Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-07-08

VI Utah as Zion. Itconsisis OF a lovely
little place shut IN ON oil sides by lofty
perpendicular mountains, but nobody
livee there now. The people Ia the
south call II "Not Zlon," owing TO a
Of the visits which President
Young made many years ago to
the settlements on the Rio Nlrgen.
Having learned Of the existence u this
romantic spot, the President Get out
with his company from Rockville to
visit the same, but after travelling sew.
cral milen up the canyon through
which the north fork passes, ho sud.
denly stopped, hnd, addressing his
travelling companions, said; "Breihrcn,
this Ia not Zion" He then turned.
around, followed by his company,
since which tho place has been called
"Nnt Zion"
Having spent n pleasant time with
the good people in the settlcmopte
named, holding well attended meet.
ings Ia each place, / returned to
TOquerville, anu from there started
for Harmony In the morning " April
2ith. About eight miles north Of
TOquervillc passed through Bellevue,
which years ago was quito a village,
but now only occupied by three
families, over whom Elder Andrew
Gregefsen pfosidcs In branch ca.
pacity, the place being under the luris.
diction OF the Toquervillv ward. Con.
tinuing my journey up Ash Creek,
over the famous Black Ridge, which
separates the lower Dixie country from
the colder and higher regions, soon
reached the old John ID. Leo location
on Ash Greek, where there IN only one
ranch nj present, thence 1 passed the
site o. Old Harmony - the present
town Of that name, which Ia pleasantly
situated In an open valley, at the base
Of the Pine Valley mountains, ut MI
elevation Of about $500 feet above the
level Of the sen. This place IL cool ami
healthy, nnd the people prosperous.
Thlrty.one families Rud llD souls con.
aiitute the strength Of tho ward, and
William A. Rodi Is the Bishop. HAr.
mOny IL fortytwp miles, by round.
about road northeast Of st. George, iil.
teen nil,s from Bellevue and twenty
one milol southwes. Of Cedar Guy.
a public meeting held at Harmony,
anu another special meeting with the
older settlers OF thu place finished my
historical lsbon In the 81. George
stake OF Zion, which Of all the Stakes
have visited 20 at, has been the most
difficult 20 write nv, owing W tho very
extensive territory over which it,
numerous wards and branches are
scattered.
The 81. George stake Of Zion en-.
braces all NJ Washington County, Utah,
part Of Lincoln County, Nevada sud
/ the extfemei northwest corner Of
Arizona. II consists Of twenty.one
fully organized warde, some OF which
are divided ~ Into number Of
! branches. Whenever the members oi
the stake Presidency or others have to
| visit all the wards and branches In
the Stake, II means Il journey OF nearly
| five hundred mil,s over the worst
roads Imaginable. Tho numerical
strength Of the stake last February
was us follows;
one Patriarch, 92i Sovcnties, l75
High Priests, 3lb Elders, 30 Priests,
| 81 Teachers, ~ DeaCon-, @lb1 lay
members aud lIlB children under
eight years Of age, making a total Of
ii5 ,ouls, divided into 81 families.
e largest ward In thn Stake Is the
~. George Fourth Ward with 6.6
members or 1906 families, and tue
smallest Is the Price Ward with
% souls or 10 families. | spent
nearly seven weeks travelling IA the
| the 81. George stake, anu was every
where treated with that kindness aud
hospitality which IL characteristic Of
genuine Lnttcr.dAy Saints. The
special meetings which | held weru a.
n rule very well attended, mud the In
| stTuptious Unmarried appreciated aud
accepted in the true spirit nnd meaning
thereof. For many years to come
shall hold tue good people Of Southern
Utah IN the highest esteem, and evei
pray for their welfare aud prosperity.
| ANDREW JRSsON.
SALT LAKE CITY, July I, 1902.