A Provisional Government

When the first settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they were directed exclusively by Church authority. However, the people realized that civil government must be inaugurated in their several settlements after they were founded. As early as the fall of 1847 some municipal officers were appointed, although no city government was effected at that time. Before leaving Nauvoo, the authorities of the Church had expressed the desire of organizing a civil government under the flag of the United States. While on the plains they wrote to President James K. Polk, under date of August 6, 1846, and “resolved” that as soon as they were settled in the Great Basin they would petition the United States for a territorial government, “bounded on the north by the British, and south by the Mexican dominions, and east and west by the summits of the Rocky and Cascade Mountains.”

The First Political Convention

In February 1849, a call was issued for a political convention. The people residing within the territory bounded by the Rocky Mountains, the Republic of Mexico, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Territory of Oregon, were invited to assemble at Great Salt Lake City, March 5, 1849. On that date a convention was held, and Congress was petitioned to organize the Territory of Deseret.¹ A constitution was adopted and a provisional government was set up.

The Territory of Utah

Other petitions were also sent to Washington, asking for statehood, but the government was not willing to grant all that the inhabitants of the Great Basin desired. Enemies and bitter apostates lent their aid to defeat the project. In September 1850, Congress passed a bill for the organization of the territory of Utah, which was approved by the President. The people preferred the name “Deseret,”² but gladly accepted what was offered them.

Territorial Officers Appointed

In September 1850, President Millard Fillmore appointed the federal officers for the territory of Utah. Brigham Young was appointed governor, a position he had held in the “Provisional State of Deseret.” Broughton D. Harris, of Vermont, was appointed secretary; Joseph Buffington, of Pennsylvania, chief justice; Perry C. Brocchus, of Alabama, and Zerubbabel Snow of Ohio—the latter a member of the Church— associate justices; Seth M. Blair, attorney; and Joseph L. Heywood, United States marshal. The two latter were residents of Utah. Judge Buffington declined and Lemuel C. Brandebury, of Pennsylvania, was appointed in his stead. In addition to these officers there were three Indian agents. Four of these federal officers were members of the Church. The appointment of President Young as governor, was due to the influence of Colonel Thomas L. Kane, the staunch and faithful friend of the Latter-day Saints.

The “Run-Away Officials”

Three of these officials came to Utah filled with prejudice, and one, at least (Judge Brocchus), hoped that he might be elected to office and represent the territory in Congress. He had no desire to stay in the West. Together with Chief Justice Brandebury and Secretary Harris, he determined to leave again for the East, and preparations were made toward that end. These men complained of the smallness of their salaries, and Governor Young and other citizens petitioned Washington in their behalf. Harris declared “that he had private instructions designed for no eye but his own, to watch every movement and not pay out any funds unless the same should be strictly legal, and according to his own judgment.” When he decided to return to the East he also determined to take with him the funds which he had brought for territorial purposes. An attempt was made to prevent this action by legislative enactment, but he was sustained by the two judges, and carried the funds back to St. Louis, where he deposited them with the assistant treasurer of the United States. It was in September, 1851, when these officials left the territory.

Their Report to Washington

The three run-away officials reported in Washington that they were compelled to leave Utah on account of the lawless acts and seditious tendencies of Brigham Young and the majority of the residents. ³ They accused Governor Young with a waste of public funds— which they had refused to let him have—and referred to the existence of “polygamy” among the “Mormons.”

Governor Young’s Defense

Anticipating the accusations of these officials, because of threats made before their departure, Governor Young wrote to President Fillmore, September 29, 1851, setting forth his own course and the true condition in the territory. This letter was augmented by others from Jedediah M. Grant, mayor of Salt Lake City, who was then in the East, and Col. Thomas L. Kane.⁴ Daniel Webster, secretary of state, ordered these officials to return to their posts or resign; so resign they did.

Their Places Filled

The places of these men were later filled. Lazarus H. Reed, of New York, was appointed chief justice for Utah; Leonidas Shaver, associate justice, and Benjamin G. Ferris, secretary. Secretary Ferris did not remain in the territory very long, but the two justices were respected by the people who held them in high esteem.

The Deseret Evening News

In each of the settlements of the Latter-day Saints, before coming to Utah, they had endeavored to publish magazines and periodicals for the benefit of the Saints. In keeping with this custom a small wrought-iron Ramage handpress, was purchased in Philadelphia and brought across the plains by one of the early companies. In 1850, this press was put to use, and the first newspaper published in the Rocky Mountains made its appearance in Salt Lake City. This was the Deseret News, the first number of which was published June 15, 1850, with President Willard Richards as editor. It was a small quarto, issued weekly, and has since grown into one of the influential daily papers in the inter-mountain country.

Announcement of the Plural Marriage Doctrine

August 28 and 29, 1852, a special conference was held in Salt Lake City. One hundred and six elders were called to go on missions to various fields, including the countries of Europe, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, and other islands of the sea, as well as the states of the Union. On the second day the first public announcement of the doctrine of plural marriage was declared. The revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, dealing with the new and everlasting covenant and including the doctrine of marriage for eternity and “plural wives,” was read. Elder Orson Pratt delivered the first public discourse on this principle, dealing with the subject from a scriptural standpoint. He emphasized the fact that the practice of plural marriage among the Latter-day Saints was not to “gratify the carnal lusts and feelings of man,” but was to be practiced in all holiness. Moreover, that there was but one who held the keys of this power, and there were “bounds and restrictions” which the Lord had set, and all who obeyed this law should be in harmony with the law, receiving the sanction of the one who held the keys. Following the discourse of Elder Orson Pratt, President Brigham Young made some remarks dealing with the history of the revelation.

Laying the Corner Stones of the Salt Lake Temple

In February, 1853, ground was broken for the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple. Wednesday, April 6, the corner stones were laid with solemn and impressive ceremonies. This was the beginning of the most costly and imposing temple yet to be erected by the Church, and was to take forty years in the building. Other temples had been built, but the Saints had not been granted the privilege of enjoying blessings in them for any length of time. In this far western country, they hoped to build undisturbed, and have the opportunity of receiving their own blessings therein and also labor for their dead. It was at first proposed to build the temple of sandstone from Red Butte Canyon, and a wooden track was laid from the city to the canyon for the purpose of hauling the rock. It was finally decided to build of granite, which was found in abundance in Little Cottonwood Canyon, some eighteen or twenty miles south-east of the city.

A Solemn Assembly

On the morning of April 6, 1853, thousands of Latter-day Saints assembled in conference. President Young made a few introductory remarks saying that in a few years “we may have a place sufficiently large to accommodate the Saints, although, twenty-three years ago, the Church was organized with only six members.” The choir sang and prayer was offered by Elder John Taylor. The procession then formed and moved to the foundation of the temple. The general authorities of the Church and the authorities of the Salt Lake Stake, took their places around the foundation and the ceremonies of laying the corner stones proceeded.

Dedication of the Corner Stones

The First Presidency, with John Smith the patriarch laid the first or south-east corner stone, according to the pattern given by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Following this ceremony President Young delivered an oration, and near the close he said:

“We dedicate the south-east corner stone of the temple to the Most High God. May it remain in peace till it has done its work, and until He who has inspired our hearts to fulfil the prophecies of his holy prophets, that the house of the Lord should be reared in the ‘tops of the mountains’ shall be satisfied, and say it is enough.”

President Kimball then offered the prayer of dedication, and the assembly gathered at the south-west corner stone, which was laid by the Presiding Bishopric, followed by an oration by Bishop Edward Hunter, and a prayer of dedication by Bishop Alfred Cordon. The north-west corner stone was laid by the presidency of the high priests, and President John Young of that quorum, delivered the oration. Elder George B. Wallace offered the prayer of dedication. The last, or north-east corner stone, was laid by the council of the twelve. Elder Parley P. Pratt delivered an oration and the prayer of dedication was offered by Elder Orson Hyde.

After benedictory remarks by President Young, the procession returned to the Tabernacle and were dismissed.

President Young’s Vision

In the afternoon service of that day, President Young spoke at length in relation to temple building. In the course of his remarks he said:

“I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July [1847], I was here and saw in the spirit the temple not ten feet from where we have laid the chief corner stone. I have not inquired what kind of a temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. Now do not any of you apostatize because it will have six towers, and Joseph only built one. It is easier for us to build sixteen, than it was for him to build one. The time will come when there will be one in the center of temples we shall build, and on the top, groves and fish ponds.”⁵

Success in Foreign Mission Fields

The missionaries sent out to various parts of the earth in 1849 and succeeding years, met with varied success. The Church membership in the British Mission, before heavy emigration set in, was about twenty-eight thousand souls. Outside of Great Britain perhaps the greatest success in any foreign field fell to the lot of Erastus Snow and his companions, who introduced the Gospel in Scandinavia. Many branches were raised up, especially in Denmark, where Elders Snow, Peter O. Hansen, George P. Dykes and John E. Forsgren were laboring. Elder Forsgren carried the Gospel into Sweden and, later (1851) Hans F. Petersen and Hans Peter Jensen, to Norway. In each of these countries the elders were successful, although little headway was made in Sweden until 1853, Elder Forsgren having been banished soon after his arrival there. In Denmark, persecution raged, and several of the elders were brutally treated, while in Norway they were cast into prison. Elders John Taylor and companions in France were able to make some converts, but found it to be a hard field. Elders Lorenzo Snow, Joseph Toronto and Thomas B.H. Stenhouse, in Italy, found conditions similar to those the elders encountered in France. Meeting with no success in Genoa, they moved to the Protestant valleys of Piedmont, where a few were baptized. Finally Elder Stenhouse was sent into Switzerland to open the door for the Gospel there, where many were waiting to embrace the truth. The elders in India made a number of converts, but principally among the English, and branches of the Church were organized in that land. The message of salvation was also successfully carried into Australia, by John Murdock and Charles W. Wandell; into South Africa, by Elders Jesse Haven, Leonard I. Smith and William Walker; Hawaii, by Elder George Q. Cannon and companions. In China the mission opened by Elders Hosea Stout, James Lewis and Chapman Duncan, was a failure, and Elders Parley P. Pratt and Rufus Allen returned from South America, they being unable, because of political disturbances, to get a foothold there. Elders Addison Pratt, Benjamin F. Grouard, James Brown and others, were banished from the Society Islands, and the native Saints were sentenced to hard labor for holding meetings. Elders Pratt and Grouard, with Noah Rodgers, who died crossing the plains in 1846, had successfully introduced the Gospel in those and other islands of the Pacific in the day of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Foundation for Future Labors

These early missionaries laid the foundation for the preaching of the Gospel in many foreign lands, which has been continued since that time with wonderful results. Thousands of honest converts have gladly received the message of salvation, and with the spirit of gathering resting upon them, have come to Zion, as the prophets foretold, with songs of everlasting joy.

The Hand-Cart Immigration

The early companies arriving in the Salt Lake Valley came with oxen, mules and horses and heavy laden wagons. The people, however, quite generally were under the necessity of walking across the plains by the sides of their wagons. It became apparent that other and cheaper methods would have to be employed to accommodate the increasing immigration. As early as 1851, the First Presidency suggested the use of handcarts as a means of making the journey from Iowa westward. In fact, there were in the Salt Lake Valley at that time some who had crossed the plains in that manner, with comparative comfort and safety, and this had led to the suggestion of general travel in hand-cart companies. It was not until about the year 1856, however, that the idea was impressed upon the foreign Saints, and then after repeated suggestions. When they did take hold of it they entered into the spirit of hand-cart transportation with enthusiasm. Especially was this the case with the members of the Church in the British Isles. With handcarts, the British Saints could make the journey from Liverpool to Salt Lake City for about forty-five dollars, coming by way of Boston or New York to Iowa City, where they were fitted out to cross the plains. To those who were scarcely able to raise means, or who did not care to be indebted to the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company, this was a decided advantage.

The First Hand-Cart Companies

The first hand-cart companies to cross the plains were led by Edmund Ellsworth and Daniel D. McArthur. Ellsworth’s company, numbering 266 souls, left Iowa City, June 9, 1856. McArthur followed two days later with a company of 220. A third and smaller company of Welsh Saints, under command of Edward Bunker, left on the 23rd. The members of these three companies pushed their hand-carts containing all their worldly possessions, over the plains, the mountains, and through rivers and streams, a distance of about thirteen hundred miles. A few deaths among the aged and infirm occurred on the way, but these companies all arrived in Salt Lake City in good condition and happy to be in Zion. The companies of Ellsworth and McArthur arrived on the 26th of September, having been delayed by the breaking down of hand-carts which were built of unseasoned timber, and therefore could not stand the strain and the excessive heat of the summer sun. They were met and welcomed by the First Presidency and a large concourse of citizens, with a brass band, at the foot of Little Mountain, in Emigration Canyon, and were escorted into the city where they received a royal welcome. These two companies arrived with ninety-six hand-carts, five wagons, twenty-four oxen, four mules, and twenty-five tents. October 2, Captain Edward Bunker’s company arrived without having had serious loss, and were also met with enthusiastic welcome.

The Willie and Martin Companies

Two other companies with hand-carts were fitted out in the summer of 1856. The members of these companies were mainly from Great Britain and Scandinavia. They arrived in Iowa City, the starting point, near the end of June and in the fore part of July, where they discovered that the tents and hand-carts for their use, were not provided. Consequently they were delayed until these necessary articles could be manufactured, or purchased. The delay was dangerous, for the season was advancing, and the journey across the plains should not have been undertaken as late as the middle of July, when the first company was prepared to start. This company under the command of James G. Willie, left Iowa City, July 15, and Florence [Winter Quarters], Nebraska, on the 19th of August. They were followed by the second belated company, the fifth of the season, under the command of Edward Martin, about two weeks later.

The Question of Traveling Considered

While at Florence, the question whether they should pursue their journey from that point, or go into winter quarters, was discussed. The majority were in favor of continuing on the way, although there were dissenting voices, because of the lateness of the season and the dangers the journey entailed.⁶ Nevertheless the decision was reached and they determined to go on rather than remain on the plains through the winter. They fully hoped to reach Salt Lake City before the chilling blasts of winter should overtake them. This was a fatal error, but one, of course, unexpected by most of the companies, for the winter season set in much earlier than usual that year, and was most severe.

The Babbitt and Margetts Tragedies

The fore part of this hand-cart journey passed pleasantly enough for such a trip, except for the breaking down of carts and feelings of anxiety because of Indian raids. The Cheyennes were on the warpath and had made attacks on a number of preceding immigration trains. In September, while the handcart companies were on the Platte, Almon W. Babbitt, secretary of Utah, and a number of his camp who were in advance were killed. They were on their way to Utah from Washington, with a train of government property. A short time later Thomas Margetts and wife; James Cody, wife and child, who were on their way to England, were killed by the marauding Indians. News of these massacres did not tend to lighten the hearts of the hand-cart immigrants, but it did serve to make them more vigilant. Even then, they were deprived of many of their cattle, which were stolen by the red men.

Disasters on the Way

Notwithstanding all the difficulties and dangers in their path, these two companies pressed on with all possible speed. In the fore part of their journey, they made favorable daily progress, but as they continued, and the roads became more rough and repairs were constantly necessary, their progress was delayed. Due to the lightness of their hand-carts and the hasty manner in which they were constructed of unseasoned wood, they began to fall to pieces before the companies were well on the journey, and to repair them required time.

While they were on the Platte, in the middle of September, the first frosts of the season were encountered, which increased in severity day by day. September 30, Captain Willie’s company arrived at Fort Laramie—five hundred miles east of their destination —and the next day continued on their way. From this point on they encountered the hardest part of their travel, and winter was fast approaching. Their rations were growing less, and restrictions were placed upon them. What was worse, due to the loss of conveyances and the heavy grades they had to climb when they reached the mountains, they had to discard a portion of their burdens. Articles of clothing and bedding had to be left on the way, that progress might be made. Improperly clad and with poor shelter, they were exposed to the piercing winds and bitter cold of the early winter storms. This caused them severe suffering, and many of the more delicate were placed in untimely graves along the way, without proper ceremony and in compelling haste. Under such adverse conditions they were forced to push on, and wait not for anything, for emergency demanded haste, lest the grim and merciless winter embrace them in the grasp of death.

The sufferings of the advance company were repeated, but with greater severity, by the one which traveled in the rear. The Martin camp was composed of a larger number of women and children, and the inclement season, augmented by the many other difficulties encountered, caused greater loss of life in their ranks.

Extreme Suffering on the Sweetwater

On the Sweetwater, these immigrants encountered extreme winter weather and heavy snows. Death had occurred frequently during these stages of the journey. After one of these severe storms fifteen members of the camp died in one day, while others were severely injured.

A Party to the Rescue

Through reports from returning missionaries who passed these hand-cart companies on the way, President Brigham Young learned that they were on the plains. Fearing for their safety, he organized relief parties and sent them out with provisions, clothing and bedding to help them to reach the valley. An advance guard of two young men, Joseph A. Young and Stephen Taylor, was sent in a light wagon to inform the weary and stricken travelers that relief was on the way. As these young men approached the hand-cart company led by Captain Willie, they appeared as angels of mercy. “More welcome messengers never came from the courts of glory,” said John Chislett, “than these two young men were to us. They lost no time, after encouraging us all they could to press forward, but sped on further to convey their glad news to Edward Martin and the fifth hand-cart company, who had left Florence about two weeks after us, and who it was feared, were even worse off than we were. As they went from our view, many a hearty ‘God bless you,’ followed them.”

“Martin’s Ravine”

As the rescuers pressed on their way they discovered the Martin company in a ravine, between the Platte and the Sweetwater. The place has been designated “Martin’s Ravine,” and here the sufferers had made their camp. They had about given up all hope and were ready to succumb to the rigorous and persecuting winter, when word was received that relief was coming. The joy that filled the hearts of the survivors —for death had charged such heavy toll that the ravine was like an overcrowded tomb—is beyond the power of mortal pen to write.

The Arrival in the Valley

With the help of the brethren, and the supplies from the valley, the survivors of these two belated trains arrived in Salt Lake City in November. Captain Willie’s company entered the city on the 9th, and Captain Martin’s three weeks later. Out of Captain Willie’s company of between four and five hundred souls, seventy-seven had perished. Of the Martin company about one-fourth of the five hundred and seventy-six who started found graves along the way.

Later Hand-Cart Immigration

Other companies with hand-carts crossed the plains in subsequent years. And from the Salt Lake Valley missionaries employed hand-carts to help them to their distant fields of labor. Never again, however, was a condition permitted to arise such as that which overtook the companies under Captains Willie and Martin in the fall of 1856.

The Passing of Prominent Men

During the period covered in this chapter, several prominent elders of the Church passed away. Oliver Cowdery, who at the incipiency of the work, stood with the Prophet Joseph Smith as the second elder of the Church, and who, with the Prophet, held the keys of this dispensation, as they were received from holy angels, passed away. He died March 3, 1850, at Richmond, Missouri. Only a few months before his death [See Chap. 41] he returned to the Church after an alienation of several years. Presiding Bishop Newel K. Whitney, who was also among the first to embrace the Gospel, died in Salt Lake City, October 13, 1850. He joined the Church in Kirtland in 1831, and passed through the trying scenes of Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. He was ordained to be the second bishop of the Church, and after the death of Edward Partridge, was sustained as the presiding bishop. In 1848 he led a company of immigrants to the Salt Lake Valley. Two of his sons, Horace K. and Orson K., were members of the pioneer band, but their father remained at Winter Quarters, where his services were required during those trying times. He was succeeded as presiding bishop by Edward Hunter in 1851.

March 11, 1854, Willard Richards, second counselor to President Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City. He was born in Massachusetts, in 1804, and was baptized by Brigham Young, December 31, 1836. The following year he accompanied Elder Heber C. Kimball and others to England and assisted in the opening of that mission. After his companions returned, he remained as one of the presidency of the British Mission, in which capacity he was laboring when the apostles went to that land. Having been called to the apostleship, he was ordained in Preston, England, by President Brigham Young and other members of the council of the apostles, April 14, 1840. He returned to the United States in 1841, and became the private secretary to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and was with him in Carthage prison at the time of the martyrdom. From 1842 until his death he was Church historian and recorder and at the reorganization of the First Presidency, was selected by President Young as his second counselor. In this position he was succeeded by Elder Jedediah M. Grant, and as historian, by Elder George A. Smith.

“Uncle” John Smith, the presiding patriarch of the Church, died in Salt Lake City, May 23, 1854. He was a man of tried integrity and had served in the councils of the Church from the time of his baptism until his death. He was among the first of the Prophet’s relatives to receive the truth and through his influence others were converted. He was succeeded in the office of patriarch, by John Smith, eldest son of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith.

Elder Orson Spencer, a man of superior education, who served the Church faithfully and well as a missionary for many years, was called to the other side of the veil, October 15, 1855, while at St. Louis. He had presided in the British Mission during one of the critical periods in that land.

Jedediah M. Grant, second counselor to President Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City, December 1, 1856, after a brief illness. He was a young man of forceful character and had been identified with the Church since 1833. He was a member of Zion’s Camp in 1834; was chosen among the first seventies, and in that calling filled a number of successful missions throughout the United States. He passed through the persecutions of Missouri and Illinois, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, in charge of the last company to cross the plains in 1847. He was the first mayor of Salt Lake City, and when he was called to be a counselor to President Young, was serving as one of the first council of the seventies. He was succeeded as a counselor in the First Presidency by Elder Daniel H. Wells.

The Assassination of Parley P. Pratt

Another death, occurring May 13, 1857, was that of Elder Parley P. Pratt of the council of the twelve. In the autumn of 1856, Elder Pratt left Salt Lake City with a company of missionaries, and crossed the plains. That winter he labored in St. Louis, Philadelphia, New York and other cities in the East. In the spring of 1857, he was in Arkansas. While there he attempted to assist a Mrs. Hector H. McLean, who was a member of the Church, to obtain possession of her children, she having separated from her husband because of drunkenness and cruelty. McLean accused Elder Pratt of alienating the affections of his wife and attempting to abduct the children. A trial was held, and Elder Pratt was acquitted of the charge. Shortly afterwards, as he was journeying from Van Buren County where the court was held, intending to join an immigrant company for Utah, he was overtaken by McLean who plunged a bowie knife in his side. After Elder Pratt had fallen from his horse, McLean shot him with a pistol. The assassin was never punished for the foul deed. In this manner died one of the greatest expounders of the latter-day faith, a poet and writer, whose works survive and have done much to bring many to a knowledge of the Gospel. Although their author’s voice has long been stilled, his work yet speaks with convincing power.

Notes