Here are real but fun stories of the Mormon Pioneer trek of 1847.

Although you may not have heard these stories in Sunday School or at LDS Seminary, it appears truthful, as it is reported as journal entries of Andrew Jenson, the Assistant LDS Church Historian, assigned to make daily entries of the first 143 people; 72 wagons and 247 animals of Mormons coming to Utah across the plains. The stories were printed in The Salt Lake Tribune during April, 1934, and bound in book form. Even though the Mormons had the Word of Wisdom, they carried "Bacco" to trade for peace among the Indians; coffee, tea and strong drink. On Sunday, May 23, 1847, they took care of a rattlesnake bite. "The brethren administered a dose of lobelia after given him a strong drink of alcohol and water". It would have been quite a scene to have see thousands upon thousands of buffalo grazing to the point where the entire countryside was black with darkness. They saw wolfs staring at them for lunch, and as "big as a two year old steer". If you are an LDS Bishop, and think you have it rough, consider Brigham Young who thought "Indians, accidents, lost animals and poor food were the least of the trials as the leaders had to put up with malcontents among the 143 pioneers".