with them again for one or two years yes
wives & children were left in this way to the
mercy of God And the brethren And
went away with cheerful hearts Believing that
they were doing the will of God And while
casting my eyes upon them I considerd I
was viewing the first Battalion of the Army
of Israel engaged in the United States service
for one year And going to lay the foundation
of A far greater work even preparing the way
for the building of Zion.

The quorum of the Twelve met in council
And ordained Elder Ezra T Benson to take
the crown Apostleship And standing of John
E Page And as A member of the quorum
of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints some other businds
was Also Attended to I rode across the bottom
with the Twelve And returned Home the
Twelve took supper with me distance 10 m

July 17, 1846 ~ Friday

17^th I met in council with the Twelve
Also called a general meeting of the People
to transact business, men were called upon to
go to work on the road at the ferry about
20 volunteered. Ninety men were Appointed
to Act as bishops in taking charge of the families
of those who had volunteered to go to Calafornia
via Santife At the close of the meeting in
company with President Young And the
Twelve & others we left redemption ^Hill^ at Council
Bluffs & rode 5 miles to the french & indian village
And mills we then took the Indian trail across
the ridges Bluffs Hills & dales on the road that
Emmit travelled to big Pigion And there
camped for the night with some of the
saints who had arived two Hours before us

with them again for one or two years yes wives & children were left in this way to the mercy of God And the brethren And went away with cheerful hearts Believing that they were doing the will of God And while casting my eyes upon them I considered I was viewing the first Battalion of the Army of Israel engaged in the United States service for one year And going to lay the foundation of A far greater work even preparing the way for the building of Zion.

The quorum of the Twelve met in council And ordained Elder Ezra T Benson to take the crown Apostleship And standing of John E Page And as A member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints some other busineds was Also Attended to. I rode across the bottom with the Twelve And returned Home the Twelve took supper with me distance 10 m

July 17, 1846 ~ Friday

17th I met in council with the Twelve Also called a general meeting of the People to transact business, men were called upon to go to work on the road at the ferry about 20 volunteered. Ninety men were Appointed to Act as bishops in taking charge of the families of those who had volunteered to go to Calafornia via Santife. At the close of the meeting in company with President Young And the Twelve & others we left redemption Hill at Council Bluffs & rode 5 miles to the french & indian village And mills we then took the Indian trail across the ridges Bluffs Hills & dales on the road that Emmit travelled to big Pigion And there camped for the night with some of the saints who had arived two Hours before us