Читать книгу The History of Salt Lake City and its Founders, Volume 1 - Edward William Tullidge - Страница 8

THE FIRST SABBATH IN THE VALLEY. THE PIONEERS APPLY THE PROPHECIES TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOCATION. ZION HAS GONE UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. THEY LOCATE THE TEMPLE AND LAY OFF THE "CITY OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE." THE LEADERS RETURN TO WINTER QUARTERS TO GATHER THE BODY OF THE CHURCH.

The arrival of the main body of the Pioneers in the valley of the Great Salt Lake was on a Saturday. The next day to them was a Sabbath indeed.

"We shaved and cleaned up," says Apostle Woodruff, in his graphic story of the Pioneers, "and met in the circle of the encampment."

In the afternoon the whole " Congregation of Israel" partook of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Then the valleys rang with the exultant themes of the Hebrew Prophets, and the "everlasting hills" reverberated to the hosannas of the Saints.

Orson Pratt was the preacher of the great subject, which, to the ardent faith of those Pioneers, never lived in fulfillment till that moment. The sublime flights of the matchless Isaiah gave the principal theme.

"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountains!"

But Isaiah is not alone in the culminating inspiration. There is such a grand unity among the Hebrew prophets, when touching this subject of a Latter-day Zion, that undoubtedly, it was the burden of the divine epic to which the Hebraic genius soared. Notwithstanding the mental diversity of these poet-prophets, in this crowning theme they gave us, not poetic fragments, but a glorious continued composition, as from a manifold genius.

"Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice; with the voice together shall they sing; and they shall see eye to eye when they Lord shall bring again Zion."

This was fulfilled to those Anglo-American Pioneers on that day. They felt they were the watchmen! With the voice together they sang the theme and did literally shout their hosannas. They saw eye to eye. "The Lord hath brought again Zion."

Nor were these Mormon Apostles figurative in their applications; they rendered most literally to themselves every point. Orson Pratt declared, with an Apostle's assurance, that their location, in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, was in the view of the ancient seers. That which was before seemingly contradictory in the extreme, relative to the Latter-day Zion, especially its location and the rapid transformation of its founding, was now made plain and most literal.

Apostle Pratt reconciled it all. The Pioneers saw the vision of Zion harmonized on that first Sabbath in the valley, as they might have seen their own faces in a mirror.

God would "hide his people in the chambers of the mountains!" Yet, in these "last days" he would "establish his house on the tops of the mountains and exalt it above the hills!"

And here were these Pioneers of Mormon Israel in a valley nearly thirty miles in diameter, encircled by a chain of mountains; here, in a valley nearly five thousand feet above the level of the sea—"exalted above the hills"—yet belted by mountains with everlasting caps of snow. It was indeed as the "chambers of the Lord," and the name which it popularly bore—the "Great Basin "—was nearly as striking to the imagination as its prophetic name.

Latter-day Zion, too, was to be a place "sought out"—a place "not forsaken." They had sought it out by an exodus, and an unparalleled journey of a people, nearly fifteen hundred miles, over unbroken prairies, sandy deserts, and rocky mountains; and they were about to found their Zion in a primeval valley, where no city, since the creation, had ever stood—a place "not forsaken" by civilized people of the ages long since dead. The " solitary places" were to be "made glad," the " wilderness" was to "blossom as the rose," and the " desert" suddenly to be converted into the " fruitful field." Such was the sermon of the first Sabbath in the Great Salt Lake Valley. The Pioneers had chosen for the location of their Zion and her temples, the "Great American Desert," and they were about to make real the strange and highly colored picture. So much like the change in an enchanted scene has been the transformation which has since come over those desert valleys and canyons of the Rocky Mountains, that for the last quarter of a century the Mormons have been popularly described in nearly every nation of the earth as that peculiar people who have made the "desert to blossom as the rose." Look upon the valley of the Salt Lake today as the Spring opens, when the gardens and orchards are in one universal rose blossom, and there never was a prophetic picture more literally realized.

Though feeble with that most languishing of diseases, the mountain fever, and scarcely able to stand upon his feet, Brigham Young was still the law-giver on that first Sabbath. If he had not the strength to preach a great sermon on the Latter-day Zion, like that of the Mormon Paul—Orson Pratt—he was "every inch" the Moses of the Mormon Exodus.

"He told the brethren," says the historian Woodruff, "that they must not work on Sunday; that they would lose five times as much as they would gain by it. None were to hunt or fish on that day; and there should not any man dwell among us who would not observe these rules. They might go and dwell where they pleased but should not dwell with us. He also said, no man should buy any land who came here; that he had none to sell; but every man should have his land measured out to him for city and farming purposes. He might till it as he pleased, but he must be industrious, and take care of it.

"On Monday ten men were chosen for an exploring expedition. I took President Young into my carriage, and, traveling two miles towards the mountain, made choice of a spot for our garden.

"We then returned to camp, and went north about five miles, and we all went on to the top of a high peak, on the edge of the mountain, which we considered a good place to raise an ensign. So we named it 'Ensign Peak.'

"I was the first person to ascend this hill, which we had thus named. Brother Young was very weary, in climbing to the peak, from his recent fever.

"We descended to the valley, and started north to the Hot Sulphur Springs, but we returned two miles to get a drink of cold water, and then went back four miles to the Springs. We returned to the camp quite weary with our day's explorations. Brothers Mathews and Brown had crossed the valley in the narrowest part, opposite the camp, to the west mountain, and found it about fifteen miles.

"Next day Amasa Lyman came into camp and informed us that Captain Brown's detachment of the Mormon Battalion would be with us in about two days.

"We again started on our exploring expedition. All the members of the quorum of the Twelve belonging to the pioneers, eight in number, were of the company. Six others of the brethren, including Brannan of San Francisco, were with us.

"We started for the purpose of visiting the Great Salt Lake, and mountains on the west of the valley. We traveled two miles west from Temple Block and came to the outlet of the Utah Lake; thence fourteen miles to the west mountain and found that the land was not so fertile as on the east side.

"We took our dinner at the fresh water pool, and then rode six miles to a large rock, on the shore of the Salt Lake, which we named Black Rock, where we all halted and bathed in the salt water. No person could sink in it but would roll and float on the surface like a dry log. We concluded that the Salt Lake was one of the wonders of the world.

"After spending an hour here, we went west along the lake shore, and then returned ten miles to our place of nooning, making forty miles that day.

"In the morning we arose refreshed by sleep in the open air. Having lost my carriage whip the night before, I started on horseback to go after it. As I approached the spot where it was dropped, I saw about twenty Indians. At first they looked to me in the distance like a lot of bears coming towards me. As I was unarmed I wheeled my horse and started back on a slow trot.

"But they called to me, and one, mounting his horse, came after me with all speed. When he got within twenty rods I stopped and met him. The rest followed. They were Utes and wanted to trade. I told them by signs that our camp was near, so he went on with me to the camp. From what we had yet seen of the Utes they appeared friendly, though they had a bad name from the mountaineers. The Indian wanted to smoke the pipe of peace with us, but we soon started on and he waited for his company.

"We traveled ten miles south under the mountain. The land laid beautifully, but there was no water, and the soil was not so good as on the east. We saw about a hundred goats, sheep and antelope playing about the hills and valleys. We returned, weary, to the pioneer encampment, making thirty miles for the day.

''After our return to the camp, President Young called a council of the quorum of the Twelve. There were present: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman and Ezra T. Benson.

"We walked from the north camp to about the center between the two creeks, when President Young waved his hand and said: 'Here is the forty acres for the Temple. The city can be laid out perfectly square, north and south, east and west.' It was then moved and carried that the Temple lot contain forty acres on the ground where we stood. It was also moved and carried that the city be laid out into lots of ten rods by twenty each, exclusive of the streets, and into blocks of eight lots, being ten acres in each block, and one and a quarter in each lot.

"It was further moved and carried that each street be laid out eight rods wide, and that there be a side-walk on each side, twenty feet wide, and that each house be built in the center of the lot twenty feet from the front, that there might be uniformity throughout the city.

"It was also moved that there be four public squares of ten acres each, to be laid out in various parts of the city for public grounds.

"At eight o'clock the whole camp came together on the Temple ground and passed the votes unanimously, and, when the business part of the meeting was closed, President Young arose and addressed the assembly upon a variety of subjects.

"In his remarks the President said that he was determined to have all things in order, and righteousness should be practiced in the land. We had come here according to the direction and counsel of Brother Joseph, before his death; and, said the President, Joseph would still have been alive if the Twelve had been in Nauvoo when he re-crossed the river from Montrose.

" During his remarks, President Young observed that he intended to have every hole and corner from the Bay of San Francisco to Hudson Bay known to us.

"On the 29th, President Young, with a number of brethren, mounted and started to meet the Battalion detachment, under the command of Captain Brown.

"We met some of them about four miles from camp, and soon afterwards met Captains Brown and Higgins, Lieutenant Willis, and the company. There were 140 of the Battalion, and a company of about 100 of the Mississippi Saints, who came with them from Pueblo. They had with them 60 wagons, 100 horses and mules, and 300 head of cattle, which greatly added to our strength.

"While we were in the canyon, a water cloud burst, which sent the water into the creeks from the mountains, with a rush and roar like thunder, resembling the opening of a flood gate. The shower spread over a good share of the valley where we settled.

"We returned at the head of the companies and marched into camp with music. The Battalion took up their quarters between our two camps on the bank of the creek.

"While we had been exploring, the rest of the pioneers had been farming.

"By the 1st of August (Sunday) the brethren constructed the Bowery on Temple block, in which Heber C. Kimball was the first to preach. Orson Pratt followed in a discourse upon the prophecies of Isaiah, proving that the location of Zion in the mountains by our people was the fulfillment.

"On Monday we commenced laying out the city, beginning with the Temple block. In forming this block, forty acres appeared so large, that a council was held to determine whether or not it would be wisdom to reduce it one-half. Not being decided in our views, we held council again, two days later, when we gave as our matured opinions that we could not do justice to forty acres; that ten acres would be sufficient.

"As we were under the necessity of returning soon to Winter Quarters for the Saints, it was thought best to go at once to the mountains for logs to build ourselves cabins, as the adobe houses might not be ready for our use.

"On the 6th of August, the Twelve were re-baptized. This we considered a privilege and a duty. As we had come in a glorious valley to locate and build up Zion, we felt like renewing our covenants before the Lord and each other.

We soon repaired to the water, and President Young went down into the water and baptized all his brethren of the Twelve present. He then confirmed us, and sealed upon us our apostleship, and all the keys, powers and blessings belonging to that office. Brother Heber C. Kimball baptized and confirmed President Brigham Young. The following were the names and order of those present: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and Amasa Lyman. Ezra T. Benson had been dispatched several days before to meet the companies on the road.

"In the afternoon of the next day, the Twelve went to the Temple Block to select their inheritances.

"President Young took a block east of the Temple, and running southeast, 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.