[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Pleasant Point Encampment. Morning warm and pleasant. Historian sick in bed. 11 forenoon, the Saints assembled in the grove north of the encampment. Singing by Elder Pitt and Kay on the exodus of the camp. Prayer by Bishop Miller. Singing the Spirit of God, etc. President Young said that he was thankful for this opportunity of meeting together. Such a privilege we have not had since we have started, on the account of the inclemency (quotation). "I must say that I never experienced a sweeter spirit in my life than what I have since we started. I have seen things that I did not like, but to get angry I have not."
Among many other things the President said that, "When I see this people taking a course that will finally destroy themselves, it causes me to rise up in the strength of the Lord and admonish them, using the authority of the priesthood. Still I will not find fault with anyone. The pioneers, guard, and the men that have come to help us and have left their families back have all done well. I have no hesitation in saying they have done the very best that they could. Still, had they understood the order of the kingdom of God, they might have done better. We will call out those that are to cross the mountains, and we will take the public teams and load them with Church property, and no longer suffer our hands and feet to be fettered as they have been by men's smuggling the public teams that were to be converted to the use and benefit of the Church. I will order in the name of the Lord, and my counsel shall be obeyed. We will move the camp on the Grand River and locate a settlement of such as cannot fit out to go over the mountains this season, and let them put in crops and erect taverns and resting places from one point to another, even to the Missouri River, where they can winter their stock without much grain, etc."
Elder Taylor followed, expressed his gratitude for the privilege of speaking to the Saints, etc. President Young said, "I have one thing more to say to those that go over the mountain, that they may expect to be allowed l/2 lb. flour to each person 24 hours. How many will murmur at this, I expect some will turn Strangites and run off to Vorhee. I can do very well on 8 ounces flour per day, with milk, but there are some that will not abide counsel and would eat and destroy their provisions in half the time, and when they would get hungry break in provision boxes, and if they could get influence enough would raise a meeting in the camp and curse the Twelve and God. But to guard against such evils, we will put every man's provisions under a commissary and deal it out to them. Don't any of you be troubled because you may have the diarrhea, it will be the salvation of this camp as far as health is concerned. Some men that cannot walk a mile will, before we get through our journey, walk 20 miles in a day and there is Dr. Richards, the historian, who has now to be policed all over to keep life in him, will, before we get to the pass of the mountain, skip and run like a boy with a gun on his shoulder, running after deer, elk, and buffalo. G. A. Smith scarcely could ride on horseback when he started, can now skip into the wagon like a boy."
Elder Kimball assented to President Young's and Taylor's remarks, said that they had spoken his feeling, etc. Elder G. A. Smith, Bishops Whitney and Miller all bore record to the same, etc.
About 3 o'clock p.m., O. and Daniel Spencer and company arrived in camp. About 5 o'clock, O. P. Rockwell arrived from Nauvoo with a mail of 36 letters. At 8 in the evening, council met in J. D. LeeÂ's [Young] tent--President Brigham Young, Willard Richards, O. Spencer, D. Spencer, Captain Benton, Truman Gillit, Lee, and others. Several letters were read by the historians, among which were two from Elder Woodruff to President Young. The first under date March 4, the other April 14, 1846, giving an account of his arrival, together with brief history of his success in the field of labor.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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