"Let it be remembered that the mothers of these wilderness-born babies were not savages, accustomed to roam the forest and brave the storm and tempest--those who had never known the comforts and delicacies of civilization and refinement. They were not those who, in the wilds of nature, nursed their offspring amid reeds and rushes, or in the recesses of rocky caverns; most of them were born and educated in the Eastern States--had there embraced the Gospel as taught by Jesus and his apostles, and, for the sake of their religion, had gathered with the Saints, and under trying circumstances had assisted, by their faith, patience and energies, in making Nauvoo what its name indicates, "the beautiful." They had lovely homes, decorated with flowers and enriched with choice fruit trees, just beginning to yield plentifully. "To these homes, without lease or sale, they had just bade a final adieu, and with what little of their substance could be packed into one, two, and in some instances three wagons, had started out, desertward, for--where? To this question the only response at that time was, God knows" (_Women of Mormondom_, Tullidge, ch. 32). 3. It was not the intention of the Saints to leave Nauvoo until the springtime had fully arrived. But the human fiends, who hated the religion of the Saints and coveted their substance and property, were not willing for them to wait. What cared they for the suffering and exposure of an innocent people, driven from their homes and sheltered by the broad canopy of heaven in the midst of winter? "We could have remained sheltered in our homes," said President Brigham Young, "had it not been for the threats and hostile demonstrations of our enemies, who, notwithstanding their solemn agreements, had thrown every obstacle in our way, not respecting either life, or liberty, or property; so much so that our only means of avoiding a rupture was by starting in mid-winter. Our homes, gardens, orchards, farms, streets, bridges, mills, public halls, magnificent temple, and other public improvements we leave as a monument of our patriotism, industry, economy, uprightness of purpose, and integrity of heart; and as a living testimony of the falsehood and wickedness of those who charge us with disloyalty to the Constitution of our country, idleness and dishonesty" (_Manuscript History of the Church_). 4. Daniel H. Wells, who had joined the Church August 9, 1846, after the departure of most of the members of the Church, but who had always been a true friend to the Prophet Joseph and Patriarch Hyrum Smith, addressed the remaining members of the Church, while they were in the hands of their enemies, as follows: