History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

SALE OF PROPERTY. 217
out the west at this time. Over vast wild sections
skins were the only currency, and at the settlements
traffic for the most part assumed the form of barter
or exchange of labor. It was, therefore, exceedingly
difficult, as I have said, for the saints to get their
property into portable form, even after selling their
lands at half or quarter their value. The gentiles,
of course, could pay what they pleased, being the only
buyers, and the saints being forced to sell. Moreover,
there was more property thrown upon the
market than could be taken at once, and the departure
of so large and thrifty a portion of the population
was of itself sufficient to depreciate property.
The best they could do was to exchange their lands
for wagons and horses and cattle, and this they did
to as large an extent as possible, scouring the country
for a hundred miles around in search of live-stock. n
And now, putting upon their animals and vehicles
such of their household effects as they could carry, in
small detachments the migratory saints began to leave
Nauvoo. 6 Before them was the ice-bound river, and
beyond that the wilderness.
There is no parallel in the world's history to this
migration from Nauvoo. The exodus from Egypt
was from a heathen land, a land of idolaters, to a fertile
region designated by the Lord for his chosen peo-
ple, the land of Canaan. The pilgrim fathers in flying
to America came from a bigoted and despotic people
5 ' The Mormons went up and down with their furniture, etc., and traded
for anything that could travel, such as an animal or a wagon .
. . Another
company went out in May, but they did not sell their property, leaving it
in the hands of trustees to sell.' Wells' Xarralive, MS., 37- Their twostory
brick house, which they had occupied but three months, and which
they had denied themselves in every way to build, Mrs Richards says was
sold for 'two yoke of half-broken cattle and an old wagon.' Reminiscences,
MS., 20.
6 ' When we were to leave Mo. , the saints entered into a covenant not to
cease their exei'tions until every saint who wished to go was removed, which
was done. . .We
—
are better off now than we were then;. . .he [B. Y.] wants
to see this influence extend from the west to the east sea.' Brigham moved:
' That we take all the saints with us, to the extent of our ability, that is, our
influence and property; seconded by Elder Kimball, and carried unanimously. *
This covenant was entered into Oct. 6, 1S45. Times and Seasons, vi. 1011.