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.