Description

The Miracle of the Quail

October 9, 1846, Potter’s Slough on the Mississippi River’s west bank. Thomas Bullock and others of the poorest of the Latter-day Saints were gathering what meager belongings they had and preparing to turn their backs on their beloved city of Nauvoo forever. They had been driven out of Nauvoo and across the River by angry and hateful mobs. They had been beaten, abused, and threatened. Several were mockingly “baptized” in the river in the name of the murdered prophet, Joseph Smith. Their city and homes were ransacked and looted by the mob and their sacred temple was desecrated, even the angel and ball on its top being pilfered.

It was growing late in the season. The nights were cold. They had little food, insufficient clothing, and meager shelter. Some were determined to reach the main body of the saints 300 miles to the west on the Missouri, and they set out, leaving the poorest of the poor huddled in a filthy swamp. They had 17 tents and 8 wagons with no oxen to pull them. Thomas Bullock was one of these. He was sick with lingering chills and fever and scarcely able to get around, yet he was a faithful record keeper.

Then, from the West, Captain Orville Allen came into camp with several wagons and a mandate to rescue as many of the stranded saints as possible. He organized them, gathered up what little they had and instructed them. If they had sufficient means they would go directly to Winter Quarters, but if not they would stop and work until they did.

On the morning of October 9, 1846, Captain Allen called all the men out who were well at the Cock’s crow and ordered them to build fires and prepare breakfast. Thomas Bullock arose with a terrible headache, and then it happened; several large flocks of quail flew into the camp, lighting on the wagons, the ground, even their breakfast tables. The men and boys ran about and caught them. The quail would lift off the camp, fly around and once more land in the camp allowing the suffering exiles to catch them easily. Bullock recorded,

“This morning we had a direct manifestation of the mercy and goodness of God in a miracle being performed in the camp….”

He describes the quail alighting and then says,

“The brethren and sisters praised God and glorified his name, that what was showered down upon the Children of Israel in the wilderness is manifested unto us in our persecution.”

That day, every man, woman and child in the camp had plenty to eat. To the astonishment of all, the quail continued to circle the camp throughout the day. At 4:30 that afternoon, Capt. Allen gave the order, and Bullock and the others began their journey to a new home somewhere in the west. As he left this scene of miracles, Bullock recorded this,

“I left the banks of the Mississippi, my property, Nauvoo, and the mob forever, and started merrily over a level prairie, amid the songs of quails and blackbirds, the Sun shining smilingly upon us….The scene was delightful….All things conspired for us to praise the Lord.”

I hope we never forget that the Almighty is always watching over us and He is merciful. Miracles happened then and still do. It is our heritage.