Montrose Montrose, Iowa, United States of America

The first LDS members to settle in Montrose did so in May 1839. The Saints had been expelled from Missouri and many of them had taken refuge in Quincy, Illinois for the remainder of the win- ter. Among the first to move to Montrose from Quincy was Brigham Young and his family. They moved into one of the barracks rooms in the de- serted Fort Des Moines and were shortly followed by the families of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, and others.1 They each lived in the abandoned fort until later moving to Nauvoo. While residing at the fort, the miraculous healing of Brigham Young, Elijah Fordham, and Marker at Montrose, Iowa many others took place in July 1839. Brigham Photo courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh Young described the event as “a day never to be forgotten.”2 SOURCES Montrose also served for a very short time as a refuge for the Prophet Joseph Smith. In June 1 Stanley B. Kimball, “Nauvoo West: the Mormons of the Iowa 1844, Joseph, Hyrum, and Porter Rockwell crossed Shore,” BYU Studies, (Winter 1978), 136. 2 the Mississippi River to Montrose with plans to Brigham Young, Manuscript History of Brigham Young (Salt Lake flee to the West where Joseph had foreseen that City: Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- the Saints would grow to be a great and mighty day Saints). people. Due to the pleas of his wife and others, he 3 Kimball, 142. returned across the river to Nauvoo where he and his brother Hyrum were taken to Carthage for trial 4 See Exodus 16:12-13. and then killed by a mob. After the completion of the temple, the Saints left Nauvoo and begun their trek west. The Brigham Young’s Healing 1 last group to leave were forced out of Nauvoo in at Montrose the fall of 1846. They were ill equipped and did not have the necessary provisions to make the difficult journey. Near Montrose, the impoverished Saints “July 22, 1839, Joseph arose from his bed of experienced what has become known as “The Mir- sickness, and the power of God rested upon him. acle of the Quail.” On October 9, 1846, Several He commenced in his own house and dooryard, flocks of quail flew into their camp and provided commanding the sick, in the name of Jesus Christ, them with sufficient food that about 640 people 3 to arise and be made whole, and they were healed were fed and filled. The miracle is reminiscent of according to his word. He then continued to travel the miracle that the Lord performed for ancient from house to house and from tent to tent upon Israel during their exodus our of Egypt under the 4 the bank of the river, healing the sick as he went, leadership of Moses. until he arrived at the upper stonehouse, where he crossed the river in a boat, accompanied by several 2 Montrose, Iowa, United States of America of the Quorum of the Twelve, and landed in Mon- and child had quails to eat for their dinner—after trose. dinner the flocks increased in size. Captain Allen He walked into the cabin where I was lying ordered the brethren not to kill when they had eat- sick, and commanded me, in the name of Jesus en and were satisfied. A steam boat passed within Christ, to arise and be made whole. I arose and was 5 or 6 rods of our wagons at the time we were healed, and followed him and the brethren of the catching the quails with our hands.” Twelve into the house of Elijah Fordham, who was supposed to be dying, by his family and friends. Jo- SOURCES seph stepped to his bedside, took him by the hand 1 and commanded him, in the name of Jesus Christ, Bruce A. Van Orden and Brent L. Top, eds., The Lord of the Gospels: The 1990 Sperry Symposium on the New Testament (Salt to arise and be made whole. His voice was as the Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991), 34. voice of God. Brother Fordham instantly leaped from his bed, called for his clothing and followed us into the street. Further Reading Resources We then went into the house of Joseph B. Nobles N., who also lay very sick, and he was healed in the same manner, and when, by the pow- Alexander L. Baugh, “Remembering the Mor- er of God granted unto him, Joseph had healed all mons in Lee County, Iowa: Marking the Past in the sick, he recrossed the river and returned to his Montrose and Keokuk,” Mormon Historical Stud- home. This was a day never to be forgotten.” ies, (Fall 2003). SOURCES Stanley B. Kimball, “Nauvoo West: the Mormons of the Iowa Shore,” BYU Studies, (Winter 1978). 1 Brigham Young, Manuscript History of Brigham Young (Salt Lake City: LDS Church Archives).

The Miracle of the Quail1

“This morning we had a direct manifesta- tion of the mercy and goodness of God, in a mira- cle being performed in the camp. A large, or rather several large flocks of Quails, flew into camp— some fell on the wagons—some under—some on the breakfast tables—the boys and brethren ran about after them and caught them alive with their hands—men who were not in the church marvelled at the sight—the brethren and sisters praised God and glorified his name, that what was showered down upon the children of Israel in the wilderness is manifested unto us in our persecution. The boys caught about 20 alive and as to the number that were killed—every man, woman