How Beautiful Upon the Mountains

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace …” Isaiah 52:7

Frederick William Hurst - Self Portrait

This scripture has taken on new meaning while reading the diary of Frederick William Hurst, my Great, Great Grandfather, who is well known for his delightful journal accounts of preaching far and wide, from New Zealand to Australia, Hawaii and the western United States. In the chronicles of his travels as a missionary, it is easy to see that his feet were well used in “bringing good tidings”. His feet were truly dedicated to the work of salvation as he wore out his boots over and over again walking the earth spreading the gospel.

I love reading his diary; in a recent re-reading I began to notice how many times he mentions his feet. A word search turned up the word “boots” twenty-five times  in his story, “shoes” are referred to twenty-one times, “feet” twenty-one more times and “barefoot” fourteen times. Most references are of painful feet or the longing for new boots to clad his bare feet. I didn’t count the number of blisters and sores recorded, but they were numerous. Let me share a few examples from Frederick’s writings.

 In July, 1855, Frederick was asked to go on a mission among the natives on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. From the very beginning of this missionary service, boots were important. As he prepared to go: “I wanted a great many things, and didn't have any money.  Besides I needed three dollars to pay my passage to Molokai.  I therefore sold a pair of boots for four dollars …”
By November he had apparently worn out his remaining boots and recorded: “My boots had just given out when we got to this place. One of the brethren gave me a pair of low shoes, so when I have begged a pair of socks somewhere I shall be set up.” 

Apparently the begging for socks was unsuccessful; on December 18^th Frederick writes, “My feet were so sore I could scarcely walk owing to my shoes being very low and one nearly off my foot and no socks.”

A month later, on January 20^th, Frederick is still in need of footwear. In a church meeting he pled for assistance, “Being very near barefoot, I got up and told the Saints my pilikia (trouble), whereupon one cried out he would give me a pair of boots; but when I got to the house they were lent to a Brother who was gone to Oahu.  Another Brother offered me his but they were too big.” 

The problem was not solved that week; on the following Sunday, January 27th, his diary states that the Saints collected two dollars and thirty seven cents towards buying him a pair of shoes. One Brother in attendance suggested a way to earn money for shoes, announcing that Frederick, a gifted artist, would draw likenesses in pencil for a fee of 25¢ for Saints and 50¢ for sinners.  Seven in attendance requested a portrait, but it was not recorded how many of these qualified for the discount.

The next day, January 28^th, Frederick borrowed a horse and traveled nine miles to buy a pair of shoes, but did not succeed. One can surmise that this was due to a lack of sufficient funds, because Frederick began to draw portraits in earnest. On January 29^th he mentions painting a likeness of a native for which he charged $2.00. Either the price had gone up, or this was an extremely sinful native. Over the course of the next two weeks, twelve different painting and sketching sessions are listed in his writings.

An example of Frederick's pencil "likenesses"

On January 31^st, boots were finally purchased, perhaps not a good fit for on February 15^th he again complains of boot trouble: “I walked nearly all the way from Waiakane barefoot for my boots hurt my feet.” 

In May, the footwear dilemma again arises: “I am just barefoot and at present a very poor prospect of getting a pair.  The President of the branch offered me his boots but they were much too large.” 

Frederick must have been elated on June 5^th when he records a purchase of boots for $6.00.

Lest you get the impression that Frederick simply liked to complain, amidst the previous passages appears this marvelous entry, “I spent the day pleasantly thinking how much better off I now am than I was before I became a member of the Kingdom of God, not in the things of this world, for I have only a suit of clothes and they have seen their best days, for I see my elbows begin to show through my coat sleeves.  I am almost barefoot.  I have an old pair of low shoes and every now and then I have to take them off and empty the sand out of them as the roads are very sandy and heavy.  I have no socks so I will leave the reader to imagine the state of my feet, especially when I arrived at the end of my journey.  If I had liked I could have made myself miserable, but no!  I put my trust in the Lord and He blessed me with a light heart.  I do not look for my reward in this life; I look for it in the world to come."

Let me add one final reference to boots; a story much later in his life when he is traveling with his brother Clement on a trek from Salt Lake City to Echo Canyon: “As my boots were considerably better than his (his being out at the toes) it was with some difficulty I persuaded on him to take mine.” This sacrifice occurs in April, only a few days after an entry mentioning a “very heavy storm of snow and a cold wind”. 

Frederick William Hurst is a hero to me; ever willing and eager to do whatever was required of him, in spite of hardship and suffering. His feet, though often blistered and sore, were definitely some of those Isaiah referred to as “beautiful upon the mountains".