At the beginning of the journey about one hundred men, under command of Colonel Stephen Markham, were selected as pioneers, to travel in advance of the companies to build and repair the roads; also to seek out temporary places for shelter where fields could be cultivated and homes--humble though they, of necessity, would have to be--might be provided for the exiles. The advance companies arrived at a place on the east fork of Grand River, some one hundred and forty-five miles west of Nauvoo, April 24, 1846. Here a temporary settlement was selected which they named Garden Grove. Two days later a council meeting was held and three hundred and fifty-nine laboring men were reported in the camp. From these one hundred were selected to cut trees and make rails; ten to build fences; forty-eight to build houses; twelve to dig wells and ten to build bridges. The remainder were employed in clearing land and preparing it for cultivation. Every one was busy, and in a few days a respectable village, magic like, had risen in the wilderness. A temporary organization was effected with Samuel Bent as president, and Aaron Johnson and David Fullmer as counselors. At this point President Young addressed the Saints saying it would be necessary to leave some of their number here, because they could not continue the journey, while the main body would push on and "lengthen the cords and build a few more stakes," and so continue on until they could all gather at the place appointed, and "build the house of the Lord in the tops of the mountains." Proposition to Explore the West It was the intention of President Young and the apostles to fit out a strong company of able-bodied men, unencumbered with families, and send them to the Rocky Mountains, there to build houses and plant crops, and prepare for the coming of the people as they were able to gather from year to year. "Were matters to be so conducted," he said, "none would be found crying for bread or destitute of clothing, but all would be provided for, as designed by the Almighty. But instead of taking this course the Saints have crowded on us all the while, and have completely tied our hands by importuning and saying, 'Do not leave us behind. Wherever you go, we want to go, and be with you;' and thus our hands and feet have been bound, which has caused our delay to the present time. And now hundreds at Nauvoo are continually praying and importuning with the Lord that they may overtake us, and be with us." An estimate of what would be required for a company of pioneers to take such a journey was made and the project was considered, but subsequent events prevented the undertaking until the following year. Mount Pisgah