There is no indication of whether the flag had 13 stripes to mimic the Union standard, or 12 to represent the tribes of Israel, as chosen by Wardle. Most historians agree the flag probably had 12 stars representing the tribes circling one large star representing Christ. Wardle said another flag has been described with three large stars representing the godhead in the center.

Maguire's assertion about the blue and white being flown on the peak has been largely disregarded for three reasons: because he wasn't there in 1847, because his intent was to call into question the patriotism of the Mormons and finally because there is more evidence that a bandana was waved from a walking stick.

Historian Ronald Walker believes the most likely item flown on Ensign Peak on July 26 was a yellow handkerchief with black spots owned by Heber C. Kimball — probably pulled off his neck. Quinn wrote that people have protested the seemingly impromptu nature of the gesture, but this version of the story came from an eyewitness account by someone who was watching from the bottom of the hill.

The Deseret News, among others in the 19th century, claimed that it was a U.S. flag flown — hence the mural. But Walker asserts that the only U.S. flag known to be in the possession of the first company was left behind at Winter Quarters.

In many ways the debate is trivial, but the existence of a "Kingdom of God" flag may have two points of relevance.

First, it may indicate that Young and other early church leaders believed in a literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of an ensign to the nations. Second, because it may confirm that church leaders had hoped to establish a theocratic kingdom independent of the United States.

Long after the white and blue flag was forgotten (Maguire claimed it was buried with Young,) Utahns continued to make their own flags to show pride. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort has a flag recreated to look like what is believed to have been an attempt at a homemade U.S. flag that flew there, but it may be an original design by the missionaries who founded the settlement.

The State of Deseret and Utah Territory flags popped up in different designs, although most included the image of a beehive that made its way onto the contemporary state flag. A design that is believed to be from 1851 when Utah first petitioned for statehood was found in a 19th century coloring book. It looks like a U.S. flag but instead of stars, it features an eagle with 13 small stars and one large star above its head and a beehive to the bottom right and a firing cannon to the bottom left.

The State Flag of Utah was adopted in 1913 and was originally designed for the battleship Utah by the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Prior to that, the flag used by the governor was light blue and the state seal was depicted in white.

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E-mail: akirk@desnews.com