Mormon History, Jul 27, 1847

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 27th I took President Young in my Carriage & Started for an exploring expedition. Br A Lyman Came into Camp this morning & informed us that Browns detachment of the Battalion would be with us in about 2 days. Br Lyman with all of the twelve in camp with several other Brethren Started with us on our exploring expedition being 8 of the Twelve & 6 other Brethren among whom was Br Brannan from Francisco Bay being 14 of us in all.
We started for the purpose of visiting the salt lake & mountain on the west of the valley. We travled 2 miles west from the Temple Block & Come to the Utah outlet of the Utah lake. We then travled /14/ miles to the foot of the Bluff or mountain on the west of the valley whare we found a fountain of fresh water. Some brackish. The land was not near as fertile on the west side of the valley as on the east And but little fresh water as far as we went while the east side of the valley is as well wat-tered as any land I ever saw.
We took our dinner at the fresh water pool & then rode 6 miles to a large rock on the Shore of the Salt lake. We here made A Halt, And all went into the Salt water & we made up our minds at once that the great Salt lake ought to be added as the eighth wonder of the world. The watter was quite warm And was impregnated with as much salt as Could Possibly be dissolved in water. It was So strong that if A particle got into the eyes nose or mouth it would strangle & put one in pain. No person Could Possibly sink in it. A person would float & roll on the top of the water like A dry log & while standing to our waist in water we Could not get our knees to the bottom but would rise to the top like a cork. We found the most beautiful white Salt that I ever saw lying in bunches on the shore whare the water dryed away. The whole dody of the water will make at least 3 pints of the best quality of white salt to one gallon of water.
After spending an hour at this place we rode south on the lake shore about 4 miles & then returned 10 miles to our place of nooning & Camped for the night. The whole distance of the day which I drove my carriage from Camp 40 mi.

[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

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