Ahman in CHURCH EMIGRATION. 285 Davis County, Missouri, in Hancock County, Illinois, and Lee County, Iowa, were discontinued as it was thought best not to settle over too extensive a country at that time, but rather concentrate the labors of the people upon the building up of Nauvoo and the Temple which was being erected there. Besides the continued emigration from the different States in the Union, the British nation in 1840, commenced to forward its sons and daughters to the head quarters of the Church, and be it said to the credit of these first arrivals from Europe, that they did much toward the buildiug up of Nauvoo and the surrounding country.. when persecutions of a more desperate character than thitherto had been konwn, broke out against them and terminated in the expulsion of about twelve thousand people from Missouri in the winter of 1838-39 and the spring of 1839. The house-burnings, whippings, imprisonments, and murders connected with those sad and memorable days are matters of history that do not belong to this narrative. Suffice it to say that it was a religious persecution from beginning to end, as the Saints had done nothing to bring these troubles upon themselves, except that they believed in revelations from God and had organized themselves according to the pattern of the Church of Christ. The exodus from Missouri is known in Church history as the fourth of a series of five general drivings of the people of God in the last days. After finding temporary shelter in Quincy, Illinois, and in other places, the village of Commerce on the Mississippi River, in Hancock County, Illinois, was chosen in 1839, as the next gathering place of the Saints. There the scattered Saints, not disheartened, though so severely persecuted, clustered around President Joseph Smith and commenced building the city of Nauvoo. This place was so sickly that two or three unsuccessful attempts had previously been made to settle it, but now, through the blessings of the Almighty and the united labors and industry of the Saints, Nauvoo in a few years became as healthy as any other part of Illinois, as the surrounding bluffs were put under cultivation and the swamps in the low lands were properly drained. Nauvoo continued to be the main gathering place of the Saints until 1846, when a repetition of the Missouri persecutions were enacted by the people of Illinois, who, not being satisfied with having murdered the Prophet and Patriarch in Carthage Jail, concluded to drive the Saints beyond the borders of civilization, or out into the wilderness that they might die from starvation or be massacred by the red men of the plains. But in like manner as the selling of Joseph into Egypt resulted in good although it was intended for evil, so also did the expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo have the opposite result to that which had been anticipated. Instead of perishing by hunger or by the tomahawk of the Indian, the God-fearing exiles were preserved by Him whose commandments they loved to obey and whose authority they were willing to honor, and they were led to the Rocky Mountains to work out a great destiny for themselves and mankind generally; to fulfil prophecy, to grow in strength and On the fifth of October, 1839, a Stake numbers, to gain experience so as to be fit of Zion was organized at Commerce instruments in the hands of God for the (afterwards Nauvoo) and another one in carrying out of future problems, to make Iowa Territory, on the opposite side of the barren places fertile and productive, the Mississippi River. Soon afterwards to cause the desert to blossom as the Stakes were also organized at Lima, in rose, and to lay a foundation for a great Hancock County, Quincy, and Mount commonwealth, the influence of which Hope, in Adams County, at Geneva, in shall eventually be felt for good to the Morgan County, Illinois, and in other uttermost parts of the earth and shall places. All these Stakes were desig- save from total ruin,not only our own nanated as gathering places for the Saints, tion, but all other nations as well, through but sometime afterwards all except those the maintenance of the element of truth and virtue and the principles of justice and equity, which shall be adopted universally when that government of peace and righteousness, which the Prophets and Saints of God have looked forward to with so much joy and hope since the fall of man, shall be fully established on the earth. The Pioneers, who led the van from Nauvoo, first planted their feet in the valley of Great Salt Lake in the summer of 1847, and in that same year a Stake of Zion was organized in the Rocky Mountains. After the return to Winter Quarters, a "General Epistle from the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, abroad, dispersed throughout the earth," was written and signed by Brigham Young and Willard Richards. It was dated December 23rd, 1847, and announced, among many other important things, that emigration could be recommenced, as a new gathering place had been found in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The following year (1848) witnessed a large emigration of Saints crossing the plains and mountains for the valley of Great Salt Lake. These were not only the exiles from Nauvoo, but included large companies of British Saints, who, not fearing to exchange their homes in the crowded cities of England for the pioneer cabin in an American desert, braced the storms of the ocean and the dangers and hardships of the plains, in order to gather with the Saints of God. Since that time a constant stream of emigration has poured into our mountain home, where the settlements of the Saints have spread from the first little colony planted where Salt Lake City now stands to the extreme south and north, and also to the east and west, until nearly every valley in the Rockies resounds with the music of industry and thrift, and also with the praises and thanks-givings which a devoted people continually offer up to their God, who has so miraculously preserved and blessed them. As the population has increased new Stakes and gathering places have been organized, until there are now nearly five hundred organized wards and branches of the Church in the Rocky Mountains, all of which may be considered as gathering places for the people of God at the present time. These settlements are continually grow ing by the emigration from abroad, as well as from the natural increase at home, and new wards and branches are still being organized every year. Not to count the settlements in Canada and Mexico, the wards and branches within the confines of the United States are at present organized into thirty two Stakes of Zion, which, arranged into alphabetical order, stand as follows: Bannock Stake (organized February 4th, 1884) embraces the northern part of Bingham County, Idaho, and consists of twenty organized wards. Bear Lake Stake (organized August 25th and 26th, 1877) embraces Bear Lake County, Idaho, Rich County, Utah, a part of Uintah County, Wyoming, and one settlement [Soda Springs] in Bingham County, Idaho. It consists of twentysix organized wards and branches. Box Elder Stake (first organized in 1856, and reorganized August 19th, 1877) embraces the greater part of Box Elder County, Utah, and consists of fourteen organized wards. Beaver Stake (organized July 25th and 26th, 1877) embraces Beaver County. Utah, and consists of six wards and branches. Cache Stake (organized November 14th, 1859) embraces Cache County, Utah, and consists of twenty-three wards. Cassia Stake (organized November 19th and 20th, 1887) embraces Cassia County, Idaho, and consists of six wards. Davis Stake (organized June 17th, 1877) embraces Davis County, Utah, and con sists of seven wards. Emery Stake (partly organized August 22nd, 1880) embraces most of Emery County, Utah, and consists of fourteen wards and branches. Juab Stake (organized July 1st, 1877) embraces Juab County, Utah, and consists of six wards and branches. Kanab Stake (organized August 17th, 1877) embraces Kane County Utah, and consists of eleven small wards and branches. INFI UENCE OF IMITATION. Maricopa Stake embraces Maricopa County, Arizona, and consists of five wards. Millard Stake (organized July 21st and 22nd, 1877) embraces Millard County, Utah, and consists of ten wards. Malad Stake (organized February 12th, 1888) embraces the northeast part of Box Elder County, Utah, and part of Oneida County, Idaho, and consists of nine wards. Morgan Stake (organized July 1st, 1877) embraces Morgan County, Utah, and consists of nine wards. Oneida Stake (organized June 1st, 1884) consists of seven wards in Oneida County, and seven wards in Bingham County, Idaho-fourteen wards altogether. Panguitch Stake (organized April 23rd, 1877) embraces Garfield County and part of Piute County, Utah, and consists of six wards. Parowan Stake (reorganized in 1877) embraces Iron County, Utah, and consists of seven wards and branches. Salt Lake Stake (organized in October, 1847) the principal Stake of Zion and the present headquarters of the Church, embraces Salt Lake County, Utah, and consists of forty-four wards, namely: twenty-two in Salt Lake City, and twentytwo in the surrounding country. San Luis Stake (formerly called the Conejos Stake, organized in June, 1883) consists of the Saints residing in Conejos County, Colorado, who are organized into six wards and branches. Sanpete Stake (reorganized July 4th, 1877) embraces Sanpete County, Utah, and consists of seventeen organized wards. San Juan Stake consists of the Saints residing in San Juan County, Utah, two wards in Grand County, Utah, one ward in La Plata County, Colorado, and two wards in New Mexico-altogether seven wards and branches. St. Joseph Stake embraces Graham County, and part of Cochise County, Arizona, and consists of seven wards. 287 and part of Piute County, Utah, and consists of twenty wards and branches. St. George Stake (organized April 7th, 1877) embraces Washington County, Utah, the Saints residing in Lincoln County, Nevada, and two small settlements in Yavapai County, Arizona-altogether thirty-six wards and branches. St. Johns Stake embraces a part of Apache County, Arizona, one ward in Valencia County, and one in Socorro County, New Mexico-altogether seven wards. Summit Stake (organized July 8th and 9th, 1877) embraces Summit County, Utah, two wards in Uintah County, Wyo., and one branch at Rock Springs, Sweet Water County, Wyo.-altogether sixteen wards and branches. Tooele Stake (organized June 24th and 25th, 1877) embraces all of Tooele County, Utah, and consists of eight Wards. Uintah Stake (organized May 9th, 1887) embraces Uintah County, Utah, and consists of six wards. Utah Stake (first organized March 19th, 1851) embraces all of Utah County, and a small part of Emery County, Utah, and consists of twenty-four wards and branches. Wasatch Stake (organized July 14th and 15th, 1877) embraces Wasatch County, and one settlement (Woodland) in Summit County, Utah, and consists of nine wards and branches. Weber Stake (first organized Jan. 26th, 1851, and reorganized in 1877) embraces all of Weber County, Utah, and consists of twenty-one wards. Besides the Stakes enumerated in the foregoing, which are all within the borders of the United States, there is a Stake called Alberta, recently organized in the Dominion of Canada, and several settlements in Mexico, now awaiting a Stake organization. Audrew Jenson. INFLUENCE OF IMITATION. Snowflake Stake (organized December Man, to a very large degree, is an imita18th, 1887) embraces parts of Apache tive creature, and especially so in childand Yavapai counties, Arizona, and con- hood. By constant imitation of what he sists of eight wards. sees others do, habits are formed, and, Sevier Stake embraces Sevier County once formed at that early period, be they good or bad, are rarely, if ever, entirely suppressed in after years. All the ethical subject lessons may be given him that is possible, but if there be object lessons that go counter to them, these invariably take the deeper root, and soon nullify or supplant the former. With these truths before us, is it not the imperative duty of all-all who wish for good government, safety of person and property, and the advancement of the race to become bright and living ethical object lessons to the rising genera tion? Nor is this all that is to be done; we should discountenance and remove all who are not ethical object lessons worthy of study. Man's imitative propensity is called forth principally by those whom he thinks are his superiors. Consequently, all those in high places of all kinds, who are pernicious object lessons, should be the first to be removed, for if the source be putrid, the onflowing stream becomes foul also. It is very truly said that the fall of the Roman Empire was "an effect of a moral ruin." Now, all readers of Roman history know that the germ of this "moral ruin' had its birth in the topmost strata of core. Roman society; and the masses, with ready imitativeness, became rotten to the The sad finale of that wonderful empire we all know. Is Roman history now preparing to repeat itself in these United States? The indications all strongly point that way. Do we not see venality and corruption pervading, more or less, every branch of the government? With this state of things, is it to be wondered at that vice and crime are rolling up in billows mountains high? Is it to be wonder. ed at that our public schools, our Sunday schools and pulpits are impotent to check the approach of this "moral ruin?" Nor can it be checked until the wise and the good throughout the land determine to elevate to places of honor and trust only those who are calculated to make the best ethical object lessons for the study of the rising generation.-Selected. Honesty is the best policy, because it is the only policy which insures against loss of character. None but a well-bred man knows how to confess a fault or acknowledge himself in error. The hour is nature's angelus, TWILIGHT. And faint and sweet, From night's high belfry towering o'er the day, Its calm and silver cadence comes to greet Day's flash and tumult, stilling the slow ray Of toilful light, and calling earth to prayer. Swift at its soft and measured stroke, the air Is filled with murmurs-the mute whir of wings Folding-and prayerful twitterings. The reverent crossing of slim leaves and lilt of flowers The sudden, silent presence of cool airs- By the earth's prayerful mien. With what dim, silvern meekness the far plain The compelling hour obeys. In each is seen All that can be of praise But those pale mountains yonder seem to hear Who penetrates where angels may not even, They are given to see Heaven's deepest mystery; And seem to breathe and bring its splendor near. That deepening glow That thrill divine Of shadowy purple, white-pulsed with the snow, Is inspiration's sign A burst sublime of psalm and prophecy! Oh, holy hour! As thy blue cadence steals Across the tired world, I feel thy power My spirit kneels, And knows the reverence of the leaves and flowers The meekness of the plain. My soul beside; My being thrills With that high spell that holds the listening hills, THE AWAKENING OF THE YEAR.* Now the springtime is upon us: this is the awakening of the year. Myriads of living things that have been soundly sleeping since the first autumnal frosts, are now bursting into a newness of existence, with a vigor that speaks of youth and of a life to come. Seeds, which during the season of cold have been buried under a friendly layer of rotting leaves, or wrapped in a snug coat of soil, now put forth their shoots, to breathe the air of spring, and dip their rootlets into the earth in search of food. Buds that have given no evidence of life through all the dark days of the year, now swell, and soon will burst from the expanding of a life-force that cannot be restrained. The peach blossoms have Fig. 1. already donned be prepared to and these will not long delay their calls. The bees and their kindred will soon begin the season's festivities; and among them the pretty peach blows are in high favor as pleasant hostesses; the insects like to visit them, enjoying the delicate perfume of the blossoms, and drinking the rich nectar, with which the fragile chalices are well supplied. Multitudes of insects are now recovering from the lethargy and torpor of the past, and most of them awaken with an appetite as if begotten of long fasting. Now, too, should the farmer and the horticulturalist look well about them, for at this Fig. 2. season they can take by surprise and easily destroy many foes to their crops. Every fruit tree should be thoroughly examined for eggs and larvae of insect This paper was written for the May number, but was omitted to make room for the Sketch of Daniel H. Wells. pests, from the ravages of which the fully overcome Fig. 3. or pupa. Loose pieces of bark upon tree trunks furnish enticing quarters for many varieties of insect life, and all such nooks should be carefully searched during April and May, and the hiding foes should be destroyed. Fig. 4. The peach-borer is a common and a destructive creature; it is drawn, natural size, in figure 1, the upper sketch representing the female, and the lower the male. As is seen from the figure, the female is by far the larger and stouter in body. Her body is of a glossy blue or purplish color, with yellow variations. The front wings are opaque, and a bluish tint. The male is somewhat similarly marked. The peach-borer belongs to the moth family, though in size, general appearance, and mode of flight, the insect bears some resemblance to a wasp or hornet. It is, however, while still a caterpillar (figure 2) that the insect proves so destructive. The larva measures about half an inch in length, is of a pale yellowish color, with a brown head and black jaws. They bore their way into the wood, and thus work great injury to the tree. The presence of the larva in peach trees may be recognized by the exudation of gum about the grooves; the trees should |