This is a picture that we saw several days ago and with the snow blowing around us here and the below zero weather we get, it really makes my heart ache for these incredible pioneers. If you click the picture it will enlarge it and you can see the pained looks on their faces. You can see the men, women, and children trying to make it through the storm and you can see the angels helping them. The story behind this painting is as follows:
"The Cart Began Pushing Me"
President David O. McKay, in an address given at an annual Relief Society Conference in 1947, the centennial year of the Saints' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, talked of the criticism given by a teacher conducting a class, who commented that it was very unwise to have even permitted the Saints to cross the plains under such circumstances, and they were talking about the Willie and Martin handcart companies who left later than they shoud have. President David O. Mckay said:
"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 (and this was written by Pres. William Palmer, who was present) 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, the gentleman above mentioned 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 every hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities!
"Ihave 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." (And a wife with a baby in her arms by his side.) "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."
1 comment:
We miss you! In your honor, we ordered snow and wind, and it arrived before Christmas. We have enjoyed the beautiful, white, fluffy stuff. It was fun to read your entries on your blog. What a great way to help us all share your mission experiences! I think I'll start dropping hints to Scot, about going to Wyoming this summer! :) Wait til he sees the deer pictures you posted. The rest will probably be easy. :) Happy New Year!!!
Love, The McGarys (Once a neighbor, always a neighbor)
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