Far West having been turned into a plowed field, there is no railroad communication to that point, much to our inconvenience. We therefore resolved to walk the distance, about sixteen miles, and in traveling through the country on foot, we were delighted with the rolling prairies mingled with beautiful timber land.
    On Prairie Ridge, in Caldwell County, an Ohio farmer (as well as many others on our way) beset us to purchase land and farms, taking us, as we supposed, for land speculators. We had offers of excellent land for from $10 to $50 per acre, all through Caldwell County. Our talkative Ohio man explained that he had 249 acres mostly cultivated, with an excellent dwelling-house, barn, well of good water, live fences, etc., and indeed his place looked very tempting and desirable. "Well," said he, "$38 per acre, or $6,500 will take it all." He was very anxious to sell. After walking until quite late in the evening, we put up for the night with a farmer (Mr. Sprague), near the village of Mirabile, and this morning we continued to Far West, arriving here about 11 o'clock a. m.
    We took dinner with Jacob D. Whitmer, who has the best farm and improvements, embracing the very best portion of old Far West, including the Temple block. He would like to sell out for $50 per acre, and it is remarkable to see the spirit of selling out. The whole people, so far as we can learn, feel as though they have no desire to live in the country. Elder Stevenson pointed out a portion of the Whitmer field which his widowed mother was compelled to leave unsold; also some timber land on Goose Creek, within one mile of Far West, where General Lucas' mob camped 50 years ago. Many of those now in possession of the lands in Caldwell County would be puzzled to show a clear chain of title from the government. Perhaps this is one great cause for the mania of selling out this once very desirable land.
    What a contrast in the price of real estate where the "Mormons" now reside, as compared with this Eden! One corner lot in Salt Lake City which has been transformed from a barren sage brush desert would sell for sufficient to purchase the whole of Far West city plot as it now stands-a city of weeds and grass.
    Far West was laid out in 1836, and consisted of the southwest quarter of section 11, southeast quarter of section 10, northeast quarter of section 14, all in township 56, range 29, containing (540 acres. The blocks were 396 feet square. There were four main streets, 132 feet wide; all other streets were 82.V feet in width. Six hundred and forty acres at Mr. Whitmer's highest figure, $50 per acre, would amount to $32,000. A certain party refused $62,000 for his corner lot in Salt Lake City quite recently.
    We dare say that a similar state of affairs exists at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.
    It is a fact that wherever the "Mormons" go, even in the desert, a thousand miles out into the wilderness, as the ancient Prophets have foretold, they make the solitary place glad and the desert to blossom as the rose.
    One old barn is all the building that remains of the original town of Far West, excepting a portion of Joseph Smith's old frame house which has been removed from its original foundation and rebuilt on the main road leading south. We crossed Goose Creek, one mile south of Far West. Shoal Creek is one mile north and both streams unite about three miles southeast of Far West. We found the Temple excavation west of Mr. Whitmer's house, tracing each corner stone distinctly except the northeast, which was rather difficult to find.
    We sat upon the corner stone of the future Far West Temple, while we wrote in our journals and offered prayers. The Temple site embracing three acres is fenced in by itself.
    While sitting on the southeast corner stone reflecting upon the scenes which took place on that memorable day.
    Following that, it was moved, seconded and carried unanimously by all present (the number being three Elders from Zion), that we continue to importune at the throne of grace that the Lord will remember the waste places of Zion and permit his Saints to erect the contemplated Temple at Far West in the near future, and also enable them to build a city and organize a Stake of Zion there. In walking over the excavation made for the Temple our minds naturally reverted back to July 3, 1837, when the ground was first broken, and to July 4, 1838 (a little more than fifty years ago), when the corner stones were laid with grand ceremonies under the direction of the Prophet Joseph. We also remembered the secret conference held on the Temple ground early on the morning of April 26, 1839, when our veteran President, Apostle Wilford Woodruff, and the late George A. Smith were ordained to their high and holy callings as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    In standing upon the prominence a little south of the Temple overlooking the Goose Creek country southward, we imagined seeing the haughty General Samuel D. Lucas emerging from the timber with the mob-militia and form in line of battle before the now extinct town. We imagined seeing the Prophet of God with his brethren betrayed into the hands of the enemy, and hearing the oaths and cursings of the mobbers as the prisoners entered their ranks like lambs given away to be devoured by wolves. We walked to the brow of the hill where it is supposed the brethren formed in line of battle, endeavoring to make a brave stand in defending their homes, wives and honor, against a foe which outnumbered them ten to one. O, how lonesome we felt when we contemplated the sad scene. Then turning our faces northward, looking over what was once the public square of Far West, we thought of General dark's infamous speech, of our brethren being compelled to stack their arms and become prisoners of war, and finally to see their town pillaged, their cattle shot down, and in some instances witness their wives and daughters defiled by demons in the shape of human beings. But the spirit whispered: "Becalm, 'vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.'" And we felt to say that the wrongs of Far West are not forgotten by the Righteous Judge of all.
    After dinner Mr. Jacob D. Whitmer, with a good fleet team, conveyed us seven miles to Kingston, the county seat, on our way to Haun's Mill.
    We have been treated well and have met with kindness on every hand. Many Ohio people have built up comfortable homes in Caldwell County, and improved some parts of the county, but are not satisfied with their homes.
    EDWARD STEVENSON,
    ANDREW JENSON,
    JOSEPH S. BLACK
    [Collection of letters by Andrew Jenson and Edward Stevenson, Infancy of the Church (Salt Lake City, 1889), 17-19.]