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to settle his friends around him; Heber C. Kimball a block north of the Temple; Orson Pratt, south and running south; Wilford Woodruff, a block cornering the Temple Block, the southwest corner joining Orson Pratt's; Amasa Lyman took a block forty rods below Wilford Woodruff's; George A. Smith one joining the Temple on the west, and running, due west. It was supposed that Willard Richards would take his on the east, near President Young's. None others of the Twelve were present in the camp.

      "During the same evening the Twelve went to City Creek, and Heber C. Kimball baptized fifty-five members of the camp, for the remission of their sins; and they were confirmed under the hands of President Young, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and Amasa Lyman; President Young being mouth.

      "On the next day (Sunday, August 8th), the whole Camp of Israel renewed their covenants before the Lord by baptism. There were two hundred and twenty-four baptized this morning, making two hundred and eighty-four re-baptized in the last three days.

      "In the afternoon we partook of the Sacrament. At the close of the meeting one hundred and ten men were called for, to go into the adobe yard, and seventy-six volunteered.

      "Brother Crow had a child drowned on the 11th.

      "On the 13th the Twelve held council. Each one was to make choice of the blocks that they were to settle their friends upon. President Young took the tiers of blocks south through the city; Brother Kimball's runs north and northwest; Orson Pratt, four blocks; Wilford Woodruff eight blocks; George A. Smith, eight; and Amasa Lyman, twelve blocks, according to the companies organized with each.

      "Next day four of the messengers returned from Bear River and Cache Valley.

      "They brought a cheering report of Cache Valley. The brethren also returned who went to Utah Lake for fish. They found a mountain of granite.

      "The quorum of the Twelve decided in council that the name of the city should be the ' City of the Great Salt Lake.'

      "Sunday, August 15th, President Young preached on the death of Brother Crow's child; a most interesting discourse, full of principle.

      "Sunday, the 22nd, we held a general conference, when the public assembly resolved to call the city the 'City of the Great Salt Lake.'

      "It was also voted to fence the city for farming purposes the coming year and to appoint a President and High Council, and all other officers necessary in this Stake of Zion, and that the Twelve write an epistle to leave with the Saints in the valley. The conference then adjourned until the 6th of October, 1848.

      "On the morning of the 26th of August, 1847, the Pioneers, with most of the returning members of the Mormon Battalion, harnessed their horses and bade farewell to the brethren who were to tarry. The soldiers were very anxious to meet their wives again, whom they had left by the wayside, without a moment's notice, for their service in the war with Mexico. These being, too, the 'Young Men of Israel,' had left many newly wedded brides; and not a few of those gallant fellows were fathers of first-born babes whom they had not yet seen.

      "The brethren in the valley were placed under the presidency of the Chief Patriarch of the Church—Father John Smith, uncle of the Prophet. The members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles Brigham took with him; but he left reliable men, among whom was Albert Carrington.

      "There were a number of companies also on the road, under principal men and chief 'Captains of Israel,' such as Apostles Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor, Bishop Hunter, Daniel Spencer, and Jedediah M. Grant, who was afterwards one of the first presidents of the Church.

      "On the fourth day of their return journey, the Pioneers were met by their messengers, under Ezra T. Benson, whom President Young had sent forward with instructions to the outcoming companies. These messengers gladdened the hearts of the Pioneers, with letters from their wives and brethren, and reported the coming ' Camp of Israel' as divided into nine companies, numbering 600 wagons.

      On the 3rd of September, they met the first division of fifty, under President Daniel Spencer, upon the Big Sandy; and, on the following day, on the Little Sandy, two more fifties, one under the command of Captain Sessions and the other under Apostle Parley P. Pratt.

      "They continued daily to meet the companies, Apostle Taylor bringing up his hundred on the Sweetwater. In this company was Edward Hunter, afterwards presiding Bishop of the whole Church. These brethren prepared a great feast in the wilderness. They made it a sort of a surprise party, the Pioneers being unexpectedly introduced to the richly-laden table. The feast consisted of roast and boiled beef, pies, cakes, biscuit, butter, peach sauce, coffee, tea, sugar, and a great variety of good things. In the evening the camp had a dance, but the Twelve met in council to adjust important business.

      "Next day they met Jedediah M. Grant, with his hundred. He was direct from Philadelphia. He informed them that Senator Thomas Benton, the inveterate enemy of the Mormons, was doing all he could against them.

      "At Fort Laramie Presidents Young, Kimball, and others of the Apostles dined with Commodore Stockton, from the Bay of San Francisco, with forty of his men, eastward bound.

      "On the 19th of October, the Pioneers were met by a troop of mounted police from Winter Quarters, under their captain, Hosea Stout, who had come to meet them, thinking they might need help."

      As they drew near Winter Quarters, the sisters, mothers and wives came out to meet the brave men who had found for them a second Zion. They also sent teams laden with the richest produce of Winter Quarters and the delicacies of the household table, which loving hands had prepared.

      When within about a mile of Winter Quarters a halt was called; the company was drawn up in order and addressed by President Young, who then dismissed the Pioneer camp with his blessing.

      They drove into the city in order. The streets were lined with people to shake hands with them as they passed. Each of the Pioneers drove to his own home. This was October 31st.

      The Pioneers on their return found the Saints at Winter Quarters well and prosperous. They, like the leaders, had been greatly blessed. The earth, under their thorough habits of cultivation and industry, had brought forth abundantly.

      During the first three months of the year 1848, the Saints at Winter Quarters were busy preparing for the general migration of the Church to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake; but they also petitioned the Legislature of Iowa for the organization of a county in the Pottawattamie tract of land, and for a post office.

      On the 3rd of February those who were in the "Battle of Nauvoo" commemorated it with a feast.

      On the 6th of April the regular general conference was held, celebrating the organization of the Church; and on the 11th messengers arrived from Great Salt Lake City. They were of the Battalion.

      A feast was made by President Young on the 29th for his immediate associates, some of whom were going on missions, others were designed to stay on the frontiers to conduct and bring up the emigration; while President Young himself was about to lead the vanguard of the people to the mountains.

      About the middle of May, all was bustle at Winter Quarters. President Young addressed the people Sunday, 14th, blessed those who were going with him to the valley, and those who were to tarry. He also blessed the Pottawatomie land and prophesied that the Saints would never be driven from the Rocky Mountains.

      On the 24th of May, President Young started for Elk Horn to organize his company. There were 600 wagons in the encampment. They formed the largest pioneer force which had yet set out to build up the States and Territories destined to spring up on the Pacific Slope.

      We need not follow the Pioneers on their second journey to the Rocky Mountains. Suffice it to say that Brigham led the body of the Church in safety to these mountain retreats, arriving in the City of the Great Salt Lake in September, 1848.

      CHAPTER VI.

       PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. DESTRUCTION OF THE CROPS BY CRICKETS. DESCRIPTION OF GREAT SALT LAKE CITY.

      

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