Pioneer Day Countdown: July 18, 1847 (Sunday)

It was the last Sabbath the Saints would be on the trail. Today would be a special day of prayer.

The company knew they were getting close to their goal, but they were worried about President Young's sickness getting worse, and delaying their travel more. It was decided that this day would be a special day of fasting, prayer, and preaching.

The Morning:

They woke up to a "severe white frost," Norton Jacob observed, "but it doesn't seem to injure the hardy vegetation."

Heber C. Kimball called everyone together to report the severity of President Young's mountain fever. He asked the camp to meet together for prayer, instead of journeying around the countryside hunting, fishing, and climbing (such as some did often on Sunday).

The pioneers were urged to "humble ourselves before the Lord that we may obtain power with him to turn away sickness and disease from our midst," Jacob wrote.

At 10 a.m., the special meeting began. It was held in a grove, where the tops of the trees had been cut off to create a sort of bowery. The bugle was blow to assemble the camp meeting.
Kimball proposed that most Saints travel ahead to the Valley, and upon arriving "proceed immediately to put all our seeds in the ground." He urged them to find a good place to plant their potatoes, and crop that might thrive late in the season "as we have little time to spare."

Apostle Heber C. Kimball

Around eight wagons would be left behind to look after President Young and the other sick "until the president should regain his health sufficient to travel," Norton Jacob said. Afterwards, many people expressed their feelings regarding the issue.

At 2 p.m., a sacrament meeting was held. "The bishops broke bread and the sacrament was administered. Good feelings seem to prevail," Clayton said. Howard Egan said the preaching "done my soul good."

The Lord answered the Saints prayers. After the Prophet was anointed and blessed "he fell into a deep sleep and awakened much refreshed." Many other meetings were held that day to attend to the sick. Woodruff described it as "a good time. Conversing much about the kingdom of God."

The Advance Party:

This company also remained in place during the Sabbath Day. They deserved rest after the extreme amount of work they had put in fixing, preparing, and creating a good road.