Page:Mormonism its leaders and designs.djvu/223

1845.	February. Brigham Young and the Mormon authorities begin to seriously contemplate a general move to the west. John Taylor, an Apostle, proposes Vancouver's Island, British America. Lyman Wight, also, then an Apostle, proposes Texas. Others suggest California, then but little known. Much dissension as to locality. Some valley in the Rocky Mountains finally selected. May. The cap-stone of the Mormon Temple laid: and endowments soon after begin.
1846.	January. Baptizing for the dead administered in the river Mississippi. 20. Pioneers leave Nauvoo to find some resting-place on the borders of Iowa. They select Council Bluffs. February. Mormon companies cross the ice-covered river en route for Council Bluffs. July. Brigham Young sells a company of his brethren as a Mexican battalion, for $20,000. September. Nauvoo, in which many of the Mormons were remaining, was besieged by the mob.
1847.	April 14. The pioneers leave their Winter Quarters, Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the Rocky Mountains, and by following the trail of Colonel Fremont, arrive at Salt Lake. July 23 Orson Pratt and a few arrive at the Valley. 24. Brigham and main body of pioneers enter. This day, instead of the 23d, is always celebrated, as a compliment to Brigham, a species of sycophancy very customary from the Mormon people to the Mormon Prophet.