On this day in 1856 Brigham Young spoke about rescuing the handcart companies
Posted: October 5th, 2023, 7:27 pm
On October 5th 1856 Brigham Young spoke to the congregation about sending help to the handcart companies who were still hundreds of miles away from SLC because they left too late in the season. The Willie handcart company left Florence on August 16th and the Martin handcart company didn't leave Florence until August 25th. The Willie co didn't make it to SLC until November 9th and the Martin co didn't arrive until November 30th. Over 200 men, women, and children perished along the way. Here is part of what Brigham said that day:
https://historicalgeneralconferences.we ... r.html#BYa (read or listen)
"I will now give this people the subject and the text for the Elders who may speak today and during the Conference, it is this, on the 5th day of October, 1856, many of our brethren and sisters are on the Plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be—to get them here! I want the brethren who may speak to understand that their text is the people on the Plains, and the subject matter for this community is to send for them and bring them in before the winter sets in. That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save the people. We must bring them in from the Plains, and when we get them here, we will try to keep the same spirit that we have had, and teach them the way of life and salvation; tell them how they can be saved, and how they can save their friends. This is the salvation I am now seeking for, to save our brethren that would be apt to perish or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance."
Franklin D. Richards had this to say on the same day:
"The Saints that are now on the Plains, about one thousand with handcarts, feel that it is late in the season, and they expect to get cold fingers and toes. But they have this faith and confidence towards God, that He will overrule the storms that may come in the season thereof and turn them away, that their path may be freed from suffering more than they can bear. They have confidence to believe that this will be an open fall; and I tell you, brethren and sisters, that every time we got to talking about the handcarts in England, and on the way, we could not talk long without prophesying about them. On shipboard, at the points of outfit, and on the Plains, every time we spoke we felt to prophesy good concerning them.
We started off the rear company from Florence about the first of September, and the Gentiles came around with their sympathy, and their nonsense, trying to decoy away the sisters, telling them that it was too late in the season, that the journey would be too much for their constitutions, and if they would wait until next year, themselves would be going to California, and would take them along more comfortably. When we had a meeting at Florence, we called upon the Saints to express their faith to the people, and requested to know of them, even if they knew that they should be swallowed up in storms, whether they would stop or turn back. They voted, with loud acclamations, that they would go on. Such confidence and joyful performance of so arduous labors to accomplish their gathering will bring the choice blessings of God upon them."
I would encourage everyone to read/listen to all of the talks given that day. They seemed to be speaking with one voice. As I read about the accounts of some of the faithful who were in these companies my heart aches. Those saints have moved on of course but I would like to honor their memory and learn from what happened.
Elder Richards called the gentile warnings nonsense and implied the gentiles were trying to trick the sisters (decoy them) out of making the trip. RMN told members not to take counsel from those who do not believe just the other day. I know there's an entire post about that. I think that's why that quote popped into my head as I re-read the history. RMN said there is no end to the devil's deceptions. I wish he would have just said, "Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation." This direction allows one to listen to gentiles and prophets without being misled. The only voice we can trust in all things is the Spirit. I believe Paul and some of what RMN said.
“As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light. When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial and don’t question your testimony. The apostle Paul prophesied that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust. From prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost who will show unto you the things what ye should do. Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation. As you think celestial, your faith will increase.“
https://historicalgeneralconferences.we ... r.html#BYa (read or listen)
"I will now give this people the subject and the text for the Elders who may speak today and during the Conference, it is this, on the 5th day of October, 1856, many of our brethren and sisters are on the Plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be—to get them here! I want the brethren who may speak to understand that their text is the people on the Plains, and the subject matter for this community is to send for them and bring them in before the winter sets in. That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save the people. We must bring them in from the Plains, and when we get them here, we will try to keep the same spirit that we have had, and teach them the way of life and salvation; tell them how they can be saved, and how they can save their friends. This is the salvation I am now seeking for, to save our brethren that would be apt to perish or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance."
Franklin D. Richards had this to say on the same day:
"The Saints that are now on the Plains, about one thousand with handcarts, feel that it is late in the season, and they expect to get cold fingers and toes. But they have this faith and confidence towards God, that He will overrule the storms that may come in the season thereof and turn them away, that their path may be freed from suffering more than they can bear. They have confidence to believe that this will be an open fall; and I tell you, brethren and sisters, that every time we got to talking about the handcarts in England, and on the way, we could not talk long without prophesying about them. On shipboard, at the points of outfit, and on the Plains, every time we spoke we felt to prophesy good concerning them.
We started off the rear company from Florence about the first of September, and the Gentiles came around with their sympathy, and their nonsense, trying to decoy away the sisters, telling them that it was too late in the season, that the journey would be too much for their constitutions, and if they would wait until next year, themselves would be going to California, and would take them along more comfortably. When we had a meeting at Florence, we called upon the Saints to express their faith to the people, and requested to know of them, even if they knew that they should be swallowed up in storms, whether they would stop or turn back. They voted, with loud acclamations, that they would go on. Such confidence and joyful performance of so arduous labors to accomplish their gathering will bring the choice blessings of God upon them."
I would encourage everyone to read/listen to all of the talks given that day. They seemed to be speaking with one voice. As I read about the accounts of some of the faithful who were in these companies my heart aches. Those saints have moved on of course but I would like to honor their memory and learn from what happened.
Elder Richards called the gentile warnings nonsense and implied the gentiles were trying to trick the sisters (decoy them) out of making the trip. RMN told members not to take counsel from those who do not believe just the other day. I know there's an entire post about that. I think that's why that quote popped into my head as I re-read the history. RMN said there is no end to the devil's deceptions. I wish he would have just said, "Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation." This direction allows one to listen to gentiles and prophets without being misled. The only voice we can trust in all things is the Spirit. I believe Paul and some of what RMN said.
“As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light. When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial and don’t question your testimony. The apostle Paul prophesied that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust. From prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost who will show unto you the things what ye should do. Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation. As you think celestial, your faith will increase.“
Is Rob wrong about something surrounding the Willie and Martin co's?