History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

ENLARGED PRETENSIONS.
iii that county now numbered upward of one thousand
souls. These had all purchased lands and paid
for them, and most of them were improving in buildings
and in cultivation. Peace and plenty had crowned
their labors, and the wilderness became a fruitful field,
and the solitary place began to bud and blossom as the
rose. They lived in peace and quiet, no lawsuits with
each other or with the world ; few or no debts were con-
tracted, few promises broken; there were no thieves,
robbers, or murderers; few or no idlers; all seemed
to worship God with a ready heart. On Sundays the
people assembled to preach, pray, sing, and receive
the ordinances of God. Other days all seemed busy
in the various pursuits of industry. In short, there
has seldom, if ever, been a happier people upon the
earth than the church of the saints now were." They
were for the most part small farmers, tradesmen, and
mechanics, and were not without shrewdness in the
management of their secular affairs.
But all this must now be changed. The saints ot
God must be tried as by fire. Persecutions such as
never before were witnessed in these latter days, and
the coming of which were foretold by Joseph, are
upon them; they shall be buffeted for five years, and
the end is not yet. " Political demagogues were afraid
we should rule the country," says Parley, "and religious
priests and bigots felt that we were powerful
rivals." 32 Moreover, there is no doubt that they were
indiscreet; they were blinded by their prosperity;
already the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this
world had come unto them; now let the gentiles
tremble! 33
32 Aiitdbioqraphy, 103.
33 ' Their prophet had declared that Zion should be established, and should
put down her enemies under her feet. Why, then, should they hesitate to proclaim
their anticipations? They boasted openly that they should soon possess
the whole country, and that the unbelievers should be rooted out from the
land.' Edinburgh Review, April 1834. 'We have been credibly informed
that Rigdon has given it as his opinion that the Mormons will be able to
elect a member of congress in five years, and that in three years they would
take the offices in the town of Kirtland. They say that when they get the
Hist. Utah. 7
97