President David O. McKay told of the experience of some of those early saints in the Martin handcart company. Many of these early converts had emigrated from Europe and were too poor to buy oxen or horses and a wagon. They were forced by their poverty to pull handcarts containing all of their belongings across the plains by their own brute strength. President McKay related an occurrence which took place some years after the heroic exodus:
“A teacher, conducting a class, said it was unwise ever to attempt, even to permit them [the Martin handcart company] to come across the plains under such conditions.”
Then President McKay quoted an observer who was present in that class: “Some sharp criticism of the Church and its leaders was being indulged in for permitting any company of converts to venture across the plains with no more supplies or protection than a handcart caravan afforded.
An old man in the corner … sat silent and listened as long as he could stand it, then he arose and said things that no person who heard him will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.
“In substance he said, ‘I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there, too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? …
“ ‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.’ ”
He continues: “ ‘I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.“ ‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.’ ”
We had such a great time at the Balloon Regatta in Page this weekend. We watched the balloons launch and fly each morning and on Saturday night they were all lined up on Lake Powell Blvd. Thanks, Wilsons, for a really fun weekend!
o face the water which was 19 degrees colder than our August trip to Lake Powell. Two month old Baby Ty was happy as long as the engine was running and he was all bundled up in his hoodie and blankets.
crack".
Ty Danford Evans was born this morning at 5:27 am, after a 13 hour labor. Poor Chels! He weighs 7 lbs 1 oz and is 19.5 inches long. He is, of course, beautiful! I got to hold him this morning when he was only 2 hours old.
I visit the most wonderful sisters: Anna Poulsen and Dolly Scharf. My fabulous partner is Rachel Beckstrand, who is darling. My own Visiting Teachers NEVER MISS A VISIT and I love them to death: Bunnie German and Susan Self. They give me the lesson and then we spend the rest of the time talking about guns and preparedness!!
