D&C/CHURCH HISTORY - LESSON 46
BUILDING THE KINGDOM - PART II

1. Introductory Comments.
2. The Gold Rush.
1. Gold In California.
1. John Sutter was an immigrant to California who had been doing well in a variety of businesses. He was known as the Patriarch of Sacramento Valley.
1. The Mexican-American War had hurt business for Sutter. He had sent out supplies to assist the Donner party, the cost of which was probably not recoverable. He had additional debts which his crops would not cover.
2. In August 1847, when the Mormons were first settling in the Salt Lake valley, Sutter was in the process of building a large flour mill on the American River in California. Sutter believed the profits on this mill would be sufficient to pay his debts. He was held up on the construction for a lack of timber. He decided that what he needed was a sawmill, high up in the mountains, where there were plentiful stands of timber.
3. On August 25, the first contingent of the Mormon Battalion, which had been previously disbanded, hand arrived and made came two miles from Fort Sutter on the American River. They were hoping to receive news from Brigham Young has to how to proceed.
1. Two days later, Captain John Brown arrived from Salt Lake to buy cattle and feed for the Saints. He carried instructions from President Young that the Battalion members should remain in California for the winter, to work and earn what money they could.
2. These Battalion members offered their services to Sutter. With this windfall of manpower, Sutter contracted with his carpenter, James Marshall, to build needed sawmill 50 miles up the south fork of the American River.
3. James Marshall took these Mormons up the river and together they constructed Sutter's sawmill.
4. By the turn of the new year, in 1848, the sawmill was nearly completed. When it was completed, they discovered a defect which had to be corrected: the tailrace was too shallow at the end, causing the dammed-up water to rush back and prevent the flutter wheel from turning. They decided the channel had to be deepened by blasting.
1. On the morning of January 24, 1848, after the blasting had been done, while Marshall was inspecting the mill race, he saw something glitter in the water.
2. When he showed the nuggets to the members of the Battalion working on the mill, they were not impressed. They continued working at their tasks.
3. Henry Bigler, a Battalion member, went out searching on his own time and found flecks of gold and later a nugget. Even though the Mormons could have made more digging for gold at this point, not one man ran out on his promise to Sutter to work the six weeks necessary to complete the mill. They did use their spare time to search for gold.
5. On January 28, Marshall reported the discovery to Sutter. They tried to keep the discovery secret, but in time the secret leaked out and the Mormons were partially responsible.
1. It was Sam Brannen who announced the discovery of gold in San Francisco.
6. Irving Stone, in his book Men To Match My Mountains, wrote: "Thus it was that in the year 1847 the Mormons not only settled Bonneville's Lake, bringing a whole new people and new culture to the Far West, but the presence of members of the Mormon Battalion, poising at Sutter's for the winter, was also instrumental in bringing to California, traversing Colorado, Utah and Nevada en route, the greatest rush of humanity ever to pour into a country from every radius of the earth's circumference." (Men To Match My Mountains, p104)
2. Impact On The Saints.
1. There was a temptation to chase gold in California and establish the Church there.
1. With members of the Mormon Battalion and the Saints from the Brooklyn, early claims could be made to the gold fields.
1. There were already a few thousand Saints in the Salt Lake valley and 20,000 more at various stages of moving west.
2. This situation would have allowed the Church to garner a significant portion of the gold found in California.
2. Brigham said that the Salt Lake Valley was "a good place to make Saints, and it is a good place for Saints to live; it is the place the Lord has appointed, and we shall stay here, until He tells us to go somewhere else."
1. Brigham added: "If you Elders of Israel want to go to the gold mines, go and be damned."
2. President Young promised that those who stayed behind would do better than those who went in search of gold, "I will commence at the north and go to the south settlements, and pick out twenty-five of our inhabitants as they average; and another man may take fifty of the gold diggers, off hand, and they cannot buy out the twenty-five who have taried at home." (DHC 3:348)
3. In encouraging the Saints to remain and while they were still struggling with avoiding starvation, Heber C. Kimball prophesied that within a short time "states goods would be sold in the streets of Salt Lake City cheaper than in New York, and that the people could be abundantly supplied with food and clothing." (DHC 3:349)
1. After President Kimball spoke to the Saints, he was so unsure of the prophecy, delivered to him by the Spirit, that he remarked to his brethren that he was "afraid he had missed it this time."
2. In 1849, almost every article, except sugar and coffee, was selling, on an average, 50% below wholesale prices in eastern cities.
3. The Gold Mission: Due to the critical need for additional capital, two companies of men were secretly called on missions to go to California and mine for gold.
1. Due to the lack of success and the high costs of working and living in California, little gold was sent back to the Church.
2. 40,000 to 50,000 persons traveled overland to California in both 1849 & 1850.
1. They first started arriving in Salt Lake City during July 1849.
2. 10,000 to 15,000 went through Salt Lake City in each of those years.
3. They provided to the Saints needed capital & supplies.
1. The Saints were able to make handsome profits and acquire needed goods in trade for fresh teams, flour, and vegetables.
4. Employment was also provided for blacksmiths, wagonsmiths, teamsters, laundresses, and millers.
3. The presidency wrote to Orson Hyde of the 49ers, "...our peaceful valley has appeared like the half-way house of the pilgrims to Mecca, and still they come and go, and probably will continue to do so till fall." (DHC 3:338)
4. Unlike the earlier struggles, the harvests of 1849 and 1850 were sufficient to provide for the ever increasing numbers of Saints migrating to the Valley. But there was not any extra.
1. Hundreds of 49ers arrived in Salt Lake to late in the season to continue their journey.
1. Many contemplated wintering in Salt Lake. There wasn't enough food to provide for the Saints and the California emigrants.
2. To relieve this situation, Jefferson Hunt, a captain with the Mormon Battalion, proposed to guide California emigrants over the southern route that season, and thus avoid the danger of a rigorous winter journey over the Sierras.
1. A company of 100 wagons formed and were directed by Captain Hunt.
2. About 200 miles south, most of these emigrants left Hunt's company to follow a "Captain Smith" over what was called "Walker's cut-off". Hunt tried to persuade them that this route was not a safe one.
3. Hunt's company was left with 7 wagons arriving near the coast on December 22.
4. After wandering in the mountains with little grass and water, most turned back and followed the southern route.
5. Captain Smith's company continued westward, arriving in California after much suffering. Many died from thirst and desert heat in the deserts of south central Nevada. Most of their stock perished.
3. Some 49ers remained in the Salt Lake Valley over the winter. Of those, some were taught the gospel and were baptized. Some became honest believers.
1. Others were what became known as "winter saints". They used their "conversion" to take advantage of the hospitality of the Saints.
3. Emigration & Building the Kingdom.
1. The Perpetual Emigrating Company.
1. The migration of Mormons to the west did not end after the pioneer treks of 1847 and 1848. This was only the beginning.
2. In the fall of 1849, the Perpetual Emigration Fund was organized to assist the poor in emigrating to the Great Basin. A committee was appointed to gather contributions and $6,000 was raised that fall. With this help, 2,500 person were brought to the valley in 1850.
3. That success lead Church leaders to incorporate the Perpetual Emigrating Company.
1. The charter provided that "All persons receiving assistance from the Perpetual Emigrating Fund for the Poor, shall reimburse the same in labor or otherwise, as soon as their circumstances will admit."
2. President Young served as president of the company.
4. Another 2,500 emigrated in 1851, leaving 8,000 still in the Iowa camps. In 1852, these Saints were organized and the Iowa camps were finally cleared out.
1. Only a skeleton force was left along the corridor to assist with future immigration.
2. Along with other Saints migrating, nearly 10,000 Saints were brought to Utah in 1852.
5. Efforts were then adjusted to assist thousands of European Saints to immigrate to Utah.
1. By 1870, when the railroad changed the pattern of emigration, more than 51,000 Mormon emigrants had been assisted to Zion.
2. The Missionary Work.
1. October 1849:
1. Three men were called to missions in the Society Islands (Tahiti).
1. One of those called was Addison Pratt, who had been on missions and had not received the temple endowment. Prior to his departure, he was taken to the summit of Ensign Peak and there received that ordinance. The mountain had been dedicated especially for that purpose since there was not a temple available. (CHC 3:386-387)
2. Lorenzo Snow and Joseph Toronto were called on a mission to Italy.
1. During this mission, the preaching of the gospel was also extended to Switzerland and Malta.
2. Elder Snow, conferring with his fellow apostles in England, sent William Willis to Calcutta, where several hundred natives were baptized. Hugh Findlay was sent to Bombay.
3. Erastus Snow was sent to Scandinavia to open the door of the gospel to those nations.
4. John Taylor others were called on a mission to France and Germany.
3. Colonization.
1. The increasing number of immigrants enable the Saints to spread out and colonize Deseret.
1. 1847-48: Salt Lake & Weber Valleys.
2. 1849: Utah, Tooele, San Pete valleys.
3. 1851: Box Elder, Pahvant, Juab, Parowan Valleys.
4. 1853: Ft Bridger & Ft Supply, Wy.
5. 1855: Moab, Lemhi.
6. 1856: Cache Valley.
7. Carson Valley (1849-51).
8. Mormon Corridor. The goal: "to establish a chain of forts from Great Salt Lake City to the Pacific Ocean." By 1855, 27 communities had been founded along the route including Las Vegas and San Bernardino.
9. First 10 years in Great Basin - 96 settlements. By the end of the century - at least 500.
4. Physical Building of the Kingdom.
1. Public Works - built in the early years by tithing of labor and goods.
2. These public works also provided employment for new emigrants and others without gainful employment.
1. Council House (1855).
2. The Old Tabernacle (1852).
3. The Endowment House (1855).
4. A wall around the temple block.
5. Construction begins on the temple.
6. Machine shop, foundry, & nail factory (1852-65).
7. In 1854 a wall was began around the city (12' high, 6' thick at the bottom, & 2 1/2' at top) made of mud mixed with straw, hay, or gravel. It was less than half complete when construction was dropped.
3. Industrial Development
1. Domestic manufacturing was encouraged by church leadership.
1. To become independent of the world.
2. The necessity of providing employment for the ongoing immigration into the region.
3. The desirability of keeping money in "Zion".
2. Outside industries:
1. Pottery: Sponsored by the Church in 1852-53. A private pottery was established in 1856.
2. Paper mill: Established in 1853.
1. In 1861 the "Rag Mission" was established to provide a continuous flow of rags necessary for the operation of the paper mill. Turned over to the Women's Relief Society in 1867.
2. One George Goddard was called on a "Rag Mission". Said Brother Goddard of his mission: "[This calling] was a severe blow to my native pride.... But after being known in the community for years, as a merchant and auctioneer, and then to be seen on the streets going from door to door with a basket on one arm and an empty sack on the other, enquiring for rags at every house. Oh, what a change in the aspect of affairs.... When President Young first made the proposition, the humiliating prospect almost stunned me, but a few moments' reflection reminded me that I came to these valleys of the mountains from my native country, England, for the purpose of doing the will of my Heavenly Father, my time and means must be at His disposal. I therefore answered President Young in the affirmative, and for over three years, from Franklin, Idaho, in the north, and Sanpete in the south, my labors extended, not only visiting many hundreds of houses during week days, but preaching rag sermons on Sunday. The first time I ever spoke in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City,...was a rag discourse, and Presidents Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball backed it up with their testimony and enlarged upon it." (GBK, p115)
3. Sugar: A sugar works was established by the Church in 1853, but due to difficulties was not operated after the fall of 1856.
4. Wool: A woolen factory was established & started up in 1863. There had been smaller attempts prior to that time.
5. Iron: 1851 - an "iron mission" was established at Cedar City.
1. After struggling for nearly ten years and the expenditure of about $150,000 only a few andirons, kitchen utensils, flat irons, wagon wheels, molasses rolls, and machine casings had been created.
2. Arrington states: "small, volunteer, cooperative industry was simply unable to cope with the problems associated with developing a major resource." GBK, p127)
3. Many of these early enterprises were "mixed" enterprises supported and financed by the legislature, the church, and private individuals.
4. To support the Church and its various ventures there were several types of tithing collected by the Church:
1. Property tithing: 10% capital levy on property owned by the individual at the time he began to pay tithing. Usually paid in cash or livestock.
2. Labor tithing: The donation of every tenth day towards various church projects and public enterprises. Often, the well to do members paid their labor tithing by hiring others to do their work.
3. Produce and stock tithing: A tenth of the yield of household, farm, ranch, factory, mine.
1. "The majority allowed their tithing to run into arrears, and then paid it up in a lump in some staple article, such as wheat or a calf, that could be conveniently spared." (GBK, p135)
2. Bishops were urged by the Church to keep a close watch on the yields of their ward members: "And we recommend to the bishops throughout these vallies, to keep their ears open, and when they hear their neighbor's pigs squeal, just step over and see how many have died, and what they weigh, and what proportion arrives at the tithing office; for many tons of pork went out of sight last year, and the bishops made no record of it, and many more will this year, if the bishops don't attend to their duty, and the Lord will require the cost at the bishop's hands." (GBK, p135)
4. Cash tithing: Particularly sought after by the Church because of the need for capital at this time.
5. Institutional tithing: A levy on the profits of stores, shops, and factories.
5. Summary.
1. As we continue this discussion of the Building of the Kingdom, we should ask ourselves, WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO FOR THE KINGDOM?
1. Are we willing to go on a rag mission?
2. Are we willing to leave the gold fields when gold is in sight?
3. Are we willing to tithe a tenth of our time?
4. WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER? ARE YOU WORTHY TO PARTAKE WITH THE SAINTS? WE MUST EACH ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FOR OURSELVES.
4. Next Week.
1. Challenges To The Kingdom.