Over here!
The wolves must have got 'em.
'weren't wolves that got 'em. They got each other.
Brethren!
Assemble!
Full attention to General Kearny!
The Army of the United States expresses gratitude
for this added duty you have performed.
We will now destroy the remains.
You'll be free to continue your journey east.
-Private Savage. -Yes, sir.
Commence the burning.
Private Savage.
I fully realize you have been discharged.
But having volunteered for this detail,
be assured, you are disobeying a direct order.
Sir?
We feel that a prayer be proper before the burning, sir.
A prayer?
Yes, sir.
You really feel like a prayer will do them any good?
We had no control over their actions, sir,
but we do over ours.
Dear God.
For all that we have, we thank thee.
We pray for the souls here in their final resting place.
Please forgive them of their trespasses.
Their situation was dire.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen..
-Amen. -Amen.
These were ordinary people with hope for the future,
bring out the worst that people have to offer.
We were sent to dispose of their remains.
But in my mind, their deeds live on.
The prophet Joseph Smith taught us
that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.
My brothers and sisters,
the following brethren are now called to serve missions.
Elan Ludington...
Chancy W. White...
Benjamin F. Dewey....
And Levi Savage Jr.
Are hereby called to the mission of Siam in Asia.
Dear brethren,
your efforts are close to our hearts.
We ask the Lord bless you and your loved ones
as you pursue this journey.
He lost his mother.
Now he loses me for three or so years.
You're a good sister to me.
You are a good man, Levi.
Take care of him, Hannah,
and please tell him,
no matter what, I promise I'll come back to him.
Okay.
Bye.
I love you, Junior.
Ye elders of Israel
Come join now with me
And seek out the righteous
Where'r they may be
In desert, on mountain
On land or on sea
And bring them to Zion
The pure and the free
Oh, Babylon, oh, Babylon
Even six years ago,
there were over 30,000 Mormons here in England
and only 11,000 in Utah.
Of those that have wanted to gather to Zion,
only a few have found the means to do so.
Brothers and sisters, temple blessings
are only to be found in Zion.
This is not a decision. It is a commandment of God.
In our Savior's name, amen.
-Amen. -Amen.
Brother Willie.
Brother Willie, down here.
Ah, brother Albert.
Do you have an answer for me?
We can take you as far as the end of the rail,
but you may have to wait up to a year for a wagon.
Superb!
Meet you at home.
Tamar.
We must talk.
For all my wanting, it has not happened for me.
I cannot be a part of it.
Chester, it is for certain.
We are going.
You may be going, but I will not be.
You've made your choice, as have I.
Oh, Sister Panting, where are you running off to?
Stay and socialize a bit.
Oh, so sorry. I must be off.
Oh.
Elizabeth!
Sing with me, Christopher.
We'll find the place
Which God for us prepared
Who have you been carrying on with?
Far away
In the west.
You been with those Mormons again?
Where none shall come...
If I catch you with those savages again,
so help me, I'll --
...There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air
With music ring...
And don't even consider leaving me, or I will kill you!
...Our God and King.
Above the rest
These words we'll tell,
All is well
Though the decision to leave a spouse is formidable,
you do so prayerfully,
and as such, we bless you with courage and strength
and the knowledge that, as you are steadfast,
both you and your children
shall reach the Salt Lake Valley safely.
And we do this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
-Amen. -Amen.
Where are we going, Mommy?
Ever so quietly now. Shh.
We're going to Zion.
Then can we go back to bed?
Elizabeth!
Tickets. Tickets, please.
Tickets at the ready, please.
Tickets.
Tickets! Tickets, please.
Tickets at the ready, please.
Tickets. Tickets.
Tickets, please. Tickets at the ready, please.
Pardon me, ma'am.
I am sorry to be a bother,
but me husband has threatened to kill me
and is now here on the train.
My dear, you must call for the constable.
He's right there.
Oh, please don't look.
Now, what can I do?
Ta-ta. Turn.
-Ta-ta. -Ta-ta.
Ta-ta.
Why "ta-ta"?
Turn. Ta-ta.
-Ta-ta. -Ta-ta.
Ta-ta.
He looked directly at me and his own children
and did not recognize a one of us.
What just happened?
A miracle.
Mommy, are we going home now?
Yes. Yes, we're going home.
We are going home to Zion.
After three years in Asia, my mission was completed,
and I was, at long last, on my way home.
I had promises to keep.
Nothing could keep me from my boy now.
Levi!
Levi Savage!
Calling for Brother Levi Savage!
Captain Willie, l...
I appreciate your confidence.
But I had hoped not to wait.
I need to get home to my son.
These Saints need your strength and your experience, Brother Savage.
If you help them, the Lord will help you
and watch over your son.
These are simple farmers and merchants, mind,
nothing like frontiersmen.
I was appointed a sub-captain.
Under my charge were over 20 handcarts and near 100 souls.
Have you ever seen a handcart?
Is that your daughter?
Nej. This is Bodil.
Her parents did not have enough money for the travel,
so they asked us if we could bring her to her sister in Zion.
For these early Saints, sending one at a time was common.
Just to have your son or daughter set foot in Zion
was a prize worth any sacrifice.
And you are Danish?
Ja.
And you are Danish?
And you are Swedish?
Danish!
Mind your step, brothers and sisters. This way.
This way, brothers and sisters. Mind your step!
June 23, 1856.
In Cleveland, we overnighted and secured a barn for our stay.
Many of these Saints have scratched and saved
for nearly 20 years to make this journey.
Though the travel is exhausting, they are overjoyed to be here.
Is that giving you trouble, my sweet?
No, no. 'Twill be all right.
I'm putting my muscle into it now.
Oh, dear. Then we are in serious trouble.
What do they want? Who's out there?
What do they want?
It's got to be the welcoming party.
Hey, Mormons!
One night in our town is one night too long!
Come to me!
Amasa!! Joseph!
We don't want any trouble!
Hold on.
Yeah, we do!
For three nights in a row, in Cleveland, Toledo, and Chicago,
we were harassed by men that could not even abide the thought
of scum such as us passing through their town.
But due to the protecting hand of the Lord,
we were not harmed.
-Take this. -Yes.
The rail ended at Iowa City.
Brother Willie was right.
Mariah!
These folks needed all the help they could get.
Let me make sure I understand properly.
We are going to use this to cook our food?
Again, yes.
And, again, this came out of a buffalo?
Yes! This is a buffalo chip!
Is it rather like fish and chips?
Biscuit.
Oh, dear!
Sister Peterson!
Oh, dear me!
Sister Peterson!
There's trouble about!
July 12, 1856.
Camp of the Saints.
Our schedule was to leave two weeks previous,
but the handcarts are not ready.
This delay could cause us much trouble later
Sorry, George.
I won't have any more wood for you,
but the captain says you still must be done by tomorrow,
with whatever means are yours.
Not sufficient materials,
but you must be completed regardless?
Doesn't that make you crazy?
No.
That does not make me crazy.
You make me crazy.
July 13, 1856.
Agreeable to council,
we sold or gave up all luggage over 17 pounds per person.
This makes us rather destitute for wearing apparel and bedding.
Are you ready?
Brother Savage, are you watching?
Ready, steady, go!
All right, I lost to a blinking toddler,
but I burn with a testimony of this work.
Please don't make me wait a year.
I must get to Zion.
I promise I'll walk every step of the way.
You won't beg to ride in the sick wagon?
Ever?
I believe you, Albert.
Let's get you ready to go.
Superb!
Now, be sure and save some room for me in the sick wagon.
I'm joking! I'm only joking!
Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman,
neither is the woman without the man in the Lord.
And now you stand here upon the precipice of a threshold,
-about to embark on... -She's so lovely.
She is so lovely, and they are so in love.
Tell me again, why must we wait?
To be sealed in Zion, the place of our dreams,
and perhaps by the Prophet himself.
What if something happens?
Never, George.
Never say it. Never think it.
It will all be worth it.
You'll see.
I believe you, Sarah.
Israel, Israel, God is calling...
What has Mormonism done?
Such a spectacle was scarcely ever witnessed
as to see those who have been so rich and high in life
come to be huddled together with the poorest of the poor
...God shall all their towers 0'erthrow
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Zion's walls shall ring with praise
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Zion's walls shall ring with praise
July 15, 1856.
We commenced.
It soon became obvious some of the Saints
found it easier to sing about going to Zion
than to actually make the trek.
Ridiculous! Who does he think he is?
If I'd have known, we'd never left England!
This is absolutely ridiculous!
You know, I never signed up for this.
Why are they leaving?
Well, some are weak, but we must be strong.
August 11, 1856.
Florence, Nebraska Territory.
Last possible site to winter
Worries abound that we likely will get caught in wintry weather
I spoke with Millen Atwood, another sub-captain.
Since I have been a member of this Church,
with all my experience, I have never been placed in a position
where things appear so dark
as to take this company through at this late season of the year.
My fear is...
That when faced with distress and starvation,
even good men turn and become something...
Closer to a wolf than a human.
I have seen it.
Remember the words of Moroni, who teaches us...
Toward evening, we held a meeting.
Brother Willie exhorted the Saints to go forward,
regardless of suffering, even to death.
He then gave me the opportunity of speaking.
We must strengthen our faith that our resolve will not fail.
Brother Levi Savage, would you care to address us?
If I speak, I must speak my mind, let it cut where it would.
Brothers and sisters,
I propose that we wait until spring to make this journey.
I feel that if we continue in this late season,
we shall endure much hardships.
We are liable to wade in snow up to our knees,
then lay ourselves in a thin blanket
and lie on the frozen ground for a bed.
We are destitute of much clothing
and could not carry it if we had it.
The handcart system I do not condemn.
It is the lateness of the season.
If the weak, old, and sickly continue in this late season,
their bones will strew the way.
The God I serve is a God that is able to save to the uttermost.
Levi Savage is an opposer of those who were placed over him,
and I call him to repent!
Now, those who desire to continue on toward Zion,
raise the shown hand.
Thank you.
What I said I know to be true.
But seeing that you are to go forward, I will go with you,
help you all that I can...
Work with you, suffer with you,
and if necessary, I will die with you.
may God...
In His mercy...
Bless and preserve us.
August 17, 1856.
This afternoon, the first and second hundreds moved out.
And though they did not have
even the basic skills of a frontiersman,
they were disciples of the Lord
and did have what it would take to become heroes.
Whose turn?
Bodil!
Annie-I-Over!
Though the trek was extremely difficult,
there were moments on the trail that were as magnificent
as anything I had ever experienced.
Bodil!
Sin tid til braende!
Ja Herre!
But play time was never enough time.
And in a handcart company,
even a small child had chores to do.
Yes?
Captain Willie, I would like to resign as sub-captain.
Denied.
You have no trust in my judgment, sir.
No such thing, Brother Savage.
You make a point, to be sure.
But did you really think over your plan to stay here through the winter?
There are over 500 of us.
And there is not a town within 300 miles
with sufficient provisions to see us through the winter.
And that is if we had the means to purchase them!
We would all starve!
-Captain Willie, I firmly -- -Brother Savage, no.
We have escaped Babylon, and we cannot turn back.
George?
Have you begun a journal?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps it is thoughts of you.
Oh, really?
May I see it?
Later.
Are you a good boy?
Then he's yours.
Brethren, as wolves and Indians
seem to be prevalent through these parts,
though I am sorry to ask,
I will need an added volunteer for guard watch tonight.
I will take it, Brother Savage.
Who spoke?
Who else sounds like this?
You'll see better up here.
Thank you for this, Albert.
You're a fine young man.
We must do all we can.
I owe this Gospel all I have.
Prior, I was only someone to poke fun at.
But the missionaries taught me that I am important
and that someday I will be superb.
Well, I feel sorry for any wolf
that dares come near you tonight, Albert.
He does, and I'll beat him to a pulp!
You do that.
Now, do you know how to use one of these?
Oh, certainly.
This is my favorite kind!
I shot this hundreds of times.
Perhaps a little refresher wouldn't hurt.
Help! Somebody help!
Albert!
The wolves did not trouble Albert that night,
but the next morning,
he started out early and took a wrong turn.
Albert!
-Albert! -Albert!
Help!
Help me, please!
This way!
Somebody help me, please!
Go, go! Quiet! Bad dog.
Bad, bad dog.
Albert! Are you hurt?
Are you all right?
Where were you?
I got here hours ago, and I've got no legs!
I was their supper!
You'll be all right, Albert.
Wait, no, I can't ride!
I promised I would walk every step to Zion.
Yeah, yeah.
It will be all right, Albert.
Brother Savage need never know.
Need never know?
He's the one pulling the blinking cart!
You're worse than the wolves!
I was a bit frightened at first, but I think they were scared.
I jabbed one of them in the eye with my crutch.
You should have seen it. I think he was bleeding a bit.
And if you look around and see a wolf with just one eye,
that's the guy I got. I think he's scared.
I don't think he's going to be coming back anytime soon.
Poked him right in the eyeball.
Brother Linford?
It be your turn.
Three nights in a row?
For that I am sorry.
The constant need for guard duty and lack of sleep
is taking its toll on the men.
Be sure to stay watchful and awake.
You'll have an hour in the morning to complete your rest.
Really? An entire hour?
Captain Willie,
I have just told to my wife that everything will be right.
Will it?
Or have I told her a lie?
Brother Willie! I want answers!
As do we all.
Look at this weather.
This is ridiculous. It's cold and it's wet.
Why don't you think about someone else for a change?
Every single member of this company
is exhausted and starving, man.
Listen, I cannot compete
with this constant murmuring and complaining.
Oh, you're meant to be our leader!
Just walk off.
Yeah, you two boys are right in the thick of things.
Now, go back to your cart and start pulling.
We all got to start pulling.
How do you expect these people to carry on?
Look at them. They can hardly lift one bloody finger!
Brethren!
All we can do is carry on.
Help will come.
Brother Atwood, would you help me?
Father's health began to fail.
He fell unconscious.
Captain Willie had said to put him in the sick wagon,
but to that end, he would have had no family to attend him.
The brethren came to administer to Father
They knew he was dying.
He has left nothing undone.
We seal Father Loader up to the Lord.
For he alone is worthy of him.
He has finished his work,
has been a faithful servant in the Church,
and we the servants of God seal him unto God, our Father.
At 11:15 that night, Father passed away.
Father was a small and frail man.
Before the journey, he had expressed concern
about being able to pull a handcart
the many miles to Zion.
Because he voiced this, he was accused by some of apostasy.
This hurt my poor father deeply.
"Why do you not rise up as a man of God
and say that you and your house will serve the Lord
and will go up to Zion at all hazards?"
I will show them better, Mother.
We are going to Zion.
And I will pull a handcart, though I die on the trail.
Father fulfilled his vow.
We started at only 16 ounces per day.
Now we are down to 10.
They ask too much and give too little.
It's a hard treatment they give out.
One without compassion.
How do they expect a grown man
to pull a handcart on these rations?
-This a day for all of us? -It's pathetic.
It's meager! We're grown men!
Look at these portions!
Elder Richards and a few other leaders
from the British mission passed through camp,
fast-tracking ahead to advise the Saints in Salt Lake
A general meeting was called.
Elder Richards had been advised of my comments
about waiting till spring.
I believe he thought my words divisive.
Those who presume to counsel the Lord
and his duly appointed servants may do so, if they wish.
But they will not prosper.
We must rely on the goodness of God
and not the wisdom of man, Levi Savage.
The goodness of God will move us forward.
I ask Brother Richards
and each of the Saints forgiveness. ..
...for all that I have said and done wrong.
A favorite trick of we children
was to get ahead of the main camp,
thereby leaving us time to play while the others caught up.
Make way for the Queen of England!
Make way, I say!
Make way for the Queen of England!
Mine are all gone.
Let's share yours.
But being alone was not always for the best.
What?
Bisbo.
Hurry!
Say a prayer!
Amen.
Why do you whisper?
I don't want the snakes to hear our plan.
Ready.
Steady.
Go!
We felt impressed to continue forward. ..
-Go! -...right through them.
Jump!
It seemed to me, we were jumping for more than a mile.
I think we can do it!
Due to the protecting hand of the Lord, we were not harmed.
Go!
Oh, that's a huge one!
Sister Cooper.
I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you.
It seems that each time YOU SEE [TIE,
something goes on, like a bug.
And it was a bug that went up my nose, and I had to...
And it's just a little bit --
Brother Levi, might I confer with you in private?
Certainly, Captain.
Scouts have reached Fort Laramie.
There are no supplies there for us.
We are in trouble.
You have every right to throw it back in my face.
There'll be none of that, Captain.
I used strong words against you to unify the Saints.
I had to be determined.
So what are your thoughts?
At the current rate, 12 miles per day,
we will run out of flour
300 miles before we reach the valley.
We will be completely out of food in 10 days.
What can be done?
Cut rations.
Again.
Then that is what we will do.
We discussed wintering at Fort Laramie,
but, as there is nothing here for us, we determined to go on.
My fear is that within two weeks,
most of our company will be dead.
I write as much as possible,
lest I am not opportune to explain to my son.
Though Jane was very ill and needed my care,
I did not dare stop.
Christopher?
Is she dead yet?
I had to keep moving with the company.
Brother?
Sarah?
Sweetheart?
Could you sit up for your dinner?
Like many others,
Sarah Franks has been taken with the fever and chills.
Bless you, George. I am so famished.
My turn.
Our Father who art in heaven,
blessed are we for this food this day
and for our chance to be gathered with the Saints.
Please bless this bounteous meal
and us that we be faithful
and endure to see Zion and there be sealed,
we pray, in Jesus} name.
Amen.
Did you already have your dinner?
I couldn't wait.
Patience, George.
Perhaps tomorrow you may wait for us to eat together.
I would enjoy that.
Sister Mellon still weak from her twins,
which died at birth, and from rigors of the journey,
finally gave up and said she could go no further
The company could not wait for hen
so she kissed each of her children,
sat down on a boulder and cried.
Her husband planned to return for her
Take care of the family.
I will stay with Mother.
What? No!
Not two of you to be left to the wolves!
She cannot be left here alone.
Now be off, and I will try and get her to her senses.
Dear God in heaven, please, please help her.
She's so disheartened, and I do not know what to do.
I desire to do what is right but cannot see my way.
Please stay the wolves
and provide the means for us to make it to camp.
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Mother?
Look what the Lord has provided for us.
Many times after that,
Sister Mellor said she'd felt like giving up
but then remembered how wonderful the Lord had been
to spare her so many times
and offered a prayer of gratitude instead.
I had left England with a heavy heart
because the young man I loved
had decided not to join the church and emigrate with me.
I became discouraged both because of poor health
and because I missed the man I had left.
At my lowest point, I had a dream.
Tamar. Tamar.
I dreamed that my sweetheart came and stood beside me.
He seemed so real.
But he was not alone.
Another man was with him.
In the dream, my sweetheart faded off
but the other man remained.
One evening, I went to gather some buffalo chips
to make a small fire
to warm what little food was left for me children.
How is the company doing?
We are in great need.
We are starving.
Perhaps I can help a little.
Follow me.
Eat.
Hold out your apron.
All I could think is what this would mean to me children.
Share with the others.
Do not lose your way.
Who are you?
Like you, I am a traveler.
Realizing I had not even thanked him,
I retraced my steps, looking for the ca cave. ..
Brother?
...but could not find any hint of it.
I went back to the camp
and divided the meat out to those most in need.
No doubt this saved lives.
October 15, 1856.
The Saints are getting weak and failing fast.
A great many are sick.
What can you tell me of Brother Linford today?
The entire camp has had to resort
to eating anything that can be chewed.
It hurt Sister Rowley to see her children so hungry.
She watched as they pulled loose rawhide from the cart,
roasted off the hair and chewed the hide.
Dearest Father. ..
...for the blessing of thy Gospel we are forever grateful.
But now I must get us all to Zion
and see the sealing work done for us.
We pray that we might have the nourishment
to complete our journey.
She remembered two hard sea biscuits
that had been left from the voyage.
They were not large and were so hard, they could not be broken.
Surely two hard biscuits are not enough to feed eight people.
But five loaves and two fishes
were not enough to feed 5,000 people, either.
We know that through thy power,
what is small and weak may become great and significant.
For the first time in many weeks,
the Rowley family did not go to sleep hungry.
He is watching over us!
October 19, 1856.
Winter came on all at once.
In the weakened condition of the company,
the many river crossings
became perilous and seemingly impossible.
My betrothed spent the day as the Savior would have,
helping those in heed.
I wondered how he could bear it,
walking the day through that bitter water
Later I would wonder how I could be so weak
as to allow him to do so.
What if we should fall?
I would never let you fall.
George was not the only one
to give so much of himself that day.
But he was the only one that I loved so much.
The cold and freezing water
are not the only reasons the Saints are failing.
He has been giving us his rations.
He's starving to death.
God bless you, Levi Savage.
What will you eat?
October 20, 1856.
After eating his supper
my best friend, John Linford, died.
Stop it! Get away from there!
On leaving this morning,
I saw the wolves at the grave we had just filled.
I tried to compel them away, but they got the better of me.
Betsy.
We must be up and about.
Betsy!
The brothers need to stove the tent.
Oh, Betsy.
Oh, no.
What are we to do?
Oh, no.
There was only one thing they could do,
and the ground was now too hard to open.
Sleep well, my bonnie lass.
She's in a better place, Elizabeth.
Truly she is.
Elizabeth!
-Elizabeth! -Come with me, James!
-What? -We forgot!
How could we forget?
What did you forget?
Not me, we!
We forgot!
We were promised by a servant of the Lord
if we would live the Gospel,
all the members of our family would arrive safely in Zion.
Wait! Stop!
Talk to me, Elizabeth! Stop!
Oh, my dear wife, she's resting peacefully.
She's gone to the other side.
All the members of our family, James.
All the members of our family.
Margaret! George! Come on.
Come back to us, wee one.
In this condition, she's better off than we.
No!
Dear God, we have given our all.
We know that through thy Son, all things are possible.
Please, Father.
Please.
Please, Father.
Put some water on the cloth. We'll warm her neck.
She lives.
Our sweet wee one lives.
When I was told
of the miraculous healing of Betsy Cunningham,
I could not hold back my tears.
Bodil Mortensen was assigned to care for Niels
as the company staggered through a blizzard
all day and late into the night,
looking for protection from the storm.
She was completely exhausted
but then still had to collect firewood.
She endured all that was humanly possible,
than must have sat down to rest.
It would be her final rest.
Jens Nielson collapsed.
All Sister Nielson could do
was help him into the handcart and pull him herself
When they finally made it to camp that night,
they learned their child, Niels, had frozen
and a few hours later
was placed in a grave with 12 others.
During the night of severe cold,
13 of the company perished.
The men were weak but dug a shallow grave.
My father held me up to see my playmate Bodil Mortensen
lying among the dead, as was Niels Nielson.
Even now, more than half a century later
the image still haunts me.
In the progress of the journey,
it was not difficult to tell who was soon to die.
The hollow eyes and sunken countenance,
with the gradual weakening of the mind,
plainly foreboded the coming and not-far-distant dissolution.
Death came in many ways.
Some died lying side by bide with hands entwined,
showing the last agonies and suffering of life
with a final gasp of love and affection.
Some had just offered a fervent prayer
and their spirit taken flight while doing so.
Some were singing hymns.
Others while eating crusts of bread.
Some, like Albert, began the journey with so little of life's mercies.
The fact that he survived for even 300 miles was a miracle.
I always wanted a strong body.
Now I'm going to get it.
When you get to Zion, think of me.
You know something, Albert?
You are superb.
Many of those whose spirits were about to leave us
left us with profound words.
It will all be worth it
if my posterity will keep the faith.
Tell me son I died with me face towards Zion.
I watched men dig graves for their brethren
and, before the day was finished,
lie themselves in the very grave they had dug.
Savior
Redeemer of my soul
Whose mighty hand
Hath made me whole
Whose wondrous power
Hath raised me up
And filled with sweet
My bitter cup.
What tongue my gratitude
Can tell
Oh, gracious God
Of Israel.
No person can describe it.
It cannot be comprehended or understood
by any human in this life,
but only by those who were called to pass through it.
All I ever wanted is to do God's will and be with my son.
I have asked God for this over and oven
Of the 500 members of the company,
death has now claimed 65.
Sister Panting, are your children keeping up?
Brother Savage, where is the Lord,
and where are his servants?
We have done all we've been asked to do.
Why this?
I do not know the answer.
Brother Savage, is help coming?
The men are now too weak to put up the tents.
Some have never recovered from that last river crossing.
Can you hear me, George?
You must rest.
When we get to Zion, we will be thankful for this trial.
These hardships will make us strong.
George, stay with me!
My dear, you must stay with me!
Don't leave me!
We've not been sealed!
I love you so very much.
Thoughts of Sarah.
Hast thou a heart, my dearest maid, to freely give away?
Nay, do not blush nor be afraid the simple truth to say.
For love's a power none can withstand,
which even death cannot part.
But I'd not wish to have thy hand unless I have thy heart.
For all that's mine I give to you,
not holding back a part.
What else might I do, my darling Sarah,
to gather in your heart?
Patience, George.
Perhaps tomorrow you may wait for us to eat together.
It is said that other men
have seen angels watching from the bluff
But I have seen thee,
and, my darling, for me thou art enough.
Brothers.
I've been given another way for George to be buried.
There are other ways.
No. This is the only way.
I could not abide the thought of wolves desecrating one so pure.
But you have so little.
And now without your shawl...
He did as the Savior asked.
He gave others everything.
He gave me everything.
I can give my shawl.
I love you, George Padley.
It will all be worth it.
Out of food and no way to move on.
Was it all for nothing?
If we gave our all, then it was for something.
Someone's coming.
I see a man.
I see him, too.
I see an angel.
They came.
Through those fierce, raging blizzards,
through 300 bone-chilling miles,
they risked their own lives and came for us.
Joseph A. Young, the prophet's son, was the first.
Supply wagons would follow.
This was surely the most timely arrival of a relief party
in recorded history.
For had the rescuers arrived even one day later
the deaths would have soared.
Mother, that is the man.
What man?
The man of my dream.
Though the rescue party had arrived,
the supply wagons were still two days out,
and a great deal of hardship still lay ahead of us.
More would die before we reached the valley.
But the hardest battle was behind us now,
that fight that each of us must wage
of faith against fear
Through my travels, I learned the Saints,
unlike some other parties in dire circumstances,
could maintain their goodness and remain Christlike.
Peter!
No!
Never come back!
You're safe now.
My baby!
We were being watched oven
Others were helping us.
I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart
but saw no one.
I knew then that the angels of God were there.
When men came back the next spring,
they found the shawl still hanging from the tree,
neither tattered nor torn,
but empty of the body of George Padley.
Some have speculated that Sarah's pleadings
for protection of her sweetheart were answered
and George was taken up.
Savior
Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand
Hath made me whole
Whose wondrous power
Hath raised me up
And filled with sweet
My bitter cup
What tongue my gratitude
Can tell
Oh, gracious God
Of Israel
Never can I
Repay thee, Lord
But I can love thee.
Thy pure Word
Hath it not been
My one delight
My joy by day
My dream by night?
Then let my lips
Proclaim it still
And all my life
Reflect thy will
O'errule mine acts
To serve thine ends
Change frowning foes
To smiling friends
Chasten my soul
Till I shall be
In perfect harmony
With thee
Make me more worthy
Of thy love
And fit me for
The life above
Sir?
We shall endure much hardships.
May I see it?
What? No!
My best friend, John Linford, died.