[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Cutler's Park. Wind north. Pleasant. About 11 a.m., four or five hundred of the Saints assembled at the stand in public meetings. Present: B. Young, H. C. Kimball, O. Pratt, W. Richards, W. Woodruff, G. A. Smith, A. Lyman, and Father John Smith. Meeting opened and addressed by O. Pratt, showing that the Saints were now living without the laws of the state and the United States, and under the principles or the celestial law. The reason why we have changed our counsel so often is because the people did not abide the best counsel which was given us by the Spirit. The best counsel was for the Church to fit out a company to go with the Twelve over the mountains, but as they were dilatory and failed to do this, we would not forsake them but give the next best advice, so that no one has a right to find fault with the council for changing their advice from time to time. It is unbelief that causes all our whining. The council are determined to carry out those principles which are made manifest to us by the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, if it takes the last shirt from our backs or our last property.
There has been some fault finding by those who have recently arrived in camp because they want to cut their own hay and put in their own turnip patch, but we must be one, and feel a general interest for the whole, and when anyone is told by the foreman to pick up a basket of chips and pour them out again, then pick them up again and find no fault. But if the foreman does wrong, let the council judge and not you. Quit at 12 noon, when Father John Smith arose and said he arrived at this place last Sabbath, too late to attend meeting, and was happy in the present privilege and urged the people to do as they would be done unto, and not cut his neighborÂ's ox with an axe because it came round his wagon in the night and other such things as he heard of, and reproved parents for suffering children to take the name of God in vain, and be saucy to old people, and enjoined it upon parents to train up their children so as to prepare them to take the lead of the Church as they must do by and by, and follow council in all things.
At 13 minutes past 12, President Young arose and said he had a short discourse to preach to the sisters whose husbands, brothers, etc., have gone into the army. Wanted every family left here to feel their dependence on their brethren who have looked to them and took care of their cattle, etc. O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt, and John Taylor, were led to Fort Leavenworth at the very time the soldiers were receiving pay for their clothing, and prevailed upon them to send a part of their money to their families, consigned to N. K. Whitney, J. Hale, and D. Spencer, and he saw sniveling and crying the very day Brother Parley before the money was counted. And some have written to their husbands to send no more money to the Church, for they could not get what they had sent. If you will keep working to get what you can from your husbands to help the poor, and you will [?] him the names of all who have written such news to their husbands will be marked on the history, to be read in future days.
You can have your money and do what you please with it, but it will release the Saints from all the obligations they are under by our pledge to look to their families. We are going to send N. K. Whitney to St. Louis to get such things as we want to carry over the mountains at wholesale, and recommended to the sisters to let their agents retain this money and get sugar, shoes, coffee, etc., at St. Louis, and get that in Missouri for 25 cents, and save all they can, and took two bills of Missouri bank and showed it to the camp. He wanted to ascertain who wanted their money after they understand it, and they shall have it, but it will release me from all the obligation I am under to see that they are taken care of. The Almighty governs this camp.
[At 12:45] 1/4 to one, Father Smith proposed the camp all be united in sending to St. Louis, and moved that all who concurred manifest it by show of hands. Elder Kimball concurred and said he should let all he was to receive go to St. Louis with theirs. Lorenzo Young spoke on close communion, and close communion sisters who choose to their money. President Young said, Â"does this congregation council the sisters to let their money lay in the hands of Bishop Whitney to be laid out by him to the best advantage for their families, all who do will manifest it by uplifted hands,Â" and the congregation generally raised their hands. The opposite was called for, but none voted.
President Young said again if any sister wanted her money she could apply for it and she should have it. In the last days the Saints must be worn out, and I want to wear out, and I mean to go and preach the gospel, and to England again, and when I was there before should have gone onto the continent to Germany if he had not been called home.
Bishop Whitney said he wanted their prayers. Would rather go in the hay field than go to St. Louis, and would say that he had seen goods sold in this region from 50 to 300 percent advance of the original cost. Would go if the Saints said so, but wanted a man to go with him. President Young gave notice that those who wanted to send to St. Louis had better make out their bills and send them in soon. There is a feeling of distrust among the Saints about honest deals, and if any man says we deal dishonestly he lies, and he knows he lies, and lies before God. And for two years, while the Twelve have been building, the Twelve have paid when they have borrowed as they have agreed. One man apostatized and returned to Nauvoo and said Elder Kimball had stolen all his beans. Elder Kimball put two bushels [of] beans in his wagon to carry, and afterwards went and distributed them to the poor, and the man apostatized. Elder Kimball said he repented and asked forgiveness for not taking 1800 lbs. of flour he had before he left, and the Church voted to forgive him if he would do so no more.
George A. Smith appointed a business meeting at 5 p.m., and closed by prayer about l ½ [1:30] p.m., naming and praying for some six or eight sick persons. President Young requested the singers and music meet on Thursday evening at the tabernacle to Samuel RussellÂ's tent, called [the] tabernacle, because it was so large. About 5½ [5:30] p.m. the brethren assembled at the stand, the Twelve present as in the morning, and Father Smith. President Alpheus Cutler said the cattle were not all taken care of. Many were let loose last night, and he wanted the brethren to gather their cattle and herd them. There are some things wrong. A fence is thrown down and his cattle let out of the yard, and we want the sheep taken care of tomorrow, and cattle too, and proposed that the brethren who had means come forward and send to St. Louis for two sets of millstones and fixtures to set up a flour mill.
[At] 25 minutes to 7, President Young said they had made an estimate of the expense of two sets of four foot burr stones with all the fixtures, [and it] could be had for $800 or less, weighing about five tons, and the iron might be mostly carried on the wagons that carry the stones, and wanted the brethren to form a company, take over the mill, and set them running and own it. Did not want them to put a dollar into the trustees' hands. Did not want a dollar, nor any of the Twelve. We can set our bogus machine in operation, and all the bogus machine I ever had was the invisible hand of a kind providence. All who are in favor of a mill being procured on the principle which has been told you by an individual or company, signify it by saying aye. Universal "aye" resounded through the meeting. If the brethren will take council, five years will not roll away before there will not be a poor man in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Cutler requested the foreman to have their hands and tools ready to go to work. President Young said he would tell a story. One of the brethren in Elder KimballÂ's camp hung his grindstone and guarded his tools and unhung his grindstone to put his b
ack in his wagon.
[At 7:45] 1/4 before 8, Orrin Porter Rockwell arrived in camp with a mail of 39 letters and many papers. About 8, President Young, O. Pratt, Richards, George A. Smith, and O. P. Rockwell called to see Brother William Clayton who had been sick about four days. Found him in great distress. Laid hands on him and he felt better. The brethren set down and read a letter from John M. Bernhisel, telling that Emma had sold the lot on which the Nauvoo House stands (on file), and talked till near 10 o'clock and returned home. Presidents Young and Richards laid hands on Susan Green who was sick with the headache.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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