took one of the fire Irons swung it over his head & cryed out
Sterropyped Edition & desended amid the cheers of the saints
2 P.M. Conferene called to order by H. C. Kimball
Prayer by W. Woodruff. P P Pratt read his oration delived
on the cornor Stone & deliverd his sermon published in Deserett
News
After dismissing the meeting. the presidency Twelve & others
met in the vestry & James Alread Asahel Perry & Charles Walker
Hyde were ordained Patriarch under the Hands of presidents Yg
Kimball & Richads
~ Friday
April 8th Conference called to order by President Young prayer by J M Gr[an]t
President Kimball arose & said we have a number chosen to go
on Missions when 23 Names were given & set apart to their
diffent stations ^of Europe^ Names published in Deserett News & 5 to other parts
President Young then arose & gave a text to preach from
"The right of Heir Ship" His discourse upon this important
subject is also published in the News
Erastus Snow followed on the subject of selfishness & redept
P. P. Pratt bore testimony of the truths that we had herd
2 oclok P.M. Elder John Taylor gave sermon on the right of
Heirship in the Priesthood
J M. Grant followed & made some good remarks
~ Saturday
April 9th Prayer by T Bullock Z Pulsipher spoke of the mob
scenes in Missouri Elder O Hyde spoke on the principles of sanctif-
ication & blessings of the Almighty giving a parables of a flock of
sheep with shepherd dogs
2 P.M. Conferne called to order by presidt Young
T Bullock read the report of the perpetual Emigrating fund
Presidet Young occupied the time on various subjects yet to
be printed
~ Sunday
April 10th Elder Lorenzo Snow addresed the meeting was folld
by H C Kimball. He was followed by B Young all is published
in the News. President Young appointed the 2nd saturday
in Aug for the next confere special to appoint Elders to go
abroad & to transact such business as is necessary but shall
adjourned this comfence till Oct 6th 1853 And I bless
evry man & woman in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
Benediction by Presidet Kmball
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
11 12 13 14 15 16 My time was spent on the Temple & public
works
~ Sunday
Sunday April 17th Meeting was addressed in the morning by
Elder A. Lyman & was followed by C. C. Rich both spoke
unto edefyication
President Young followed with an interesting discoursed which
will be published.
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
18 to 223 was spent on the Temple ground mostly
~ Sunday
Sunday 254th W. Woodruff addressed the meeting
took for his text confidence & preached from it
was followed by O. Hyde & P P Pratt All spoke to
Edifycation. At the close of the meeting I
Thomas W Winters was ordained a High priest &
Bishop under the Hands of O Hyde P P Pratt W Woodruff
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
25 to 30th I spent the week upon the public works
~ Sunday
May 1st Sunday O Hyde preached & was followed by
others
~ Monday
May 2nd President Young returned from his Southern route
the Legion went out escort him in, their had been
considerably excitement about the Indians expecting a war
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
3rd to 7th Spent the time on Presidents Youngs hous
~ Sunday
8th Sunday President Young addressed the people at length
upon his Journey which is published in the Deserett News
of May 14th was followed by H C Kimball
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
9th to 14th I spent the week on Presidents Youngs House
~ Sunday
15th Sunday [FIGURE] I received 68 letters from Azmon &
Thompson Woodruff A Badlam, I F Carter 2 J. M. Ber-
nhisel 2, & Wm H, Wilsom,
The meeting was addressed by Major & followed by
P. P. Pratt who spoke well
~ Monday
16th [FIGURES] I wrote [blank] Letters to I. F Carter, Freedom
& Shuah Moulton Luther & Rhoda Scammans J. M.
Bernhisel, Thompson Woodruff, Aphek Woodruff, A Badlam
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
17th to 21 I spent the time on the public works
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday Z Pulsipher addressed the people spoke well was
followed by President Kimball who preached excellent Doctrin
unto edifycation
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
23rd to 28th I spent the time on the temple Block
28th [FIGURE] I wrote 5 Letters to sundry persons
~ Sunday
29th Sunday David Fulmer spoke to the people & was folloed
by P. P. Pratt who spoke upon the linage of our Fathers that
we should seek to obtain it &c He spoke much to edefycatin
[FIGURE] The Afternoon was spent by hearing president Young preach
He rebuked all wickedness as with a sharp two edged sword
~ Monday to ~ Tuesday
30 & 31st I spent on the temple Block
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
June 1st to 4 time spent on temple block
~ Sunday
5th Sunday The meeting was addressed by P P Pratt & followed
by James Brown who gave an account of his mission
to the Islands
P M. J M. Grant spoke to the people well
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
6th to 11th was spent on the Temple block
~ Sunday
12th Dr J. M. Bernhisel gave an account of his misen
to Washington which was interesting I did not hear
it nor takes notes
~ Sunday to ~ Saturday
12 to 18 I spent the week on the temple block
~ Sunday
19 Sunday President Young & others address the meeting
to day I have not notes
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
20 to 25 I spent the time on the Temple Block
~ Sunday
26 Sunday I spent the day at meeting
~ Monday to ~ Thursday
27 to 30 was spent on the public works
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
July 1 & 2 I spent the time on the public works
~ Sunday
3rd Sunday W Woodruff addressed the people took for his text
I have set before you life & death chose ye whom you will
serve if the Lord be God se[r]ve him if Baal serve him
O Hyde followed in making remarks
~ Monday
July 4th [FIGURE] This day was celebrated by the inhabitats
of Utah an account of which is given in the Deserett
News. of July 10th 1853
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
5 to 9th I spent the time on the Temple ground
~ Sunday
10th Sunday I preached to the people & spoke well I have notes
~ Monday
11th I spent the time on the public works
~ Tuesday
12th I comm[enc]ed my haying & harvesting
~ Wednesday to ~ Saturday
13 to 16 I spent the time haying
~ Sunday
17th Sunday I spent the time in meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
18 to 23rd I spent the time haying
~ Sunday
24th Sunday the celebration of the 24th was spent in
the Tabernacle in worshiping God. Lorenzo Young spoke
to the people & was followed by President Young in an
interesting discourse
~ Monday
25 I took my family to big cottonwood & attended &
attended a feast & made a speech & herd others upon the subj[ec]t
of the pioneers entering the vally had a good dinner & returned hom
20 mils
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
July 26 to 30th Spent my time harvesting
~ Friday
July 22nd Mail arived & I received two Letters one from I F Carter
[FIGURES] & one from Dwight Webster saying that my sister
Eunice Died on the 14th June after a long Illness She sent
me word that she died a full believer in Mormonism
~ Saturday
July 30th [FIGURE] I wrote 2 Letters to I. F. Carter & Dwight Webster
~ Sunday
July 31st Sunday President Brigham Young preached a discourse
upon the subject of our Indian war for we have had a war
with Walker & his band about 3 weeks the Saints are all
gathering in out of the small settlements & forting up their has
been 2 Brethren killed & 3 wounded & 10 Indians killed as supposed
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
Aug 1st to 6 I spent the time hard at work haying & harvesting
~ Sunday
Sunday 17th [7th] J M Grant spoke to the people upon the subject of
the uniformity of the times & ages of Moses & the prophets Jesus
& the Apostles spoke of the evils that existed in those days & the main
reason why Jesus & the Apostles was persecuted & put to death was
because they had a plurality of wives & brought testimony to
prove it. He spoke of the priesthood of Joseph & Brigham, &
said Brigham wielded this people to do what he pleased to preached
to war, to cultivate the Earth or any thing that he wished to do for the
people know that God leads him in all his moves said Mormons
was against all hell & all Hell against Mormonism. when
Joseph or Brigham speaks let them speak like men of God
& let all Israel say Amen
H C Kimball followed spoke of the rebelion of Lucipher one
third part of the Hosts of Heaven was cast down with him to
Hell [Doctrind and Covenants 29:36] [Revelation 12:4] by Michael & his Associates He spoke of the resurrection
of the Saints the wickedness of the wicked He said I know
the Nations of the Earth are Doomed to destruction with judgment
Lamentation & wo & this people will feel it if they dont
take care & do as they are told. Now save your wheat
or you will suffer more than you have done this year I
am willing you should feed the Emigrant what they
want to help them to Calafornia but no more All
Nations will have to bow to God & his truth his Chu[r]ch
& Kingdom yet & we shall live untill the Devil is dead
~ Monday to ~ Friday
8th to 132 I spent the time haying & harvesting & draying hay
~ Saturday
14th Sunday 13th Special conferance met this morning
the minutes of the conferance I shall not record here
~ Sunday
14 Sunday conference continued not recorded here
~ Friday
19th I baptized Brother & Sister Rose & 2 children & confirmed them
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
15 to 20 I spent the time drawing grain
~ Sunday
21 I preached at Bishop Smoots ward on cottonwood &
spent the night with Mrs Woodruff at John Benbows 10 mls
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
22 23rd & 24 I spent the time on the Temple ground Brother Kington
spent the night with me
~ Thursday
25 I rode in company with Elder T Kington to Webber & spent
the night with him I was sent to webber by Govornor Young
to locate the fort for the inhabitants they could not agree
among themselves they had moved it several times & still
were dissatisfyed. 40 mls
~ Friday
26th I rode throughout the webber Settlement on both sides
of the river & examined the whole country & collected the
whole people together at 12 oclock & I preached to them
two hours & herd them talk 2 hours more I then esstabli
shed the fort on the North side South Side of the river in the
midst of the farming lands I was weary at night & spent
the night at Brother Kingtons
~ Saturday
27th [FIGURE] I left webber & rode to Salt Lake City through hard
rain showars was wet I then mounted a hors & rode
to John Benbows on Cotton wood & spent the nigh 50 mls
Wm Benbow with two Daughters had arived from
Wisconsin & was at John Benbows has also visited me
several times
~ Sunday
28th Sunday I baptized Wm Benbow & two Daughters
Ann & Marion Benbow & confirmed them, & then rode
with Wm & John Benbow & to the City I was quite unwell
I attended meeting several spoke 12 mls
[FIGURES] I received 6 Letters from H. S. Eldridge Sanbon & Carter
Ilus Badlam Middleton & Riley & Scovil I wrote
1 Letter to Ilus Carter I sent draf[t]s to them one of
$140 & 1 of $154.23 totel $294.23
~ Monday
29th I done some business with J M. Bernhisel took some
goods to sell at 15 percent Brother Barnes comm[enc]ed to hay today
~ Tuesday
30th I spent the day choreing drawing lumber &c
I baptized a Brother Brown & confir[m]ed him
~ Wednesday
31st I spent the day choreing
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
Sept 1 to 3 I spent the [time] labouring about home
~ Sunday
4th Sunday Meeting was addressed by Lorenzo Snow & O Hyde
in the fore part of the day & in the afternoon by P. P. Pratt who spoke
much to the edifycation of the people
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
5th to 10th President Young had opened City Creek Canyon
to some of his friends to draw wood from I drew 12
load of wood this week
~ Sunday
11th Sunday I spent the day at meeting
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
12 to 17 I drew 17 load of wood this week from City Creek
canyon I carried the President 6 load
~ Sunday
18th Sunday meeting was addressed by S. M. Blair in the fore
part of the day & by P P Pratt in the Afternoon
~ Monday to ~ Friday
Sept 19 to 243rd I spent this week drawing Corn
~ Sunday
24th Sunday meeting was Addressed this morning by
Brother Clawson & was followed by President Young
He said it was a common thing for the Elders to remark
that they did not feel like teaching or speaking here in the Taber-
nacle to the people this may be excusable in them for I have been
schooled in this class a long time yet I want to say to
the Elders when you get up here pour out what is in you &
if you have Errors pour them out & let me correct you for
this is the place to be crorrected let out all the doctrin that is in
you [as you] do in the wards meetings there you will teach the people your
Doctrin whether true or fals but in this stand you are as still
& dark as night. Prophets & Apostles & all the saints are
edefyed when they hear an Elder preach by the spirit of God
the Devil would strive to make you believe that you could
not preach & He would take all of the spirit of God from
you if he could. I will tell you what the Lord & the prophets
& Apostles want of all of the Elders & that is that you live
in such a manner that you may be filled with fire so
that you can preach or pray & be filled with the power of
God so as to Edify all. Brother Clawson says that
I am not capable of Edifying this people what does this
say that I have been in the dark Now I will give you
the key [FIGURE] so that you will know how to improve all the lessons
you have to take do right live so that you will have the
spirit of God dont do wrong in any thing dont get Angry
be slow to judge of your neighbor Now the key is to
live so close to God that He cannot hide his face from you
if you do not you will always be dull scholars all your
lives you must walk in the light of the Lord or you cannot
Edify & do good you must do it. A man that is in
his place can see all that is going on as well as I could
stand on an eminance & see all that is going on on my
farm. There is no more need of getting mad crossing
the plains or in the canyons than their is while setting
in a Rocking Chair or in this Stand if you have the
Spirit of God & keep it then you can learn what their
is to be known. you should pray go to God live in the
spirit of God untill you are full & your bones are filled
with fire.
I am fully satisfyed with what God
has given me I am always satisfyed with what I
have had. I Have had the spirit of God to lead me
while in England as Joseph had in America for we
have the same God to Assist us in one place as in anoth[er]
& this will be the case with the Elders in all the world
In speaking of the Revolutionary war said we would
not have any national feeling against our brother
or any good man
~ Sunday to ~ Friday
25 to 30 I spent the time ploughing & sewing wheat
~ Saturday
Oct 1st [FIGURES] I Received one letter from I F Carter &
wrote 1 Letter to J M Bernhisel
~ Sunday
Oct 2nd Sunday P. P. Pratt preached upon the kingdom
of God.
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
3rd to 5 spent the time Lobouring
~ Thursday to ~ Sunday
Oct 6th to 9th This time was spent in a general
Conference of the Church much business was done
many missionaries were Chosen to go to the Lama-
nites & other places much interesting instruction
was given by the Presidency & Twelve all the procedings
were published in the Deserett News I received
a mission in connexion with E T. Benson in the
settlement of Tuella or were to pick out 50 families
to settle that place President Young gave an Address
to the missionaries which I reported & gave him
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
^10th^ I sowed 5 Acres of wheat ploughed till 165th on
the 5 Acres at P P Pratts
~ Sunday
16th Sunday John Taylor Addressed the people in the
forenoon & Brother Waugh & others in the afternoon
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
17th to 22nd I spent the time ploughing & sowing wheat
I sowed the lot at Parley Pratt & the Shirtliff lot
~ Sunday
23rd Sunday Z Pulsipher & Phineas Young addressed
the people in the fore part of the day & Brother Kimball
in the afternoon
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
24th to 29th I spent the time in my garden in geting
up my vegitables.
~ Sunday
30th Sunday [FIGURES] I received a Letter from
I F Carter & Papers from A. Badlam
~ Monday
31st [FIGURE] I wrote 3 letters to Middleton & Riley◇
to Mrs Hornor & I F F Carter concerning the
money that I sent by Wm E. Hornor
~ Tuesday
Nov 1st Presidents Young & Kimball gone to Box
Elder on a visit I spent the time at home
~ Wednesday
2nd I laboured in my garden
~ Thursday
3rd I drew wood from City Creek Canyon &
Attended a meeting of the regency but it was Adj[our]ned
~ Friday to ~ Saturday
4 & 5 I spent the time drawing wood A attended
the meeting of the regency at Dr Richards
~ Sunday
6th Sunday O. Hyde spoke to the people in the
fore part of the day & P P Pratt in the Afternoon
~ Monday to ~ Saturday
7th to 13th I spent this week geting wood out of the
canyons
~ Sunday
Nov 14th Sunday E. T. Benson spoke to the people in the
morning & at 2 oclock the Twelve met with the company
of Elders that were appointed to go to Green River to
esstablish a station at that place we blessed them
& set them apart for the work they were Addressed
by W Woodruff, & P. P. Pratt who gave them go[o]d
council this is the 2nd company for that place making
90 men for that place
~ Tuesday to ~ Saturday
15 ^& 16^ drew wood to from the canyon I met with the Regency
on the evening of the 16th President Young has called upon
the Regency to get up a New Alphabet & make an
improvement in the English Language & they have sat
several evenings for this purpose
P. P. Pratt has commenced a spanish school I
have commenced to attend it to learn the Language
I attended several evenings this week laboured about
home till the 19th
~ Sunday
20th In company with Ezra T. Benson & Dr Andrews
I rode to Toele City 35 miles & spent the night at Bishop
Robery's 35 mils
~ Monday
21st Sunday we rode to willow creek settlement & Held
a meeting with the people I spoke to them & was followed
by E. T. Benson we dined with Bishop Thomas Clark
their was about 100 men in this settlement begining
to Fort up & about 100 Frendly Indians. All settlements
are councelled to live in forts untill they can wall
in their Cities at the close of this meeting I rode
to Toiela City & preached to a large congregation of Saints
I spent the night with Bishop Robery 25 m
~ Tuesday
22nd I Returned to Salt Lake City but stoped on the way
& appointed a scite for a New Fort & City. 35 mils
I attended the spanish school in the Evening
~ Wednesday
23rd I commen[ce]d ploughing a 5 Acre Lot in the big field
[FIGURE] & met with the regency in the evening
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
24th to 276th I spent the days ploughing & evenings in the
spanish school
~ Sunday
287th ^Sunday^ A Rainy day I wrote a Letter to J M Bernhisel
[FIGURE] I Attended quorum meeting in the evening
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
28 to 30th I spent the time ploughing
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
Dec 1, 2, 3 I spent the days ploughing & evenings in the
spanish school
~ Sunday
4th Sunday 4th I Attended meeting {President Young} President
Young preached from this text Judge not that ye
be not Judged He gave much good instruction
In the Afternoon Orson Hyde preached unto the edefication
of the people the Mail came in last night
[FIGURE] I Received 3 letters from Ilus Aphek L Woodruff
& Dr Bernhisel. the president Received letters from
many of the Elders who bring good News. War is also
proclaimed between Russia & Turkey
~ Monday to ~ Wednesday
5, 6, 7 I spent the time at home choreing & studying spanish
~ Thursday to ~ Saturday
8, 9, 10 I spent the time at home
~ Sunday
11th Sunday President Young Addressed the people I
reported his sermon toin the afternoon & prepared it for
the press
~ Monday
Dec 12th Monday The Legislator of the Territory of Utah
Assembled at 10 oclock this morning I am a member of
the House & met with them the House & Counsel both
organiz & Adjourned
~ Tuesday
13 Both Houses met in Joint session & recieved the
Govornor & his message
~ Wednesday to ~ Friday
14th 15, 16 I spent the time in the Legislator I spend
most of my evenings in the spanish school
~ Sunday
18th Sunday Father Morley addressed the people in
the morning & President Young in the afternoon
~ Monday to ~ Friday
19 to 23 I spent this week in the Legislator
~ Sunday
25 Sunday Christmas Hosea Stout who had
Just returned from a mission to China Addressed
the people on the religion customs & persuit with the
present prospects of the Chineas including their pr[es]ent
Revolution. In the after noon Claudius Spencer
gave an account of his mission to England & his experience
during the evening I met with the 14 ward
& addrdressed them upon the subject of Eoducation
& our duties to our children
~ Monday
26th In company with Elder P. P. Pratt I met
with the 14 ward & Elder Pratt Delivered an Address
to the people upon Education I reported it we had
a party in the afternoon & evening it passed of plesantly
~ Tuesday
27 [FIGURES] I wrote 6 Letters to I F. Carter
J. M. Bernhisel Thompson O. Woodruff
Ozem Woodruff Azmon Woodruff Aphek L.
Woodruff Calafornia I spent the day in the Legislator
December 28, 1853 ~ Wednesday
28th [FIGURES] I wrote a Letter to Sanbon & Carter
& A few lines to J. M. Bernhisel I mailed I. F. Carters
Letter and enclosed a draft of $858.20/100 dollars
~ Thursday
29th I spent the day in the Legislature
~ Friday
30 I spent the day writing P P Pratts speech
~ Saturday
31st F. D. Richards Addressed the young people &
children at 11 oclock they again at 3 oclok for
a social party to dance I met with them & addressed
them in the evening they had a pleasant time
this is the last day in the year of 1853.
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Synopsis of my labors in 1853
I Spent 210 days in overseeing
the Tithing hands on the Temple Block
I spent 40 days in the Legislature
52 Sabbaths in meeting, 50 days
farming and 13 for other purposes
Total 365 days as Above in AD 1853
I Travled 100 miles
I Attended meetings at the Tabernacle 50 meetings
I Preached 18 discourses 18
I Attended 45 prayer meetings in the
Prayer Circle with the Presidency & Twelve 45 prayer meetings
I Baptized 8 persons 8 Baptized
I Confirmed 9 persons 9 Confirmed
I administered to 5 sick persons 5 sick
I married 2 couple 4 married
I met 8 Times with the Regency 8 times
I met with the Presidency and Twelve
In dedicating the Temple Ground in the
City of the Great Salt Lake
I Attended 3 Conferences 3 Con
I wrote 238 Letters 238 letters
I Received 21 Letters 21 Letters
I located South Webber Fort 1 fort
Synopsis of the sum total reorded in this
Journal during the last seven years from
1847 to 1853 inclusive
I Travled (18,866) 18,866 miles
I Attended with the Presidency & Twelve 217 Counsels
I spent in general Conference 15 days
I met with the High Counsel 15 Times
I Preached 326 discourses
326
I Baptized 62 persons
I Confirmed 192 persons
I Ordained 1 president & counsellors for a 3 stake of Zion
" " Patriarchs 2
" " High Counsel 24
" " High Priests 23
" " Bishops 1
" " Seventies 10
" " Elders 6
I Blessed 41 Children 41 children
I Administered the ordainance of matrimony to 12 persons
I Laid hands upon 134 sick persons 134 sick
I wrote 517 Letters 517 Letters
I Received 364 Letters 364 Letters
I was Appointed a member of the Regency met 16 days
I was Appointed a member of the perpetual
Emigrating fund I met with them in Council 7 days
I was Appointed a member of the Legislature
of Deserett also of Utah Territory met with them 107 days
I was Appointed Chaplain of the Nauvoo Legion
I was Appointed Clerk and Historian for the 12 Apostles
I Blessed 45 missionaries who were sent
abroad to the world
[FIGURE] I met with the Presideny & Twelve and all the Authorities
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints on the
Temple block & dedicated the ground for building a Temple
unto the Lord in the City of the Great Salt Lake
Synopsis of W. Woodruff travels & Journals from
1834 to AD 18543 inclusive making Nineteen years
Travled during this period through England, Scotland
Wales, six Islands of the sea, twenty of the United
States & three Territories including the rocky mountans
and Utah & crossed the Atlantic Ocean 4 times
Total distance travled (80,558) 80588 miles
Held public meetings & preached 1395 times
I attended in the vineyard 86 Conferences 86 Conferences
I attended Elders Counsels 123 Counsels
I Attended General Conferences of the Church 15 Confere[nce]s
I Attended 217 Counsels with the Presidency & 12 217 Counsels
I met 15 times with the High Counsel 15 times
I Baptized (696) Assisted in baptizeding thousads of others 696 Baptized
I Confirmed 1004 I help confirm thousands of others 1004 Confirmed
I was Baptized for 36 dead freiends 36 Dead
I Ordained Patriarchs 4 Patriarchs
I Ordained Bishops 10 Bishops
I Ordained High Counsel 24 H Counsel
I Ordained High Priest 25 H Priest
I Ordained Seventies 13 seventis
I Ordained Elders 162 Elders
I Ordained Priests 142 Priests
I Ordained Teachers 63 Teachers
I Ordained Deacons 13 Deacons
I Ordained 1 President & 2 Counsellors of a stake 3 of Zion
I Assisted the Twelve In ordaining 200 Elders &
seventies In Nauvoo not counted in the above 200 number
I Administered unto the sick by laying on hands 498 sick
I Blessed 235 Children 235 child[re]n
I Administered the marriage ceremony to 13 Couple
I Planted 51 Churches 51 Churches
I esstablished 77 Preaching Places 77
I Had 10 mobs rise against me 10 mobs
I Recorded in my Journals 30 of Joseph Smith sermons 30
I Recorded 25 of the sermons of the Twelve 25 Apostles
I Wrote 1557 Letters 1557 Letters
I Received 1063 Letters 1063 Letters
I Collected for the Temples in Kirtland & Nauvoo 1674 dollars
I Collected for Publishing the works of L.D.S. 5000 dollars
I Procured subscribers for our papers 205 subscriber
I Printed the Times & seasons & Nauvoo neighbor in com-
pany with John Taylor two years we sperotyped the
doctrins & covenants
I Printed 2500 copies of the Millennum Star
I Published 3000 copies of the Doctrins & Covenants
and secured the copy wright in England
I printed 3000 Hymn Books
I published 20,000 Proclamations of the Twelve Apostles
I have been ordained during the foregoing period
To the office of A Teacher, Priest, Elder, 2nd quorum
of the Seventy 1st quorum of seventies to the quorum
of the Twelve Apostles.
I received my washings Anointings sealings & Endow-
ments under the hands of President Brigham Young
I was Appointed a member of the Regency I met with
them 16 days 16 days
I was elected to the Legislature & spent with them 107 days
I was Appointed a Chaplain in the Nauvoo Legion
I was Appointed Clerk & Historian of the Twleve Apostles
I blessed 45 Missionaries Appointed to go to the world
I Attended the dedication of the Temple Ground in
the City of the Great Salt Lake on the 6th April 1853
I spent 210 days in overseeing the Tithing Hands
while diging out the foundation for the Temple
we laid the cornor stones of the Temple on the 6 April 1853