May. Colonel Steptoe, after a stay of six months, marched with the United States cavalry to California.
August (July?). Judge Drummond, Surveyor General Burr, and other United States officials, arrived at Great Salt Lake City.
In the fall of this year one third of the crops was destroyed by drought and grasshoppers.
October. A branch of the Church was organized in Dresden (15th); Elder O. Spencer died on the 29th. The First Presidency of the Church proposed in a general epistle that Saints emigrating by the Perpetual Emigration Fund should cross the Prairies and Rocky Mountains with hand-carts.
Dec. 10. The local Legislature met for the first time at Fillmore, the Territorial capital, and passed a bill authorizing an election of delegates to a Territorial Convention for the purpose of forming a State Constitution, and to petition Congress for the admission of Utah into the Union. They also passed a bill authorizing a census.
Most of the Mormons became polygamists (J. H.).
1856. March 17. A convention of delegates met in Great Salt Lake City, and adopted a State Constitution, sending Messrs. John Taylor and George A. Smith, apostles, both as delegates to Washington, with a view to obtaining admission into the Union as a state. No answer was returned. During the very severe winter and spring half the stock perished by frost, and grain became very scarce.
May. Judge W. W. Drummond left Great Salt Lake City, after having forwarded false charges of rebellion, burning the library, and destroying the archives: these reports caused all the troubles with the United States.
The practice of tithe-paying was introduced among the Saints in Europe. Iowa City was made the outfit point for the Plains.
June. Lucy Mack, the Prophet’s mother, died.