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Show CHAPTER 11 Winterin[j at Winter Quarters As previously stated when the Saints began pulling out of Nauvoo February of 1846, it was expected that many of them, particularly their leaders, would travel all the way to the Rocky Mountains that year. A number of things, however, conspired to prevent this. The hasty departure caused many to leave ill-prepared, the incessant rains left the roads so muddy that there were days and even weeks when they were unable to move their wagons, and finally there was the almost hysterical desire to be with the church leaders. The mobs were pressing in on Nauvoo and those least prepared to go were fearful of being abandoned and left to the mercy of their enemies. Consequently, they rushed out of the city and threw themselves on the mercy of the brethren, begging to be taken along. in 1 Even if none of these circumstances had occurred, it is doubtful successful crossing from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake could have been accomplished in one season. It appears that the church leaders had greatly underestimated the difficulty of the total under that a taking. Transporting the whole church, in its state of poverty, thirteen or fourteen hundred miles over roadless country, with rivers to ford or bridge, and many unknown factors to be taken into account, the church leaders discovered was to be an insurmountable task. Because of the slow progress, it was decided to establish way stations along the route, and Garden Grove, 145 miles from Nauvoo, and Mount Pisgah, 172 miles, were located and plans made to plant and grow crops. |
