mill. Their planted fields consisted of five thousand one hundred and
thirty-three acres, of which nearly nine hundred acres were planted in winter wheat. With the aid of irrigation all things looked favorable, and it appeared that there would be a fruitful harvest. The Saints were happy and their prospects were bright. They gave thanks to the Lord and in humility desired to serve him. In the months of May and June they were menaced by a danger as bad as the persecution of mobs. Myriads of crickets came down the mountain sides into the valley, like a vast army marshalled for battle, and began to destroy the fields. From one they would pass on to another, and in a few moments leave a field as barren as a desert waste. Something had to be done, or the inhabitants must perish. The community was aroused and every soul entered the unequal conflict. Trenches were dug around the fields and filled with water, in the hope of stopping the ravages of the pest, but without result. Fire was equally unavailing. The attempt was made to beat them back with clubs, brooms and other improvised weapons, but nothing that man could do was able to stop the steady onward march of the voracious crickets. The settlers were helpless before them.
The Miracle of the Gulls
When all seemed lost, and the Saints were giving up in despair, the heavens became clouded with gulls, which hovered over the fields, uttering their plaintive scream. Was this a new evil come upon them? Such were the thoughts of some who expected that what the crickets left the gulls would destroy; but not so, the gulls in countless battalions descended and began to devour the crickets, waging a battle for the preservation of the crops. They ate, they gorged upon the pest, and then flying to the streams would drink and vomit and again return to the battle front. This took place day by day until the crickets were destroyed. The people gave thanks, for this was to them a miracle. Surely the Lord was merciful and had sent the gulls as angels of mercy for their salvation.[1] Since that time the gull has been looked upon by the Latter-day Saints almost as a sacred deliverer. Laws have been passed for the protection of these birds, and the wanton killing of one would be considered a crime of great magnitude.
The Feast of the Harvest
The first harvest in the valley was none too plentiful; however, enough had been raised to tide over the season with the oncoming and constantly increasing population. It is doubtful if ever since then a harvest has filled the hearts of the people with such joy and satisfaction. With thankful hearts, August 10, 1848, a public "harvest feast" was celebrated in the valley. It had been demonstrated that abundant crops could be raised with proper care and cultivation. Large sheaves of wheat, rye, barley, and other products of the soil, were placed on exhibition, and the people celebrated with music, song, speeches, prayer and thanksgiving.
The Return of Oliver Cowdery
For some time the Spirit of the Lord had been striving with Oliver Cowdery. Finally he decided to accept the admonition of the apostles given November 22, 1847, and again unite with the Church. He came to Kanesville with his family, in October, 1848, and asked to be received as a member in the Church. He had been absent for over ten years. A special conference was held October 21, 1848, at which Oliver Cowdery arose and confessed the error of his ways and gave his testimony as follows:
"Friends and Brethren: My name is Cowdery, Oliver Cowdery. In the early history of this Church I stood identified with her, and one in her councils. True it is that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance; not because I was better than the rest of mankind was I called; but, to fulfil the purposes of God, he called me to a high and holy calling.
"I wrote with my own pen the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages), as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he translated it by the gift and power of God, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, or, as it is called by that book, 'holy interpreters.' I beheld with my eyes, and handled with my hands, the gold plates from which it was transcribed. I also saw with my eyes and handled with my hands the 'holy interpreters.' That book is true. Sidney Rigdon did not write it. Mr. Spaulding did not write it. I wrote it myself as it fell from the lips of the Prophet. It contains the everlasting Gospel, and came forth to the children of men in fulfilment of the revelations of John, where he says he saw an angel come with the everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. It contains principles of salvation; and if you, my hearers, will walk by its light and obey its precepts, you will be saved with an everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God on high. Brother Hyde has just said that it is very important that we keep and walk in the true channel, in order to avoid the sand-bars. This is true. The channel is here. The Holy Priesthood is here.
"I was present with Joseph when an holy angel from God came down from heaven and conferred on us, or restored the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood, and said to us at the same time, that it should remain upon the earth while the earth stands.
"I was also present with Joseph when the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred by holy angels from on high. This Priesthood we then conferred on each other, by the will and commandment of God. This Priesthood, as was then declared, is also to remain upon the earth until the last remnant of time. This Holy Priesthood, or authority, we then conferred upon many, and is just as good and valid as though God had done it in person.
"I laid my hands upon that man--yes, I laid my right hand upon his head (pointing to Brother Hyde), and I conferred upon him the Priesthood, and he holds that Priesthood now. He was also called through me, by the prayer of faith, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ."
A few days later Oliver Cowdery appeared before the high council at Kanesville and requested that he be received into the Church. His case was considered and on motion of Elder Orson Hyde, who presided at Kanesville, he was received by baptism. When Oliver appeared before the high council on this occasion he said:
"Brethren, for a number of years I have been separated from you. I now desire to come back. I wish to come humbly and to be one in your midst, I seek no station. I only wish to be identified with you. I am out of the Church. I am not a member of the Church, but I wish to become a member of it. I wish to come in at the door. I know the door. I have not come here to seek precedence, I come humbly, and throw myself upon the decisions of this body, knowing, as I do, that its decisions are right, and should be obeyed."
It was a sad occasion, yet a time of rejoicing to see the former "Second Elder" of the Church with a contrite spirit desiring fellowship in the Church, and the association of his former brethren. After his baptism he desired to go to the Salt Lake Valley and then take a mission to Great Britain. Before doing so he went to visit with relatives in Missouri, and while there he was taken sick and died March 3, 1850. He died a happy man with the assurance that his sins had been forgiven him.
The Beginning of New Settlements
Explorations of the surrounding valleys commenced as soon as the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, for the purpose of discovering suitable sites for other gathering places. In the fall of 1847, Perrigrine Sessions, Samuel Brown and Hector C. Haight moved into the valley north (Davis County) with herds of cattle. Sessions camped near the spot where Bountiful was subsequently built, and there he lived during the winter with part of his family, first in a wagon and then in a hut. Later he built a permanent home which was the beginning of Bountiful, formerly called Session's Settlement. Hector C. Haight went a few miles farther north and made his camp near the present site of Farmington, on Big Creek. Later he moved about three miles north on Haight's Creek, where he built a cabin where he lived with one of his sons during the winter of 1847-48. In 1848, Daniel Miller, Thomas Grover, Jacob F. Secrist, William Smith and many others moved to the north and became the first settlers of Bountiful, Farmington and other towns in Davis County. Early in the year 1848, Captain James Brown, who had returned from California, entered into negotiations with Miles M. Goodyear, a trapper and trader, for the purchase of lands where the present city of Ogden is built. There he located, calling the place Brownsville. John S. Higbee and others located in Utah valley in 1849. That same year John Rowberry led a company to Tooele Valley, and Isaac Morley another to Sanpete Valley. In all these places permanent settlements were established in that year. From this time on colonization continued, under the direction of President Brigham Young, and settlements began to spring up throughout the Rocky Mountains, extending for hundreds of miles. The prophecy of Joseph Smith uttered August 6, 1842, was realized.
Filling Vacancies in the Council of the Twelve
The organization of the First Presidency and the disfellowshipment of Lyman Wight, left four vacancies in the council of the twelve. February 11, 1849, the First Presidency and apostles met in council at the homes of Elder George B. Wallace to consider the filling of these vacancies. President Young nominated Elders Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow and Franklin D. Richards for these positions, which nominations were approved by the apostles. The following day at the home of Elder Wallace, they were ordained.
The Salt Lake Stake
In the fall of 1847, the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley were organized into a stake. It became necessary in 1849, to perfect that organization and make certain changes. A meeting was called, February 13, 1849, for that purpose. Elder Daniel Spencer was set apart as president of the Salt Lake Stake, succeeding Patriarch John Smith, with David Fullmer and Willard Snow as his counselors. A committee was appointed to lay the city off into ecclesiastical wards, which later reported, and at another meeting held on the 16th, the high council was organized and officers chosen for quorums of the Priesthood. The following division of the valley into wards was decided on: "South of the city and east of the Jordan River, into four wards: Canyon Creek (Sugar House) Ward, embracing the five-acre survey and all east of it; Mill Creek Ward, embracing the ten-acre survey and all east of it; a third ward, embracing the country between the ten-acre survey and the Cottonwood Creek; and a fourth, embracing all south of the Cottonwood. West of the Jordan: Canaan Ward; north of the city and east of the Jordan and the lake, three wards." These wards included the settlements as far north as Brownsville (Ogden). At another meeting held on the 22nd of the month the city was divided into nineteen wards of nine blocks each.
The Perpetual Emigration Fund
Business of great importance was considered at the October general conference of the Church in 1849. It was decided that the Church should establish a "Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," for the gathering of the poor from the nations of the earth. The company was duly incorporated and committees were appointed for the purpose of gathering means for this fund, which were used in bringing great numbers of the Latter-day Saints to the valleys of the mountains. This continued for many years. Finally, in 1887, the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company was disincorporated by the passage of the Edmunds-Tucker bill, and the funds escheated to the government for the benefit of the common schools of Utah. It was intended that those who were aided by this fund should pay back into it the means advanced for their transportation to the West, that others might be helped also to emigrate. In this way it would be a perpetual and self-sustaining fund. Five thousand dollars was the sum of the original contributions, and by its aid as many as five hundred wagons were furnished some seasons to help the Saints across the plains.
Increased Missionary Activity
At this same conference missionaries were called to go to various parts of the earth as follows: Elder Charles C. Rich, to Southern California (San Bernardino) to assist Amasa M. Lyman and to succeed him in that field of labor; Addison Pratt, James Brown and Hyrum H. Blackwell, to the Society Islands; Lorenzo Snow and Joseph Toronto, to Italy; Erastus Snow and Peter O. Hansen, to Denmark; John Taylor, Curtis E. Bolton and John Pack, to France; Franklin D. Richards, Joseph W. Johnson, Joseph W. Young, Job Smith, Haden Church, George B. Wallace, John S. Higbee and Jacob Gates, to England; and John E. Forsgren, to Sweden. This was a wonderful undertaking and a remarkable trial of faith, in the days of the poverty and adversity of the people, when the help of all was needed to build up settlements and contend with the trials and hardships of pioneer life in this western country. In the evening of the 6th of October, the presidency set apart the brethren of the apostles for their fields of labor, and the apostles set apart the elders who were also called to various mission fields. In a very short time all were on their way to carry the message of salvation to the world, a duty the Lord has placed upon the elders of the Church, which is second to no other. The inspiration of these calls is seen in the fruitful harvest of souls which was gathered in England, Scandinavia and other lands.
An Unexpected Harvest
The harvest of 1848 was hardly adequate for the needs of the Saints, for their numbers had been greatly increased by immigration. The people therefore were under the necessity of conserving to make ends meet. They were placed on rations and were forced also to resort to the digging of sego roots, and making greens from thistles and weeds to eke out an existence. Their clothing was scant, and most of the men dressed in buckskins, and all materials were made to do extra service. During these stringent times, President Heber C. Kimball delivered a discourse in which he uttered a remarkable prophecy. He said that within a short time "states goods" would be sold in Salt Lake City cheaper than they could be purchased in St. Louis or New York, and that the people would be supplied with both food and clothing. Few, if any, who heard these remarks, believed him. Such a thing in the far west, over a thousand miles from the nearest settlements, where all goods had to be freighted by team, seemed an impossibility. Yet the prophecy was literally fulfilled.
In the summer of 1849, gold seekers on their way to California, commenced arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. Their animals were worn out by the long and strenuous journey, for in their haste for gold, these travelers had sacrificed all things, that they might make haste to their destination. Now they were anxious to obtain fresh animals for their tired ones, that they might hurry on their journey. To do this they were willing to dispose of their goods at a great sacrifice. They lightened their loads in the interest of speed and disposed of their provisions, clothing and other materials, at a price below the cost of the articles in the states at the time they started on their westward journey.
Notes
1. September 13, 1913, a monument commemorating this event, was unveiled on the Temple Block, Salt Lake City. The "Seagull Monument," as it is called, is the work of Mahonri M. Young, grandson of President Brigham Young.