Bear Lake Stake Report

My brethren and sisters: I am very much pleased to have the opportunity of representing the Bear Lake Stake, though that pleasure would be increased if I were certain that I could speak so that the congregation might hear. It is not very pleasant to sit and not be able to follow the remarks of the speaker. I do not know how interesting my report may be, neither am I certain that I can interest you at all in reporting a country like Bear Lake, after the many very pleasant reports we have heard from presidents who live in more favored localities. The name of Bear Lake has been with many people the occasion of a cold chill coming over them, they laboring under impressions which they have received from reports made of the valley in the earliest times. I believe that Bear Lake is the oldest organized stake in Idaho. We are living 6,000 feet above sea level, and it is naturally a cold country in the winter. The winters have been long and the summers comparatively short, although, as I shall explain to you, there has been quite a change in the climate and in the length of the summer seasons, agreeable with the promises made by the leaders of the Church during their visits to that country. The first settlers went there in 1863, I believe, under the leadership of that noted pioneer and fatherly adviser, Apostle C. C. Rich. It was in the year 1870 that I was sent to labor in that country, and I have been there for 34 years, so I am well acquainted with the people and with their situation. One portion of the Bear Lake Stake has been taken from it and called Star Valley Stake, another portion has gone to the Woodruff Stake, and a small portion to one of the other Stakes in Idaho; but we now have, I believe, a larger population than we had before. Bear Lake has prospered, and the Church has prospered exceedingly in Idaho, for we now have ten Stakes of Zion in that State, and all the Stakes are growing and increasing in population, and doubtless in faith and good works. ¶

When I went to Bear Lake I found the people wrestling with untoward conditions. The country was quite frosty. Sometimes in the summer, when they expected a return from their labors in the fields, they were disappointed, in consequence of the action of the frosts. Many hardships were endured, which it is not necessary for me to take up time to refer to particularly; but the situation of the people was such during the early years of settlement, that it was necessary to haul almost all they needed for their support from other places, chiefly from Cache valley, which entailed a great deal of labor. Yet the people, trusting in the Lord and in the promises of His servants, continued to work and to build up, and we now have occasion to thank God for the fulfillment of the predictions of His servants. We now can raise grain without much fear of loss. Sometimes in certain places the frost touches the vegetation, and occasionally does considerable damage, but on the whole we are confident about raising the grain that we need. We have been quite self-contained in that valley in consequence of our situation in disposing of our products. We also raise all kinds of common vegetables. We do not raise potatoes quite as large as some we have heard of, but they are large enough to be handled conveniently, and they are of excellent quality, as are the other vegetables that are raised there. We tried to raise fruit in the beginning, but the frost stripped the trees. We planted out more, -- the frost took them; and so it continued until about 12 or 15 years ago, when we began to think about it a little more. President C. C. Rich used to advise us to get into that valley as soon as possible after the October conference lest we might be snowed out, and many who were out a little late had to take longer roads to get home in consequence, and I remember some companies being snowed out altogether. But now the people travel in and out almost till Christmas, so that the summer has stretched out considerably, and the winter is shortened probably six weeks or two months. Last winter we had more snow than we had for several winters, but some of the brethren traveled occasionally during the entire winter. ¶

When we speak of the favorable changes that have appeared in connection with many things, we are reminded by some people that such changes are common in all valleys after settlement, cultivation, building of houses, the making of so many fires, and so on -- as much as to say that there is nothing at all remarkable about these changes. Now, I have no disposition to say that changes of this kind are not brought about in this way, but it does not lessen in the least degree the thankfulness in my heart toward God for His goodness in bringing about the changes in any way He pleases. The Lord does His work among us in many ways. The means employed sometimes appear in part, and at other times they are not plain to us, yet we have a right to say that God has done it. It does not matter to a Saint how the Lord brings about changes in fulfillment of His declarations through His servants, so long as they come. Hence we acknowledge His hand in all things. There is one peculiarity to which I might refer to aid us in our talks upon this point. It snowed a great deal in that country in the beginning, much more than it does now, and every time after a snow a strong wind arose from the north, not so strong as those winds which used to blow occasionally near Farmington, but strong enough to blow the snow from the benches down upon the towns, and against the buildings and fences, sometimes covering up the fences completely. This probably gave rise to some extravagant stories about Bear Lake valley. Now, although the beginning of the cessation of those winds was not particularly noticed by us, yet after a time we did observe that the winds ceased, and now we have no such winds to contend with. These winds were a great hardship to the people and productive of much labor, the roads being filled up in a few hours, and people much inconvenienced by the snow being piled up against their houses. And now that these winds have actually ceased, how shall we account for it? We may admit the cultivation theory in reference to the changing of the climate, but what shall we say about the cessation of the winds? Why, the Lord has done this as He has done other things for His people. In this case, however, we cannot make any reasonable explanation as to how it has been done. We now raise grain, and vegetation of every kind. It is a good hay country, and we are raising fruit which is as good, and I might say a great deal better than most of the fruit that is raised in these lower valleys; for we have no worms, and, what is better, if the testimony of an expert is to be taken, we are not likely to be troubled with them, as the altitude and climate are against the propagation of the pests, according to his statement. So we have fruit limited in quantity only by the efforts made to plant the trees. We have a glorious valley in the summer. We have many visitors in the summer time, and the old stories about the country are being forgotten in consequence of the good reports given by our friends who visit us in the summer time. Altogether we are doing fine; the Lord has blessed us and we acknowledge it. We have a fine lake in our valley-- as beautiful a sheet of water as I have seen in some of the continental countries. The borders of the lake, though not improved much yet, are girded by the wild cottonwood tree, and in some parts it is a beautiful sight. The tired visitor may sit upon the golden sands of our lake, bathe his tired feet in the waters, if he is so disposed, and, reclining back under the scent of the sagebrush and the wild rose, may dream of happier days. ¶

The people of the Bear Lake stake feel exceedingly well. Our meetings are well attended. Our visitors from Salt Lake whom the Presidency kindly send us to attend our conferences and ¶

other meetings of a general character, understand that our people are good meeting attenders. The people pay their tithing so well that the Presiding Bishop says that we are in the first rank. So, take it all in all, we rejoice very much, and I believe I can say, judging from reports, that there are fewer of our people moving away from Bear Lake than from many other places. We rejoice in the work of the Lord. We uphold the authorities of the Church unanimously, and we are thankful for the goodness of our Heavenly Father to us as a people in the Bear Lake stake. ¶

As for myself, I have been in the Church for a long time, having embraced the Gospel in 1848. I have been honored with missions to different lands and among different peoples, and I have naturally made the acquaintance of the leading men of the Church; and I want to say to our stranger friends here that I have never seen nor heard of anything that has weakened my faith in the divinity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have met with a great many of those authorities of the Church that are spoken disrespectfully about, but I repeat I have not seen or heard one thing to disturb my faith in this work with which I have been so long connected. ¶

May the blessings of God be multiplied upon the Latter-day Saints, and may great power be given to those who represent them at home and abroad, that the fulfillment of the predictions of the Almighty may speedily come to pass. This is my prayer and desire in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶