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From: Eldon Jensen <>
Subject: HANDCART -- Journey to Utah part 6
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 11:36:18 -0700


B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.182
"THE LORD'S DAY"--BRIGHAM YOUNG'S REPROOF
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.182 -
p.183
The camp in its march usually observed "The Lord's Day" by resting from
their journey and holding religious services. Only the emergencies of
securing food for their animals, the necessity of making some point for
encampment or fording streams to that end, seem to have occasioned the
breaches of the custom. There was at times much merriment in camp. There
were musical instruments brought along and those who could play them.
There was dancing, too, occasionally, notwithstanding the absence of
ladies; the
games of quoits, of checkers, some card-playing for amusement, scuffling,
wrestling, the telling of humorous stories of doubtful propriety, loud
laughter, the playing of practical jokes and the like were indulged. If
these things were an offense in a company made up of churchmen engaged in a
New Dispensation of the gospel of the Christ, and seeking then a home for
the exiles of a religious persecution, it should be remembered that in the
main the company was composed of young men, Brigham Young and Heber C.
Kimball were then forty-six years old, respectively; Willard Richards
forty-three, These were the recognized leaders of the camp; the rest of
the personnel of the Pioneers, with very few exceptions, ranged below this
age, and many of them far below it; and they were possessed of the
exuberance natural to youth, and that youth alive in a new atmosphere of
freedom open plains and boundless physical prospects, to which environment
their souls were unconsciously expanding.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.183 -
p.184
All this may be urged in extenuation of the sport-loving spirit of the
camp; but it did not appeal to the leader, Brigham Young, whom, it should
always be remembered, was of Puritan extraction, and in sympathy with that
stern school of moral uprightness by training as well as by birth;
therefore what he regarded as the somewhat lax camp life of his associates
did not escape censure. He had engaged if the camp would attend strictly to
its duties, "abide his counsels and observe his directions, they should go
safely, and they and their teams be preserved from the Indians and from
every enemy." When completing the organization of the camp on the Elkhorn
he had predicted their success upon the condition of their faithfulness,
humility, vigilance and prayerfulness, while on the journey, "and if they
would go in such manner as to claim the blessing of heaven." He therefore
reproved the camp from time to time for its tendency to lightmindedness,
and sternly reminded his brethren of their obligations to humility and
sober-mindedness.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.184
Finally, respecting these matters, things reached a climax on Saturday the
29th of May. The morning of that day was cold and rainy. The horn for
gathering up the horses and cattle was sounded, but instead of proceeding
on the journey, President Young required each captain to call out his men
and each group to stand by itself. It was found that when this was done
the whole camp, excepting two, were present, and these two were out
hunting. President Young then addressed himself to the camp in the
following terms--the account is from Woodruff's Journal:
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.184
"I think I will take for my text to preach my sermon from--(these words):
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.184
`I am about to revolt from traveling with this camp any further with the
spirit they now possess'."
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.184
He then proceeded to say:
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.184
"I had rather risk myself among the savages with ten men that are men of
faith, men of mighty prayer, men of God, than to be with this whole camp
when they forget God and turn their hearts to folly and wickedness. Yes, I
had rather be alone; and I am now resolved not to go any further with the
camp unless you will covenant to humble yourselves before the Lord and
serve him and quit your folly and wickedness. For a week past nearly the
whole camp has been card-playing, and checkers and dominoes have occupied
the attention of the brethren, and dancing and `hoeing down'--all this has
been the act continually. Now, it is quite time to quit it. And there has
been trials of law suits upon every nonsensical thing; and if those things
are suffered to go on, it will be but a short time before you will be
fighting, knocking each other down and taking life. It is high time it was
stopped."
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.185
So he continued in this spirit to admonish and reprove the camp, showing
the brethren how inconsistent the course of the camp had been for a week
past or more, for men who were going "to seek out a location in the
mountains for a resting place for the saints, even the whole church of God,
who have been driven out from the Gentiles and rejected of them; * * * a
resting place for the saints where the standard of the kingdom of God would
be reared, and a banner unfurled for the nations to gather unto."
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.185
Finally he called first upon his fellow apostles of the twelve to know if
they were willing to humble themselves before the Lord and covenant to do
right; if so they must manifest it by the uplifted hand. Every hand in that
council was raised. The same question was put to the high priests, to the
seventies, to the elders, and to the members, and all unanimously
covenanted to repent of their sins and keep the commandments of the Lord.
President Young then addressed himself to the few members of the camp who
were not members of the church--"as there were some present." He informed
them "that they would be protected in their rights, but they must not
introduce wickedness in the camp. for it would not be suffered."
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.185 -
p.186
The day following--which was Sunday--was set apart as a day of fasting,
humiliation and prayer. Prayer meeting was held by the whole camp; and a
second meeting at which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was
administered. "The Lord seemed to accept the offerings of our hearts,"
wrote Erastus Snow that day, "and poured out his spirit upon us." The
twelve and a few others, in addition to attending these public services,
"went into the valley of the hills; and, according to the order of the
priesthood, prayed in a circle." Two of the brethren were stationed on
guard to protect these brethren from interruption by the Indians."
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
The repentance of the camp seems to have been most effectual as we hear no
more complaint of their conduct en route for their destination.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
On the 1st of June the Pioneer camp arrived opposite Fort Laramie. Here
the Black Hills project abruptly down from the north to the banks of the
Platte river, and the Pioneers learned that further progress with wagons on
the north bank of that stream was impracticable, and preparations had to be
made for crossing over to the south bank. The distance from Winter Quarters
to the point they had now reached was 543 miles. The company had a good
road from Winter Quarters to Loupe Fork, a distance of about 140 miles, but
for four hundred miles the Pioneers had made a new trail across the plains,
and now were about one half the distance from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake
valley.
Notes
1. Roster Of The Pioneer Camp
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
The personnel of the Pioneer band, was as follows. They are given as
divided into companies of "Tens":
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
First Ten--Wilford Woodruff, captain; John S. Fowler, Jacob D. Burnham,
Orson Pratt, Joseph Egbert, John M. Freeman, Marcus B. Thorpe, Geo. A.
Smith, Geo. Wardle.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
Second Ten--Ezra T. Benson, captain; Thomas B. Grover, Barbaras L. Adams,
Roswell Stevens, Amasa M. Lyman, Starling G. Driggs, Albert Carrington,
Thomas Bullock, George Brown, Willard Richards, Jesse C. Little.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186
Third Ten--Phineas H. Young, captain; John Y. Green, Thomas Tanner,
Brigham Young, Addison Everett, Truman O. Angell, Lorenzo D. Young, Bryant
Stringham, Joseph S. Scofield, Albert P. Rockwood.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.186 -
p.187
Fourth Ten--Luke S. Johnson, captain; John Holman, Edmund Ellsworth,
Alvarus Hanks, George R. Grant, Millen Atwood, Samuel B. Fox, Tunis
Rappleyee, Harry Pierce, Wm. Kykes, Jacob Weiler.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Fifth Ten--Stephen H. Goddard, captain; Tarlton Lewis, Henry G.
Sherwood, Zebedee Coltrin, Sylvester H. Earl, John Dixon, Samuel H. Marble,
George Scholes, Wm. Henrie, Wm. A. Empey.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Sixth Ten--Charles Shumway, captain; Andrew Shumway, Thos. Woolsey,
Chauncey Loveland, Erastus Snow, James Craig, Wm. Wordsworth, Wm. Vance,
Simeon Howd, Seeley Owen.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Seventh Ten--James Case, captain; Artemas Johnson, Wm. C. A. Smoot,
Franklin B. Dewey, Wm. Carter, Franklin G. Losee, Burr Frost, Datus Ensign,
Franklin B. Stewart, Monroe Frink, Eric Glines, Ozro Eastman.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Eighth Ten--Seth Taft, captain; Horace Thorton, Stephen Kelsey, John S.
Eldredge, Charles D. Barnum, Alma W. Williams, Rufus Allen, Robert T.
Thomas, James W. Stewart, Elijah Newman, Levi N. Kendall, Francis Boggs,
David Grant.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Ninth Ten--Howard Egan, captain; Heber C. Kimball, Wm. A. King, Thomas
Cloward, Hosea Cushing, Robert Byard, George Billings, Edison Whipple,
Philo Johnson, Wm. Clayton.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Tenth Ten--Appleton M. Harmon, captain; Carlos Murray, Horace K. Whitney,
Orson K. Whitney, Orrin P. Rockwell, Nathaniel T. Brown, R. Jackson
Redding, John Pack, Francis Pomeroy, Aaron Farr, Nathaniel Fairbanks.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Eleventh Ten--John S. Higbee, captain; John Wheeler, Solomon Chamberlain,
Conrad Klineman, Joseph Rooker, Perry Fitzgerald, John H. Tippetts, James
Davenport, Henson Walker, Benjamin Rolfe.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Twelfth Ten--Norton Jacobs, captain; Charles A. Harper, George Woodward,
Stephen Markham, Lewis Barney, George Mills, Andrew Gibbons, Joseph
Hancock, John W. Norton.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Thirteenth Ten--John Brown, captain; Shadrach Roundy, Levi Jackman,
Lyman Curtis, Hans C. Hansen, Mathew Ivory, David Powers, Hark Lay
(colored), Oscar Crosby (colored).
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Fourteenth Ten--Joseph Mathews, captain; Gilbroid Summe, John Gleason,
Charles Burke, Alexander P. Chessley, Rodney Badger, Norman Taylor, Green
Flake (colored), Ellis Eames, who, it will be remembered, returned to
Winter Quarters from the Pioneer camp on the 18th of April on account of
sickness.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.78, p.187
Besides the men, there were three women and two children in the camp.
Their names are given in the text of this History, and their presence in
the camp is also explained.

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