Scarcity of Food in the Great Salt Lake Valley--Wild Vegetables
for Greens--Fair Prospects for Crops--Clouds of Crickets lay
Bare the Fields--People struggle Against the Pests Almost to
Despair--Vast Flocks of Sea Gulls, as the Clouds of Heaven, Come to
the Rescue--Destruction of the Crickets--People Praise the Lord--The
Writer Invited to a Meeting, Ordained a Seventy, and Called with
Others to go on a Mission to the Society Islands--Words of Presidents
Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball--Preparations to Travel to
California with an Emigrant Company--Description of the Route by
Captain Jefferson Hunt--Start on My Mission--Prophecy by President
Willard Richards--Battle with Indians at Provo Averted by Apostle C.
C. Rich--Prospects of Utah Valley to Support Population--Overtake the
Emigrant Company--Discussions at Beaver River--Company Starts for
Walker's Pass--Turned Back by Scarcity of Water--Experience on the
Desert--Dissensions in the Company--Futile Attempt to send some of
the Members Back--Apostle C. C. Rich Foresees Further Trouble, and
Endeavors to Save the Mormon Part of the Train by Advising Them to
Return to the Old Spanish Trail--Methodist and Campbellite Ministers
Incite the Company Against their Mormon Guide, Captain Hunt--Main
Company Disregards Captain Hunt's Warning of Danger, and Leaves the Old
Spanish Trail to Search for the Route Through Walker's Pass--Mormons go
with Captain Hunt on the Southern Route.