Sunday, November 30, 2008

Come, Come Ye Saints

This is a special day for our family. On this day, 152 years ago, the surviving members of the Edward Martin Handcart Company reached the Salt Lake Valley. The company left Iowa City, Iowa with 575 saints, on July 28. 145 of these pioneers perished enroute, due to the freezing cold and starvation. Among the survivors were my great-great-great grandparents, Joseph and Mary Moss and their six children, ranging in age from 21 to 8. Also, in the same company, and also surviving was Jeff's great-great-great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Haydock and her daughter, also Jeff's grandmother, Mary Haydock (later Luke). You can read a good, yet heartwrenching account of the crossing here. I'm sitting here at the computer crying as I read the journal entries.

We had a really nice dinner after church today and talked about our pioneer family from the Martin Handcart Company. Reading the account of the unbelievable sacrifices that were made, especially after eating such a filling meal, was heartbreaking. I know I speak for all of us herewhen I say that we are so grateful for that sacrifice. Words cannot express, nor our tears convey our feelings. Today, we often speak of sacrificing for what we know is right. 152 years ago, so many saints made the ultimate sacrifice. For their examples of bravery and obedience, we say, Thank you.

4 comments:

Deb said...

you're awesome, maria. i'll have to bring this up in conversation tomorrow. i didn't realize the anniversary was today. it amazes me that anyone from those two handcart companies survived. i totally sympathize with the younger mary sitting down in the snow and waiting for the wolves.

EmHy said...

Yeah that is great, I did not know that Hyrum had a relative in that company. I am way impressed, your blog is changed and ready for the holiday, your keeping up on your family history, and you have already decorated the christmas tree?! Can I come live at your house?

The Prestwich's said...

Thank you for the reminder. How awesome is your family history!? Jeez!

Rebekah said...

Jon, too, has an ancestor in the company: Daniel Tyler. His name is in the records, but there are no stories about him. Which is weird, because his journal of the Mormon Batalian is the most quoted...