The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-17

NAVAAAv4V4V0 ANIL i
H. N. Hansen, Underwood. Ia, in tho
Council Bluffs Nonpareil: We have
recently been favored with much re-
garding the Pioneer Trail and a
purported revelation to Brigham
Young of a great salt lake lying be-
tween two mountain ranges It Is
not my intention to go into the many
details touched upon in the articles re-
ferred to. but simply to show that the
Mormons in their exodus could not
have claimed that they were moving
In keeping with divine revelation.
1t Is not strange that Mr.. Rabbit
writes: There has been found by me
no record Of revelation received. nor
prophesy made by Brigham Young.
relative to the Salt Lake valley. prior
to the evacuation Of Nauvoo, or near
that time" 1t Is true that there had
subsequently been story to the ef-
feet that Joseph Smith prophesied and
had vision picturing the Rocky
mountain country, but IL he did. Brigh-
am Young and his party must either
have been ignorant of the same at the
time they left Nauvoo or else not re-
garded it az divine instruction to be
governed by. as their actions and
teachings at the time conclusively
prove.
have had occasion to look into Nor
mon history of those times, and am
ly nothing to the revelation story, re-
garding their westward move, either
to Brigham Young or to Joseph Smith.
II can make this statement because his
tory shows that when the Mormons
left Nauyoe they expected to go to
California, and that the location in
Salt Lake valley was the result of q
later consideration.
The suggestion to Brigham Young
to remove the people to the Pacific
coast did not come from a white rob-
ed figure stunning on q harp tra.la.
laing about that land" either, but from
( a person of no less distinction than
Governor Ford of Illinois. The follow
ing is from his excellency in letter
to Brigham Young, uoted from the
History of Utah, by Orson F. Whitney:
Il would suggest matter IN conn.
dence. California now offers Held
for the prettiest enterprise that has
taken place in modern times. 1t Is
but sparsely inhabited and by none but
Indians or imbecile Observation-Disclosures.
I have not inquired enough to know
how strong 1t Is in men and means.
But this we know: when conquered
from Mexico that country Is so phys1'
cally weak and morally distracted that
she could never send force there to
reconquer It. Why should 1t not be
pretty operation for your people to go
out there, take possession OF and con-
iuuer a portion Of that vacant country,
and establish an independent govern
iment Of your own, subject only to the
laws of nations? You would remain
there long time before you would be
disturbed by the proximity Of any 9th
er settlements" History Of Utah: Vol.
II. Page 238.
The Mormons may not admit that
they, In their westward move. acted
upon the suggestions Of Governor
Ford, but California or the Pacific
coast did, at that time, through some
means, become the promised land to
which the westward moving saints
were aiming. The Salt Lake valley Is
not mentioned in any OF the instruc-
Itions by the leaders in those days,
neither are the mountains, only as
they spoke of going beyond the noun
tains." F.
John Taylor, who after the death of
brigham Young succeeded to the pre.!-
dency in Salt Lake City, IN an address
to the saints in Great Britain under
date of March 1, 1876, informed them
that the people were leaving Nauvoo
for California, in which land he hoped
J for great prosperity. He concluded
Ibv saying: 1T was the labor, the en-
lterprise and settlement Of the saints
that made Nauvoo valuable. the Same
result must necessarily follow their
settlement in California"
The same John Taylor composed
the following to be sung as they jour
neyed on, all of which goes to snow
that at that time there were no
thoughts Of stopping short OF the Pa
cific coast:
.rne INNER California, o. that's the
land for me.
| It lies between the mountains anu
| great Pacific sea.
The saints can be supported there
And taste the sweets OF liberty
IN IInper California-O, that's the
We'll 20 and lift our standard. Wen
70 there and be free;
Well 20 to California and nave our
jubilee.
A land that blossoms with beauty rare
| A land of life and liberty,
with flocks and herds aboundins. On
that's the land for me.
Wen burst of all our letters ana oreak
the gentle yoke,
For long 1t has beset u.s. put no VII
shall be broke.
~ hraye" DR.. Payne said. In speaking
Of their performances In the last SIX
nv seven wears. N"They have demon,