Sunday, May 10:

The day was warm, clear and dry. Considerable work had been accomplished the past few days at the Garden Grove settlement. Many log houses were standing, and fenced fields were now ready for plowing. The pleasant circumstances afforded an opportunity for the weather-weary Saints to hold two worship services, a preaching meeting in the morning and a sacrament meeting in the afternoon. Brigham Young commented that this was the first Sabbath since leaving Nauvoo that was not interrupted by rain or storm.

President Young recognized that the men of the Camp of Israel would be soon assigned to go in different directions - some to the west to look for a new camp, some back to Nauvoo to pick up their families, and others to stay in Garden Grove to plant and harvest. "Father" Samuel Bent, 68, was called along with a presidency and high council to preside over the operations at Garden Grove. This local presidency would determine how much land each man would have according to the needs of his family. Absolutely no one was to be an idler.

Monday, May 11:

This day was again pleasant. Beautiful spring weather had finally arrived. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball engaged their companies in fitting up their wagons. Four members of the Twelve - Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, George A. Smith and Amasa M. Lyman - crossed the river and headed northwest in search for a new way station. Those Pioneers who had been in Missouri to work for much-needed food were counseled to move on as well. Parley wrote of this trying experience: "Crossing this branch of Grand River, I now steered through the vast and fertile prairies and groves without a track or anything but a compass to guide me - the country being entirely wild and without inhabitants."

Tuesday, May 12:

Many wagons were nearly ready to move farther west. Elder Samuel Bent received his letter of appointment to preside over Garden Grove along with counselors Aaron Johnson and David Fullmer. Some 200 people would stay here to plant and prepare for oncoming Saints. Many exciting conversations took place in the evenings at Garden Grove. John R. Young recorded in his memoirs: "It was talked at the campfires that President Young had seen, in vision, a wonderful valley, so large that all our people could be gathered into it, and yet so far from civilization, that mobs could not come at night to burn and whip and kidnap. Strange as it may seem, this vision formed the most entrancing theme of our conversations, and the national song of Switzerland became our favorite hymn: `For the strength of the hills we bless thee, Our God, our fathers' God.' "

Wednesday, May 13:

Early in the day Brigham Young and some others started from Garden Grove. They traveled about eight miles. They camped at a hickory grove that they dubbed Hickory Thunder, for before they could pitch their tents it lightninged, thundered and poured down rain upon them. Many were wet to the skin trying to set themselves up for the night. More than 2 inches of rain fell in 21/2 hours.

Meanwhile Parley P. Pratt led the advance company on farther. "We crossed small streams daily, which, on account of deep beds and miry banks, as well as on account of their being swollen by the rains, we had to bridge."

Thursday, May 14:

It was cloudy in the morning. Luckily, there was no more rain. With Elders George A. Smith and Amasa Lyman, Brigham Young rode ahead to look for another camp ground.

About this time, and possibly this very day, Parley P. Pratt was also on the lookout for a new camp. He recorded: "I took my horse and rode ahead some three miles in search of one of the main forks of Grand River, which we had expected to find for some time. Riding about three or four miles through beautiful prairies, I came suddenly to some round and sloping hills, grassy and crowned with beautiful groves of timber; while alternate open groves and forests seemed blended in all the beauty and harmony of an English park. . . . Being pleased and excited at the varied beauty before me, I cried out, `This is Mount Pisgah.' I returned to my camp, with the report of having found the long-sought river." Elder Pratt's Old Testament name for the place stuck. Mt. Pisgah was on the middle fork of the Grand River, 172 miles from Nauvoo. Soon this would be established as the second way station in Iowa.

Friday, May 15:

The various companies moved on as they could, again spread out a considerable distance from each other. This part of Iowa was especially hilly.

Saturday, May 16:

Each company separately made some further progress. There were so many creeks to cross that not many miles could be achieved.

Back in eastern Iowa, several companies of Saints were making their way west. James Brown reported: "Hundreds of teams stuck in the mud, and we had to double-up and help one another out. Many times we had to wade in mud half to our knees and lift our wagons out of the mire. In this the women not infrequently would join their husbands and sons. . . . Peace and harmony prevailed all along the line. Evening prayers were attended to in each camp. There was much singing, mostly of sacred hymns or sentimental songs; and from no quarter could coarse songs be heard."

Elder Wilford Woodruff crossed the Mississippi River to head west. He was among the last of a few thousand Saints who were able to leave Nauvoo from mid-March to the first half of May. Only about 700 additional faithful poor Mormons remained in Nauvoo.

Sources: Journal History; MHBY, pp. 157-61; The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1:160-61; The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow, pp. 132-33; Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p. 342; Memoirs of John R. Young, Utah Pioneer, 1847, p. 19; Ensign to the Nations, pp. 17, 20, 37-38, 46; Mormons at the Missouri, p. 39; Life of a Pioneer, pp. 21-22; compiler's own personal on-site observations of this part of the Iowa trail.