[Brigham Young Discourse] President Young said he was thankful for the liberty of convening in this beautiful valley. Much instruction has been given the brethren about being prepared for our journey in the wilderness. It is our exhortation still that none start without ample supplies and we will yet probably be more strict when we reach the Missouri River. Yet I rejoice to the faith and nobleness of spirit manifest by so many who are along and are counting to come daily after us who will not stay where we began the farms, but are determined to follow on to the place where the temple of the lord will be raised and we received the ordinances of heaven. When we get to Council Bluffs it will be one continual train from Nauvoo to the bluffs and we will not cross the mountains as soon as we anticipate, but I will not find fault, I will not let God do that, yet I know that the lord will pour out his blessings upon this people until they learn to hearken to council and not do and desire according to their own feelings. I can tell the brethren what they are doing, I have done it before. They have hedged up their own way by praying continually saying I am poor, I have done all I could for the church now for God sake don't leave here, I want to go with the church and every one almost every man that can start is on the road and all the devils between this and the nethermost part of hell are acting in concert with your prayers. Now say they pray fools and hedge up your own and will send rain and thunder etc. and hinder your move. How long will this people wander in darkness and militate against themselves - until they are chastened, driven and learn wisdom by the things which they suffer. I can safely prophecy that we will not cross the mountains this season and that is just what the brethren want, they would rather go to hell then to be left behind. It was with Joseph, they would rather have him butchered in Carthage Jail then to have him gone west and save his life. I always said that I would be led by the spirit of the Lord, and if the brethren are not willing for me to have this liberty, they must go their own way, for I am determined to take it notwithstanding the whinings of some who are fearful. I do not seek to save my life but the good lives of this people, to save them from following after Strang, Sidney Rigdon or going to St. Louis and getting drunk and profane the name of the Lord, etc. I would tell the sisters their duty, but I should I don't let some man go and whip his wife before night. I long to see the time when this people will have understanding and will not go to extremes, that is speaking in the general terms. It is the duty of all my wives and all other women to mind their own business, keep themselves, houses or tents clean and not to dictate my business of the priesthood or want to know where I am going or where I have been and where I have slept last or afraid that I would fowl down and tramp on it if you can philosophize to understand what I mean it is their duty to bear all the children they can lawfully and raise them up in the name of the lord watching over them and seeing that they are kept from playing with ungodly children from falling in river or exposing themselves to sickness and dangers and teaching them to reverence the priesthood and when she has raised them up to deliver them up to their father. Instead of meddling with her husbands business. She should be careful of his feelings and seek his interest. When the law of the priesthood is put in force we will not see so much difficulty, for every one will have to stand in their places, the man kind and affectionate to his wife not abusing or exposing her to hardships and she will regard reverence and adore him and so will all the elders and every person in their capacities. Will pray saying our father in heaven in the name of Jesus we ask thee to bless strengthen and prosper these our brethren who council us and lead us according to thy holy order. Again we want the brethren to let these our red brethren alone, we are so anxious to show them friendship that you overdo the mark and when we pass the bluffs no one will be permitted to converse with them or bring them in our camp without permission and necessity will compel us to encamp together for safety, they know no better then to take our horses cattle goods etc. but when we have been with them and they learn that we are their friends, we shall then be perfectly safe, but not till then. This evening we will have to get up our teams and travel on a few miles to the next timber lest we be troubled by them. Some persons have spoken to me to be attached to my company as there are some vacancies, they may report themselves to my clerk Brother John D. Lee, however we will not fully organize until we get to the bluffs. I would further say there are those who expect to go down to the settlements and get their supplies, this they will not be permitted to do. Should they be suffered to run as they please we should have to pay three prices for our supplies, but let men be sent out in the name of the lord and I will warrant that everything can be had at very lowest notch. -- Mount Pisgah, Iowa [John D. Lee Journals (LDS Church Reporter, 1845-47), Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.); Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..]
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]
[source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]
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