Wednesday, September 1.  The emigrating saints continued the journey westward.  Capt. Eldredge’s Fifty (the second Fifty of the first hundred) left their encampment at 9 o’clock a.m.  Parley P. Pratt brought a letter from the rear camp stating that the brethren in those camps had lost a number of cattle by death, etc.  The letter was written at Independence Rock, where most of the rear companies were encamped at the time of writing.  Capt. Eldredge’s Fifty traveled on to Pacific Springs.

[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 1, 1847, 2]

[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]

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Friday, September 3.  The returning pioneers, after traveling two miles, found Green River, which they found quite low.  Continuing their journey 25 miles further, they forded Big Sandy and encamped on its banks a little after dark.  At this place they found Daniel Spencer’s company encamped, consisting of 76 wagons.  They reported that Parley P. Pratt’s company was encamped on Little Sandy, 6 ¾ miles from here, and that the other companies were scattered at different intervals along the road.

[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 3, 1847, 1]

[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]

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Saturday, September 4.  At 8 o’clock a.m. Daniel Spencer’s company was in motion.  A number of the returning pioneer company having met here their families, returned to the Valley with them.  Among these were William McIntyre, Burr Frost, Datus Ensign and Seth Taft.  The rest of the company proceeded to their journey about the same time on Spencer’s company, and after going seven miles they halted for noon on the banks of Little Sandy, near one of their former camp grounds.  Here they found Parley P. Pratt’s company encamped, consisting of seventy-five wagons, a messenger having been sent out ahead this morning to detain them until the pioneers should arrive.  Perregrine Session was in charge of the first fifty of Elder Pratt’s hundred. 

Most of the afternoon the Twelve were in council and had a very interesting time.  Two of the quorum, but principally Parley P. Pratt was reproved sharply for having undone what the majority of the quorum had done in the organization of the camps for traveling.  The brethren who had done wrong made a humble confession, after which much valuable teaching was given by President Young.  Among other things he said: “When we set apart one or more of the Twelve to go and do a certain work, they will be blessed in doing that work, and the quorum will back up what they do.  But when one or more of the quorum interfere with the work of the majority they burn their fingers and do wrong.  When the majority of the quorum of the Twelve organize a Stake of Zion and appoint a President over the same, the minority of the quorum have no right to interfere with these doings; and so in all other things, unless the majority should get corrupt.  In that case, it would be the duty of any member of the quorum to show them their error and teach them what was right, and if necessary, lay the matter before the entire people.”

[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 4, 1847, 1]

[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]

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