History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CITY OF ZION. 87
In Kaw township, twelve miles west of Independence,
the Colesville branch of the church built a log
house; the visible head of the church, on the 2d of
August, laying the first log, brought thither by
twelve men, in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Next day the ground for the temple, situated a little
west of Independence, 15 was dedicated, and the day following
was held the first conference in the land of Zion. 16
It was now commanded that Smith, Rigdon, Cowdery,
and others should return east, and make more
proselytes, money for the purpose to be furnished
them out of the general fund. 17
Accordingly on the
15 Of Independence one of them says: 'It is a new town, containing a courthouse
built of brick, two or three merchants' stores, and 15 or 20 dwellinghouses
built mostly of logs hewed on both sides; and is situated on a handsome
rise of ground about three miles south of Missouri River, and about 12 miles
east of the dividing line between the United States and the Indian reserve,
and is the county seat of Jackson county. ' Booth's letter in Howe's Mormonism
Unveiled, 196. On the south side of the Missouri, Parley Pratt says, Autobiography,
78, 'some families were entirely dressed in skins, without any
other clothing, including ladies young and old. Buildings were generally
without glass windows, and the door open in winter for a light.'
16 Booth, in Howe's Mormonism Unveiled, 196-9, says: 'The designation of
the site where the city of Zion was to begin was attended with considerable
parade and an ostentatious display of talents, both by Rigdon and Cowdery.
And the next day the ground for the temple was consecrated, Smith claiming
the honor of laying the corner-stone himself. The location of the stone was
marked by a sapling from which the bark was removed on the north and east
sides: on the south side a letter T was cut, which stood for temple, and on
the east sideZom., for Zomas; which Smith said is the original word for Zion.
This stone was placed near the foot of the sapling and covered with bushes
cut for the purpose; the spot being on an elevation half a mile from Independence.'
'The Colesville branch was among the first organized by Joseph
Smith, and constituted the first settlers of the members of the church in
Missouri. They had arrived late in the summer and cut some hay for their
cattle, sowed a little grain, prepared some ground for cultivation, and were
engaged during the fall and winter in building log cabins, etc. The winter
was cold, and for some time about 10 families lived in one cabin, which was
open and unfinished, while the frozen ground served for a floor. Our food
consisted of beef, and a little bread made of corn which had been grated
into coarse meal by rubbing the ears on a tin grater.' Pratt's Autobiography,
76. See also Millennial Star, v. 131. It was revealed through Joseph
the seer that the property of the Colesville branch should be held in common,
and that Partridge (its bishop) have charge and distribute from the community
storehouse according to the needs of each. Smith's Doctrine and
Covenants (1876), 187-8. Smith in the beginning of the church attempted to
establish communism, each giving their all to the bishop, and only drawing
out of the office sufficient to live upon. This was found to be impracticable,
and it was silently permitted to glide into the payment of tithing. Hyde's
Mormonism, 37.
17 'This year, 1831, passed off with a gradual increase, and considerable
wealth was drawn in, so that they began to boast of a capital stock of ten or