It was recommended, in forming cities either in Arizona or Mexico, "care should be had to place them in proper localities, convenient to land and water, with careful examination of the sanitary conditions. It is the general opinion that it is more healthy and salubrious on the plateaus or mesas than on the low land, the latter of which in your district of country are more or less subject to malarial diseases, which ought, always, when practicable, to be avoided."
The streets should be wide and commodious, with public squares for church, county, school and ornamental purposes.
[Illustration: GILA VALLEY PIONEERS 1—Wm. R. Teeples 2—John M. Moody 3—Jos. K. Rogers 4—Ebenezer Pryce 5—Hyrum Brinkerhoff 6—Samuel H. Claridge 7—Frank N. Tyler]
[Illustration: PIONEER WOMEN OF THE GILA VALLEY 1—Elizabeth Hanks Curtis 2—Mrs. W.R. Teeples 3—Elizabeth Moody 4—Margaret Brinkerhoff 5—Elizabeth Layton 6—Josephine Wall Rogers 7—Rebecca Claridge]
School and church affairs should be kept separate. There was warning against favoritism in the allotment of town lands and a recommendation that the principles of the United Order be approached, without the placing of the communities under rigid rules.
Another interesting paragraph recites, "The order of Zion when carried out, will be that all men should act in the interest of and for the welfare of Zion, and individualism, private speculation and covetousness will be avoided, and that all act in the interest of all and for the welfare of the whole community. We may not, at present, be able to carry out these ideas in full, but without any special formality or rule, we may be approaching these principles as fast as circumstances will admit of it. We profess to be acting and operating for God, and for His Kingdom, and we are desirous that our acts should be in consonance with our professions."
In the selection of elders, care was enjoined that all such persons should be honorable, free from any pernicious or degrading habits, "for if men cannot control themselves, they are not fit to be rulers or leaders in the Kingdom of God."
There was special injunction that the Lamanites, the Indians, be treated with all consideration and shown that the Mormons do not teach one thing and practice another. The Indians should be taught to be "friendly with the government of the United States or Mexico and to live at peace with one another, to be chaste, sober and honest and subject to the law of God."
Tithing of one-tenth was stipulated as in the interest of the people. The new leader was advised that, "God has placed you as a watchman on the walls of Zion and He will hold you accountable for your acts," and he was directed to see that the laws of God were carried out in his community, irrespective of persons or families.
Layton Soldier and Pioneer