184.5-6.

EXODUS OF MORMONS FROM NAUVOO.

985

designations, and devolved the choice upon them. Under the management of their sagacious chief, they elected the Peter of the Apostles, Brigham Young, to the responsible station.

"This enthronement drove Rigdon with a party to Pennsylvania, where in a short time his influence vanished, and the band dispersed. Strang founded a city on the prairies of Wisconsin, and had a numerous colony. Ultimately he removed to Beaver island, in Michigan lake, and assumed the title of King of the Saints, where the small kingdom still exists. These bodies and their leaders were excommunicated by the great majority under the proper Seer, as was also William Smith, another competitor for the throne, and a party in Texas, headed by Lyman White.

"The mobocratic spirit did not expire, when it destroyed the great leader. Threats and demonstrations clearly proved, that their present abode, which had been made lovely by unheard-of exertions, must be abandoned. A venerable patriarch, uncle of the prophet Joseph, in prophetic vision announced that the whole people must retire to the wilderness, to grow into a multitude aloof from the hauntB of civilization.

"This matter was taken into consideration by Brigham and high council. The result was, that they would move as fast as possible across Iowa to the Missouri, and into the Indian country iu the vicinity of Council Bluffs."*

The movement commenced with small parties in the winter of 1844-45 ; more parties started early in the spring of 1845. The main body, however, remained behind longer, as they had been commanded to dedicate the new temple which had been commenced before the first emigrants left the city of Beauty. This work having been accomplished with great pomp and splendor, the general exodus took place in the spring of 1846.

About this time a battalion of five hundred and twenty men was recruited among them for the United States service, to take part in the Mexican war.

In their new location, which appears to have been very unhealthy, they laid out and built the town of Kanesville. But they did not tarry here long, for they very soon scut out parties to examine the country still further West, in search of another " everlasting abode." These reported favorably as to the " Great Salt Lake Valley," in Utah Territory, and a further migration to that

*Tho Mormons or Utter-Day Saints, by Lieutenant J. H. Gunnison.

63