Memoirs of John R. Young, Utah Pioneer, 1847

Sitting 'neath the pines, in the cold mountain air, Inhaling the inspiration of the chaplain's prayer; Breathing the spirit of the orator's theme, Memory sweeps backward o'er th...

On Sunday, August 14, 1864, a conference was held at Wailuku, with sixty members present. Arrangements were made to build a new meetinghouse, Gibson having sold the old one whic...

I Visit London, the Grandest City in the World.--Meet the Claridge family and leave my testimony with them.--Visit Portsmouth, and the Home of Nellie Grant Sardys.--Labor With E...

December 19, 1877. In the evening President Jacobs baptized John Wadley. On the 20th we walked eight miles to Little Dean. It was warm and muddy. We were kindly received by Sist...

When the crusade against plural marriage commenced in Utah, I was not willing to give up my families; and being of a timid nature, I sought to avoid trouble. In my heart I felt...

July 4, 1878, a quiet peaceable day, I baptized Miss Eliza Combs, also Mrs. Powell and her daughter. It is a comfort, while gleaning, to find, once in a while, a cluster of frui...

On Monday, October 1, 1877, I bade goodbye to Elder Joseph H. Parry--who had succeeded Samuel Leigh as president of the Welsh Conference--and to Walter J. Lewis, and the Saints...

In 1863, I was living in southern Utah. It was believed the Mormon immigration would be unusually heavy that year; hence great exertions were put forth by the people, to bring t...

As soon as I had seen the army "pass through," I returned to Provo to report myself to President Young. I had been gone on my mission a little over four years, as before recorde...

On the 11th of April the main camps moved forward again. There being now more sunshine and the roads firmer, better progress was made; and on the 18th they reached the middle fo...

Our multitude of little ones, Dear precious souls, so bright and gay-- So full of life and harmless fun, In neat attire, together come And shout aloud, "'Tis first of June, And...

On October 6, 1856, all the Elders of the mission met in conference at Wailuku, island of Maui. Here I met my brother Franklin W. and John Brown, an old playmate. They had just...

"I have recently been to Crew Kerne, a noted pleasure resort and while there, witnessed the Somerset steeple-chase races. I will try to tell you something about them. To begin w...

Sail for the Islands.--At Honolulu I Labor in Tin Shop.--My First Kanaka Meal--At Home With Kiama.--Attend Native Funeral.--Meet Mr. Emerson.--Three Days Without Food.--Saved by...

Wednesday, April 27, 1864. I spent the day visiting my dear mother, and passed the night beneath my father's hospitable roof. Miss S. E. Carmichael wrote "A Parting Word to my F...

"A few years ago, ascending the upper Mississippi in the autumn, when its waters were low, I was compelled to travel by land past the region of the rapids. My road lay through t...

Brother Jehiel McConnell was one of the party who were with Elder George A. Smith, Jr. when he was killed by the Navajo Indians. When George A. was wounded and the party had to...

The little band of one hundred twenty-five men who for three days defended the city of Nauvoo against fearful odds, are to me patriots and heroes, and their names and deeds shou...

"Beloved Brother Young: I received your kind and welcome letter yesterday, and was very glad to hear from you. I read your letter with pleasure. I also read and read over again,...

More than four thousand years ago the Lord said to the children of Israel, "Honor thy father and thy mother," and thou shalt inherit a blessing; and today, among Christian or he...

"The first time that I spoke on the principle of plural marriage was in the Nauvoo temple, in a room we had finished and dedicated as a prayer-circle room. At the close of our e...

Mormon Stalwarts.--A Waif on the Plains.--Death of Celestia Kimball.--Two Indian Girls Tortured.--Sally's Death.--Ira Eldredge's Dog and the Wolf.--Delicious Rawhide Soup.--Eat...

In those days of constant home changing Brigham was somewhat like the father of a large rustling family; everybody came to him for comfort or counsel. Perhaps I cannot do better...

By the first of March forty persons had gathered at the Redwoods, 40 miles south of San Francisco, prepared to go to Utah. We organized a company by appointing Eli Whipple, capt...

In 1858, when I was returning from my first mission to the Sandwich Islands, I met in San Francisco, Lorenzo Sawyer, the attorney-general of the state of California. He was my c...

On Tuesday, August 25, 1857, I learned from the Western Standard of the death of Apostle Parley P. Pratt. I was deeply moved by the news. He had been cruelly murdered by Mr. McL...

The coming of our people to Utah in 1847 brought us into contact with the powerful intermountain tribe of Utes. Up till then, these Indians had had but little association with t...

God pity the exiles, when storms come down-- When snow-laden clouds hang low on the ground, When the chill blast of winter, with frost on its breath Sweeps through the tents, li...

My First Mission.--Uncle Brigham's Counsel.--Parley P. Pratt, Teacher and Orator.--My First View of the Ocean.--San Francisco.--Tracting the City.--Scrap with a Hotel Keeper.--L...

In the winter of 1873 and 1874 President Young visited Dixie, and taught the people the principles of the United Order. I received a letter from him requesting me to meet him at...

Praise for the Elders.--Efforts to Bring Two Natives to Utah.--Sail for Home.--Description of Steerage.--An Earnest Prayer.--Timidity of the Saints.--Baptize a New Convert at Mi...

On April 10, 1847, that historical band of one hundred forty-three men, three women, and two children, known as the Mormon pioneers, started for the West, led by Brigham Young a...

I continued to labor pleasantly with Elder Howard O. Spencer until I was released to return home. I remember the sad look that rested on Howard's face when I said goodbye to him...

I was born April 30, 1837, at Kirtland, Ohio. I am the third son of Lorenzo Dow and Persis Goodell Young. My parents were early numbered among the followers of the Prophet Josep...

Salt Lake Valley, as it lay in eighteen forty-seven, Was a desert desolate. Its parched wastes were given As a play ground for the hot winds that in whirlpools Sent clouds of al...

On Monday, December 28, 1857, I borrowed two dollars and fifty cents and bought from a Jew store a very good second-hand coat as I had come from the islands in my shirt sleeves....

A little boy at his mother's knee, Laughing and babbling in childish glee; A willow horse in his chubby hand; Acting the role of a grown-up man. Shaking his head in an angry moo...

My First Mission.--Uncle Brigham's Counsel.--Parley P. Pratt, Teacher and Orator.--My First View of the Ocean.--San Francisco.--Tracting the City.--Scrap With a Hotel Keeper.--L...

Visit London, the Grandest City in the World.--Meet the Claridge Family, and Leave My Testimony With Them.--Visit Portsmouth and the Home of Nellie Grant Sardys.--Labor With Eld...

Sail for the Islands.--At Honolulu T Labor in Tin Shop.--My First Kanaka Meal.--A Home with Kiama.--Attend Native Funeral.--Meet Mr. Emerson.--Three Days Without Food.--Saved by...

Mormon Stalwarts.--A War on the Plains.--Death of Celestia Kimball.--Two Indian Girls Tortured.--Sally's Death.--Ira Eldredge's Dog and the Wolf.--Delicious Rawhide Soup.--Eat T...

Praise for the Elders.--Efforts to Bring Two Natives to Utah.--Sail for Home.--Description of Steerage.--An Earnest Prayer.--Timidity of the Saints.--Baptize a New Convert at Mi...