
During
the years 1856 to 1860 there were ten handcart companies heading west to the
Salt Lake Valley. What many people may not know was that there was an 11th
company heading east pulling handcarts. Who was this 11th handcart
company?
a.
Brigham Young used
handcarts on his return journey to Winter Quarters in 1847
b.
An 1855 test to
determine if the handcarts would work
c.
The Mormon
Battalion used them going from California to Utah
d.
A number of
Elders heading east on missions in 1857
Yesterday’s answer:
b. Brigham
Young
As related by
Samuel P. Orton
In 1856 I crossed the plains in Captain Edward Bunker’s handcart
company. We got along very well until we ran short of flour; our rations being
a quarter of a pound of flour per day without trimmings. Being young and
healthy, I became very weak, and I prayed to the Lord that I might die; but my
prayers were not answered. One day, about this time, there came an old buffalo
past our camp; we killed him and I being very hungry ate some of the meat while
it was warm. This nearly killed me. I was so sick I had to leave my cart and
walk behind the company.
All at once a voice spoke to me and said, “Samuel are you here?” I said,
“Yes, I am here,” and turned to see who it was that spoke to me, but saw no
one. This set me to thinking what I was here for, and what I was going to Utah
for. I wanted to know if the Gospel was true, and if the Father and the Son did
appear to Joseph Smith and reveal it to him, and if Brigham Young was his
lawful successor. If so, I wanted to see when I got To Salt Lake City that halo
of light around the head of President Young that we see in pictures around the
head of the Savior. While this train of thought was passing through my mind I
had caught up with the company, feeling quite well, as my sickness had left me.
We soon after met a team from Salt Lake City with some flour for us; so we got
along all right during the rest of the journey. We arrived in Salt Lake City on
the 5th of October. The next morning, it being Conference, I went to
meeting in the old Bowery, and took my seat about the middle of the building.
The people were coming in “pretty lively.” I was watching to see if there was
any one that I knew, but saw no one. Then on looking toward the stand I saw
President Young there with the rays of light around his head as I had asked to
see while on the plains, and the same rays seemed to faintly encircle the
brethren on each side of him. Then the same voice that spoke to me on the
plains, said to me plainly: “Now Samuel if ever you apostatize, here is your
condemnation.” I looked around me to see if any of the people heard the voice,
but I thought they did not. This has ever since been a very valuable testimony
to me.
Instuctor, May 15, 1906.
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