The Comanche lived throughout much of northwestern Texas and eastern portions of the Mexican territory of New Mexico. They dominated the entire region—culturally, politically, and economically—and frequently sent raiding parties to the Gulf Coast in Texas and deep into central Mexico. Because of these raids, Americans tended to view the Comanche “as the great scourges of the Mexican north.” (See Hämäläinen, Comanche Empire, chap. 5; and DeLay, War of a Thousand Deserts, 237.)
Hämäläinen, Pekka. The Comanche Empire. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008.
DeLay, Brian. War of a Thousand Deserts: Indian Raids and the U.S.–Mexican War. Dallas: William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies, Southern Methodist University; New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008.
A few days later Brigham Young repeated similar comments at a public meeting in Nauvoo. “I will scarcely send a man out to preach,” he announced. “If the world wants preachers, let them come here, & if they do not want the Gospel, let them clean Carthage Jail.” (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 16 Mar. 1845.)
Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL