When the labor of the day was over, and they were seated around the evening camp-fire, their thoughts were engrossed with matters appertaining to their religion. Temporal cares were seemingly forgotten. Fully instructed in the doctrinal points of their faith, they readily met and disposed of our arguments upon principles familiar to all Christian denominations. The golden plates of the book of Mormon, the inspirational powers of Joseph Smith, the transforming virtues of the Urim and Thummim, were as sacred in their creed as the miracles of the Saviour. No argument could shake their confidence in Brigham Young, whom they regarded as the vicegerent of the Almighty himself. This belief was sanctified by an immutable promise, that the time would come when the Mormon religion would embrace the whole family of man. When we spoke lightly of these things, or expressed doubt concerning them, they reproved us kindly, and expressed their regret at our stubbornness and impiety. These discussions, which were frequent, and indulged in more for pastime than instruction, convinced us of the sincerity of the Mormons as a people. They believe with enthusiasm too, and among them may doubtless be found many who would suffer martyrdom as readily as did Ridley and Latimer, for the precious promises of their faith. Often when not occupied in discussion, they would all join in singing a religious hymn. A verse from the one which most frequently taxed their vocal powers, I well remember: “Brigham Young is the Lion of the Lord. He’s the Prophet and revealer of his word. He’s the mouth-piece of God unto all mankind, And he rules by the power of the Word.” Sometimes they would unite in a household song—the leader, representing the head of the family, commencing, “The Mormon man delights to see His Mormon family all agree; His prattling infant on his knee, Crying, ‘Daddy, I’m a Mormon.’” Then all would join in the chorus, as the representatives of the female part of the household, “Hey, the happy! Ho, the happy! Hi, the happy Mormon! I’ve never known what sorrow is, Since I became a Mormon,” occasionally varying it thus, “Hey, the happy! Ho, the happy! Hi, the happy Mormon! I never knew what joy was, Till I became a Mormon” —the word “joy” being divided in the singing to “jaw-wy,” to accommodate the metre. On the evening of the day before we entered the Mormon settlements, the leading man of the company beckoned me aside, and referred to our trip down, which he said had been a pleasant one.