--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - J. X. Allen collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 11 published: 1903-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'J. X. Allen, "What “Mormonism” Stands For", *Improvement Era* 6, no. 11 (September 1903): 829.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0611unse start_page: 829 end_page: 829 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # What “Mormonism” Stands For INCIDENTS OF THE "MORMON" EXODUS. 827 nothing be wasted. The grass was excellent and the teams in good condition. The cattle were never for a moment left un- guarded. There were two divisions, the cattle-guard and the camp-guard, under their respective sergeants. Usually the camp was made about 5 p. m. The corral was formed by placing the wagons in the form of two half moons, or circles, leaving an open- ing at either end. No fires were allowed inside the corral. Ex- pert ox-teamsters were highly prized. Cruelty to animals was not tolerated. There was no profanity, no unkindness. Milch-cows submitted to the yoke, yielding their milk for the children also. The march on Saturday was a short one, the camp was made early washing, cleaning, repairing and baking were in order. The black- smith forge was set up, a small pit of charcoal burned, the greatest activity prevailed, hunting and fishing parties went out. Under ordi- nary circumstances, the bugle sounded the call to prayer at 9 p. m. There was a solemn hush, then the murmur of thanksgiving arose from each family circle, when all sought repose for the night. On Sunday, divine service was held, the day was kept as a day of rest for man and beast.The camp was not moved unless ur- gent necessity existed. Yet the people were not long-faced, nor solemn. Jokes were plentiful, and sometimes, when bridge-build- ing or other cause occasioned delay, and two or more fifties were together, the young people would dance by the light of the moon, or of bonfires. The Pawnees were the first Indians we saw; afterwards we met various bands of plains Indians, mostly Sioux. They were friendly, they seemed to sympathize with us; they seemed to under- stand that, like them, we had been driven from our homes from toward the rising sun. They exchanged their buffalo robes for patch-work quilts. We were told not to trade them any amuni- tion. Sometimes there were games in camp, horse-races, foot- races, and target practice, in which the elders freely joined. Occasionally, we saw a little box on a post, by the roadside, labeled "Post-Office," inside would be found letters from the advance com- pany of pioneers, containing directions about the journey. When we encountered high, steep hills, a halt was called and the teams were doubled; when we came to sandy stretches, everybody walked to relieve the toiling teams.