--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Kimball, Solomon F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 4 published: 1911-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Solomon F. Kimball, "President Brigham Young’s Excursion Party. II," *Improvement Era* 14, no. 4 (February 1911): 312–321.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1404unse 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: improvementera1404unse start_page: 312 end_page: 321 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1404unse publication_year: 1911 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 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # President Brigham Young’s Excursion Party. II PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 313 JOHN T. CAINE. Born January 8, 1829. It was a splendid social affair, and a good spirit prevailed. The Provo band furnished the music, which kept the dancers busy until a late hour. Strange to say, the spirit of merriment which permeated the party on its way south had disappeared to some extent, and a more serious feel- ing prevailed. Probably this was due to the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was fflt by the multitude during the two days' conference which had just adjourned. President Young remarked several times that nothing like it had been experienced south of Salt Lake City. It may be that at this very time the authorities decided to build the St. George temple, the first house of the Lord to be erected in the valleys of the mountains. Wednesday morning, at ten o'clock, the Presi- dent's party bade farewell to the good people of St. George and turned their faces toward the north. Arriving at Rocky Ridge, three miles northeast of St. George, they faced one of the steepest and rockiest pieces of road encountered during the whole trip. There was no road to speak of over the ridge, and all but the drivers were com- pelled to walk. A mile or two farther, and the com- pany came across an old gentleman with a heavier load than his team could pull over a bad place on the road. President Young stepped out of his carriage, and with a wave of his hand cried out, "Come on, boys, let's help this good old farmer out of his troubles!" In a few moments the old gentleman was on his way again, with a smile playing on his countenance that could be seen afar off. President Young never passed any one in trouble without lend- ing him a helping hand. He was not only great in big things, but was a remarkable man in small matters. He was extremely fond MARY YOUNG. 314 IMPR0VEMEN1 ERA. of children, and was ever ready to give wise counsel to both the weak and the strong with whom he came in contact. Many a time he stopped his company long enough to investigate children's little troubles, and never failed to send them on their way rejoicing. He generally carried some trinkets along with him for this very purpose. One day he spied some little boys playing marbles with pebbles. He stopped his carriage and gave them a full set of genuine marbles. Even the Indians were not long in discovering the noble traits of this kind-hearted man, and they often laid their troubles before him. He dealt with them a good deal as he did with the children, and they generally went their way admiring "Peup Captain Bigkum" the man who never talked two ways. The company arrived at Washington at 12:30, and remained there until the next day, being feasted upon the good things of Zion. Orchards and vineyards everywhere were loaded with the ROCKY RIDGE, EAST OP ST. GEORGE, UTAH. choicest kinds of fruit, and hundreds of tons were spoiling for want of help to take care of it. The Lord had surely blessed the Saints throughout this whole region of country, so that a spirit of rejoicing, over temporal blessings, prevailed everywhere. At supper, the lady of the house asked President Young if he would have a cup of tea or coffee. He said, "Neither; just give me a little hot water in a cup, and I will fill it with cream. With a little sugar in it, this will suit me better than any other drink you PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 315 DAVID O. CALDER. Born June 18, 1823. Died July 3, 1884. can give me." President Young was naturally a temperate man, but was not unreasonable with others in relation to such matters, and did not consider it unwise for feeble old people to indulge in a cup of tea or coffee when in real need of it. He was a great stickler on the subject of order and cleanliness. Many a quiet lesson he gave the Saints upon these important themes. The next morning, after prayers, the president instructed the teamsters to get ready for a mountain drive. After breakfast, he led the way over a hilly, sandy country, until he came to a steep mountain called Hurricane Hills. The summit was finally reached without acci- dent, where an hour or more was spent viewing the rugged mountain scenery. As a diversion, stonas were rolled down the rock-ribbed mountain sides. The east side was almost perpendicular, about a thousand feet high. It was an interesting sight to watch the stones as they went bounding, crashing into the big boulders below. It was also amusing to the young people to observe President Young and the apostles taking just as much interest, apparently, in the lively sport as the younger members of the company. The president and his brethren believed that healthful recreation is a part of religious work. As Apostle Wilford Woodruff was in the act of lifting a large stone from its place, a big scorpion drove its poisonous sting full length into his middle finger, causing a painful sensation to extend the whole length of his arm. A crowd soon gathered around, prescribing all kinds of remedies, but none of them had the medicine they recommended. Some advised the drinking of liquor to kill the poison, and others the use of tobacco. A search was made for both, but not a drop of liquor could be found. They MRS ANNA H (ALDER. Born 18o9. Died December 2. 1901. M ° PRESIDENT BR1GHAM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 317 were successful, however, in finding a man who used tobacco. A chew of this remarkable herb was bound on Brother Woodruff's finger, and in a short time the poison was killed. The company then drove on to Toquerville, where the remainder of the day was spent in getting ready for a hard jaunt up the Rio Virgen. The next morning, at 9 o'clock, the president's party began its journey up the river. After a hard drive over a rough road they reached Grafton in time for a late dinner. The scenery along the route was grand beyond description. At Grafton the company remained until morning. A meeting was held in the afternoon and evening. The discourse — a synopsis of which was taken by George D. Watts— delivered by President Brigham Young, here appears in print for the first time: Brethren and sisters, we have again visited you for the purpose of teaching you and cheering your hearts. We certainly need to be taught in things both temporal and spiritual; but almost everything is temporal that we have to do with. This has been the case with the Saints in all ages. When we read the history of the City of Enoch, we find it a beautiful city. So will it be with the Zion of God in the last days, which we are called upon to build. * * * This cannot be done without temporal labor. We have been here but a short time, and .yet you want From a photograph by H. L. A. Culmer. TRIASSIC TERRACES OF THE VIRGEN RIVER VALLEY. HAMILTON to see Zion in its glory, but it will take the whole people to build up Zion. The presidency and twelve apostles cannot do it alone. We should learn how to build a home, if it is nothing more than a log cabin. Zion will be composed of cities, farms, orchards and vine- yards. There must be a place for everything, and everything in its place. This is Zion. North and South America is Zion. We want to adorn this place first, for it is a good hiding place. I want you to build on higher ground, above the stream, so that you will not be washed out. * * * By and by, when we come to visit you, we shall come via the Sevier river. You will soon have plenty of grain, potatoes and fruit. I wish you to cultivate here everything, and make the earth as beautiful as the Valley of the Nile. When I saw the Illinois prairie, I rejoiced in the Lord to see what God had done; so I feel about this moun- tainous region. I thank God for the rugged mountains and barren hills, as a defense for the Saints of God. I want you to pray that you may have the Spirit of God to be with you. I have not been in a house or a congrega- tion in the South, but what I have felt a good spirit there. If it were my lot to live here, I could be happy. I hope that I shall live to see the day when we shall not have sin in our midst. If it were not for the foothold that we have in this strong, mountainous country, our enemies would drive us out; but the country is so barren and rugged that our enemies find no place to get a foothold. The Saints have taken up most places fit for cultivation. How Brother Joseph Smith would have rejoiced if he could have been with us! If we are the people and the kingdom of God that Daniel saw, we are in the place the proph- ets said we would be. How could we be a stone cut from the mountains, if we were not in the mountains? I do wish that you would go to work and build some good stone houses for meetings, schools, and a theatre, if you want it. But in all AGNES PARK. Photo by H. L. A. Culfner. THE ORGAN, IN LITTLE ZION VALLEY. from a photograph by H L. A. Culmer. TOWER OP ROCKVILLE, FROM CRAWFORD'S RANCH IN LITTLE ZION VALLEY. From a photograph by H L. A. Culmer. THE NARROWS, IN LITTLE ZION VALLEY. PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 321 your recreation, do not commit sin. which will be useful to you. Learn architecture and mechanics, how to Seek to obtain that knowledge PETER HORROCKS. Where is the man who knows lay the corner stones of the walls of Zionf Any man who wants to leave this country, and not fulfil his mis- sion, let him do it; and any man who wishes to come and settle here, let him do it. I have a great deal of temporal busi- ness to transact, and when any business comes before me, I attend to it. I know what to do all the time, and when I transact my business, I let it go out of my mind. Then I take up the next thing that comes along, and after it is done, I do not think of it any more. I shall be glad to see the day when labor will be classified, and we will all fare alike. 1 shall not live to see it, but the time will come when this order of things will be established. We are still in the school of learning. All the blessings we obtain are the gifts of God. It is the Lord who gives the wheat, and not man; we cannot make a blade of grass grow. I have never sold fruit of any kind from my trees, but have given it away, and my orchards have never failed. I know how you feel in these small settle- ments. You do not wish to go to meeting to hear those preach who live with you. You say, "I know as much as he does;" but if you will come in the Spirit of God, and bring it with you, you can edify the people, and all can par- take of the Spirit together. May God bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen. [TO BE CONTINUED.] CATHERINE D. H<>KK Joseph Smith, a Prophet of God. BY ELDER GEORGE W. CROCKWELL. IV. Let us continue to glance at history to see whether war has been poured out upon all nations, beginning at South Carolina. We have already named some of the wars from 1861 to and in- cluding 1873: 1874: Japan sent an expedition to the Island of Formosa to chastise the natives for outrages upon Japanese sailors wrecked on their shores. 1875: A Russian army under General Kaufnan invaded Khokand, defeated thirty thousand Khonand troops, and captured the capital. At the same time the Kahn of Khiva was defeated and was forced to cede the entire eastern coast of the Caspian Sea to Russia. The British became involved in hostilities with some of the natives of Malacca. The hostile tribes were soon reduced to submission. The Khedive of Egypt was generally successful in several wars which he waged with Abyssinia. 1876: Conquests of Prussia in Central Asia ended. There was rebellion in Bulgaria. It was subdued by Circassian troops. The war cloud hung over Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Ger- many, Italy, France and England. Peace could not be obtained, and the Russo-Turkish war began in Asiatic Turkey, in which Bosnia Herzego- vina, Roumania, Montenegro and Servia were combined against Turkey. The Hungarians, Greece, and the provinces of Epirus, Thessaly and Macedonia also became involved before the close of the war.