1844 - The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote an article called "Pacific Innuendo," which gave a brief history of the Church in Illinois and explained the Church's desire for peace with all people. He wrote, "Wise men ought to have understanding enough to conquer men with kindness" and "Our motto, then, is Peace with all!" (History of the Church, 6:219-220). In contrast, the anti-Mormons, in fear of the political and military power of Joseph and the Church, held a convention in Carthage, Illinois, to devise a plan to expel the Saints from the state.

1846 - Brigham Young was busy organizing the Camp of Israel in Sugar Creek, Iowa. In the morning he spoke to the Saints from a wagon saying "We will have no laws we cannot keep, but we will have order in the camp." In the afternoon, several of the Twelve Apostles in the camp met in council to discuss a proposal from Samuel Brannan concerning the move to the west. He had negotiated a contract that would give half the lots in the new city over to A. G. Benson and Company, a land development company, in exchange for the guarantee from the government that they would not stand in the way of their move west. The Apostles discussed the contract and felt it was not desirable, but that they would place their trust in God and not sign an "unjust and oppressive agreement" (History of the Church, 7:591).