Gift of Mar ellen Conner Quarto BX 8673.41 MORMON .K567m AMERICANA 1995 Mormon Trail VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY The Story Behind the Scenery® HARoLD B. LEE lmRARY Brigham Young University Americana Collection text by Stanley B. and Violet T. Kimball photography by GaryLadd STANLEY B. KLMBALL, Professor of history at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, is past president of the Mormon History Association, historian of the Mormon Trails Association, and has written many books and articles on the Mormon Trail. Violet, a free-lance writer I photographer, often travels and collaborates with her husband. GARY LADD, a well-known and respected scenic photographer, traveled th'e length of the Mormon Trail to pre­ sent the pictorial story of this important milestone in American history. Gary's photography is also featured in two other "Voyage of Discovery" books: Oregon Trail and fohn Wesley Powell. Front cover: Wagon ruts and Sweetwater River at Independence l~ock, Wyoming. f11side front cover: Reconstructed wngo11 displayed near the Winter Quarters Cemetery, Nebraska. Page 1: 'T.xodus to Grentness" marker, Nauvoo, 1lli110is. Pages 4/5: Sunset on the Mississippi River from the fool of Nmmoo's Pnrley Street. Edited by Mary L. Van Camp. Book design by K. C. DenDooven. MORMON TRAJL, VOY-AGE OF DISCOVERY: The Story Beh.ind the Scenery. © 1'995 KC PUBLICATIONS, I C. LC 95-75095. ISBN 0-88714-092-0. ,,.. ,,, ~.. ' ........ ,, .... ... ,,...... ..,.. ,, ... ....... SALT LAKE CITY fl '•• .,. ......,, • NAUVOO Mormon Trail VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY Z ION! The thought of a permanent Zion was up­ to Ohio, and on to Missouri before they settled in permost in the minds of the Mormons as they left Nauvoo in 1839. Smith's ma1rtyrdom in 1844 at Nauvoo, Illinois, in February 1846, for what they Carthage, Illinois, had left the Saints spiritually and hoped would be a safe haven in the Rocky emotionally bereft until Brigham Young took com­ Mountains. The first wagons were ferried across the mand in August 1844. Persecution had been a part of Mississippi River, or crossed in skiffs, but then the the past, and would continue to be a part of the fu­ river froze and many were able to travel over on the ture, but in the Rocky Mountairts their wish for reli­ ice. Despite the bitter cold, there was a sense of joy in gious freedom eventually would be fulfilled. this "Camp of Israel" to be able to suffer "for the From its beginning in 1846 to the completion of truth's sake." the transcontinental railroad in 1.869 and beyond, the No birds sang, and not a blade of grass could be Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, from seen under the foot of snow that lay heaped against Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, has captivat­ the wheels of the wagons and covered the tops of the ed the fancy of Mormons and non-Mormons. It is one tents in the Sugar Creek Camp in Iowa, seven miles of the most written about trails in all history-hun­ west of Nauvoo. To some of those who huddled to­ dreds of contemporary journals were kept and much gether during that cold, gray February, it was deja vu, has been written since. for they had endured a similar scene seven years ear­ It is a curious fact that the Mormons, who did lier as they departed Far West, Missouri, for Illinois. not want to go West in the first place, were among the This new exodus was just one more test before they most successful to do so. They did not go West for reached "the promised land." land, gold, furs, a new identity, adventure, or health. These were the modern pilgrims, routed from They were driven "from civilization to sundown" for their homes by intolerance and persecution. They religious freedom. weren't sure just where the Lord would lead, but they Because of this unique motivation, the Mormons were following Brigham Young, and he was following were not typical westering Americans. Their experi­ the Lord. That was enough. ences, their daily routines, how•ever, were similar to Joseph Smith had founded their church in 1830 other emigrants on the Oregon ;and California trails. in New York, and had led his followers from that state Placed within the proper historic perspective, some 2 ui stopped my Carriage on the top of a rolling prairie And I had.. .A splendid view. I could [see] the Saints pouring out & gathering like clouds from the Hills & dales grove & prairie with there teams, wagons, flocks & Heards by Hundreds & thousands as it were until it looked like the movements of A great Nation." -Wilford Woodruff, 1846. 70,000 Mormons were very much a part of the great Exodus took place. westward movement of the 19th century when at least Prior to leaving Illinois the Mormons prepared 300,000 people ventured across the wide Missouri. themselves by reading travel accounts and studying Mormons were different in other ways. Trail dis­ the best maps they could acquire. Their previous ex­ cipline was stressed and enforced. They made many pulsions from Ohio and Missouri had given them a improvements on their Trail for others who would little experience in moving large numbers of people. follow. They did not employ professional guides, and The 1834 march of "Zion's Camp" from Ohio to go to they went East as well as West on their Trail. the aid of their persecuted brothers and sisters in Mormons were especially cohesive. They moved as Missouri had also taught them some emigrating expe­ villages on wheels-a whole culture, a faith, a people riences, but mainly they had to pick up most of their went West. Trail savvy the hard way-en route. A little history is necessary to understand their It is a common misconception that the Mormons story. Mormon history officially began April 6, 1830, blazed the Trail that bears their name. The Mormons when Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Church were not looking for a place in the history books­ (formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of they used the best available roads. Across Iowa they Latter-day Saints) in Fayette, New York. A year later followed poor territorial roads and faint Indian paths. this small group moved to Kirtland, Ohio. By 1837-38, Across most of Nebraska they followed the earlier the faith was headquartered in Caldwell County, Oregon Trail north of the Platte River. Across most of Missouri, and by the spring of 1839 the new center Wyoming they were on the Oregon Trail proper, and was in Nauvoo, illinois. All this moving around had west of Fort Bridger they picked up the indistinct been caused by serious social, economic, political and, track of the Donner-Reed party. Because of this some es'pecially, religious differences that led to trou ble and people question the validity of the Trai l being called misunderstandings. the Mormon Trail. Mormons do not consider themselves Catholic or According to Wallace Stegner, however, "By the Protestant. They are not a breakaway from any other improvements they made in it, they earned the right church, nor are they a reformed group. They believe to put their name on the trail they used." Finally, in they are the "only true church" of Jesus Christ "re­ July 1847, the Mormons entered the Valley of the stored" in these latter days. They also believe that Great Salt Lake. they are modern Children of Israel led by prophets We must now retu rn to the beginning-back to who receive direct and continual revelation from God. Sugar Creek, Iowa Territory during February 1846. Their theology teaches that they are a unique people, The wagons streamed into camp as the wind blew, the a Chosen People, a "peculiar people." snow swirled, the temperature fell, the animals They call themselves Latter-day Saints to both strayed, and the children cried. Many got sick, ex­ distinguish themselves from and identify with the hausted, and weak from h u nger. The cold hung "Former-day Saints" of the New Testament, and to around their camp like the ghost of Satan, and some­ stress their differences from all other Christians today. times the tents groaned under the burden of the snow This belief in modern-day prophets explains why and collapsed. Soon, provisions for man and beast they were so disciplined, why they could accomplish became scarce, and their suffering was intensified. what they did along their Trail. Mormons accept what Then Pitt's Brass Band would start playing a they are told to do as God's will. The orthodox favorite hymn, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Mormon is first a Mormon and all else second. Burning," and the camp would come alive with the The long-range beginning of their exodus was spirit of gathering. the murder of their Prophet, Joseph Smith, June 27, "We'll siug and we'll shout/with tlte armies 1844, at Carthage, Ill inois. For 19 months thereafter of heaven, the Mormons strove to realize the dreams and hopes Hosanna, Hosanna, to God and the Lamb. " of their martyred Prophet. It became increasingly On March 1, 1846, about 500 wagons moved out clear, however, that many lllinoisans wished todd the of Sugar Creek ... ZION, here we come! state of the Latter-day Saints and so, eventually, The 3 "My things are packed ready for the West.... In the afternoon put Sister Harriet Young to bed with a son. Made me a cap and ...went to the Hall to see the scenery of the Massacre of Joseph and Hyrum Smith .... We bade our children and friends goodbye and started for the west.