[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Pigeon Creek, Missouri River. Very pleasant. After breakfast with the encampment, at 9½ [9:30] council dispatched seven of the brethren, viz. Henry Miller, [?]. Council left at 9½ [9:30] for headquarters, where they arrived at 1½ [1:30] p.m. [At] 20 minutes to 6 p.m., the Presidency met the commissioned and noncommissioned officers in council in the poplars near the bank of the river. Perfect list of property and family and amount of wages to be drawn at Fort Leavenworth was called for, but were not ready. The persons must be selected to receive the money. President Young said the captains must be fathers to their companies, and in their companies manage the whole affair by the power of the priesthood, and you will have power to preserve your lives and the lives of their companies and escape many difficulties. [He] would not be afraid to pledge his right hand that every man will return alive if they will go in the name of the Lord and pray every morning and evening in every tent. Office of a soldier is as honorable as any officer if they behave as well. No one is distinguished as being better flesh and blood than another, but honor the calling of every man in his place. All the officers but three had been in the temple. Let no man be without his undergarment, and always wear a coat or vest. Keep neat and clean, teach them gentility, civility, no swearing. It must not be admitted. Insult no man. Have no conversation with the Missourians, Mexicans, or any class of people. Preach only where people want it, and then by wise men.
Impose not your principles on any people. Take your Bibles, Books of Mormon. Burn up cards. Let the officers regulate all the dances. If you come home and say the captains have managed all dancing and it will all be right to dance, etc. Card playing cannot be admitted. With the world all things are lawful, but not expedient. Never trespass on the rights of others. When the Father has proved that a man will be his friend under all circumstances he will give that man. Don't lay out your money for bacon and provision on credit for your families. Elder Kimball concurred in what President Young had said, and encouraged them to humility and prayer, and God will lead you in paths and before the people, that you will get as great a name as any people since the days of Moses. Hold your tongues and mind your own business. If you are sick, you have the privilege of calling the elders and rebuking all manner of disease.
Elders Taylor and P. P. Pratt concurred in what had been said. President Young spoke of Polk's feelings toward us as a people. Be discharged on parole. You will have no fighting to do. Go about your business. We shall go in the Great Basin where [it] is the place to build temples. There will be our strongholds against mobs. The Con. [Congress?] of the U.S. is good. You will probably be dismissed about 800 miles from us. Bishop Whitney, Jonathan H. Hale, Daniel Spencer were proposed as agents to draw the wages of the soldiers for their families at Fort Leavenworth. After much conversation and explanation, adjourned and returned to camp about sunset. Elders Young [and] Kimball retired to Ezra Chase's, and Richards and Little to Brother Bosse's tent about ¼ mile east of the town where they spent the night. James Brown[?] [proxy for--in the street near] of George Black to Mary McRea, [?] O. SedyhÂ's camp. James Owens ordained an elder by E. T. Benson and David Wilkie.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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