[FIGURE] JULY 24^th 1847
This is an important day in the
History of my life and the History of the
Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day
Saints. On this important day after trav[eling]
from our encampment 6 miles through the
deep ravene, valley, ending with the canion
through last creek we came in full view
of the great valley or Bason [of] the Salt Lake
and land of promise held in reserve by the hand of GOD for a rest-
ing place for the Saints upon which A portion of the Zion of
GOD will be built. we gazed with wonder and admiration upon
the vast rich fertile valley which lay for about 25 miles in
length & 16 miles in wedth clothed with the Heaviest garb of
of green vegitation in the midst of which lay a large lake of
salt water of [blank] miles in extent in which could be seen
large Islands & mountains towering towards the clouds also the
glorious valley abounding with the best fresh water springs
rivlets creeks & Brooks & Rivers of various sizes all of which
gave animation to the sporting trout & other fish while the
waters were wending there way into the great salt lake; our
hearts were surely made glad after A Hard Journey from
Winter Quarters of 1200 miles through flats of Platt Rivers
& steeps of the Black Hills & the Rocky mountains And burni
ng sands of the eternal sage regions & willow swails & Rocky
canions & stubs & stones, to gaze upon A valley of such vast
extent entirely surrounded with a perfect chain of everlasting
hills & mountains coverd with eternal snow with there
innumerale peaks like pyramids towering towards Heaven presen
ting at one view the grandest & most sublime scenery probably that
could be obtained on the globe. Thoughts of pleasing meditations
ran in rapid succession through our minds while we contemplated
that not many years that the House of GOD would stand upon
the top of the Mountains while the valleys would be converted into
orchard, vineyard, gardings & fields by the inhabitants of Zion &
the standard be unfurled for the nations to gather there to
President Young expressed his full satisfaction in the Appearanc
of the valley as A resting place for the Saints & was Amply
repayed for his journey.

After gazing awhile upon the scenery
we travled across the table land into the valley 4 miles to the
encampment of our Brethren who had arived 2 days before
us, they had pitched there encampment upon the bank of two
small streams of pure water & had commenced plowing
had broke about 5 acres of ground & commenced planting
potatoes. As soon As we were formed in the encampment
before I took my dinner having 1/2 a bushel of potatoes I repai
red to the ploughed field & planted my potatoes Hop^e^ing wi[th] [page torn]
the blessings of God at least to save the seed for another
year. The Brethren had damed up one of the creeks & dug
A trench & by night nearly the whole ground was Irrigated
with water we found the ground vary dry. towards evening
In company with Br^s. Kimball Smith & Benson I rode several
miles up the creek into the mountain to look for timber in
the country &c there was A thunder shower & it rained near
ly over the whole ^valley^ & also it rained some the fore part of the
night we felt thankful for this As it was the general corect
opinion th[at it] [page torn] did not rain in the valley during summers distance [page covered]