The Platte River Trails: Oregon, California and Mormon

 Inside the Kearney Archway is a museum which tells the story of the pioneer trails, starting with Fort Kearney and traveling west.  The California and Oregon trails approached this point from the south, while the Mormon trail came from the north side of the Platte River.  There is a great deal about the Mormon handcarts

From the ruins of Nauvoo to Zion in the west

Fort Kearney

diorama of a famous handcart painting

Mostly from the California trail Humbolt area where many loads were lightened to make it across the desert.  The handcart pioneers also lightened their load in Wyoming.

Clara Brown, an early pioneer and former slave, who landed in Colorado as the first African American to settle in the state.  She brought many relatives to Colorado, which eventually included her daughter.

"This is the place" said Brigham Young; not a place of ease but of hardship to build a people.

The last spike, coming of the railroad

Westward mural: presents mountain man, river rafting, meeting with Native Americans, wagons, handcarts, gold panning, laying telegraph line and stage coach.

Kanesville Memorial vs Kanesville Tabernacle

The replica tabernacle which stood in Kanesville (Council Bluffs) is no more as of 2022.  The original tabernacle was built in late 1847 as a hasty construction so they could hold a conference.  They tried to hold conference December 3, but the room was too small and the crowd too large.   The meeting was postponed umtil a more comfortable arrangement could be found. Brigham Young and the apostles had been talking about reorganizing the first presidency of the church.  For the past three years the church had been run by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with Brigham Young as president of the quorum.  Those apostles in Kanesville, which included most of them finally felt the inspiration to reorganize the first presidency.  On the fourth day of a general conference held in the tabernacle the reorganization of the presidency was sustained by the crowd.  This was Monday December 27, 1847.  The first Presidency included Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards.  A pattern was thus established for succession in the first presidency which includes the apostles agreeing (receiving revelation), and then the church sustaining by the uplifted hand.

The tabernacle was made of green cottonwood which shrunk and caused the building to be unsafe.  They also found it was built on a spring.  It was torn down a couple years after it was built.

There is now a memorial and a visitor center.  The replica tabernacle built in the 1990s was made of cottonwood as was the original.  This was subject to shrinkage which again made the building unsafe.  It was torn down in 2022 after being closed a couple years.

POther important events that happened in Kanesville were the muster of the Mormon Battalion and the return and rebaptism of Oliver Cowdery after he had been excommunicated a few years prior.

When we visited the visitors center had just reopened.  So our look was a bit premature.  

The new first presidency: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards

City of Kirtland Historical Town

 Historic Kirtland has many important sites to church history.  In Kirtland many revelations were received.  Joseph lived in five homes in Kirtland, and received revelations in each of these homes.   At the Whitney home the Whitneys provided a downstairs room for the Smiths as Emma was pregnant.  They moved from there to the Morley farm which had been built for them.  While living here Emma's twins were born, but passed away soon after birth.  They also adopted the Murdoch twins.  When the Morleys sold their farm to travel to Missouri, Joseph and Emma moved in with John and Elsa Johnson in Hiram, Ohio some 50 miles south of Kirtland.  It was while living here that Joseph Smith was dragged from his bed and tarred and feathered.  One of the twins, their son, died shortly after this due to exposure.  Joseph and Emma then took up residence in the upper story of the Whitney Store where Newel Whitney had prepared a room and office for them.  The school of the prophets was established first in the Witney Store in an upper room; and later upstairs in the temple. 

There were several thriving industries in Kirtland, including potash production used in the making of soap.  There was also a lumber mill and workshops for making items for the temple.

Many of the cherished revelations were received during this period.  Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith saw the savior while working on the translation of the Bible.  The word of Wisdom was also received.  These revelations have touched me and shaped the manner in which I live.

Newel K Whitney Store

School of the Prophets

office

potash operation

Construction of temple pews

A couple paintings from the Visitor Center

The Kirtland Temple

Ute Legend: Skinwalker

The Ute legend or myth of the Skinwalker is shared with the Navajo Tribe.  The skinwalker is a half man half animal (wolf, coyote fox or bear).  They may be shape shifters, changing their form.  I assume I heard this story from George Glines, a coworker in Roosevelt and native to the basin.  It seems sightings of the Skinwalker were quite frequent.  These would generally start in the north, White Rocks, follow the White Rocks highway, Fort Duchesne, Randlett, and then Ouray.  The sightings would vary in time making it seem like the Skinwalker was on the move.  I never heard stories of their attacking anyone.  

As I look online it indicates the Skinwalker is a Navajo phenomena.  However there is talk of the Navajo putting a curse on the land, or the Utes placing a curse.  At any rate there were bad feeling between the two groups.  This may have been how Skinwalker Ranch was started.  They say the Utes avoid this area.

Book Review: Time-Life Books: The Old West: The Texans

 Time-Life Books: The Old West: The Texas with text by David Levin, New York, 1975.

Moses Austin had a dream of populating Texas.  He would obtain land grants form Mexico and plot out communities.  This was 1820.  At first his son resisted joining the enterprise, but after a year joined in.  That is how Stephen F. Austin became the "Father of Texas."

Moses was successful in obtaining a land grant and excitedly returned home to Missouri.  His goal was to sale plots at a profit.  however in his excitement he contracted pneumonia and died.  It was his son who would carry out the venture.  

This book starts with the Austins, but the book is dominated by Sam Houston and ends with him.  Houston became a hero during the Texas war for independence.  

No book about Texas would be complete without and extensive retelling of the Alamo.  Sam Houston became the commander in chief of the Texas military.  Most people were disappointed in him at first as he kept retreating from the enemy.  He was abiding his time, waiting for the right opportunity and to extend the supply lines of the Mexicans.  The time to attack came at San Jacinto.  There in a battle lasting only 18 minutes the Texans under General Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and won their independence.

Sam Houston became the first president of the republic.  The fortunes of Texas were tied to their becoming a part of the United States.  This did not happen for some time.  However Texas had a large debt form the war which they would pay off by giving land of which they had plenty.

This book also talks of the economics in Texas, ranching and farming; cattle and cotton mostly.  And their eventual entrance into the United States.  Sam Houston had a second term as governor.  He married a younger bride and had a family.  During his second term Texas became part of the Union as a slave state.  This lead to the Mexican American War where Texas, with the rest of the nation, won concessions from the Mexican government.

Ute Legend: The Basket Lady and the Man with the Hat

When working in Duckwater, I worked some with the school kids to physical education and other activities.  We presented the story of the Basket Lady and the Man with the Hat.  This was a Ute legend.  The story was a precautionary one about minding your manners and not being too loud.  Mom and grandma have to be away and tell the children that they should be good and not make too much noise or the Basket Lady will get them.  Of course they are too loud, and the woman with a basket gathers them all and puts them in the basket.  Apparently she is taking them home for a nice dinner.  However the man with the hat rescues them.  He tosses his hat at the witch which captures her.  He rescues the kids and they return home much better mannered.  This is the picture of the Basket Lady.  

Joseph Smith Kirtland Home

 The Joseph Smith Kirtland home is through the cemetery from the temple.  It was not where he lived originally which was the Whitney home.  He actually lived in four homes previously, Whitney home, the Morley farm, The John and Elsa Johnson home in Hiram, Ohio and the Newel Whitney store.  They moved into their own home in 1833 and would live there until 1838 when Joseph would leave Kirtland.  In this home Joseph would translate the book of Abraham, and Emma would compile a book of hymns.  Joseph Smith III was born in this home.  Several revelations were received during this time.  The home has recently been restored and is available for tours.  Also much church business was conducted here.

This home for the most part was a place of peace.  It was the home in which Emma and Joseph would reside the longest in their marriage.  

View from the Joseph Smith home