The Stories

WE KNEW HIMMargery Smith was a 51-year-old widow from Dundee, Scotland, who was emigrating with five children, May (22), Jane (17), Mary (15), Betsey (13), and Alex(6); and a close friend of the family, Euphemia Mitchell (22). Margery's oldest son, Robert Bain, had...

VEIL CROSSINGOn the 19th of October, 1856, the first winter storms began for the Willie Handcart Company. It would be Eliza Rowley's last day to walk, however, as she succumbed to the hardships near the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River. She was spared the...

UNITED JAMES AND ELIZA HURREN In 1851, two missionaries came teaching the restored gospel to those in Suffolk, England. Among the first people to accept their messages was James Hurren, and his brother in law George Reeder Before long, David Reeder, father to George,...

TRUST IN GODMarie Wilhelmina Catherine Krause (Madsen), known as "Mina," was born to German parents, Johan and Anna Krause, who lived in Denmark and operated a wheelwright nail factory which had belonged to Anna's first husband. Mina's mother had joined The Church of...

THEY REQUIRE MY ASSISTANCEFrom his efforts with the Mormon Battalion in 1846-47, to his missionary activities in Burma from 1853-55, to his faithful service in the Willie handcart company and to the end of his life, Levi Savage, Jr. was known for faithfulness in...

THE THORNTONJames G Willie served a  mission in England, he was released in 1856. Like many missionaries returning home, he was asked to assist the converts who were emigrating from Europe so they could gather to Zion. His first assignment came from his mission...

THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN MARY HURRANMary Hurren left England at the age of seven, accompanied by her grandfather, David Reeder; his children, Caroline and Robert Reeder; her parents, James and Eliza Reeder Hurren; and two little sisters, Emma and Sarah. A third sister,...

The Protecting Hand of the Lord Agnes Caldwell and Mary HurrenSome emigrant children made friend during the western migrations. Children played, explored, and often engaged in mischief. Two handcart pioneers, Mary Hurren (7) and Agnes Caldwell (9) were inseparable....

THE NURTURERAnn Malin (age 24) was employed as a cook on board the ship Horizon and also for the teamsters of the Hunt Wagon Company after reaching America. After a time, the food was nearly exhausted. The men cut the rawhide strips from the rims of the wagon wheels...

THE LIGHT THAT COMPREHENDETHArchibald McPhail emigrated from Scotland to America with his wife and two daughters in 1856. Their overland travel with the Willie Handcart Company also meant sharing a tent which housed about 20 fellow emigrants. Archibald was the captain...

TEARSBrigham Young's 1856 call for rescue included the request for the Saints in Utah to open their hearts and homes to the suffering Saints upon their arrival in the Valley. He took some of the most needy to his own home, stating: "I will take in all that others will...

SUSTENANCECaptain Willie and Joseph Elder went searching for rescue wagons that they hoped were near by. With "not a morsel of food in camp" while they were gone, Robert Reeder scavenged for whatever he could find: I myself have sat by the fireside with Brother Hurren...

SONGS TO ENCOURAGE USSusannah Stone had a gift--and a determination--to trust God, to recognize his hand in her life, and to see the good even during severe trials. "I have seen that the hand of the Lord has been over me for good from my earliest childhood," she...

SISTERS IN ZIONEmily and Julia Hill were 12 and 15 years old, respectively, when a cousin came to visit their prosperous home in England, sharing news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth in its purity. Julia was curious and Emily wanted to be baptized...

SACRED SACRIFICEArchibald McPhail emigrated from Scotland to America with his wife and two daughters in 1856. Their overland travel with the Willie Handcart Company also meant sharing a tent which housed about 20 fellow emigrants. Archibald was the captain of this...

RIDE TO ZIONAgnes Caldwell said: Only the infirm and aged were allowed to ride in the wagons, but all able-bodied continued to walk. When the wagons started out, a number of us children decided to see how long we could keep up with the wagons in hopes of being asked...

REVERENCE AT ROCK CREEKFour children from the Willie Handcart Company died and are buried in a common grave at Rock Creek Hollow, near South Pass, Wyoming. They were children of faith, courage and service to others. This painting honors all these children who suffered...

RESCUE ME (ROBERT TAYLOR BURTON)Describing the events of the 26th of November 1856, John Jacques of the Martin Handcart Company wrote: "The next camp . . . was in a small canyon running out of the north side of Echo canyon, a few miles above the mouth of the latter....

OUR JOURNEY HOMEArchibald McPhail emigrated from Scotland to America with his wife and two daughters in 1856. Their overland travel with the Willie Handcart Company also meant sharing a tent which housed about 20 fellow emigrants. Archibald was the captain of this...

MY ARMS FLEW UPJacob Hawn was one of the first settlers along Shoal Creek in northwestern Missouri. He built a mill and called the settlement Hawn’s Mill; it was about a day’s walk from the large Latter-day Saint center in Far West. Hawn was not a member of the...

MOTHER'S BACKMargery Smith was a 51-year-old widow from Dundee, Scotland, who was emigrating with five children, May (22), Jane (17), Mary (15), Betsey (13), and Alex(6); and a close friend of the family, Euphemia Mitchell (22). Margery's oldest son, Robert Bain, had...

MORMON BOY (GEORGE CUNNINGHAM)"We are now in the desert, or wilderness, a wave-like country without woods, only a few trees," wrote Peter Madsen, a Danish member of the Willie company, on August 17, 1856. It was George Cunningham's 16th birthday and his sister...

MINISTERINGJames G. Willie was diligent in caring for the Saints on the ship, who had many needs. "I believe there has never before been a company with so many old and young, halt, blind, and lame, from so many nations, that crossed the sea," wrote Anna Tait of...

LOOKING FORWARDSara Ann Oakey had early childhood memories that were not typical -- walking up a gangplank to a large sailing ship, receiving a hard sea biscuit for her fourth birthday a week later, riding more than a thousand miles in a loaded handcart, and being...

LET US PRAYWhile traveling across Nebraska Territory, severe thunderstorms occasionally threatened the Willie handcart company. Thirteen-year-old Betsey Smith gave a description of what happened in one of these instances: "The wind . . . kept blowing harder until it...

I'LL NEVER LET GOElizabeth Simpson Haigh Bradshaw was born into a family of wealth. Although she was orphaned at age nine, she continued to be raised as a child of privilege. By the time Elizabeth was 48 years old, she had been widowed twice, had five living children...

I WILL GOOn Sunday, October 26,1856, Brigham Young issued yet another of numerous calls for rescue of the handcart companies from the public pulpit. Many responded as quickly as possible, but Ephraim Knowlton Hanks had already been called by a voice during the night...

I ASKED GOD'S HELPAnn Jewell Rowley wrote: “There came a time when there seemed to be no food at all. Some of the men left to hunt buffalo. Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God’s help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering...

HOPEEllen Parkinson was 5 years old, the sixth of 9 living children of John and Ellen Smalley Parkinson, when she traveled with her family in the Martin Handcart Company. In 1837, John and Ellen were among the first converts to the Church in Preston, England. John had...

GATHERED IN HIS ARMSMargery Smith was a 51-year-old widow from Dundee, Scotland, who was emigrating with five children and a close friend of the family, Euphemia Mitchell. Margery's oldest son, Robert Bain, had emigrated in 1854, where he went to Lehi, Utah, and...

GATHER ROUND Jens and Elsie Nielson worked alongside others in Iowa City in preparing tents and handcarts for their journey. The Willie company was organized into five groups with approximately 100 Saints in each group. It was further organized into 5 tent-groups with...

DAY AFTER DAYThe Willie company faced their most trying day October 23, when they climbed the Rocky Ridge during a fierce snowstorm. Some pioneers travelled all day and night, arriving at camp at 5am. Thirteen people died and were buried in a common grave at Rock...

BE BRAVE, MY BOYPeder and Helena Mortensen had eight children ages 28-6; Morten (28), Kirstine (24), Anders (22), Hans (19), Lars (13), Mette (11), Mary (9), Caroline (6). As soon as Peder and Helena heard the gospel they accepted it quickly. The Mortensen family...

"About three or four years ago, an impression came to Julie.  This impression gave her a strong desire to paint Emma Hale Smith, the wife of the prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith Jr.  Julie wanted her painting to capture a certain feeling about Emma, reflecting...