Gratitude

During a funeral yesterday for a precious six month old little girl, I gazed upon this tiny casket and was grateful. At this time of year we are reminded to focus on family and blessings of lasting importance. 

Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

As I looked and listened yesterday to messages of love, eternal families and the promises of temple sealing and covenants, my heart was full of thanksgiving. I was especially thankful for this place, one of the most important places for me personally on this earth:

In this building, on December 10, 1953, my parents covenanted with each other and with the Lord to be together for eternity. Their two children, Sherry and Kevin, were sealed to them on that day as a forever family. My sisters, Sandi, Louise and Carol, and I were born into this family covenant which promises eternal ties. 

I didn't meet Louise or Carol in this earthly existence and two tiny caskets were needed for them shortly after birth. Because of the temple promises, our family will one day all be together. 

Many years later, in 1979, I entered this temple as a bride and was sealed to my wonderful eternal companion. My sons were born into that covenant of an eternal family unit.

Many other family members have been endowed, married, and sealed in this beautiful temple and other dedicated temples around the world. Some of these sacred vows have been performed live, others vicariously. 

It was also in this hallowed building that my angel Mother began her journey home to her Heavenly Father. Because of the promises made and received in the temple, we know that we will be with her again if we live worthily.

There is so much to be grateful for because of the blessings of family and of the temple. 

Samuel Fuller, Pilgrim Father

Prominently among those credited with the formation of the Pilgrim Church in 1605 is the name Samuel Fuller, the brother of my 10^th Great Grandfather, Thomas Fuller.

It has been said, “The Pilgrims were not remarkable men … but they did possess fine qualities for the work which they were destined to accomplish, remarkable energy, faith, purpose, courage and patience.” (“Women of the Mayflower” by  Annie Russell Marble)

These admirable men were bound together by a common religious faith, but not common social status, representing all the different classes of English life. Yet, humbly they merged to form a community, each contributing to the good of the whole. Samuel was the son of a butcher, and before he moved from England to Amsterdam with the Pilgrim movement, had acquired sufficient education to practice medicine. Nevertheless, for the good of the group, he also learned the practical trade of “say weaver”, or the weaver of fine textured cloth (silk).

Samuel's life had not been easy. Prior to boarding the Mayflower, he had buried his first two wives, Alice Glascock and Agnes Carpenter and had wed his third bride, Bridget Lee. Bridget did not sail with him to America, staying behind with plans to join her husband later, after a settlement was established.  Samuel took with him a young servant, a fatherless adolescent boy named William Butten, who was the only passenger to die during the voyage itself, passing away three days before land was sighted.

At the conclusion of the crossing, in Cape Cod, on the 11th day of November, 1620, a platform of government known as the Compact was drawn on the lid of a chest on board the ship, and signed by forty-one of the principal men.

Although the original document has not been found, transcriptions of the period record that Great Uncle Samuel was the 8^th signer of The Mayflower Compact, which read as follows (SIC):

"In the name of God, amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. 

IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini, 1620."

The Mayflower finally set anchor in Plymouth Harbor in December, 1620. A year of extreme hardship and sacrifice followed. With sickness rampant, Samuel served diligently as physician and surgeon. His skills were also offered to native Americans who were injured during skirmishes with the settlers.

Samuel also played a prominent role in the church congregation, serving as Deacon in the church in Plymouth, a role quite different from Deacon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

In early autumn of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest, as was the English custom.  That 1621 celebration is remembered as the "First Thanksgiving in Plymouth."

Great Uncle Samuel is listed as one of the twenty-two men present.

As a deeply religious people, the Pilgrims undoubtedly prayed at the 1621 harvest feast. Their prayers were spontaneous  and the exact words are not known. A typical prayer of gratitude of the period, as recorded in 1625 gives us an idea of what  this Thanksgiving prayer may have included (SIC):

“O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of Thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation: and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we doe hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.”

Samuel died in 1633, one of at least ten who succumbed to a smallpox epidemic in Plymouth.  This is recorded in the writings of William Bradford (SIC): 

".... and in the end, after he had much helped others, Samuel Fuller who was their surgeon and physician an had been a great help and comfort unto them.  As in his faculty, so otherwise being a deacon of the church, a man godly and forward to do good, being much missed after his death. And he and the rest of their brethren much lamented by them and caused much sadness and mourning amongst them, which caused them to humble themselves and seek the Lord; and towards winter it pleased the Lord the sickness ceased."

  

Seeing the Good

On this day, one hundred and twenty years ago, Ethel Hurst was born in Hyde Park, Utah. She is shown here, 100 years ago, in 1915, with her siblings.

Ethel is seated third from the left on the front row

Ethel married Robert Rector Speas and became a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.  She spent her life using her many talents to bless the lives of everyone around her. 

Perhaps Ethel's greatest talent was the ability to consistently see the good in others. Although the small community in which she lived, Woodville, Idaho, was idyllic, not everyone who lived there was perfectly good, except to Ethel's eyes. Her words were always kind and uplifting about others. Of course, as with all talents, this was not simply a gift, it was practiced over a long period of time until it became part of Ethel's very nature. A very close acquaintance in her community beautifully described her  talent: "I never heard Ethel say anything bad about anyone."

Ethel's granddaughter, Marsha

Ethel became very important in the life of this little girl, me. A seemingly insignificant event that happened when I was about five illustrates how my Grandma Ethel strengthened others through her talent of seeing good.

One day Grandma joined my Mom and I on a routine trip to the grocery store. After our shopping was done and we were on our way home, Grandma reached over the car seat and handed me a nickel. That doesn't seem like much today, but in 1963, a nickel was a lot to me. 

Grandma sweetly told me she was so proud of me - my behavior that morning had been the very best and I hadn't begged for a single thing during the whole excursion. 

Grandma Speas

Why do I still remember that tiny little experience fifty-two years later? Because Grandma made me feel so good about myself, and it was genuine, not phony. I knew that her praise was earned and that her words were true. I don't know how long of a wait it was, or how many shopping trips preceded this one, but Grandma patiently waited for an occasion to reward me with positive words. 

Grandma practiced that same patience and positive reinforcement with everyone. I love her so much and honor her today on her birthday.

Two books

Take a look at the home of my Great, Great Grandparents, Richard Brooks and Johanna Evans Goodworth in Kamas, Utah. 

Richard was born in England and came to Utah in  a handcart company of Mormon immigrants.

Richard's formal education was limited to the 6th grade, but his thirst for knowledge didn't stop as he left the schoolroom; he continued to learn through self-education. His life story lists only two books that he studied and absorbed, but these two provided what he needed  in sacred and secular learning.

1. The Bible - Richard was known as quite a Bible student. With a remarkable memory, he not only studied this sacred book, histories state that he could quote much of the Bible from memory giving chapter and verse. 
2. The dictionary was said to be his constant companion and he used it almost continually.
   

Richard's example of perpetual learning and making the most of what you have available is inspiring to me. With vast amounts of information available instantaneously through electronic access, the skills of study and memorization are sometimes neglected in our day. 

Richard must have understood and believed the principle that is now included in the Doctrine and Covenants 130:18. This section includes instruction that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave in 1843:

•  "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." 

I hope to meet my Great, Great Grandfather someday and maybe he'll teach me a thing or two.

Faith and Finances

Winfield Hurst

My grandma had a favorite brother named Winfield. I like to think he had a favorite little sister, named Ethel. They were nearly four years apart, but very close and loyal to one another throughout their lives. 

Winfield was called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States Mission, where he served with Elder Clinton R. Thorne. These missionary companions developed a great respect for each other and when the time came for Winfield’s release, the Thorne family invited him to visit their home, as they had come to feel as if he were a family member, through their son’s glowing reports.

         

My suspicion is that the Thorne’s had plans for the returning Elder, for soon after he arrived everyone seemed to be exceptionally busy with work to do, except their daughter Arvella, who was surprisingly free to entertain Winfield.  He soon recognized her as an “unusual and superior young woman”, but he didn’t dare let himself fancy her as more than a friend, for she was popular, with a home and parents that could give her everything, while he felt he had little to offer.

After an extended visit, the pair continued their courtship through letters, which Arvella said were few and far between and terribly lacking in romance, but I’m sure you have already guessed that the two fell in love and were married.

Winfield was right about having little to offer in the way of temporal means, but the couple pooled their faith and spiritual resources in a way that supported and sustained their large family and brought them much happiness.

An article in the Deseret News on December 6, 1941, describes how this faithful partnership succeeded:

The story was captioned: 

• Nine years after starting life anew with nine children, Bishop Winfield Hurst of Declo, Idaho, has paid off a farm mortgage and is completely out of debt, because of his family’s special effort to live the Gospel as advised by Church leaders.

The article then told Winfield and Arvella's story in his own words:

Winfield and Arvella's Family

“For several years we lived in the Milk River Valley of Montana.  We weren’t well satisfied with conditions there as we had a large family of small children and they were deprived of many opportunities enjoyed by children who live in an organized ward.  

So in the fall of 1932 we decided to leave and go to a place where conditions were more favorable to rearing a family.

This was at a time when the depression had reached its worst stage, and to pick up and move with a family of small children to a place where we were unacquainted was a big undertaking and a great responsibility, but after a lot of serious and prayerful thought we moved to Declo in the Burley Stake.  Here we purchased an 80-acre farm.  

After the expense of moving we were able, by practicing strict economy, to make a down payment of $1,000 on a farm.  Then we went to work.

President Heber J. Grant

We had nine children, the oldest a girl of 13.  How to pay for our home was our problem.  

We were familiar with the advice of President Heber J. Grant who said, ‘If you want to get out of debt pay a full and honest tithing.’  We had always paid our tithing, but now resolved to make a special effort to see that this law was complied with in full, for we recognized Heber J. Grant as a prophet of the Lord and also the Lord’s mouthpiece here on earth.  We also believed in the words of the Lord as found in the Doctrine of Covenants:

I the Lord am bound when you do what I say, but when you do not what I say, you have no promise.

Times have not been what one would call good since we located here.  During that time three more children have come to our home, making twelve in all.  We have enjoyed a good, comfortable living during these nine years, and a few days ago when the sugar refinery paid for our beets we were able to make the final payment on the farm mortgage and now we are free from debt.  

This is only additional evidence to us that it pays to follow the counsel of Church Authorities, and that the Lord will surely make good His promises.”

Now we can see why Grandma admired and respected her older brother Winfield. He has been an inspiration to many through his faithful obedience and thrift.

A Shock of Corn Full Ripe

Richard Warren - to right of center in rear

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful for Richard Warren, my eleventh Great Grandfather. (Without going into detail, suffice it to say that I descended from him through the Chase line.) I am equally appreciative for his remarkable wife, Elizabeth Walker Warren.

Mayflower

Richard was born in 1578. He married Elizabeth and they became the parents of five beautiful daughters. He came to America on the Mayflower, alone, in 1620. Elizabeth waited three years before bringing her daughters, aboard the ship Anne, to join their father in the New World.

Annie Russell Marble, author of The Women Who Came in the Mayflower described Elizabeth as a “companion of good breeding and efficiency”. She further editorialized of the five daughters, “it is safe to assume they were attractive for, in a few years, all were well married.”

Two more sons were born to the family in America before Richard’s death in 1628. The New England Memorial recorded his death with honor in this manner (SIC): 

“This year (1628) died Mr. Richard Warren, who was an useful instrument and during his life bare a deep share in the difficulties and troubles of the first settlement of the Plantation of New Plymouth.”

Elizabeth Walker Warren

Evidently Elizabeth was a woman of independent means, for she never remarried.

An interesting insight into Elizabeth’s faith, fortitude and character is found in the Court Records wherein her servant was prosecuted for (SIC), “speaking profane and blasphemous speeches against ye majestie of God. She (Elizabeth) exhorted him to fear God and doe his duty.”

The widow Elizabeth survived her husband for forty-five years, living to the age of ninety-three, a remarkable lifespan for that generation, leaving seventy-five great grandchildren.

At the time of her death, The Old Plymouth Colony Records paid her tribe (SIC), “Mistress Elizabeth Warren, having lived a Godly life came to her Grave as a Shock of corn full Ripe. She was honourably buried on the 24^th of October (1673).”

The Evolution of a Name

Where did the name McCracken originate and how has the name evolved through time? 

This is a fun question to research and there nearly as many opinions and theories as there are experts. Here are a few highlights:

Heritage:  I’ve long been told that my heritage is Scotch-Irish, which I always assumed meant a mixture of Scottish and Irish blood lines, but many reputable sources argue with that reasoning. Instead, they boldly claim that the label Scotch-Irish refers to people of Irish descent who moved to Northern Ireland and resided there for a short time before immigrating to North America. That sounds reasonable, but nevertheless, in our case, there seems to have been more than more than one move back and forth between Scotland and Ireland, so there is a good chance we are an exception to the above rule.

Spelling: I quickly learned in elementary school that it was necessary to verbalize the capitalization when spelling my name, “Capital M, little c, Capital C, r, a, c, k, e, n, - no spaces.”  

Although that is the correct way for our modern family tree, a preliminary family history search returns a myriad of variations on the name, including: MacCracken, MacCraken, MacCrackan, MacCrackin, McCraken, McCrackan, McCrackin, McCraccan, McCrekan, MacCrachen, McCraikane, M'Craken, Makcarkan, Makcrakane, Makcraken, Makcrakane, M'Crekane, M'Crokane, McKraken, McKrachin, McKeracken, M'Krekane. 

No wonder some of our ancestors said, “Mack, just Mack, will do just fine.” Brilliant!

Variations: How did all of these variations come to be? The first logical reason would seem to be that few common laborers were trained in writing, spelling and phonetics; genealogies were recorded by oral historians.  That is true and the word “oral” is the key to the puzzle. To put it another way, the pronunciation of consonants in the Scottish Gaelic language is largely responsible for the variations and changes in spelling (this will be explained later).

Origin: Most name experts believe that McCracken originated from the family name of Nachten, Lord of Moray, who lived in the 9th century. Over the course of time as his family grew, generational prefixes were added to the name. The Gaelic word for “son” is “mac”, which was added as a prefix to family names. Thus, his sons were Mac Nachtans.

Not convinced? Mac Nachtans? That's not even close to McCracken! How did Mac Nachtans become McCrackens?

Gaelic, like all languages, has its own special sound and spelling rules. These are not just “made up” rules, but have really good reasons. For example, it is quite awkward to sound a “k” followed by an “n”. The American solution to this dilemma is to forget the “k”, as in “know” and “knot”.

Gaelic speakers had a different idea, pronouncing “kn” as “kr”. (Actually, Gaelic didn’t have a letter “k”, but we’re talking about the sounds here.) 

Let’s apply this to names. Let’s use our good friend Neil as an example. His son’s family name would be Mac Neil, using the prefix as described earlier, but his son’s name would be pronounced Mack-reel, changing the “n” to an “r” sound. Make sense?

Okay, but wouldn’t that make Mac Nachtan, Mack-rotten? Oh, dear, there must be more rules we can apply.

The letter combination “ch” in Gaelic was pronounced like a “k”. So the name Mac Nachtan would be Mack-Rocktan to our ears. Getting closer …

As this is becoming quite tedious, here is one simple version of one possible progression from Nachtan to McCracken:

Nachten

Son of Nachten was Mac Nachten

Pronounced Mack-Rocktan

The “t” was difficult to hear and was dropped to make the name Mac Rachen

The “c” sound was duplicated to become Mac Crachen

If “h” sounds like a “k” – why not spell it that way – MacCracken

“Mac” abbreviated to “Mc” - Mc Cracken

Condensed to one word – McCracken

Although our family name has apparently had many mutations and variations throughout the ages, I certainly hope that the family will always remain true to the statement on the Mac Nachtan Clan Crest which bears a castle tower surrounded by a circlet and the pledge “I Hope in God”. 

Relics and Keepsakes

Coila, 1947

Coila Ethel Speas McCracken graduated from this life early, at the young age of forty-six. She finished all her requirements ahead of schedule, before I had to chance to ask all of the questions that I needed to know.

If it were possible, I would text Mom, or send a letter, or email, to find out more about her youth, school days, courtship, and young motherhood. But for now, all I can do is cherish my memories, and the few tiny keepsakes of hers that are mine.

One thing I do know is that she was a diligent student who wanted not only to get a good grade, but to understand. Sometimes she struggled to grasp the reasons behind mathematical equations. Her math teacher remembered that she would come to the side of his desk and say to him, "Don't catch". After satisfactorily explaining the concept, she would finally report, "Got it now."

Shelley High School 1947

She graduated from Shelley High School in Idaho's Independent School District No. 30, on May 12, 1947.

She was a loyal friend and her high school buddies were lifelong confidantes.

The Shelly High School mascot was a russet, as in potato. 

She enjoyed wearing her school class ring throughout her life. The gold raised image on the black stone is worn smooth and the details are obscured by years of wear. I like to slip her ring on my finger from time to time and think of her hands and all that they did for me. Her hands were always busy, gardening, cooking, cleaning, sewing, dipping chocolates, washing dishes, canning, weeding, kneading bread, crocheting, and while she was drying her hair, playing solitaire. 

I have a lapel pin which belonged to my mom which I previously thought was a seminary graduation pin, but upon careful inspection might actually represent her graduation from primary. I've tried to find similar images, but have been unsuccessful.  

The letters L, D, and S are prominent on the top and sides of the diamond shaped pin. The four arcs on the edges are engraved with the words, "Primary, Seagull, Service, Gladly". The date "1878" on the bottom tip is the year of the forming of the Primary organization. 


She certainly our family gladly, and that was her primary goal.

I miss her, and someday I'll find out the rest of her story.

Some Power Not of My Own

The concept of plural marriage is beyond my understanding. The purpose of this post is not to highlight the practice of polygamy, but rather to praise the saints for their willingness to obey, as demonstrated by their living this difficult principle, amid extreme hardship and persecution. To do so I will share the inspiring example of Samuel Bateman, the cousin of my Great, Great  Grandfather William Bateman.

Samuel and Marinda's Family

Samuel was sealed to his first wife, Marinda Allen, November 17, 1854. Samuel was twenty-two years of age and Marinda was not quite sixteen. Together they had thirteen children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. 

Samuel and Harriet's Family

Sixteen years after his first wedding, on February 27, 1871, Samuel was sealed to his second wife, Harriet Egbert. Samuel was thirty-eight years old and Harriet, a much younger sixteen-year old bride. Nine children were born to this union, seven living to adulthood.

To provide for this very large family, Samuel worked in numerous professions, but primarily he was a devoted latter-day saint. His professions often overlapped with his religious assignments and callings as he assisted the brethren in every way he was asked, including participating in the United Order in West Jordan.

Pioneer Square Dance

Some of his varied work included farming, Treasurer of the West Jordan Cooperative Mercantile Institution, tax collector, and square dance caller, a service he provided to public gatherings, as well as private dances for the Brigham Young family. Ironically, as you will learn from the remainder of this narrative, Samuel assisted the Sheriff on numerous occasions in a posse searching for fugitives.

During times when Federal Authorities were on the lookout for polygamist activity, he served as a personal bodyguard to the Prophet John Taylor, and later to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff as well as a number of the apostles. This service included delivering mail to and from the church members from the leaders' locations of exile or hiding, usually at night under cover of darkness.

In consequence of Samuel's obedience to the principle of plural marriage, he  was also sought after by the U.S. Deputy Marshals. As Samuel did not relish the thought of spending time behind prison bars for something that he did not believe a crime, merely living his religion the best he knew how, he tried to outwit the deputies and escape arrest. A number of raids on the Bateman home were reported in the territorial newspapers. A report of one such raid appeared in a letter to the editor of the Deseret News on July 7, 1886, written by his wife Marinda:

Marinda Allen Bateman

“At about half past 3 o-clock on the morning of the 30^th of June, we were aroused from our peaceful slumbers by the tramping of horses’ feet, which halted in front of our home. The riders proved to be deputy marshals. They alighted and one of them taking hold of the knob of the wire door, shaking it, said: ‘let me in.’ By this time a lady – one of our family – came to the door, and he repeated his demand.

"He then said: ‘I have a warrant for Samuel Bateman.’ After getting inside he got down flat on the floor to look under the lounge, and then got on it on his knees and felt all around the bed where three children were asleep, and so he did with four other beds where there were children asleep in each. He even looked into a trunk not three feet long and scarcely one foot and a half wide; also a box where a little girl kept her clothes in, about two and half feet long and one foot wide, and other small boxes, in every nook and corner. As we had just had a grist brought home, he felt flour and bran sacks.

“This is the fourth time our house has been searched, but never has anyone acted so low and unbecoming as this man, and as he had searched the back rooms and cellar I returned to the front room and there stood Deputy Franks outside the door. He said, ‘I guess you ladies are getting tired of us disturbing you so often.’ We told him it was rather unpleasant to be disturbed so early.

“I asked him the name of his companion. He said it was Brooks. I said it was a new name. He replied, ‘yes,’ that he was a new detective from the East. This Brooks came into the front room and commenced to search again. Mr. Franks’ manner was quite gentlemanly and quite different to that of the other man.

“Respectfully, Mrs. S. Bateman”

Samuel’s daughter described another occasion, during a daytime inspection, when kind Deputy Franks entered the kitchen and looked in the cupboard, opened a small sugar can, and peered into the flour bin. Her mother said, “Deputy, have you no idea of the size of the man you are searching for?”

The deputy respectfully replied, “Mrs. Bateman, I do know his size, and I know the character of the man also. I trust it will never fall to my lot to arrest Mr. Bateman. I admire him. I must make a pretense of searching or the fellows outside will bawl me out.”

At the request of his friend and leader, John Taylor, Samuel kept a daily journal during his years in hiding (1886-1888). In this journal, he described this period as a time of constant guard, secret communication networks, hidden chambers, and private passageways. His journal is carefully worded, often with code phrases and with the names of people, buildings, and places obscurely referred to as, “the place where we were” or, “those we were with.”

To escape detection, his beard was often dyed and he went about in disguise so complete that even very close friends did not recognize him.

Of this difficult period, his courageous wife Marinda always upheld him. It is said that no bitter word against plural marriage ever passed her lips. I admire her simple faith, as shown in her words:

"I would suffer a hundred times more for the sake of that principle because it was revealed by God. The principle is right, the failures are due to human weakness.” 

To save the family from abject poverty, Marinda determined to contribute to the family welfare and studied obstetrics, after which she left the children in the care of Samuel's second wife, Harriet, to work as a midwife.

In 1888, under the advice of Church authorities, Samuel gave himself up to the federal officers. He served eight-five days in the territorial penitentiary and paid a $75 fine. Part of that imprisonment was shared with his friend George Q. Cannon. Although there is no known photograph of Samuel during his incarceration, this depiction of other polygamist captives helps one to visualize him there.

George Q. Cannon is seated in the doorway in this picture from the Utah State Penitentiary

Shortly after his release from prison, on October 6, 1890, Samuel attended General Conference when the Manifesto was first presented to the general membership. 

Aware in advance of this proposed discontinuance of plural marriage, for which he had suffered exile and imprisonment, Samuel decided to vote against the Manifesto when it was announced during the Conference. Considering the suffering he had endured for this principle, one would think that Samuel would have pleasantly anticipated its end. But instead, Samuel hesitated. 

When the Manifesto was read to the saints for their sustaining vote, Samuel described what happened: 

“Some power not of my own raised my arm, and I voted to sustain President Woodruff in this matter. As soon as I had done it, a sense of peace and contentment came over me.”

His statement gives me great cause to admire the saints during this time period who were willing to follow and obey, regardless of personal consequences. Undoubtedly, the uncertainty of what would become of Harriet and their seven children must have weighed heavily upon his heart as he sustained his leaders.

With the release of the Manifesto, and relative peace restored between the Church and the Federal Government, Samuel was able to spend the remainder of his years with his family, farming. He was permitted to raise both of his families. Samuel passed away in 1911.

Many years later, in 1936, Harriet, his widowed second wife, penned the following letter, at the age of eighty-two. I include her words here to remind me that obedience builds faith and brings happiness. Her life as a sixteen year bride, a second wife in a plural marriage, in a time of persecution and prosecution, by today's standards might cause doubt, but instead cemented her testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Never Alone