Sunday, August 22, 1847, a special conference was held in the Salt Lake Valley. It was agreed to fence the city, and such portions of adjacent lands as might be deemed proper for cultivation, thus affording protection from cattle. “By this means,” said President Young, “we can raise thousands of bushels of grain next season for ourselves and also some to sustain those who shall come after us. I would rather fence a block of ten acres, and have a crop, than plant a hundred acres for the cattle to destroy.”
It was decided that a presidency and a high council be appointed to preside over the Saints in the valley. Elder John Smith, uncle of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was at the time on the plains, was chosen as president. President Young moved that “we call this place ‘The Great Salt Lake City, of the Great Basin of North America,’” and that the post office be called “The Great Basin Post Office.” Elder Heber C. Kimball moved that the river running west of the settlement be called “The Western Jordan.” Some of the creeks were also named as follows: City Creek, Red Butte Creek, Canyon Creek (afterwards Emigration Creek) and Big Canyon Creek (Parley’s Creek). Those streams farther to the south were not named at that time.
At the close of the services Elder Heber C. Kimball remarked: “This is a paradise to me, and one of the loveliest places I ever beheld. I hope none of us will be left alive to pollute this land. I would rather die than act as inconsistent as many have in times past.”
The Return of the Pioneers
President Young felt great anxiety for the companies of Saints who were on the plains wending their way to the valley. There was much to be done in order to care properly for those who had already arrived, protect them from hostile Indians and prepare for the coming winter season. This labor required his attention and that of the leading brethren for some days. However, it was deemed necessary that a company start back at once to meet the oncoming immigrants. Monday, August 2, 1847, it was decided in a council meeting, that Elder Ezra T. Benson with a company of horsemen should start back immediately. About noon on that day this company departed. They carried instructions from President Young to obtain the names of all who were in the several camps, together with the number of wagons, horses, oxen and other animals; also to ascertain the condition of the health and needs of the immigrants, so that assistance might be rendered where necessary. August 16 and 17, a company selected from the original pioneers and battalion started back for this purpose. This company consisted of seventy-one men, with thirty-three wagons, fourteen mules and ninety-two yoke of oxen. It was divided into two divisions with Tunis Rappleyee and Shadrach Roundy as captains. August 26, President Young and the apostles started on their return to Winter Quarters. This company consisted of one hundred and eight men, thirty-six wagons, seventy-one horses and forty-nine mules. They passed a number of trains on the way to the valley, totaling more than fifteen hundred men, women and children, with five hundred and sixty wagons and five thousand head of stock. Among these immigrants were Elders Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor of the council of the apostles, who were in charge of the companies.
President Young’s Instructions and Blessing
President Young arrived at Winter Quarters, October 31, after an eventful journey back across the plains. When the company arrived within a mile of Winter Quarters, President Young called them together and made the following remarks:
“Brethren, I will say to the pioneers, I wish you would receive my thanks for your kindness and willingness to obey orders. I am satisfied with you; you have done well. We have accomplished more than we expected. The one hundred and forty-three men who started, some of them sick, are all well. Not a man has died; and we have not lost a horse, mule or ox, except through carelessness. The blessings of the Lord have been with us. If the brethren are satisfied with me and the Twelve, please signify it with uplifted hands. (All hands were raised.) I feel to bless you in the name of the Lord God of Israel. You are dismissed to go to your homes.”
The company then drove into the town of Winter Quarters in order, arriving about one hour before sunset. The streets of the town were filled with eager people and the weary pioneers rejoiced once more to behold their wives, children and friends.