Wednesday, February 4, 1846, the first of the Saints left Nauvoo and crossed the Mississippi River on the journey to the West.[1] On the 6th of February Bishop George Miller and a company with six wagons crossed the river, and a few days later the work of ferrying the Saints to the Iowa side was kept up day and night. Elder Parley P. Pratt left Nauvoo on the 14th of February, and the following day President Brigham Young, Willard Richards and George A. Smith with a large company of Saints crossed the Mississippi on the ice and continued their journey about nine miles to Sugar Creek, in Lee County, where a temporary camp was formed for the exiles fleeing from Nauvoo.[2] President Young spent the 16th in organizing the camp into companies and Elder Heber C. Kimball with another company arrived on the 17th. On the 18th President Young and some of the brethren returned to Nauvoo to transact some necessary business and give instruction to those who were left there in command. Elder Joseph Young, president of the seventies, had been left at Nauvoo to preside over the Saints who still remained. The exiles tarried on Sugar Creek for some time where a number of council meetings were held and the needs of the people were duly considered. At the October conference in 1845, the members of the Church, on suggestion of President Brigham Young, unanimously covenanted as follows: "That we take all the Saints with us, to the extent of our ability, that is, our influence and property." After the motion was carried, President Young remarked: "If you will be faithful to your covenant, I will prophesy that the Great God will shower down means upon this people to accomplish it to the very letter." The members of the Church had been constantly instructed to prepare for the journey by laying up stores of provisions for many months. It was discovered that many who had come to Sugar Creek were without supplies to last them more than a few days, and this caused serious reflection and some anxiety among the leading brethren. It was winter time and supplies could not readily be obtained in the wilderness. However, those who had, shared with those who were destitute, and the Lord blessed them in their substance. Conspiracy in Washington