1
Helaman Pratts
Journal while traveling
From
Salt Lake City,
On a
Mission to
Old Mexico
2
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3
On the 24th of July received a letter from my Brother P.P.Pratt stating that Bro D. W. Jones wished one of Fathers boys to accompany him on a mission to Old Mexico. Parley asked me how I would like to go. I answered that if called by the proper authority I would willingly go as the spirit had seemed to impress me with a desire to go for some time, & I requested an answer immediately: I wated some time & got no reply. The spirit worked upon me to sutch an extent that I could not rest untill I started for Salt Lake City to asertain whether I was going or not. On arriving in Salt Lake City I asertained that Pres’ Young had been to Cash Valley, Bro Jones was anxious to have me accompany him but it was four days before he could get to see the President, on presenting the matter to the President he was well pleased & desiered me to go & accordingly
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Appointed me to sed mission I was set apart & blessed by Orson Pratt. I imediately returned to Prattville Sevier County & aranged my business & moved my family to Salt Lake City to stay while I was absent.
It being the 21st of Aug, 1875 when I received my apointment & I started on the My Mission on the 15 of Sept 1875.
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A Blessing
pronounced upon the head of Elder Helaman Pratt by Elder Orson Pratt Aug 21st 1875
Brother Helaman Pratt in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I lay my hands upon thy head & set the apart to the mission unto which thou has been caled & appointed To go forth from this place to visit the Laminites & those who seak in the Spanish language in Old Mexico or whithersoever you & those who accompany you shal be led by the Holy Ghost, to bear testimony of the truth to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon of the ancient record of the Nephites & to reason with the people from the Scriptures from the prophecies & from the Book of Mormon & from the revelations that God has given, & show them concerning the great & marvelous works which
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is about to take place & we pray O, God, the eternal Father that thou wilt bless this thy servant & fill him with the holy Ghost from the time that he shall leav his home untill he shall return again that he may have power to do much good in company with his Brethren that he may have influence among the people whither he shall traval, that he may speedily learn their Language & that the gift of language may be given untow him by the power of the Holy Ghost in so much that the language shall open up to his view & to his understanding that it shall not be difficult for him to learn the same, & that he shall seedily learn & be able to converse in the same, & I say unto you thee trust in the Lord thy God & inasmuch as thou shalt meet with dificulties & trials to all discourage thee, we pray At to the Eternal Father that he will inspier thy heart that you may not be discouraged
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that the Lord will open the way before you by pouring out his spirit upon the inhabitants that are honest in heart by giving them vissions & dreams & the inspiration of the spirit that they may know of a surity that you & those who accompany you are the servants of the living God & when it is wisdom & you shall find those who are sick & afflicted lay your hands upon them & command them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be made whole & it shall be done according to the words which thou shalt seek, & the Lord shall be with thee & comfort thy heart & open the way before thee that thou shalt not be overcome by the enemies of truth by those who would seek to take thy life, but the Lord shall deliver the out of their hands & lead thee in paths whare they shall not be able to find thee & thine enemies shall be confounded & the angels of the
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most High God shall be round about thee & the spirit of inspiration shall be in thy heart & thou shalt have power to accomplish a good work & when thou shalt return again thou shalt return in peace & in joy having great joy in the work thou hast performed in the midst of the people, & I say unto thee that all these blessings shall come upon thee according to thy faith, & thy diligance, & thy prayers, & thy perseverance & thy confidence in God & I allso feel at this time to Ordain you thee to be one of the Seventies to go forth & administer in that Office & calling & to baptise those who repent, for the remission of their sins, & performe all the duties of one of the seventy elders of Isrel, that you may have joy in performing the work of this mission among the people & that you may magnify your office & honor the same & that the Lord thy God my go before thy face & be on
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thy rearword & his angels be round about thee, & when thou hast accomplished & fulfilled thy mission, that thou shalt return again in health & peace & safty unto thy family here in these mountain vales. These blessings I feel to confer upon thee, with all the blessings pertaining to the calling & priesthood which thou hast received & which is now conferred upon thee by this Ordination, I feel to pronounce upon you thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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10
1875
Sept 15 Stoped at Draperville with Bro’s Zeb Stuart & Smith too of our
Wed missionaries
“ 16 Stoped at Pleasant Grove with my sister Olivia Driggs Bro Stuarts
Thursday horse fell upon him, but fortunately he escaped with out being much hurt.
I was kicked on my left shin by a horse which proved to be very painfull
for some days.
“ 17 Stoped with B.P Taner of Payson
Friday
Saturday
“ 18 Traveled to Nephi & Boarded at B. P. Grovers, we here conseled with Pres’ D.W. Jones & his son Wilay Jones
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1875
Sunday
Sept 19 Preached at Nephi
Monday
“ 20 Packed our effects & adjusted our pack sadles. The people of Nephi gave
us a complimentary Ball in the evening, which was a grand success & all
seamed to enjoy them selves hughley
Tuesday
“ 21 Traveled to Savan stoped at B.P. Taylors The distance from Salt Lake
City to Lovas is m100
Wed
“ 22 Traveled to Scipio & was rather cooly rec d’ by B. P. Dan Tompson m27
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12
1875
Thursday
Sept 23 Arived at Holden & was very hospitibley entertaned by B.P. Stephens.
Holden Ward furnished us with one horse I went ahead of the Party as far as Fillmore, whare I found nine navajoes, one that clamed to be the third man of the nation. They ware on there way to visit Pres Young. I returned to Holden & reported to Pres Jones.
Friday
“ 24 Pres Jones & I came of over to Fillmore before breakfast & had a talk with
the indians who felt very well pleased at to here of our going among them.
The Fillmore people furnished us with one horse m25
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13
1875
Saturday
Sept 25 My Bro Nephi Pratt acompanied our party out three or four miles & then he & I returned to attend meeting on Sunday, by request of Bro Jones. Nephi presented me with a Henry rifal.
Sunday
“ 26 Atended the meeting at Fillmore & adressed the congrigation. was followed by B. P. Colister there was a subscription rased for our benefit of $66.15 in cash Traveled to Kanosh 15m
Monday
“ 27 Traveled to Cove Creek Fort was mad very welcom by Bro Ora Hinkley & familey 22m
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1875
Tusday
Sept 28 Traveled to Beaver. Stoped at B.P.John Murdocks held meeting in the
evening which was very well attended & was adressed by Bro’s Jones
Pratt Smith Stuart Fartheringham & the Bishop.
Wed
Sept 29 Stoped at Beaver to get our horses shod Pres Wells & Party from the sout
came in in the evening
Thursday
“ 30 Rec’ Donation from Beaver of 22.60 in cash. Traveled To Buck horn Springs 22m
Friday
Oct 1 Traveled to Parowan Held meeting in the evening which was adressed by Bro Jones & myself 19 m
Saturday
Oct 2 Parowan donated one Pack mule Traveled to Seder stoped at B P Lunts
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15
1875
Sunday
Oct 3 Atended meeting at 2 pm the saints was adressed by Bros Stuart Smith Pratt & Jones A Bro Davies Donated a pack mule.
Monday
Oct 4 The people of Seader brought in about 150 lbs of dride peaches for our use. Traveled to Kanerah Stoped with B.P. Brounday 15m
Tuesday
Oct 5 Traveled to Tokervill & stoped in the tithing yard was very well entertained I
Bro Spillsberg & Ashton webecers(?)
Wednesday
Oct 6 Stoped at Toker while the rest of the party went to St. George.
Thursday
“ 7 Rec’d a letter from home. Ocupied the day in reading writing & &
Friday
“ 8 The Brethren returned from St. George. I went to work fitting up
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16
1875
Thurs
Saturday
Oct 9 Continued our labors on our pack outfit
Sunday
“ 10 Atended meeting at 2, P.M, which was adressed by Pres Jones, H Pratt,
P.Z Stuart & R H Smith, The people of Toquer Subscribed enough to pay our expenses while there
Mon
“ 11 Traveled to Gools Ranch 9 miles Bro A,W Ivins having arived from St George & joined our party 9
Tuesday
“ 12 Travelled to Short Creek <26 miles> &watered our Stock, then went out to
whare there was grass 26
Wed
“ 13 Travelled to winsor Castle 9 miles & was very well entertained 9
Thursday
“ 14 Travelled to Kanab 20 miles where we found Bro A.M Tenney rady to accompany us on our Mission 20
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17
1875
Friday
Oct 15 The Travelled to Long Valley 20 miles Stayed over night with Father & Mother Billingsley 20
Saturday
“ 16 Acompanied Bp. H. O Spencer to upper Kanab to hold meeting stoped
over night at Williams’s ranch,
Sunday
“ 17 Travelled from Williams’s ranch to Kanab & apointed held meeting at 1 oclock the meeting was adressed by H. Pratt, Jos Allen & Bp Spenser After meeting we travelled back to Orderville Distance Travelled was 40 miles 40
Mon
“ 18 Travelled from Song Valley to Kanab, where the people gave us a dance 20
Tuesday
“ 19 Worked at fitting up our outfit & wrote home in the evening
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18
1875
Oct 20
Wednesday Our outfit now being complete We travelled 17 miles, to the navajo wells,
The names of the missionaries ar Daniel W. Jones, Wiley C Jones, James G Stuart, Robert H. Smith, Anthony W. Privins Ammon M Tenney &
Helaman Pratt Allso Bro’s Jacob Hamlin & Thomas Chamberlin will accompany us part way. Our outfit consists of 21 pack animals & 11 sadel animals 17
“ 21
Thursday Camped at navajo wells having lost some of our horses
“ 22
Friday Travelled to hous rock springs the road across the Buckscin Mountain is rather rough, plenty of Grass no water for 99m 33
“ 23
Saturday Travelled 10 miles & camped at Jacobs pools, hous rock valley is very
well calculated for grassing purposes 10
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19
Oct 24
Sunday Stayed at Jacobs Pools & studied spanish
Mon
“ 25 Traveled to Bager Creek & camped for the night Past Soap Creek 15 mls
“ 26
Tuesday Travelled to the Colorado river Crosed on the fery boat kept by Sister Lee, we found bro Warin M, Jonson & family living here Camped at navajo springs, there was 7 navajo’s camped with us Distance 18
“ 27
Wednesday Camped at Bitter Springs 10 miles, good grass, watter poor 10
“ 28
Thursday Bro’s Jacob Hamblin & Tomie Chamberlin returned Home after taking leve of them we travelled 10 miles & watered our animals at Sine stone tanks & then travelled 12 miles & made a dry camp 10 12
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20
1875
Oct 29
Friday Travelled 16 miles to willow springs & wattered our stock befor leving
camp & in the morning a party of navijos & a mexican by the name of
Suse over took us.
Drove 8 mil farther & camped at the monaby 10 piutes camped with us
chiefs name was Patnish 16 8
“ 30
Saturday There is watter & land enough for 4 or 5 families at willow springs & for
from 5 to 10 at the monaby Travelled 8 miles to maincoppy where 8 or 10
families might find good land & watter Grass abounds in great plenty all
along the road 8
“ 31
Sun rested & studed Spanish
Nov 1 Mon Travelled 20 miles on the trail leading to the Moquis villiges, made a dry Camp 20
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21
1875
Tuesday
Nov 2 Travelled in a South Easterly direction for 15 miles to the Uriba Villege
where the natives shoed a very Kind spirit towards us, In the morning
before leaving camp Pres Jones gave bro R. H. Smith a conciderable of a
going over which was concidered uncalled for by all presant
“ 3
Weden Remained in camp & talked with the natives. In the afternoon a meeting
of the breathren was called & all things made right between bros Jones &
Smith & Bro D. W. Jones was sustaned by the uplifted hands of all
Breathren as Pres of the mission & H Pratt as his councelor, & P. Z. Stuart
as clirk
“ 4
Thurs Bro’s Jones & Tenney went over to the moquis Villegs the rest of us
remained Camp
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22
1875
Nov 5
Friday We expected to have started on our journey, but it set in to rain & we concluded to wait untill morning,
“ 6
Saturday Travelled to the monquis Villiges (12 miles) which has about 600 inhabitance They have built on the point of a high bluff which is perpindicular on all sides which & only one way to get up there is no watter in this vacinity except wells that have been dug by the indians. Continued our journey 2 miles east & camped 12 2
“ 7
Sunday Travelled south east 8 miles to a Moquis sheep ranch where there was a
very good spring which we named cotonwood spring we then crosed the
ridge 2 miles & Camped
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1875
Nov 8
Mon Tralvelled South 12 miles whare we found what we caled hiden spring or tusal Jack went 6 miles farther & came to what we caled willow springs, continued south east for 7 miles & Camped 12 6 7
“ 9
Tuesday Travelled South 2 miles & came to another spring which we caled <twing bute> Antalope Spring about 3 miles farther on we pased another spring caled it Cane Spring Continued our Journey 25 miles west of South & came to the Little Colorado river This being one of the finest grasing countries that I ever Saw we saw 4 droves of antelope during the day 2 3 25
“ 10
Wedens The river hear afords enough watter to erigate 3000 acrs of land, it is a very slugish stream with a wide quick sand boton, an abundance of land, & plenty of cotonwood for fuel
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1875
Nov 11
Thursday Travelled 7 miles west & crosed the river &camped, we are now traveling
on the mane road to & from Prescot 7
” 12
Friday Travelled 12 miles & came to Haywords station continued our journey 14 miles & made a dry camp 12 14
” 13
Saturday Travelled 21 miles south of west the most of the way through a timber country; Concisting of Sedar, pinyon pine Oak & long Leaf pine, Camped at pine Station no watter between stations an abundance of Grass G We had a very heavy wind Storm 21
” 14
Sunday rested our selves & anemals. rote home to my Familey Dear & Turkies ar said to abound in great plenty on this mount it being so windy we did not see any
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1875
Nov 15
Monday Travelled 14 miles & camped at Arnolds Ranch on Beever Creek part of the road is very rough in the after noon we saw numbers of dear but was unable to shoot any 14
” 16
Tuesday Bro Jones was rather poorley & concluded to rest, all the Boys escept Tenney went Dear hunting. Bro Stuart killed one
“ 17
Wednesday Travelled 8 miles & came to the Riv Verday & camped 8
“ 18
Thursday Ocupied th day in writing, Bro’s Jones & Stuart went up the river about 8 miles, reported that here is quite a number of ranches up the river This river is about as large as the Sevier river is at Panguich about 2 1/2 miles is a U.S. Post caled Camp Virda
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1875
Nov 19
Friday Travelled 12 miles & camped at Seneca Ranch 12
” 20
Saturday Travelled 12 miles & camped on Ash Creek 12
” 21
Sunday Travelled 24 miles & camped at the foot of the Mesa, Mountains 24
” 22
Monday Travelled 15 miles & camped on New River 15
” 23
Tuesday Baught a lite wagon for which we paid $100.00
” 24
Wednesday Travelled 24 miles & made a dry Camp 24
” 25
Thursday Travelled 8 miles & came to the Rev Salatha farming country & camped. This is a very fine Valley with plenty of watter & an abundance of good land
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1875
Nov 26
Friday Travelled 3 miles & came to the Town of Phenox Then traveled 9 m farther up the river & camped at Tampe. The Salt River Valley is a very fine farming country & capable of sustaining many thousand people. the river is estimated to be larger than the Weber River 3 9
” 27
Saturday Remained in camp to rest our horses
” 28
Sunday Ocupied the day in writing to my family & posting my journal
” 29
Monday Spent the day in reparing & oiling harness & studying Spanish
” 30
Tuesday Travelled 22 miles & camped at morgons ferry on the Rev Gela There is
quite a number of mariespa villages in this vacinity 22
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28
1875
Dec 1 Travelled 15 miles up the River at Pima Butes. Pre’s Jones apointed a
Wednesday meeting with the head Chives of the Pimas’s on the 3 of Dec. 15
“ 2 Travelled 12 miles & camped at Sacaton Station 12
Thursday
“ 3 The meeting apointed by Pres Jones was attended by about 65 Pimas’s
Friday & 4 Chieves all seemed interested in what was said
“ 4 Travelled 12 miles & camped with a Papago Chief by the name of
Saturday Juanlargo. Apointed a meeting for the Sabath. 12
“ 5 At 12-30 oclock the meeting was opened by Pres Jones About 110
Sunday indians’ being present All seemed much interested in the remarks of Bro’s Jones & Tenney
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1875
Dec 6 I & Bro Tenney went back 2 miles & found that a Mexican with hoom
Monday we had left a copy of the book of Mormon was quite interested in the book & had been reading it to the natives who were very much interested. We explaned our principles to him as best we could he gave us $2.00 to asist us on our mission. we then traveled 14 miles & found Camp at Florance [unreadable] 14
“ 7 Traveled 25 miles to Cicacho, bought watter. 25
“ 7 <8>
Tuesday Travelled 27 miles & camped at Desert Station where we had to by watter for our stock 27
“ 8 <9> Travelled 21 miles & camped within 3 miles of Tucson 21
Wednesday
“ 10 Bro Jones & I went to Tu<c>son & caled on Govenor APK Safford & was
Thursday very well rec’d . he gave us an invitation to hold meeting on Sunday, which we <excepted>
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1875
Dec 11 Ocupied the day in reading & writing to my Familey
Saturday
“ 12 Bro. J Z Stuart & I atended the Catholic Chirch at 10 a.m. At 2 P.M. held
Sunday meeting as per apointment, Bro Jones & I ware the Speekers
“ 13 Travelled 10 miles & camped at Camp Lowell. 10
Monday
“ 14
Tuesday Baught a light wagon for $140.00 & a set of harness for 4 horses for the $90.00
“ 15 Repared & Oiled our harness & loaded the remainder of our packs in to
Wednesday the wagom
“ 16 Traveled 26 m & camped at Sinace ranch 26
Thursday
“ 17 Traveled 24 miles & camped on the San Pedro river, which is a very fine
Thursday streem & an abundance of Grass 24
Friday
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1875
Dec 18 Travelled 34 miles & camped at Sulpher Springs
Saturday
“ 19 Bro Jones & I left the Camp & travelled 24 miles to the Apacha
Sunday Pass for the purpos of talking to the Indians 24
“ 20 Had a talk with the indian agent, Jeffords who gave his us permission to
Monday talk with the Indians but informed us that their Spanish interpriter was absent. & would not be back for 3 days. we then drove back to camp 24 miles 24
“ 21 Sayed over at Sulpher Springs Bro Jones allso sold 3 mules at this place
Tuesday for $115.00/100
“ 22 Travelled 24 miles & stoped at Woods Station, Apacha Pass, it being
Wednesday a very stormey night 24
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1875
Dec 23 Travelled 20 miles & camped on Samsamon Creek 20
Thursday
” 24 Ocupied the day in reading & writing to C.W. Seegmiller.
Friday
” 25 My mule kicked me on the head, but no serious damage don, pased the
time in Saturday reading
” 26 Held meeting in Camp, & after meeting, being out of meat it was thought
Sunday best for Saturday Bro. Ivins & I to go hunting we acordingly went, crosed
the line into New Mexico & kiled one dear & one antelope
” 27 Traveld 30 miles to rotston 30
Monday
” 27 Travelled 22 miles & camped 22
Monday 28 at Knights Station
Tues
” 29 Travelled 16 miles & camped at Davies ranch where we wer invited to
Wedon hold meeting with Davies & 2 other Families which we did
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1875
Dec 29 Travelled 16 miles & camped at Apachatahoo whare there is a very fine
Thurs 30 spring of warm water 16
” 31 Travelled 16 miles & camped at Miembres which is a very fine stream of
Friday water For the last few days we have seen a great many Antelope & Bro Ivins shot one to day 16
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1876
Jan 1 Travelled 19 miles & camped at Fort Cummings 19
Saturday
” 2
Sunday Travelled 35 miles & camped at Slocoms Tanks wh here we had to pay 20 cts each to water our Stock 35
” 3
Monday Travelled 25 miles & camped on the Reo Grande, near Mesilla, which is quite a town 25
” 4
Tuesday Travelled 22 miles & camped at a mexican ranch where we left one horse which after words died 22
” 5
Wednesday Travelled 14 miles & camped at Canatio Ranch where we made arangement to leave our Stock to recrult 14
” 6
Thursday Travelled 16 miles & came to the Town of El Passo, Texas. Bro Ivens stayed at Canatio with the stock 16
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1876
Jan 7 Crosed the Reo Grand to El Passo mexico where we rented 9 rooms for
Friday $8.00/100 per month
” 8 Aranged things in our house & prepared to live
Saturday
” 9
Sunday Attended Catholic Church & the Priest warned the people against us & caled us every thing he could think of & wound up by calling us Billy Goats Billy Goats &c
” 10 Studied Spanish
Monday
” 11
Tuesday Bro Jones & I went to the Town of Samacu where we talked with sevrel Gentelmen & left some books, 12 miles there & back
Weden
“ 12 Studied Spanish
Thurs
“ 13 ” ”
Friday
” 14 ” ”
Sat
” 15 ” ”
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1876
Jan 16 Held meeting in El Passo Texas which was very well attended
Sunday
” 17
Monday Studied Spanish
” 18 ” ”
Tuesday
” 19 ” ”
Wednesday
” 20
Thursday Bro Jons & I went down to Sanacu. According to previous arrangement Bro Jones had quite a talk to the Prefect who seemed interested in all he said.
” 21
Friday Bro Stuart got a position as School teacher in Sant Elizario but upon applying at the school he discovered that the feeling was so strong against us that if he excepted his appointment the children would all leave school. Bro Tanrey also went down to Polata & commence business, Polata having quite a number of Indians population.
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1876
Sat 22
Jan 23 Studied Spanish
” 24 Held meeting in El Passo Texas Bro Jones returned from Polata & said we Sunday 23 would all moove there.
” 25 Went to the ranch to get our stock 16 miles 16
mon 24
” 26 Bro Ovins returned to El Paso with the Stock 16 miles 16
Tuesday 25
” 27 Moved to Polata 14 miles, read a letter from home 14
Wednesday <26>
” 28 Studied Spanish
Thursday <27>
” 29
Friday 28 ” ”
” 30
satur 29
” 30 Held meeting in Santa Elizario and in Polata in the evening & appointed a
Sunday meeting for Monday evening 14 miles.
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1876
Jan 31 Studied Spanish
Monday
Feb 1 Made arrangements to work for a Mr Blancherd for my board
Tuesday
“ 2 Started work
Wedens
“ 3 worked for Blancherd
Thurs
“ 4
Friday “ “ “
“ 5 “ “ “
Sat
“ 6 Rested from my labors
Sunday
” 7
monday Resumed work
” 8 ” ”
Tuesday
” 9 ” ”
Wedens
” 10 Bro Stuart & I went to San Elizario7 miles & held a meeting in the
evening at a Thursday Mr John W Campbell house by invitation. All that
attended the meeting seemed very well pleased. 7
” 11
Friday Returned to Yalata 7 miles 7
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1876
Feb 12 Traveled to El Paso to bring the Captain and Boys down 12 miles 12
saturday
” 13 Returned to Ysleta 12 miles 12
Sund
” 14 Bro Tenney & Smith started for Ysleta New Mexico where they ware mon appointed to labor.
” 15 From Feb 15 to 22 Studied Spanish
” 22 Bro Stuart & I went to San Elizario by invitation of Mr Campbell, where
wed we spent a very pleasant evening & returned home on thee
<Thur>
” 24
” 25 went to El Paso & returned on
Friday
” 26 Saturday
” 27 Atended Catholik Church & was permitted to witness the baptism of two
Sun infants. 24
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1876
Feb 28
monday Comenced hurding horses
“ 29 continued to hurd “
tues
March 1
Weden Comin after hurding horses all night & after we got somthing to eat, mr. Campbell came along & invited me to go with him to tharts mills 1 mile above Franklen as he wished to converse up<on> & to learn more concerning the principals of our faith. I accordingly consulted with bro stuart who urged me to go promising to take care of the horses untill we returned, I excpeted the invitation & on our ariving at El Paso Bro Jones expresed some little displeasure at my leving the horses. Mr. Campell & I conversed much upon our principales & he told me that he & his Father & mother
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1876
beleived our testimony, that our principales were true but that they were not quite redy to be baptised as they wished to investigate a little farther but he said if it was posible for one of your Elders to stay here and preach & even if he had his familey with him I would suport you willingly & see that you did not suffer for anything
Mrc 2 Mr. Campbell & I after leving the mill, met Pres Jones in Franklen he said Thurs that he wantd to talk with me he took me to task for leving the horses & running around the country with men that I no buisness to & that I had betrayed the trust imposed in me & said he I was told write in Pres youngs Office that you would under take to
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run this mission, & that you was a lasy man to which I replid that any one that said I was a lasy man was a lier as I hade [always] worked for my living, & that any Elder that was sent out to preside over a mission & would drive [his brethren]them as he had would fail to accomplish the end for which he was sent, some more words pased in which bro Jones said I could return home but I told him that I did not wish to return but wished to fullfill my mission,
We then went to Ojerlate whare we found bro Stuart & the horses all right bro Jones said we could moove to El Paso, as he hade not confidenes in us to leve the horses in our care we packed up & came to Franklin that night
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1876
Mar 3
Friday Crosed the river to El Paso & in the Evening Pres Jones caled a meeting of brethren & told them what I had said and said he, if you still entertain those feelings you can return home & said he , if I had dun as I aught, I would have sent you all back from the Aruba Villidges as you all rebelled against me there after he had spoken I said that I did make the remark refured to, & accknowledged that I had dun wrong, & asked his furgiveness, & said I was willing to forgive him where in he hade hurt my feelings , he remarked that you will wait till I ask you wou forgiveness wont you, to which I replied that I was willing to forgive him whether he asked me to or not, & that I felt to uphold & sustain him in his position & that I desiered to continue my labors with him
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1876
March 3 in to the interior of mexico. He said unless I accknowledged that I never had any cause for sutch feelings, or I had intirely erased the same from my mind, that I would be released & that He would give me time to answer & he requested an answer in writing he said you talk about paying for the horses if any are lost through your neglect, sed he, do you not know that you ar dependant upon me for the food you eat, why do you not do something to help yourself & Sed he you have been running after Mr. Campbell on account of his money, & there is more likelihoods of you joining him than there is of him joining our church to which I replied that I had never visited Mr. Campbell except by specal invitation, & that he had taken great intrest in our principles, & expressed his belief in the Savior
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1876
Mar 3 & he had always treated me very kind. he said that the other brethren, (Bros Stuart & Ivins) had more or less of the same spiret that I had & unless things changed he did not know but we would be sent home. I asked for the privilidge to go to San Elazirio to attend to some unsettled buisness which was granted.
“ 4
Sat walked to San Elazirio 25 miles, & found all well & glad to see me. I the spent evening in talking upon our principles.
“ 5
Sun Spent the day in conversing & reading to Father & mother Campbell who were hyl hily interested.
“ 6 finished my buisness & returned to El Paso
Mon
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1876
March 7 Spent the day in writing & in evening I gave my acknowlegment in Tuesday writing to Bro Jones, the same as I had made verbally, & it was excepted on the principal of mercy
“ 8
Weden Spent the day with Mr Campbell & wife at Harts Mills (Bro to John W. Campbell) who seemed very much interested in our principals
“ 9 Hurded horses
Thurs
“ 10 “ “
Friday
“ 11 “ “
“ 12 “ “
“ 13 “ “
“ 14 “ “
“ 15 “ “
“ 16 “ “
“ 17 “ “
“ 18 “ “
“ 19 Went to Harts mills & spent a very pleasant day with Campbell
Sun
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1876
March 20
Monday Having made all things ready we Started for the interiar of Mexico at noon. Travelled 12 miles & camped 12
“ 21 Travelled 12 miles & camped at Angerstines ranch 12
Tuesday
“ 22 Travelled 21 miles to San Ygnashio & wer very well entertained by
Wedens Senor Guadeloupe, a Mexican Gentelman of conciderable note 21
“ 23 Travelled 18 miles to los Tankes where we had to pay for what water
Thursday we used, the name of the proprietor is Roman aranda 18
“ 24 Had our horses stolen <while Bro Jones was on guard> but recovered
Friday them in the afternoon
“ 25 Travelled 45 miles & camped at Oho Da Lucerro where <we> paied
Sat 25 cts for what watter amt animels & camp use 45
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1876
March 26 Travelled 27 miles & camped at Carizal, with a mr. Tom Collens 27
Sunday
“ 27 Staid at mr Collensis untill morn (V who treated us very kindly) then travelled 18
Monday miles to Marchinaros ranch 18
“ 28 Travelled 40 miles to Carmin ranch this is a very fine ranch containing
Tuesday about 6 or 7 thousand acers of good <farming> land, & any amount of grasing plenty of the best of watter the stream is thought to be as large as big cottonwood 40
“ 29 rested our stock while we looked around the country a little
Wedens
“ 30 Travelled 32 miles & wattered our stock & continued our journey 20 miles
Thurs farther & made a dry camp We saw sevrel large hurds of antelope, went
hunting in the evening with Bro Evans & wounded a dear but did not get it 32
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1876
March 31 Travelled 20 miles & took breakfast at Ojo del Sagovna, which is the
Friday finest dary ranch we have seen in our travelles, continued our journey 8
miles, & camped at some small springs 20 8
April 1 Travelled 4 miles & came to the town of Ineineos Continued our jourey 18
Saturday miles to the town of Souse, travelled 6 miles & made & dry camp went
hunting in the evening & Bro Poines killed one dear 4 18 6
“ 2 Travelled 26 miles & came to the citty City of Chihuahua where we rented
Sunday rooms
“ 3 Spent the day in visiting the principle places of intrest, the City is about 2
Mon ½ miles long & one wide, & has 10000 inhabitance
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1876
Apr 4 Continued our sightseeing,Viseted the Church which is a very nice
Tuesday building, over 100 years old, has many nise picturse in it, & is all together
a very fine building, Sed to have cost 5 or 6 hundred thousand dolars
which money was rased by a tax of 2 per cent on silver taken from one
silver mine imediately in front of the Church is the principle Plaza of the
City, which is nicely adorned with flowers, shrubs & shade treas &c &c,
with stone <or sement> seets all around, & a large “fountain in the center,
which supplis the Town with good cold watter the walks ar nicely paved
with sand stone, Flowers ar cultivated to a conciderable extent in the iner
coarts of all of the principal houses
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1876
Apr 5 Ocupied the day in reading &c, &c, Bro Jones maled about 500 copplies
Wedens of the book of Mormon to the principal Cities of Mescico
“ 6 Nothing of importance
Thurs
“ 7 Bro Jones rec’d permition to hold meeting gave out an apointment for
Saturday Friday evening
“ 8 The meeting was attended by about five hundred all seemed interested in
Saturday the remarks of bro Jones who spoke for about one hour
“ 9 In the mornning too gentelmen came to see us, one of them was blind,
Sunday they had attended the meeting & said they believed the testimoney given
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1876
Apr 9 They had came from ther home in the Seria Madra Mountains to get
Sunday permissions to preach but they clamed no divine athority, they seemed to
be much interested in our mission & said that the people where they lived
would recive the Gospel as soon as it preached to them. We attended
Catholic Chirch
“ 10
Mon Nothing of importance
“ 11
Tuesday Loaded our wagon & Travelled 10 miles & camped at Fresno ranch 10
“ 12
Wedens Travelled 30 miles & camped at Santa Osabel which is a very nice little place 30
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1876
Apr 13 We had to lay over on account of one of our horses being lame with a xx
split huff we Thurs covred the huff with rawhide & place put a Shoe on
which efected a perfict cure.
“ 14 Travelled about 20 miles pased one Town caled Carretas 20
Friday
“ 15 Travelled 25 miles & camped at San Antonio pased a good deal of
Saturday Oak timber & some little walnut fine grasing & plenty of game
“ 16 Travelled 9 miles & camped in a pine grove 9
Sun
“ 17 Travelled 35 miles & came to Concepcion
Monday
“ 18 Rented rooms & Stabeling, from this date to 22. Studed Spanish
Tues
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1876
Apr 23 Held meeting in the afternoon, the room was filed & good
Sunday attencion was given
“ 24
Monday Went 6 miles down the river after corn which costs $100 for 140 <lbs> one fenaga 6
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62
I arived home July found all well, rented a room near the Forist form & got things stratened around, & arrangements made to go to work for C.H. Wilcken, & had been at home a little over too weeks when I was again coled to go south on another mission, in company with Bro J. G. Stuart & M G Trejo. I imediatly set about building a house so that I could leve my famely a little more comfortable in my absents. I informed the presidency that I had not suficent means to fit my self up for the trip but they said I must go & promised that something would turn up to asist me. My Bro asisted me to some means to to asist in building, & Bros McGee, Whighthead & others of the wasath road Watchsash factory gave me a soot of close & Bro E. Morise gave me a hat & G C. Riser gave me the making of a pere of shoes, & by one & another
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63
asisting me I was inabled to get a very good outfit to gether, I saw Pres B. Young on or about the 13 of September & told him we were all ready to start on the 15 if unles we could get his concent to stay & atend conferance he gave his concent for us to stay & inquiered in regard to our outfit I told him we had 3 horses & a light wagon. he said we neaded 4 horses for our wagon & 2 sadelhorses he then told bro Sheats to give me 2 of the church horses which he afterwards did. at conferance there were 3 more of the Brethren coled to acompany us namely P. P P Stuart, Geo. Terry & Servis Garff all of Draper. we wated untill the 17th of October for them to get ready. when I bid my famely goodby, & again started of to be gon perhaps for years. we had a very pleasant trip I down to the Little Colorado river where we found all our people feeling will & every thing in as prosperous a condition as could well be expected
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1876
Nov 28 Bro Sot Smith took Bros Trejo Terry & myself up to Allens Camp. &
from there up to a mexicans by the name of Barnardo where we were well
recived & held meeting in the evening.
Nov 29 Returned by Lakes Camp where we found all well from there to Sun Set Crossing.
No 30 Traveld from Little Colorado to Prescot where we arived on the
Dec 4 fourth of dec & held one meeting. it beeing the first mormon meeting ever
held in Prescot. We then continued our journey to Phoenix (Salt River)
where
Dec 23 we arived on Saturday Dec 23, & on
” 24 bro Trejo & I made arangements with the school Trusties for the use of
the Schoolhouse to hold meeting in & attended Sundy School at 2 p.m. &
Methodus meeting in the evening by invitation of Parson H S the Herrot
we gave out apointments to hold meeting on Thursday evening
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1877 for Americans, & Friday evening for <the> Mexicans
Dec 25 Spent the day in writing to my Famely, & in the evening rec’d letters from
home all was well, for which I felt to thank God.
” 28 Preached to an intergent congregaton the schoolhouse being crouded
” 29 attended Spanish meeting
” 30 Traveled 12 miles to Tampe
1877 Nothing of importance three of our party comenced work for Judge
Jan 1 Hayden,
” 2 Bro Trejo & I went about 7 miles up the river, to visit some Pimas Indians
but were unable to finde anyone that could talk suficient Spanish to
converse with them
” 4 Bro Stuart, & I went to Phoenix & gave out an apointment for meeting the
next evening.
” 5 visited Parson Herret & in the evening preached to about 25 people, then
returned to camp
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1877
Jan 7 Held meeting at Tampe & after meeting we were requested to peeke in the
evening on marrige which we did
“ 8 started for the Gila river, arived at the reservation the next day, we viseded
the agency for the purpos of seeing the agent but he was not at home, but
had a talk with a reverend Mr Cook, a methodus minister who informed us
that all cristian denomnations ware at liberty to hold meetings with the
indians on the reservation, but he did not think the Mormons would be
alowed that privilidge, he had been with the indians 7 years, & had
translated a part of the scriptures into there language, but had not been
able to make any head way with them in religious matters,
“ 10 Traveled 10 miles up the river, to a papago Chief by the name of Juan
Sargo whoo lives just of the reserve Bro. Trejo explaned to him what the
Book of
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67
1877
of Mormon was which seemed to please him very much
Jan 11 Held meeting with the Pimas Juan Sargo acting as interpriter
“ 14 returned to Tampi recd a letter from home, & the next day rote letters
home &c &c,
“ 22 Started for Tucson, arived at Juan Sargos on the 22, & he thought best not
to talk with the Pimas at any more at presant, So we continued our journey
to Tucson, where we arived on
“ 28 Sundy & in the evening t went out for a wallk, we found all the drinking &
gambeling saloons fe Oplne & in full blast allso a curcus & a dance in
town, & meny of the people drunk,
Jan 29 viseted the Governor & allso Cheiff Justes, French, & asociate Justes C.
W. Twede
“ 31 By an invitation of a Mr. Jones Bro J J Stuart & I visited the Bishop of the
Catholick Church
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68
1877 Visit to the Bishop of Catholick Church
Jan 31 After being intrudesed as gentelmen from Utah Somthing like the folowing
conversation took place
L.P. I understand that you wish to be instructed in the principles of catholism, I repted that we came to converse with him, & to get information regarding there relidgious views, I asked him where do you get your the catholick Church get there authority from; We get our it from the apostoles & from the new Testament,
Have you any inspiered men among you, who stands as a prophet to you; no; we have no prophets, but we beleave that the Pope in infalable, & that in points of doctron he cannot err, What ar the first principles of your faith; Faith in C<h>rist repentance, & baptisms for “the” remission of sins, Can a person who dos not beleave in the devine mission of Christ, be baptised into your church; No; it is necessary to beleave,
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69
Continued
I understand that you Baptise infants;
Yes) what age must they be in order to be fit subjects for baptism. We baptise them, from one day old & upwards. Now how is it posible for a little childe one day old to know any thing about Christ or his devine mission;
Oh; they ar baptised for the original sin, Have you any acount in the scriptures of Christ or the Apostales baptising children; Yes, I would be pleased to see it, as I have faled to find any thing of that kind, but on the contrary St Mark 19 ch 14 & 15 Christ says suffer little children to come unto me & forbid them not, for of sutch is the kingdom of heaven & he layed his hands on them & blessed them, (The bisshop was unable to find any thin to substanciate his point & became conciderbly excited) What is the moad of baptising in your church; We baptise by sprinceling, Oh, then you do not beleave what Pall Paul says in Col. 2 ch, & 12 vs That it is nessery to be berried, with him in baptism, where in allso ye ar
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70
Continued
risen with time through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, & also in Rom 6-4. Therefore we ar buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised risen up from the dead ye by the glory of the father even so we allso shal walk in newness of life, Oh yes, we believe that, & in former times baptism was administered in three ways in our Church by emersion, by pouring & by sprinkeling, but for reasons that I do not wish to explane we have adopted the later mode
(this is in fulfillment of the sayings writings of Isaah, which says they have transgressed the laws, changede the ordenances & broken the everlasting Covinent)
Do you have the power to give the holy Ghost to the baptized beleaver, the same as was promest by Peter on the day of penicost or the same as was conferred on the semeritans by Peter & John, yes we clame to have that power, Would you I if I wore to become converted to your faith & be baptized by you as B.P. of the Church, &
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71
Continued
have youre hands layed on my head receive the holy Gost that was spoken of by the Prophet Joel, which would cause me M to dream dreams or to see visions or to prophesy, the lord could give you this extry ordinary power if he chose but you have no reason to expect to be rased up in the midst of the people as a prophet.
Would I receive any of the gifts that the savior promised in the last chapter of St Mark should follow those who beleaved & were baptized by the apostles.
The B.P Got considerably excited & asked T why do you come here to teach me with your bible, if you wish to know any thing about the Catholick faith. Go to the Bookstore & by a caticism for 25 cts & read that & if not you can go into the streat with your bible & bible doctren, we accordingly excused our selves for haven taken up so much of his valuable time. Shook hands with him & departed feeling confident that we had nothing fear from the Priests as far as argument on the scriptures were concerned.
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1877 We then visited Judge C.W Tweede of Prescot, who spoke very highly of
our people, & said if he could do anything to assist us setteling the
country, he was on hand, to he read us the Law on polygamy & sayed if
he had the power he would voot to repeal that law as he did not think it
was any mans right to make laws to interfear with a man having as many
wives as he wished & could got we next called up on the sisters of
charity at St Josephs nunery & had a very pleasant chat with the mother of
the premecies
Feb 1 We looked around Tucson for 2 or 3 days, not finding any one that took
any interest in Mormonism we began to aply for work, but failed in getting
a job, we according concluded that unless we found work Bro Terry & I
would start for reo Grandly the next day but during the day a gentleman
came to us who wished to
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73
1877 imploy some men to work at a mine about 70 miles south & on the road to
Sonora, he said he was imploying some Mexicans, and that there was
plenty of grass for our horses al thought it a good opportunity to replenish
our store of provisions which was allmost exhausted & to recruit our
horses & also to learn a little of the Language by conversing with the
people four of us started for the mine, leaving Bros Stuart & Trejo to
preach we arrived at the mine on Feb 6 & found every thing as well as we
could have expected.
Feb 6 We worked 4 days in the mine when there came a heavy rain storm which
saturaded the ground so that great chunks of rock & earth was falling in to
the mine every few minets which made it very unsafe to work there
longer one mane came near getting ciled by falling rocks we that is Bro
Terry & I excepted of an invitation to go over to
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Sarie the first town in Sonora with the expedation of going to work on a milk ranch for an American by the name of Noble Colens, with a who said he had some mexicans famelies on his ranch, but when we arived there there was no famelys on the ranch & no prospects of any soon. we accordingly stayed with Nobles Colens about one weak, & then returned 6 miles to a place called the Punt de Augua (point of watter) where we ware very well treated untill the man of the ranch found out that we war Mormons he then gave us to understand that he did not want any thing to do with Mormons refusing to read the Book of Mormon & Said he did not want any of his famely to read it eather.
We next returned to a ranch in Arizona caled the Ara Caca where we are well treated by the popieter, a Mexican by the name
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1877 of Don Padro Aguine who has a very excelent famely but ar strict
Catholicks.
Mar 4 Received word from bro Stuart that he & the rest of the breathren ware at
Tubeck all well, & expected to comenc baptising on the 2 of March
” 19 We started for Tubec, where we arived in the evening, found all well with
the Breathren, they had baptised two men & one woman, many more wore
greatly interested, untill the priest came, & he soon nocked all
Mormonism out of them
” 20 We recd a letter from Pres Young approving of our labors, advising us to
seak for the spirit of God to guide us in our future labors & we should be
lead in the pathes where we should go.We acordingly met in the eavining
in councel, all being preasant it was all decided to all go to Sonora
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1877
Mar 20 George Terry & I was to go by way of Sarie & the rest would go to
Magdilana, & from there it was thought perhaps they would devide & go
two & two, on difrent roads
” 22 Returned to Ara Vasa, the folks being pleased to see us again
” 28 Came to Sarie, all our friends was gon & the smallpox was spreading
through the town, we continued our journey on to Altar
” 30 Where we arived on the 30 of Mar. this is a very nice town of about 2000 inhabitance, in the afternoon we drove out about 15 miles & made a dry
camp. Turned our horses out to feed, when one of them got scared at the
roap & stampeded I imediately started in persuit on an other horse. I
followed the tracks of the roap by moon light back to Altar, thinking I
should surely over take it
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1877
Mc 30 in the City, but I fount it had not stoped, but had gon out of town on a
strange road, so I continued to follow for an other 15 miles, where I lost
the track & was obliged to give up the search for the night, & hear I was
30 miles from camp tired tierd & hungry. My horse gave out & in a
strance land & about 1 or 2 oclock in the morning I hird a dog bark a little
farther on & I resolved to porocede & put my trust in God to drect me to
some one who would administer into my wants. I had not gon far, when I
met some Papagos indians going home from a dance I was told by them
that there was an American living near by the name of Charley Man
I road up to his house caled him up, told him I wanted something to eat &
feed for my horse, & I found him a man in nature as well as name, our
every want was supplied
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1877
Mar 30, At day break I again started to find the track of my horse, which I found
had turned into a side path which lead into the woods I followed on for
another 15 miles (making in all 45 miles I had followed the trail) & found
it quietly eating. & I then had to ride to Altar having had no breakfast.
Sutch is life on the deserts. got back to camp found Bro Terry all wright
but quite uneasy about my long stay.
Apr 6 Arived at Hermosillo, The country over which we pased is a after leaving
Altar, is a dry parched desert witht very little grass, & not much watter,
but where there is sufficiant watter for erigating the soil is very
productive, & many of the tropical fruits grow luxuriantly, the watter is all
clamed. We concluded to stay here & study the language, & as we ware
out of money, we were obliged to sell our horses & mules 4 in number for $91.00
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1877 we remaned in Hermosillo & was joined by bros Trejo & Garff held a
numbor of meetings, & formed quite a circul of aquaintances, was stoned
many times by the Boys & roudys of the town, the priest done all he could
to no prevent us from making converts & used all the lies he could invent
to pregi predjudice the people against us. but not with standing this we
maed friends & lurned the language.
May 28 Bro Terry & I started for Guimas & arived in the evening after a ride of
108 miles on the coach. Bros. Trejo & Garff returned to Arizonia
“ 29 Visited the American Counse Mr Wilered, & was kindly received & at 11
Oclock we started in a sail boat acros th a neck of the Gulf for the Yaque
river
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80
a distance of 30 or 40 miles, slept in the Boat all night, & in the
May 30 morning went up the river about 4 miles to the house of one of the
Goveners of the Yaquis. he sent imediately in surch of the head chief Josa
Maria by name we find the indians farming here with out irigation, &
thear crops looking well The head cheaf sent for our book of Mormon, &
after reading it returned it to us, but the Govinor would not tell us where
the Chief was but said if we would go up the river about 15 miles to a
villige where the Indians ware having a fiest we might be able to find him,
& he volinteared to go with us, we acordingly started on foot after
pertaking of a meal of beans & watter mellons, & when we came to the
village we found the preast was there from Guimas was there, & the
indians ware geathered by the thousand & holding a big feast, & I must
say that I never saw any such rabid
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81
Catholicks as these poor ignorent indians. they ware forming processions & marching to the mesure of musick b made from ruid instruments & dresed in very gay atier while every thing the land aforded to eat was in great abundance.
They also have instruments of torture of various kinds for punishing the human body we ware marched in the senter of these & invited to take a seat, an & a councel of the leading men was caled & we ware asked to state our buisness. we said we wished to talk with their head chief as we hade some books for him & etc. we ware then told that he was some 80 miles farther up the river & that we would not be permited to go any farther & nor to remain there but if we wished to return we could do so, we ware then furnished with an escort to conduct us out of the country we returned to the house of the Governer after a walk (or rather a run of 30 miles
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1877
June 1 Returned to Guimois, reported ourselves to the American counsel who
was quite astonished when he learned we had been to the river Yaqui &
returned in safty, he said that those indians ar now in a state of rebellion,
& it is not concidered safe for anyone to go among them, & we certainly
acknollidge the hand of the Lord in our preservation as we ware
completely in there hands & they ware very much excited at our being
among them, & nothing but the power of God could have delivered us but
thanks be to him we ware permited to return in safty.
Remaned two days at Guimas Conversing with the people &c&c.
Jun 4 returned to Hermosillo, stayed over night at the house of Mr Barnett who
was very kind to us.
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1877
Jun 5 visited our friends in that vicinity & bade them farwell, & in the evening
started on foot for Urace where we arived on the 9 of June, stopping with
an American by the name of Favorite untill the evening of the 10 when we
again started for Arispe.
July 4 Arived in Tucson after a long & tiersome journy across the desarts &
uninhabited regon of that country but I must say that the Lord hurd our
prairs & strengthened us, & put it into the harts of the people to adminster
to our wants so that we did not suffer a great deal but arived in the safty &
in good health & found bros Trejo & Oscarff in joying the same blessings
July 5 wes the hotest day I ever experinced, we ingaged to work in for a man by
the name of Gardner at a sawmill in the sant, Rite momtanis
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1877
where we labored for abut 3 weeks & then returned to Tucson where we
found letters from Pres Young & my Family. We remained a little over a
week in Tucson taking to the people, we found a man by the name of Jos.
Mills who had once been a membor of the church, who bit had wandered
of after money, he recd us kindly promised to be rebaptised & do all he
could to convert his mexican family to our faith
Aug 7 Started for the Rio Grande
“ 16 Arived at Knights station found some of our aquaintances of the year
before, conversed conciderable with them upon the principles of the
Gospel
“ 17 Met a Mr. W. Conor, he said he & his wife ware converted to mormonism
& ware ready for baptism
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85
They ware desiras of joining with some of those who ware living at San
Elizario Texas we proposed to promised to wait for him 4 days at Apache
telew & there dminister the ordinance of baptism, but they did not come
Aug 18 while we ware awaiting for Mr Conor to join us Bro Garff & I visited
Silver City, & was kindly entertained by a Mr Tomas J Davies
“ 19 Attended Sunday school conducted by a Rev Mr. Gale A Methodes
preacher, after school we introdused our selves & asked for the privelidge
of holding meeting in the school house, mondy & Tuesday evening which
privalige was refused we attended his meeting in the evening
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86
Aug 20 Viseted a Mr McGerry & wife who had once been mormons. Mr
McGerry was now a member of the Josephite Church.We ware verry well
recd by them Spending the hole day & part of the next with them,
conversing up on religious Subjects
“ 21 Caled upon & introdused our selves to the Editor of the Grant Co Herald,
& quite a discution with him upon the question of polygamy, he undertaking to prove by figures that unles the mormons quit the practice of
polygamy, that they would over stalk the world with people & thus cause
famin, pestilance in the land, & Said he, I have 2 children & I Should
concider it a very great Calamity indedd if I to have any more. I told him
that men in our Church had from one to 50 & ware hoping for more & we
expected to still continue to begat children
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87
who would in time asist in peopling this great western country untill these
wilds would bud & blossom as the rose, & that I did not fear a famen, at
least from that cause
Our friend Mr McGerry made us a presant of a nice walking stick each &
gave us $3.00 in money. Our friend Daviss & Family ware verry much
interested, & promised to come to Utah.
Aug 28 Arived at Hart’s mills El Pasolo Texas, where we found Bro J.Z. Stewart,
& Father & Mother, Campbell All well
Sept 9 Bro JZ Stewart baptised a Mr. John Hamilton, & I confermed him
“ 20 I Baptised <& confermed them> Mr. Isaac H Campbell & wife, & we
allso blessed their two children, & Ordaned I. F. Campbell an Elder, & J
Hamilton to be a preast
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1877
Sept 22 Bro Stewart Baptised mother Nancy Campbell, Mr J W Campbell
concluding to take his wife & family to Utah & there recive the ordaninces
of the Gosple, which he did the may following.
Oct 19 Arived in Los Lunas new mexico All well except Bro Terry who had
chills & fevor
“ 20 Bro J Z Stewart & I walked 9 miles to viset the indians of Ysleta. we
found the Chief talked with him & found him to be very bitter in his
feelings towards the mormons he told us to get out of his house & go to
the preast with our doctrins name is Juan Filipe Corpio. We next visited
Juan Rey Lucero the man with hoom Bros Am Tenney & R H Smith lived
with in the Spring of 1876 We from him that after the brethren left
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89
1877
Oct 20 them that there was quite an numbor of the indians that beleaved in the
testimony of the Gosple, but that the preast had got all those who were
thus impresed to come to the Alter of the church & sware that they would
never have any thing more to do with mormons or mormonism We found
it imposable to do any thing with them at that time, & we ware obliged to
walk back to Cammp with out being ofered any thing to eat, except a few
Grapes.
“ 22 Started from Los Lunas to viset the indian tribes between the rio Grande,
& the Little Colorado river, & allso the Saints who lived in that country
“ 24 Bro J Z Stewart & I viseted the Indians at the Laguna village, the chief
caled a council of his leading men, & we explaned to them in Spanish the
principles
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1877
Oct 24 of the Gosple of Christ & explaned to them what the Book of Mormon
was, & then told them we would remain with them for a few days (if they
so dsiered) & instruct them farther after saying our talk had been good, yet
through the infervance of the preast we ware not alowed to hold another
meeting
Oct 28 We arived at Bro Hatches camp & found all well, quite a numbor of the
Saints who had come from Arkansas was with them, & allso a Bro L.N.
Peterson who had been Laboring in Colorado among the mexicans & had
baptised 33 of them Some of whome were living with him & the rest were
at bro Tenneys Camp on t the Little Colorado, we held meeting with the
Saints in the evening & ware invited to come the next day to Bro John
Hunts camp at Savoya, which we did & held meeting
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1877
Oct 30 Baught a span of Bay mares of Bro J Hunt
Oct <Nov> 6 Arrived at Bro Tennys Camp found all well there was three mexican
familys here whom we instructed & comforted in the principles of the
Gosple & allso held meeting with the people.
Nov 7 Came to Bro Allens Camp.
“ 9 Arrived at Bro Lot Smiths Camp
“ 11 Held meeting in the morning at Bro Smith & in the evening at Bro
Bolengers Camp
“ 13 Recd a letter from Pres Taylor releasing us to return home Had a very
prosperous trip to Long Valley where I found my
Nov 26 wife victoria & her Children, all well
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92
1877
Dec 1 Started for Salt Lake City where we arrived Dec 17, 1877 where we found Dira & her child all well
Feb 1878 I was elected to act as chaplain of the Council of the Legislature
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Blessing pronounced upon the head of Elder Helaman Pratt, on the oc<c>asion of his being set apart “for a mission to Mexico, under the hands of Elders Moses Thatcher and William W. Taylor, (Bro Thacher being mouth) in the Council House, Salt Lake City April 9, 1883
Brother Helaman Pratt: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – and by authority of the Holy Melchesidec Priesthood, We lay our hands upon your head and set you apart to go to mexico to preach to the remnants of Jacob and the house of Israel, Thou hast been called by revelation and thy calling has been sanctioned by the vote of the people in general conference. This is a great mission whereunto thou has art called and we say unto thee go forth and if thou art prayerfull, humble and faithful before the Lord, thy way shall be opened up before
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thee, your works shall be made manifest, and you shall know how to speak Language shall be given unto you thee, thy [unreadable] tongue shall be unloosened, thy heart shall be influenced by the power of the holy Ghost, and thou shall speak forth mightely to the Lamanites in that land, even in the Spanish language, If thou desirest thou shalt also be able to comprehend the Nahuatal tongue, even the language of the astecs. The power of Our God shall rest down abuntantly upon thee, and at times of trial and temptation thou shall see beyond overhanging clouds and realize that that land & that people have been dedicated unto the Lord, & that it is their destiny of to become the battle axes in the hands of God; that they are yet to become a white & a delightsome people who will purify there hearts & bodies & thus fulfil the predit<i>ons concerning that country made by the prophets anciently, & those which have been made by the modern prophits in regard to referance to there salvation, For they shall yed come up & be a mighty people whom the lord God shall delight to bless through the instrumantality of his servants,
Thou goest commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel of repentance
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and to baptise in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Ghost & to lay your hands upon the people that they may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost – Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when you lay hands upon those who are sick & they shall be healed. Our God shall be with the when thou are in the valleys or in the hills, & the hand of the assassin shall not reach thee, the power of the mother Church even the mother of Harlots shall not pref prevail against thee. Thou shalt go in peace & return in safety, Go thou in the midst of that people. They have been bound up by the thraldon of superstition & by the power of the Roman Catholic Church for many years but they are waiting & praying for the word of the Lord, We seal thee upto this mission & say thou shalt do a mighty work in connection with your brethren who are there now & who hereafter shall be called. Be faithful & true, Take no thought as to your family for they shal went for no good thing you shall never want for food nor raiment nor for a place to rest, [page break] for the Lord shall be the friend. A pl great & a mighty work shall be done in that country, even the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall extend from there along down the backbone of the country through mexico to South America, untill the word of the Lord shall not only sound in the ears, but in the h<e>arts of the people, & they shall be brought to a knoledge of their forefathers through the book of mormon, which shall hereafter be published in their Language & thus fulfil the predictions that have been made concerning them. We seal these blessings upon thy head & say that thou shalt travel safely by land & sea & when thou hast finished thy work thou shalt return home rejoicing that thou hast been an instrument in the hands of God in bringing many souls to a knowledge of the truth we seal all these blessings upon thee with the blessings of Eternal life with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection Through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
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268
Name Date Where Born
Born Town County
Born
Joseph Jackson April 2, 1853 Market Bosworth
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269
Date of ceremony, where, & By Whom
England
Leicestershire
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270 271
Joseph Jackson Born April 2n <1853> at Market Bosworth Leicestershire England,
Mary Ann Stowell Born Nov 23, 1866 at Ogden, Weber Co, Utah Ter U.S.A. Seiled by Helaman Pratt (by spesial authority given him by President W. Woodruff.) at the town of Diaz Canton Galeana Chihuahua, Mexico, Nov 22, 1887.
Witnesses, William D. Hendrichs and Joseph H. James.
William W. Haws Born Wain Co. Ill, Feb 18, 1833
Gertrudes Juarneros Pay <Born> District of Chalco State of Mexico, Mexico Seiled by Helaman Pratt (by special authority from Prest W. Woodruff) at Juarez Canton Galeana Chihuahua Mexico
Mar 1st 1888.
Witnesses, M. P. Romney and Antonio Pay,
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272 273
Joseph Alva West, Born Sept 12th 1851, at Salt Lake City, Utah Ter. U.S.A.
Silva Anna Child, Born April 11th 1869, At Riverdale (near Ogden) Utah Ter. U.S.A.
Sealed by Wm. I. Hendricks at Paso del Norte, Mexico, March 24, 1888,
Witness, Anna Olsen
Milton Sevier Ray, Born Oct. 15 1857 Juab. Co. Utah Ter. U.S.A.
Mary Ann Jones, Born June 22 1872. Pine valley Washington Co. Utah Ter. U.S.A.
Sealed as Man and wife by Helaman Pratt at Casas Grandes, Mexico, Nov. 7, 1888
Witness, Joseph Jackson and William Coon, (By authority from Prest. W. Woodruff)
William Coon, Born Dec 4 1840 at Green Co. Ill. U.S.A.
Elizabeth Braithwaite Born June 15 1858 Yorkshire England
Sealed as man and wife for time and all eternity by Helaman Pratt at Colonia Juarez, Districta Bravo, Mexico, Nov 27, 1889 (By authority from Prest. W.Woodruff)
Witness Henry Eyering and E.L. Taylor
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274 275
Ira Call son of Anson V. & Sharlot Call Born Mar. 23. 1861, at Bountifull Davis Co., Utah
Fanney Loveland Daughter of Heber C. & Colombia Loveland, Born Dec 31st 1873, at Brgham City Boxelder Co Utah
Sealed as man and wife for time and all eternity. By Helaman Pratt (by authority from Prest W. Woodruff), at Cliff. Ranch Colonia Juarez Me Chihauhua Mexico Sept. 16th 1890
Witnesses, Miles P. Romney and Parley E. Pratt
Harrison M Edwards son of Elisha and Mariah Edwards, born at Navoo Hancock Co. Ill
Feb. 11th 1841
Orelia C Hanson, Daughter of Nelce and Christine Rasmason, Born at Elenger, Denmark
June 22, 1849
Sealed as man and wife for time and all eternity By Helaman Pratt (by authority
from Prest. W. Woodruff) Done at Cliff Ranch, Colonia Juarez, Chihauhau,
Mexico. Oct, 10th 1896
Witnesses, P.W. Nelson Jr. and Parley E. Pratt
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Transcribed by Verlie Brown, S.B. Thurgood, Dorrie Lee, DeeAnn Pratt, Tiffany Whiting, Nolan Ogzewalla, Pat Bishop, Heather Hoyt, Bernice Pratt, Dick Griggs, Brandan Hull, Shannon Devenport, Nora Fowers, Sonja Lym, Roy Avondet, Cheryl Brawn, Erin McAllister, Chris Durham, Marlene Peine and Mauri Pratt; February 2012.
Citing: Helaman Pratt Journal 1875 July- 1878 February, MS 6347, folder 1, online images, (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9320248: accessed 7 Nov 2017); Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.