The first Latter-day Saints known to have set foot upon Mexican soil were members of the famous Mormon Battalion who had volunteered their services to fight in the Mexican War. The call came through Captain Allen while the exiles were encamped upon the plains between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, they having been driven from the State of Illinois and now in quest of a new home in the far West. Captain Allen visited the several camps in June 1846 and asked for the services of 500 men. The quota was raised immediately, consisting chiefly of comparatively young men, who were organized and soon thereafter set out for Fort Leavenworth to receive arms and other necessary equipment preparatory to marching to Santa Fe and thence to California. From Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe, much of the way over a desert, the journey was characterized by considerable suffering from intense thirst and, at times, the scarcity of food reduced the men to meager rations. Many were sick when they arrived at Santa Fe, making it necessary for them to go to Pueblo under the command of Captain James Brown, to spend the. winter.   These and others who had preceded them to Pueblo because of illness, made their way to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, some of them entering the Basin just a few days after the advent of Brigham Young and his pioneer band. The main body of the Battalion pushed on toward California, their journey taking them exclusively through Mexican territory. The only fight participated in by these Mormon boys was on the San Pedro River a few miles southwest of the present city of Douglas, Arizona. This fight was not between Americans and Mexicans but American troops and wild Mexican bulls-incensed over the intrusion of a foreign element into their territory. Victory finally perched on the banner of the Americans

(38)

but not until a few injuries had come to their numbers, and several of the foe lay dead upon the battle field. The Battalion was disbanded soon after its arrival in California.

Subsequently several members of the Church passed over the boundary line into the States of Chihuahua and Sonora [in 1846 or 1847] but no definite steps were taken to colonize or even engage in missionary work until the year 1874. In the summer of this year President Brigham Young called upon Daniel W. Jones and Henry W. Brizzee to prepare for a mission to Mexico. As a feature of their mission these men, both of whom spoke some Spanish, were asked by the President to translate certain "Book of Mormon" passages into Spanish that they might be used by the missionaries in their work among the natives. A few months following their appointment, Jones and Brizzee had the good fortune to meet a Spanish officer from the Phillipine Islands by the name of Melitón González Trejo . This man had come in search of the Mormons in response to an impressive dream he had received and which later resulted in his receiving baptism at the hands of Brizzee. Without delay Trejo, assisted by Jones, began making translations of certain Book of Mormon passages and by the following year (1875) a book of 100 pages had appeared in print, the price of publication being met by contributions from devotees of the church.

In the fall of 1875 a relatively large group of men was called to serve as missionaries to Mexico, several of whom later became prominent in business and Church affairs. Most prominent of these was Anthony W. Ivins, later to become an Apostle of the Church and finally a counselor to Heber J. Grant, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others called were Daniel W. Jones, James Z. Stewart, Helaman Pratt, a son of Apostle Parley P. Pratt, Wiley C. Jones, Robert H. Smith and Ammon M. Tenney.

This mission was of dual character-first, to preach the gospel to the native population of Mexico and second, to

(39)

locate suitable lands for future Mormon colonies in Arizona, New Mexico and in Old Mexico. President Young instructed them to keep a record of their travels and labors and to report to him any places which might be suitable to establish settlements, giving a careful description of each and the advantages offered. Orson Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, admonished the members of the expedition "to look out for places where our brethren could go and be safe from harm in the event that persecution should make it necessary for them to get out of the way for a season." If any member of the company was in doubt at the time as to the significance of this message later developments made the meaning perfectly clear.

This mission was sufficient to try the faith of less faithful men for all of them were almost destitute of material goods. Indeed, without help from outside sources, it would have been most difficult if not quite impossible to raise the necessary equipment for such an extended journey. Elder Ivins in referring to the situation said that he was under the necessity of selling everything he had to procure the necessary outfit and even then he was assisted by several of his personal friends. Anticipating the dire financial straits of these brethren, President Young had in the meantime authorized the sending of a circular letter to certain members of the Church, soliciting funds to aid the expedition. In response the Saints generously contributed cash, tithing orders, factory orders, dried meat, merchandise and other such things as they could spare.

In the middle of September, 1875, Wiley C. Jones, Helaman Pratt, J. Z. Stewart and Robert H. Smith bade adieu to their families and friends in Salt Lake City and vicinity and began their journey toward the South. At Nephi, about 90 miles south of Salt Lake City they were joined by Dan W. Jones and at Toquerville and Kanab in Southern Utah, the party was further strengthened by the addition of Anthony W. Ivins and Ammon M. Tenney. By this time the missionaries were well equipped for the journey, having

(40)

seven mounts and seventeen pack horses.   They were ferried across the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and then made their way to the Moqui Villages in Arizona, passing en route through Moencopie, Navajo Springs and Willow Springs. At the seven Moqui Indian villages the missionaries paused for a seven days' visit with the Indians and then pursued

their way in the direction of the Salt River Valley.   They arrived in Phoenix on November 24, 1875, and found it to be a prosperous town consisting of several stores and shops and surrounded by fertile land with abundant water. At Tempe, a few miles further on, they were kindly greeted by Judge C. T. Hayden who furnished them with letters of introduction to Governor Safford and other leading men of Arizona.   In a report sent to President Young of the Salt River Valley, the members of the expedition called attention to the fine opportunities for settlement.   At the village of Sacaton on the Gila River was held their first public meeting with the Indians. Their meeting they reported as being well attended. Twenty-four miles further up the river brought them to Florence. From this point they made their way without incident to Tucson, a distance of 65 miles, where they were kindly received by the governor of Arizona.   The day following their arrival being Sunday, the missionaries were tendered the use of the Court House in which to hold a religious service. The invitation was gladly accepted. At a military post near Tucson, the party sold some of their animals and purchased a spring wagon. It appears to have been their intention to cross over the boundary line into Sonora near this point but their plans were changed when they heard of the unsettled condition of the Indians in that region.   They decided, therefore, to push on to El Paso before passing into Mexico. Much of this country through which they journeyed was fine for grazing, particularly San Bernardino on the San Pedro River, as well as in the vicinity of Sulphur Springs. At the latter place they met a wealth rancher who furnished beef for the Indian reservations in Arizona

(41)

and New Mexico and who was reported to have 45,000 head of cattle. Arriving at El Paso, the members of the expedition with the exception of Tenney and Smith, who had remained in New Mexico to preach to the Pueblos and Zunis, decided to push on to the city of Chihuahua, the capital of the state of the same name. They followed down the Rio Grande River for three days to San Ignacio and then left the river, travelling due west. At Contaraccio where they camped for the night, they had the experience of having their horses driven off either by civilians or members of a troop garrisoned there. The act was perpetrated ostensibly for the purpose of reward for recovery. There was joy in camp when the horses were found the following day. From this point the journey took the travellers through Carrisal, Guachinera to Carmen where they arrived on the 28th of March 1876. Carmen is described as being suitably located in a valley one-half mile wide by eight or ten miles in length with fertile soil and abundant water.

On April 2, 1876, they arrived at Sacramento where General Doniphan with a company of United States soldiers defeated a larger body of Mexican troops during the war of 1846-47. Twenty-two miles further on brought them to the city of Chihuahua whose appearance at that time was very impressive. The streets were paved either with flag or cobble stones and many fine buildings adorned the city. The visitors were impressed by the great number of churches to be seen on every hand, the most imposing structure of this sort being a big stone cathedral whose front was elaborately decorated with carved figures representing the twelve apostles and the Virgin Mary. Governor Luis Terrazas having given the Mormons permission to Hold religious services in Chihuahua, a meeting was held on the 12th of April 1876, in a large building known as the "Cock Pit".  This was the first meeting held by the Mormons in the interior of Mexico and since there were more

(42)

than 500 in attendance the future looked bright for the spread of the doctrines of the Church.

A short time later the elders arrived at La Villa de Concepcion in the Canton de Guerrero, where they remained for twelve days holding religious services almost daily. Their message was welcomed by several who applied for baptism but the request was not granted, the missionaries likely feeling that the candidates were hardly prepared to receive the sacred ordinance.

About the middle of May the expedition arrived at Casas Grandes, famous for its prehistoric ruins and for being the birth place of many political disturbances that shook Mexico from center to circumference.   Leaving Casas Grandes the party followed down the Casas Grandes River passing through Barrancas and Corralitos, thence to Janos where they arrived May 16, 1876. This was the last Mexican town before passing over the boundary line into the United States. One month later they reached Kanab after an absence of about nine months.   The Deseret News for July 5, 1876, reported the return of this Mexican Missionary Party and optimistically declared, "We understand there is a prospect for good work being done in Mexico."

This was merely the beginning of a vast missionary labor to be sponsored by the Latter-day Saints in far off Mexico.   On October 17, 1876, another group of elders consisting of Helaman Pratt, James Z. Stewart, Isaac Z. Stewart, George Terry and Louis Garff departed from Salt Lake City on a second mission to Mexico. Later they were joined by Melitón González Trejo. Their journey was over much the same route as the previous one as far as Tubac, Arizona. At this point the elders separated, Pratt and Terry going into Mexico by way of Altar, the other missionaries by way of Magdalena. The Stewarts soon returned to El Paso while Garff and Trejo continued to Hermosillo, the capital of the state of Sonora, where they were kindly received. During a period of three months, four of the missionaries were continuously engaged in preaching and teaching in the

(43)

cities and towns of Sonora. Pratt and Terry did considerable traveling about the state, their business taking them as far as Guaymas near the mouth of the Yaqui River. There they visited the American Consul as well as a Yaqui Governor. Their return trip to the United States led them through Hermosillo and up the Sonora River by Arispe to Santa Cruz, Sonora. They arrived in Tucson on July 4, 1877.

The question of establishing Mormon colonies in Mexico was discussed by President Young in a letter of April 11, 1877, addressed to J. Z. Stewart and his companion missionaries. The President instructed them to get in touch with J. W. Campbell, residing in Texas, to ascertain if conditions in Mexico would justify such a movement. At a conference held shortly thereafter, relative to this matter, it was decided inopportune to attempt colonization in the immediate future because of the frequent raids of Apache Indians in the northern states of the Mexican Republic. The death of President Young resulted in the missionaries being released to return home, in the fall of 1877.

In the summer of 1879, Dr. Platine Redakanaty, a cultured gentleman of Mexico City, accidentally came into possession of a Mormon doctrinal tract which so impressed him that immediately he addressed a letter to the First Presidency of the Church, requesting that a missionary be sent to enlighten him still further. The Presidency responded by sending three missionaries to the Mexican Republic with explicit instructions to establish a mission for the spread of Mormonism in that southern land. The chief responsibility of this mission was placed upon Moses Thatcher, an Apostle of the church. His associates were to be James Z. Stewart and M. G. Trejo who had previously been on a mission to Mexico.

On October 10, 1879 Apostle Thatcher was set apart for his mission by Church President John Taylor, the successor of Brigham Young as President of the Church, and on November 1, 1879,

(44)

Thatcher left for Mexico City by way of Chicago, New Orleans and Vera Cruz.

Upon his arrival at the Mexican capital in the middle of November, the Apostle established temporary headquarters at the Hotel Iturbide. The welcome extended the Mormon elders by Dr. Rodakanaty was most cordial and he invited them to hold religious services at his home. Needless to say the invitation was gratefully accepted and a fine group of investigators met to hear the Apostle expound the doctrines of his Church, his discourses being translated into Spanish by M. G. Trejo. Before the year had expired, 16 converts had become identified with the Church through baptism, and a branch of the Church had been established in Mexico City with Dr. Rodakanaty as the presiding elder. On January 25, 1880 Elder Moses Thatcher dedicated the land of Mexico to the spread of the gospel among the natives of the land and the establishment and growth of Mormon settlements throughout the Republic. He prayed that as the Spanish conqueror had foreshadowed bondage, the coming of the Gospel might foreshadow deliverance through the proclamation of divine truth.

Soon after his arrival in Mexico, Mr. Thatcher formed the acquaintanceship of Emelio Biebuyck, a Belgian gentleman of considerable influence in Mexico and familiar with Utah affairs, he having been in Utah upon three different occasions. Mr. Biebuyck had a most liberal concession from the Mexican government, granting him permission to establish colonies in any of the states of Mexico, the public land to be given free, together with a subsidy of $80.00 for adults and $40.00 each for children. Colonies were also to be exempted from taxes and from military duty for a period of twenty years. They could also bring into the country, free of duty, teams and wagons, agricultural implements, building materials, and provisions, pending the establishment of the colony or colonies. In casting about for colonists Mr. Biebuyck concluded that "the Mormons were the best colonists in the world." "With

(45)

the Mormons in Mexico," he said, "will come stable government and consequent peace and prosperity, and thereafter success to my business, and that is all I ask."

Mr. Thatcher was sufficiently taken up with the proposition that he left for Salt Lake City on February 4, 1880 to place the matter before the Presidency of the Church and the Quorum of Twelve. Mr. Biebuyck also appeared in person before the Council of the Church and laid before it his concession from the Mexican government. The Council, following a careful consideration of the matter, reached the conclusion "that the colonization of the Latterday Saints in Mexico at this time, even under the generous concessions of the contract mentioned, would be premature." Biebuyck was visibly disappointed.

In October, 1880, Elder Thatcher accompanied by a talented young man by the name of Feramorz Young returned to Mexico City. Soon after his arrival, through the courtesy of General Greenwood, formerly of Roanoke, Va., the Apostle was accorded an interview with several of the Cabinet officials of the country, among them being Señor Zarate, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernadez Leal, Minister of Fomento (public works and colonization) and Carlos Pacheco, Minister of War.

Leal had previously visited Utah and greatly admired the pluck of her enterprising and prosperous communities whom he regarded as the best colonizers of the world. To such people he said he would extend the hand of fellowship and hoped many of them would come to Mexico to make their homes. The one-legged hero of Puebla, General Pacheco, and the most powerful man in Mexico next to President Diaz, granted audience to Mr. Thatcher while scores of army officers stood without, waiting to be heard. The General was courtesy itself and without solicitation presented Mr. Thatcher with letters of introduction and recommendation to the chief executives of the various states of the Mexican union. Later the Apostle interviewed Señor Ignacio Mariscal, who had come to the head of

(46)

Foreign Affairs, of him, Mr. Thatcher had this to say: "A brainy man of brilliant attainments and a perfect gentleman, the master of several languages. He is familiar with the Saints from the beginning."

The year 1881 looked promising for the spread of Mormonism in the Southern Republic. On April 6, 1881, exactly fifty-one years after the organization of the Church, Mormon elders, under the leadership of Moses Thatcher, held the first conference of their Church in Mexico on Mount Popocatapetal. This mountain lies fifty miles southeast of Mexico City and is one of the highest mountains in the Republic, having an elevation of 17,000 feet. The devotees of the Church were a day and a half reaching the top but the inspiration that came to them above the clouds fully compensated them for the struggle they made. In August 1881, Elder Thatcher was able to report 61 baptisms since the establishment of the Mexican Mission. In the fall of 1881, he received his release to return home and accordingly made immediate preparations for the homeward journey. Accompanying him were Feramorz Young and Fernando Lara, a native convert, but the former took sick and died of typhoid pneumonia, aboard the vessel, and was buried at sea when within twenty miles of the Florida coast.

With the release of Moses Thatcher as President of the Mexican Mission, August Wilcken was exalted to that position. In May, 1882, Elder Anthony W. Ivins and Milson R. Pratt arrived in Vera Cruz as missionaries and on the following day left for Mexico City. Soon after arriving in the city, Elder Ivins received a letter from his cousin, Heber J. Grant an Apostle of the Church, asking him to look out for suitable places for colonization in Mexico and also to ascertain how the Mexican government would feel regarding the establishment of Mormon colonies near the boundary line. A short time previous to this President Wilcken had been instructed to investigate the San Bernardino Ranch which lay partly in Cochise County, Arizona, and partly in Mexico, with the view to purchasing it.

(47)

The ranch belonged to Juan Mariscal and he had offered to sell it for $13,500. Later he dropped the price to $11,000, Mexican silver, but the property was never purchased by the Church.

In the spring of 1883 Wilcken was released from his position and Moses Thatcher was again sustained as President of the Mexican Mission with Anthony W. Ivins as acting President. Two new elders, Helaman Pratt and Franklin R. Snow, arrived from Utah to augment the limited number of missionaries. But their arrival was offset by the departure in the following spring of Anthony W. Ivins and Milson R. Pratt who had been released with the request that they arrive in Salt Lake City in time for the April conference. The mission of Elder Ivins had been unusually successful, as evidenced in the fact that fifty-seven natives were brought into the Church under his personal administration.

After the release of President Ivins, Helaman Pratt was called to serve as the President of the Mexican Mission. Associated with him in the ministry were Franklin R. Snow, Isaac Stewart, Horace H. Cummings and William W. Cluff, but on July 23, 1885, Franklin R. Snow was released to return home, leaving but four elders to carry on the work. It was a small force but the elders were energetic and their work proved effective, judging by the numbers who were added to the Church.

Up to this time the Mormon missionaries had confined their labors chiefly to the territory in and near the city of Mexico, but in November 1887, A. M. Tenney, Peter J. Christofferson, Charles Edmund Richardson and Gilbert D. Greer were called on a mission to the State of Sonora. Their home was at Springerville, Apache County, Arizona, and their journey to their mission field was rather an arduous one, but they cheerfully engaged in the work, feeling that they had been divinely called. On February 9, 1888, they baptized fifteen converts, the first to accept Mormonism in what was called the "Sonora Mission." In May 1888,

(48)

the same year the missionaries crossed over the boundary line into Arizona, but early in June they recrossed again into Sonora to visit their recent converts. Late in June 1888 they returned again to the United States after having added a few more to the fold. Since leaving his home in Springerville, Elder Ammon M. Tenney reported that he had traveled over 2,000 miles, which is no mean distance when account is taken of the method of travel in those days.

The name of Ammon M. Tenney stands high among the valiant ones who gave of their services to the converting of the Lamanites (Indians). For about a quarter of a century he dedicated his life to that service and, like the faithful Catholic Fathers before him, who endured all to bring enlightenment to the aborigines of this continent, he suffered almost untold hardships and brooked the dangers of the deserts and mountains, wild animals and savage Indians to bring the Gospel of the Master to a benighted people. A report of his labors from November 1887, to September 1890, shows that Elder Tenney travelled 5,000 miles by team, horseback and on foot. During that time he preached 137 times and baptized 111 souls. The missionary work among the natives of Mexico continued until the turbulent times following the Madero Revolution when the Mormon elders were withdrawn because of intense opposition to all foreign ministers. At the time of the withdrawal of the Mormon elders, Rey L. Pratt was the President of the Mexican Mission. President Pratt was the son of Helaman Pratt and the grandson of Apostle Parley P. Pratt, one of the first group of Mormon missionaries to be called to preach to the Indians in this Dispensation.

Right Click mouse on image - then click on view image - to see enlarged photo

Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org