The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04

biological reminder. that the Mormon
church was established in 1870. based
upon the Golden Bible or Book of Nor
mon, first published in 1929. The first
home of the church, as is also well
known, was in Kirkland o. The early
missionaries of the new sect were most
aggressive and determined men. Their
1aith was strong as that OF Columbus of
Magellan, of the Pilgrim Fathers. Trey
believed themselves called upon by the
Lord to proclaim the gospel and they
answered the call completely. Antag-
onism rose against them like a prairie
f1re. Inside of two years the first nio-
neers of the church went out to find
home where hostile criticism should
not be virulent The pioneers chose
Missouri and to that state the church
moved. But Missouri was a slave state
and the and-slavery agitation was ris-
| ing to red heat. The Mormons were
Yankees and anti-slavery mad its
nest in New England. The Mormons
were industrious and prosperous in
| Missouri. but Martyr Lovejoy was in
St. Louis with his abolitionism. The
Missourians killed him: killed what
Mormons they could. and warned all to
leave. Again pioneers went .ut and
selected Illinois. Then as if by magic
the city of Nauvoo rose. and again pro-
ductfve fields and increasing prosper
lty reused the envy of the idle against
the new sect. Its leader soon saw that
another move must be made and, in
June. 1874, when he was ready to start
for the mountains of the far west he
was induced. for the safety of his peo-
pie, to submit himself to the authori-
ties of the state to stand trial on some
II umped-up charge, and when his per-
son was incarcerated the mob, that Sc
cured his arrest, killed him, and his
pioneer journey was made behind the |
veil.
Brigham Young became his successor. !
as president of the apostles of the
church. AS soon as he could restore !
quiet among the people and prevent !
their dispersion he sent out another /
band of pioneers to find the third new
home for the driven sect. They chose
Council Bluffs. and the exodus and
exile from Narvoo of 10000 people be-
gan in midwinter. The story Of the
sufferings of that time is something
that ought to shame the people Of Hi
Bois even today. The exodus was made
in 1916. In the spring of 1917, Brigham,
accompanied by 1f3 men and women,
and followed by several thousand,
started from the Missouri to find a
home in the mountains so FAR away
from mobs and alleged civilization
that his people should be left to wor-
ship God in peace. On the 24th
of July, 1917, the pioneer band
entered the valley Of the Great Salt
Lake. and, as the leader looked up and
down, and across the wonderful plain
from the mouth of Emigration canyon,
he is said TO have declared that Zion
had been found. and that this would be
their home. The company drove across
the valley and up to the site of this
city. and camped. The die was cast:
the home was chosen. III
The writer has lived for the last seven
years upon what is known as Capitol
hill, and he has many a time looked :
over the valley and tried to see it as it
was in July, 1877. The Wasatch range,
with its patches of snow, is now as il !
was then. The Oquirrh range presents
the same quiet. idyllic aspect today as ]
t did then. The great salt sea CLEANS {
under the western sun now as it did so I
years ago. Away to the south the 3
slope down and touch finger J..
lips now as they did then. The sleepy
Jordan slouches lazily down through
he valley in 1887 as it did in 1S47. But,
n all else, how changed 7
Close the book OF time: stand back
n 1S47, on that eventful day when
first chose this home for his
people; see it as he and his companions
Jaw it, without a green field, without
| tepee, a hut or a home, and say, if
you can. what its appearance shall be
n 80 years !
For ages unknown, it had been the =
lone of the bowling wolf Of the des- v