-86 SALT LAKE CITY — ^BRIGHAM YOUNG. 



Upon all these points I undeceived Governor Young to his entire 

 satisfaction. I was induced to pursue this conciliatory course, not 

 only in justice to the Government, but also because I knew, from 

 the peculiar organization of this singular community, that, unless 

 the "President" was fully satisfied that no evil was intended to his 

 people, it would be useless for me to attempt to carry out my in- 

 structions. He was not only civil governor, but the president of 

 the whole Church of Latter-Day Saints upon the earth, their pro- 

 phet and their priest, receiving, as they all firmly believed, direct 

 revelations of the Divine will, which, according to their creed, form 

 the law of the church. He is, consequently, profoundly revered 

 by all, and possesses unbounded influence and almost unlimited 

 power. I did not anticipate open resistance ; but I was fully 

 aware that if the president continued to view the expedition with 

 distrust, nothing could be more natural than that every possible 

 obstruction should be thrown in our way by a " masterly inactivity.'* 

 Provisions would not be furnished ; information would not be af- 

 forded ; labour could not be procured ; and no means would be 

 left untried, short of open opposition, to prevent the success of a 

 measure by them deemed fatal to their interests and safety. So 

 soon, however, as the true object of the expedition was fully under- 

 stood, the president laid the subject-matter before the council 

 called for the purpose, and I was informed, as the result of their 

 deliberations, that the authorities were much pleased that the ex- 

 ploration was to be made ; that they had themselves contemplated 

 something of the kind, but did not yet feel able to incur the ex- 

 pense ; but that any assistance they could render to facilitate our 

 operations would be most cheerfully furnished to the extent of their 

 ability. This pledge, thus heartily given, was as faithfully re- 

 deemed ; and it gives me pleasure here to acknowledge the warm 

 interest manifested and efficient aid rendered, as well by the 

 president as by all the leading men of the community, both in our 

 personal welfare and in the successful prosecution of the work. 



