In 1848 Brigham Young proposed that the Council of Fifty “plant a colony at the head of the Gulf,” referring to the Gulf of California (another name for California Bay). During the discussion that followed, Thomas Bullock likewise identified the gulf as the location favored by JS. Bullock related that “the first time he heard this subject touched upon it was by Joseph Smith He had his finger on the very place on the map. . . . Joseph said while his finger was on the map pointing to the Gulph he wanted to take this people to a place where they would live and not die.” (Minutes, 6 Dec. 1848, Council of Fifty, Papers, 1844–1885, CHL.)
Council of Fifty. Papers, 1844–1885. CHL.