| 70 nation, while the government of the United States should pass away, and "in the days of their prosperity shall their destruction come upon them; in the midst of their rejoicing shall they lament, and in the midst of victory shall they be visited with defeat; in the midst of their liberty shall a tyrant rule over them; and to escape from all these evils many shall repent and flee to the land of safety, and receive their inheritance with the righteous nation, unto whom wisdom shall be given, that they shall never be overcome or destroyed; for by the power of God shall they be protected, that no power under the whole heavens shall prevail against them, but an everlasting kingdom shall be."-Olive Branch, vol. 1, pp. 39, 40.
The Writings of Esdras contain also extensive instruction and laws for the political and religious government, as also the platting of cities and farms, in the promised land of "Bashan."
The first company to start for this future Zion was organized at Independence, Missouri, July 15, 1850, with Jackson Goodale captain. It appears that J. C. Brewster was with them, as he writes to Olive Branch several times enroute, though his name is not mentioned in the list as published. The list with number in each family is found in Olive Branch for October, 1850, and is as follows:-
"Jackson Goodale 7. W. O. Wilder 4.
"Z. H. Brewster 10. George Meeter 10.
"John Prior 2. William W. Lane 3.
"Ira Thompson 6. J. B. Wheeling 7.
"John W. Crandal 9. A. Patching 7.
"A. W. Lane 5. O. F. Beckwith 1.
"William J. Conner 3. Robert Kelly 1.
"Royce Oatman 10. John Kelly 1.
"John Richardson 4." (Olive Branch, vol. 3, p. 37.)
This company with twenty-seven wagons, two hundred head of cattle, and a few horses started from Independence on August 6, 1850. Accounts of their journey were written by the way by J. C Brewster and others. Mr. Brewster wrote from Socorro, New Mexico, January 16,1851, stating that on December 4,1850, he and a part of the company
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