A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — John Shaqi
A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAnderson, Nephi
Religion
A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Anderson, Nephi
Latter Day Saint churches
The camp at Sugar creek grew larger every day through the arrival of exiles
from Nauvoo. Many did not bring provisions enough with them, so that they
were forced to go to the neighboring farms and settlements and work for
corn.
The first move the camp made was on March 1, 1846, when four hundred wagons
started forward. Five miles only was traveled that day, and when they
camped, the snow had to be shovelled away where they pitched their tents.
From that time the Saints moved slowly westward across the territory of
Iowa. As they advanced, the spring rains came and often drenched the
travelers through. The ground now became very muddy, and it was so hard for
the poor teams that some days only a few miles were traveled. Sometimes
their camping places were so wet that they who slept on the ground would
have to lay on branches of trees so that they would not sink into the mud.
At first there was very little feed for their animals, and they had to live
on the bark and twigs of trees, with what, corn could be spared for them.
Many horses were traded for oxen, as they could stand such hardship better.
Trips were made to the nearest settlements to buy food. Those who had no
money traded what they could spare, such as dishes and feather beds for
corn.
For the first few weeks there was not much order in their way of traveling;
but on March 27th the Saints were more perfectly organized. Brigham Young
was sustained as president of the whole camp. Then captains were appointed
over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens. Clerks were chosen to keep the
records, etc., and men were called to see to the buying and distributing of
the food. Thus every one had something to do and everything was done in
order.
[Illustration: A PIONEER TRAIN.]
Often in the evening when supper had been eaten, the logs were piled on the
bonfire, a space was cleared, the musicians brought out their instruments,
and the sorrows and hardships of the day were forgotten in the innocent
dance.
The camp always rested on Sundays, and if the weather would permit,
meetings were held.
On April 24th a point on Grand river was reached, one hundred and
forty-five miles north-west from Nauvoo. Here it was decided to form a
settlement--to build houses and plant crops, that those who came after
would have food and a stopping place. The settlement was called Garden
Grove. Soon it was as lively as a hive of bees. Hundreds of men were busy
making fence rails and fences, building houses, digging wells, clearing
land, and plowing. Meetings were held often and the people were instructed
and encouraged. Parley P. Pratt and a small company were sent ahead to find
another location for a settlement. They found a beautiful place about
thirty miles from Garden Grove, which they called Mount Pisgah. Here houses
were also built, and farms and gardens planted. As many of the Saints were
poor and sick they rested at these two settlements while the main body went
on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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