Mormon History, Friday, September 5th, 1845

[Apostle John Taylor diary] At a meeting at the Big Field. 'The Twelve, Bishop Miller, and a few others from Nauvoo, were among the number that partook of the rich bounties of the season, provided by the inhabitants of the 11th ward, under Bishop Evans, and the proprietors of the 'Big Field.' 'The Big Field is organized according to the laws of the state and covers six sections, or three thousand eight hundred and forty acres of land.
We understood from the officers of the company, that about thirty thousand bushels of corn, and nearly the same amount of wheat had been raised the past season. Sixty thousand bushels of wheat and corn, without wanting an abundance of oats, barley, buck wheat, potatoes, and other vegetables, do not indolence, poverty and famine, but rather carries an idea that '-Â'God helps themselves.' This public demonstration of the bounty of providence, goes to show that the people of that section are willing to make others happy as well as themselves.' '
It is a fine thing for the bishops of the several wards to remember the poor: and we think this '-Â'feast upon the prairies,' was a kind of token of times to come.' 'It is also worthy of remark that this band of brethren, under the '-Â'broad canopy,' spent the day most happily, without '-Â'strong drink,' or swearing, or gambling; feasting, as all honest people ought to, to be healthy, upon the simple luxuries that sustain life, with pure water, peace and union, praying and praising God who hath so liberally rewarded their labor and begun to make the prairies blossom as the rose.'

[source: 'The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee]