Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-29

were one thousand miles from the near
est GENTLE. Beyond them was the great
unexplore6 desert, and still beyond was
the Sierra Nevada, and beyond that was
California. Gold had not been discover
ed, or if discovered the news had not
reached the Eastern States. Amid the
seclusion of the mountains, at the heart
Of the continent, with room for expan-
sion to Mexico on the South, the Pacific
on the West, the frigid zone on the North
and the Rocky Mountains, which would
be forever barrier between them and
those whom they deemed prosecutors.
the Saints determined to build church
and establish the State of Deseret, reli
gion and government both diverse and
antagonistic to any existing ecclesiastical
organization or republican order Of Gov
ernment.
1t was a forbidding prospect. This
was a verdureless valley. The wild arte'
mesia which feeds on alkali was the only
growth of the plains. Along the river
there were few willows. Up IN the
mountains there was lumber, and when
the spring rains came there was grass on
the hillsides, but the heats of July and
August parched the ground, and baked
it into solid cake. Swarms of grasshop-
pers came from the sands and devoured
all vegetation. But streams trickled from
the mountain sides, and the settlers saw
that they could be turned to account for
irritation. bitches were dug, potatoes
planted, bricks moulded and baked in the
sun, cabins reared, a city laid out. Food
became scarce, wolves, foxes, fish, sage
roots, seeds of the mountain pine were
consumed.
The first grain crop was failure. 1t
was not more than six inches high, and
the grasshoppers deyoured it. Many
settlers became discouraged, and return
ed to Missouri. Some died. Then
came the rush OF overland emigrants TO
California. The gold fever took away
some of the settlers, but others came to
take their places. Those who remained
had strong faith and zeal.
They had congregated at Nauvoo new
err to cease their efforts, nor relax their
zeal, till every man, woman and child
who wished to come should have the
means of reaching Salt Lake. 1t was
the great army of emigrants to Califor-
mia in 40 and so, and subsequent years,
that gave them rapid Advancement
Here the emigrants rested, left money,
purchased whatever the settlers had for
sale. A missionary fund was establish
ed, and missionaries went out in 1850 to
England, Sweden, Norway and Den
mark, and thousands of converts came
trooping TO this land.
A beehive was adopted as the emblem
and symbol of the church. We see it
on the walls Of houses, over the gateway
leading to Brigham Young's grounds-a
golden hive. 1t is the business of the
saints to fill it with honey. Work is the
duty enjoined by the church.
In foreign lands the persecution that
the saints had suffered in Missouri was
the stock in trade of the missionaries
Their mission was to the ignorant.
Christ and the apostles were prosecuted,
and so were the latter day saints, for
righteousness sake. Sympathy lent
willing ear.
The missionaries went to the poor, the
toiling, the hopeless. In this far off
valley there was no moneyed power to
Cypress them, no laws to grind them
down. Here was freedom, work. plenty.
comfort-a blessed future for Time and
in the bosom of the church bliss for eter-
nifty.
They preached the new revelation -
God had not withheld communication to
his children. Revelation had not died
out with the apostles, but it was still
continued through the servant of the
Lord Jesus, that holy apostle and head
of the church on earth, Brigham Young.
Come and hear the tidings, be baptized
fer the remission OF sins J Accept the
bliss
WHY THE CHURCH HAS PRosPERED.
Is it any wonder that willing ears and
consenting hearts were found when the
attractiveness of this new zion was preach
ed to the poor, toiling, ignorant people
of Old England and Europe Eng
land at once became the grand recruit
ing ground. Thousands who wished to
emigrate to America found that the
Church of the Latter Day Saints had
the machinery of emigration in opera
tion--agents to help them, steamships to
carry them. The Church was ready to
advance money at any time to enable
them to reach the land blessed of the
Lord.
Benefits for this life and special bles-
sing for the life eternal were the strong
forces. The Welsh minor who had
CROPPED for years in darkness in the COL
lieries of ENGLAND, here might walk over
his own green acres. The men Of Den
mark who found it hard work to keep
soul and body together on the marshes
of their native land, here could find ease
and comfort in genial cline. And if
there were men with strong passions
anywhere in the wide world, here, in the
bosom of the church. they could rel
giously crafty all carnal desire and serve
God acceptably while SO doing. They
might become patriarchs under the new
revelation, and work out for themselves a
far more exceeding and eternal weight OF