Thank you, Brother Allred. What I got from reading your comments was that there were many, many Saints that helped in the rescue effort to bring their brothers and sisters to safety. I was reminded that all of us can help in the mission of saving, whether it is through family history, doing our home and visiting teaching, supporting and strengthening new members or searching for those who are stranded and are looking for a way to come back home. I so appreciate your thoughts and quotes!
Bob PowelsonSeptember 13, 2017
To put it simply Apostle Richards screwed up big time. That is not just my opinion but that of Brigham Young.
My family started with the Willie Company, my great, great grandfather Paul Gourley was asked to stay and help build more handcarts for the Martin Company and then to travel with them. Of his family of eight 2 died. My great grandmother was 8 years old, her sister nearly 12. So far as I can tell this two girls were the last two survivors, Janet died at nearly 90 years of age, and her sister 93.
There was indeed a great, almost miraculous effort made to save them. This effort strained the resources of the church but it was done and many were saved. But the efforts made to whitewash the errors do not help us learn.
The bottom line is that over 250 people died. Far too many. Levi Savage was right, he all but died with them. The experience made many of these simple people great.
When I think of my problems, big as they seem from time to time, the actions of my ancestors put those problems in perspective.
MorrisSeptember 12, 2017
Nice lesson and great points. One does need to research out historical facts, well documented as possible using as many different sources as possible, concerning the crossing of the sweetwater river there were many more than just those 3 and i don't believe any were 18. B.Y. is not recorded anywhere else as saying that, never taught it in meetings and the sole source for the quote changed the wording later. My source: The Martin Handcart Company at the Sweetwater, Another Look. Chad M. Orton, published in BYU studies. https://byustudies.byu.edu/file/5164/download?token=nJyqsfIw Lessons are applicable, please don't keep myth's alive. It just hurts.
susan nelsonSeptember 12, 2017
thank you Brother Allred - inspired and beautifully written.
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Donna StephensonSeptember 16, 2017
Thank you, Brother Allred. What I got from reading your comments was that there were many, many Saints that helped in the rescue effort to bring their brothers and sisters to safety. I was reminded that all of us can help in the mission of saving, whether it is through family history, doing our home and visiting teaching, supporting and strengthening new members or searching for those who are stranded and are looking for a way to come back home. I so appreciate your thoughts and quotes!
Bob PowelsonSeptember 13, 2017
To put it simply Apostle Richards screwed up big time. That is not just my opinion but that of Brigham Young. My family started with the Willie Company, my great, great grandfather Paul Gourley was asked to stay and help build more handcarts for the Martin Company and then to travel with them. Of his family of eight 2 died. My great grandmother was 8 years old, her sister nearly 12. So far as I can tell this two girls were the last two survivors, Janet died at nearly 90 years of age, and her sister 93. There was indeed a great, almost miraculous effort made to save them. This effort strained the resources of the church but it was done and many were saved. But the efforts made to whitewash the errors do not help us learn. The bottom line is that over 250 people died. Far too many. Levi Savage was right, he all but died with them. The experience made many of these simple people great. When I think of my problems, big as they seem from time to time, the actions of my ancestors put those problems in perspective.
MorrisSeptember 12, 2017
Nice lesson and great points. One does need to research out historical facts, well documented as possible using as many different sources as possible, concerning the crossing of the sweetwater river there were many more than just those 3 and i don't believe any were 18. B.Y. is not recorded anywhere else as saying that, never taught it in meetings and the sole source for the quote changed the wording later. My source: The Martin Handcart Company at the Sweetwater, Another Look. Chad M. Orton, published in BYU studies. https://byustudies.byu.edu/file/5164/download?token=nJyqsfIw Lessons are applicable, please don't keep myth's alive. It just hurts.
susan nelsonSeptember 12, 2017
thank you Brother Allred - inspired and beautifully written.
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