Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

commands in that vision and treat us fairly, after all we've been through to try to get to his people. He must
mean what he promised because he made several trips, in several successive seasons, to beg us to come. He
offered virgin land to us free of charge". He was a good chief and took care of his people very well. It was his
war-loving brothers, Arrapeen and Sanpitch, who worried Father Morley most.
In 1849, after Parley P. Pratt's exploring party had returned from South Sanpete, the idea of sending
people to colonize there was presented to the general assembly at Stake Conference and approved
unanimously.
This was when Father Morley was again called upon to give up his Salt Lake holdings and go as the
leader of the thirty families who were sent to settle the first settlement south of Fort Utah (now Provo). He
chose Seth Taft and Charles Shumway as counselors. It was they who objected to taking the twenty more
families in their company who had just joined them at Fort Utah. Isaac knew it would strain some of their food
and other supplies, yet these new families had skills and some supplies that they did not have.
Isaac dropped to his knees at this point of his reflections, praying for guidance, strength and wisdom to
be able to carry on and get his people to a new 'this is the place' after all the sufferings and losses they had
already had. They had already had one death and he was sure they were being followed and watched by
cunning Indian warriors, very curious and hungry, too.
They had left Salt Lake October 28, 1849, with Chief Walker acting as guide, who later became a loyal
and dependable friend of Father Morley and who was baptized a year later and taken into the Morley home
and re-named Joseph Walker.
When neither scouting party in Salt Creek Canyon had returned as darkness overtook these weary,
some almost hysterical saints, they made camp. These tired people knew the dangers that darkness almost
always brought and were very worried about their leader and the other scouts who had not returned.
Something terrible must have happened to them, but soon they heard the hearty laugh of 'Thop'
Shoemaker and were really relieved as Father Morley's cheerful voice rang out on the other side of their
camp.
Later they found that this bitter and sleepless night for some, was the night that for the first time
Mormon families had pitched tents and camped in Sanpete valley.
Early the next morning Father Morley asked Shumway to scout the trail that Walker had shown them,
and he discovered Shumway Springs and suggested to President Morley they make this their permanent
settlement. No vote was taken until the next day when President Morley called a council, telling them of his
night-long prayers and that he did not feel satisfied that this was the right place. He had the same feeling and
prompting he'd felt about using Walker's trail entirely, fearing an ambush might have been planned by his
cruel, hostile brothers.
Pointing a prophetic finger to an eminent grey hill rising and jutting in the distance, he said, "There is
the termination of our journey in close proximity with that hill. God willing, we will build our city there."
There was much opposition among the men, especially from his one counselor. Some influenced their
women folk and said it was a poor choice.
Seth Taft gave vent to his opposition and feelings. "It's only a long, narrow canyon here. Not even a
jack-rabbit could exist in this barren desert soil!" Quite a few of the saints agreed.
Father Morley, always fair, very kind and unassuming said, with great self-conviction, "This is our Godappointed
abiding place, and stay I will, though but ten men remain with me." He also promised that if all
would labor and prayerfully unite, they would soon see waving grain, cool streams and tall trees. "At last ...,
we have been led to the promised land!" he ex claimed, and many took up the cry and chanted with him.
Nearly all were in agreement to stay because they had great faith in Father Morley's judgment. The
church, only nineteen years old, was still having growing pains to get needed materials that different areas
could supply.
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