Sister Tami Erickson told this story just before the Women's Pull at Martin's Cove.
Elizabeth Sermon's recollections
"My husband's health began to fail and his heart almost broke to see me falling in the shafts. Myself and children hungry, almost naked, and himself nearly done for. My oldest boy had mountain fever...I picked him up and put him on my back and drew my cart as well, but could not manage far, so put him in the cart which made 3 children and luggage...
Many cruel and painful things happening, the dying and dear ones all around us...It is a wonder any of us lived through it."
Elizabeth's husband died a short time later. Finally they were rescued and taken to the valley. Her children survived the ordeal although her sons lost limbs from frostbite.
She ended her account by saying, "My faith was in my Heavenly Father. I never lost that faith in Him. It is as sweet today to trust and my prayer is, may I always trust Him. He is a friend that has never failed."
After Tami told this story we did the Women's Pull up a very steep hill. The men lined the sides of the path. They were told they could not help us. It made them very emotional. Lyle said he could hardly stand it. After the first handcarts made it up, the girls turned around and helped the ones behind. Christena Jarrett came down and hauled me up. Then we sang "As Sisters in Zion/Armies of Helaman. Very touching.
Every person walked for an ancestor or other pioneer. We were told that if we listened or were open to it, we would feel their presence or influence. I walked for Hannah Matilda Baldwin (Annie). Annie came from England alone when she was 17. Accounts differ but she may have left home in secrecy. She was part of the first handcart company which reached the valley safely in September 1856. The company was met by Brigham Young and a brass band. According to the DUP account, a young man offered to push Annie's handcart into the valley. She replied firmly, "Oh no, I have pushed it by myself this far and I desire to do so the rest of the way!"
I didn't really feel anything from Annie, my great, great grandmother, while I was at Martin's Cove. I didn't really expect to. So it was unexpected when I did get a message from Annie.
A few days after I got home, I went to Mom and Dad's. Mom had her life story that she was compiling up on the computer. She had just finished through the year 1958. She asked me to read through it. I had a very strong spiritual response as I read about the trials of 1957 and 1958. It gave me some important insights about myself and why I am the person I am today. At the same time I got a message from Annie. That message was "Keep pulling--don't give up. It will be okay."
I sang a song at Martin's Cove with some other women. "Walk the Path of Faith"
You pulled these carts oer rock and through snow
The icy wind blew fierce and cold
With bodies too weak to move ahead
This cove is sheltered and safe.
This thread of song is a reprise of my sewing experience:
And you are encircled about in the arms of His love
He's sending a rescue to bring you in
Walk the path of faith.
It doesn't matter if your trials are caused by this imperfect world or other people, or just because it's life, or because of our own sins, mistakes or weaknesses. As we walk the path of faith, a rescue is operating. I know that relatives on the other side of the veil are helping us. They are part of the rescue effort.
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