New Portage, a village about sixty miles south-west from Kirtland was
selected as a gathering place, and from this point on the 8th of May, 1834,
one hundred and fifty men started for Missouri. They were organized in
regular army order, having officers to see that everything on the march
was done properly. Joseph was the leader.

The distance from Kirtland to Missouri is one thousand miles. That long
journey was not an easy one. The wagons were heavily loaded, and as the
roads were poor there was very little riding. Often the men would have to
help drag the loads over the bad places. Every Sunday the camp rested and
held meetings. Sometimes the people, suspecting they were "Mormons" would
annoy them, so that guards had to be placed around the camp. People were
also curious to know what this strange company of men was and where it was
going. Spies followed the company for many miles. There were some boys in
camp, and the inquisitive people thought it an easy matter to find out
everything from the boys.

"My boy, where are you from?" they would ask.

"From the east," was the answer.

"Where are you going?"

"To the west."

"What for?"

"To see where we can get land cheapest and best."