stake of Zion the saints were employed, not in adorn- ing their temple with gold, silver, and precious stones, but in building rough shanties, hewing timber, hoeing corn, and planting potatoes.
The trite maxim commencing yEquam memento was one which the saints had taken well to heart, and on few was the mens cequa in arduis more firmly stamped than on the brow of him who, on christmas eve, the day after his invitation to the princes and potentates of all the earth, was appointed president of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. And while in adversity there were none more steadfast, it must be admitted there were few in whom success developed so little of pride and of vainglory. From this time forth Brigham Young was to the saints as a prophet — yea, and more than a prophet: one on whom the mantle had fallen not unworthily. By his foresight he had saved his people from dispersion, and per- chance his faith from annihilation. Hounded by a mob, he had led his followers with consummate tact throughout their pilgrimage, and in a wilderness as yet almost untrodden by man had at length estab- lished for them an abiding-place.
After the departure of Brigham from Salt Lake, John Smith, the prophet's uncle, was nominally pres- ident of the camp;*^ but upon the arrival of John Taylor and Parley P. Pratt their precedence was ac- knowledged and they were placed in charge.*^ There were no laws until the latter part of this year, though certain penalties were assigned for certain crimes and executed by the people. As there was no jail, the whipping-post was substituted, but used only two or three times. In such cases the high council tried the
- ^ Affairs were controlled by the high council, consisting of twelve high-
priests. Salt Lake City was a stake of Zion, with president and other officers. 'At the conference on Oct. 3d Father John Smith was elected president of the stake of Zion and patriarch of the church. Brigham Young was aus- tained as president of the whole church.' Uist. B. Young, MS., 117.
- ^ li'ebeker's Early Justice, MS., 4.
