Perhaps this promise was never more needed than by our pioneer ancestors who found comfort in the songs of Zion as they made their way westward toward a new home. This seems to have been particularly true for Lucy and James Holley who left England in 1856 with the hope of joining the saints in the Salt Lake Valley.
Lucy was just 21 years old and pregnant with their third child when they made this difficult decision. Lucy's parents had not been supportive of her baptism; they certainly would not have been thrilled with the idea of their first daughter making the arduous journey far from their home to a new and unknown world. For Lucy, the prospect of leaving behind home and family must have seemed daunting. But despite the difficult circumstances surrounding this decision, Lucy boarded the ship with her husband and two small children. The Enoch Train set sail for Boston on March 23, 1856.
After six weeks at sea, the Enoch Train docked at Constitution Wharf in Boston on May 1, 1856. From Boston, this group of saints traveled by train to Iowa City where they would be outfitted for the trek. Lucy and James were fortunate enough to have the means to travel by wagon and joined the Hunt Wagon Company, which was tasked with accompanying the Martin handcart company. Though advised that they were leaving too late in the season, these companies departed Iowa on August 1, 1856.
I try to imagine the trepidation that Lucy must have felt. They were setting out on the most challenging leg of the journey. Their departure was against the advice of some who were more familiar with the trail. And at this point, six months pregnant, she would have known that her baby would likely be born on the unfamiliar trail far from any comforts of home she had ever known.
August and September on the trail passed without major incident, but by October the weather had grown severe and threatened the progress of the company. They struggled in Eastern Wyoming forging the winding North Platte River several times. On October 18th, it is recorded that Lucy walked 14 cold miles before, on October 19th, giving birth to baby Lucy Belinda. Her husband James recorded the following:
“. . . my daughter Lucy Belinda was born on the first day it snowed. We kept hoping the weather would warm again, but this did not happen.” Despite the difficult circumstances, their faith and determination is evident as he went on to say: “Even though it was a miserable time for us, we continued to sing the songs of Zion.”
The songs of Zion provided courage to continue their journey. The Hunt Wagon Company was the last to arrive that year. On a cold day in mid-December of 1856, Lucy, James, their two children and a 6-week old baby finally saw the Salt Lake Valley.
Though they may not be traversing rocky terrain or forging freezing rivers, some in our wards face challenges that require the same faith and courage. As they did for my ancestors on the plains, let us remember that the hymns can comfort the weary, bring solace to those who are mourning, and give courage to those who face adversity.
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