Message to the Mormon Battalion-- For additional background for this Message and the preceding one see: CHC 3:60-121.
A MESSAGE from President Brigham Young To the Battalion Members Camp of Israel, Cutler's Park, Omaha nation, Aug. 20, 1846. Capt. JEFFERSON HUNT and the Captains Officers and soldiers of the Mormon battalion.
Beloved brethren:-Several letters were this day received by Joseph Matthews who has just returned from Fort Leavenworth. The Council of the Twelve and High Councils of Cutler's Park and Council Point were in joint session on his arrival, and we were cheered with his report of your excellent outfit, and the good feelings which appear to prevail at the Fort, and among the officers and soldiers of the Battalion.
Bro. Matthews expressed your feelings and wishes, concerning your families and that you desire your families to be brought forward with the camp. This is all right, and nothing shall be wanting on our part to accomplish this desirable object.
We consider the money you have received, as compensation for your clothing, a peculiar manifestation of the kind providence of our Heavenly Father at this particular time, which is just the time for the purchase of provisions and goods for the enter supply of the camp. After hearing your views concerning the remittance of future payments, from Bro. Matthews, and Bro. Dykes' letter of the 15th inst., we consider it wisdom for you to retain the funds which you may hereafter receive, until you can bring them yourselves, or deliver them to our Agents; for if circumstances permit, and it is wisdom we shall send one or two brethren to receive your remittances; whom you will know by their credentials; otherwise you will retain them till further instruction; and we would again urge the importance in all good faith, of the officers being as fathers to their soldiers and counseling them in righteousness in all things, that they remember their prayers continually and that they be kind and courteous in all their deportment, showing all due deference and respect to their officers and all in authority over them, using no profane or vain language or doing anything that tends to debase them in the eyes of beholders; remembering the ordinances in cases of sickness, and keeping themselves pure and unspotted from surrounding elements and combinations, so that they may win the respect and confidence of the whole world; and that they, and especially the younger brethren, do not spend their income for things of no value, or that might as well be dispensed with, but lay it up and keep it safe against a day of need, and send to the poor of Israel when opportunity presents and in so doing they will be laying up treasures in heaven, and on earth in the days of their youth; we give counsel upon counsel because it is our duty, and because we love you, and want to exalt you to the highest glory, and not because we have no confidence in you, far from it. It will require all the means the battalion will have to spare, with the united exertion of the camp, to carry out all your wishes, though by the wisdom of heaven we will make every dollar sent us count as good as two or three at ordinary traffic, and especially let every one send all they can by our agent at next payment, for it is very uncertain whether you will have an opportunity to make any more remittances before the close of the year or some distant period. A company of monied men, late from the East, is now forming in Camp to purchase all the materials necessary to put in immediate operation a flourishing mill, when we get over the mountains; and nothing will be wanting on our part to make a good and pleasant retreat at the end of our journey.
Since writing you yesterday we have heard that about thirty wagons will winter at the Pawnee village, and Bishop Geo. Miller with about one hundred sixty wagons at the Punca village, one hundred and twenty miles above.
Let the officers be diligent in enjoining the above counsel.
Col. Kane is convalescent. We regret to hear of the illness of Col. Allen; please present him our kind feelings and hopes of his health and prosperity.
Those brethren who remembered the counsel in the distribution of their mites, shall receive the blessing of the council; and we bless you all, feeling that you are doing well and trying to do better; and may our heavenly Father preserve you blameless unto the end, is the prayer of your brethren.
Done in behalf of the council. BRIGHAM YOUNG, president, WILLARD RICHARDS, clerk. {1846-August 20-RCH 2:236-237}
[source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
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