“This day Brothers Daniel Spencer and Charles Shumway were appointed to a mission to the west, to accompany Bro's Fleming and Otis and their papers being made out they started about two o'clock. I furnished these Lamanite schools with guns, clothing, and money to bear their expenses and may the Lord bless them and keep them in the paths of virtue and truth.” — Brigham Young¹

In August 1845, Joseph Herring and Moses Otis, two Mohawk converts baptized by Brigham Young, were sent on a mission to Indian Territory, accompanied by Daniel Spencer and Charles Shumway.^1,2 This was part of the Church's efforts to explore the West and establish connections with Native American tribes.

Lewis Dana, a member of the Oneida Nation and a Church member since 1840, had already led an expedition earlier that year to meet with Indian chiefs.³ Jonathan Dunham, Solomon Tindall, and Phineas Young, Brigham's brother, accompanied Dana on this mission.^4,5 Brigham Young and other Church leaders hoped to gather the Native Americans as part of the “scattered Israel” and establish a new settlement in the West, where they could live peacefully and practice their faith.⁴

1. Brigham Young, Entry for August 4, 1845, Journal, 1844 September 28- 1846 February 3, CR 1234 1, Church History Library

2. “Newly Baptized Mohawk Indians’ Mission to Indian Territory,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. “Dana, Lewis,” josephsmithpapers.org

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 46, 572-573

5. Jonathan Dunham - Biography, The Joseph Smith Papers