18 September 2007
Samuel SINFIELD & Hannah MIDDLETON
It is interesting to me that on the same day that Samuel & Hannah were sealed, they were also sealed to both of their previous spouses (Hannah to Foster & Samuel to Phoebe). They also acted in proxy to seal Hannah's previous husband Foster to his previous wife (also named Hannah) that died before he married Hannah, my grandmother.
Samuel SINFIELD
I found this entry today at http://books.google.com/books?id=XqW19LTtgfIC&pg=PA2346&lpg=PA2346&dq=%22samuel+sinfield%22+1820&source=web&ots=HRv4SZdlQ7&sig=HRczTFxT3YL6GgaZYHKgeoqAw0Q#PPA2346,M1
Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers By Florence C. Youngberg
(pages 2346 - 2347)
Samuel Sinfield
(picture)
Born: 8 Mar 1820, Eversholt, Bedford, England
Parents: William and Elizabeth Pepper Sinfield
Died: 18 Feb 1904, Paradise, Cache, Utah
Arrived in Valley: 1853/54, by wagon train
Married 1st: Phoebe Cross
Date: 1 Nov 1841.
Died: 20 Aug 1852, England.
Married 2nd: Hannah Middleton Hawkey (wid)
Date: 1857
Born: 25 Oct 1822, Sunderland, Durham, England
Parents: John and Margaret Alderson Middleton
Died: 28 Apr 1903, Paradise, Utah
Samuel and Phoebe were baptized in 1842 and made plans to leave for Zion as soon as possible. One week before they were to leave, phoebe died. Samuel didn't change his mind. A little later, he and his two daughters sailed for America.
Upon reaching the Valley, he went on to Ogden where he located a farm. In 1857, he married Hannah, a widow with two small daughters.
When Samuel learned that the railroad would be coming to Utah, he traded his property for a log home in Paradise, Utah. They moved in 1869 to escape the "bad influence" he felt the railroad would bring. He was a very devout and serious person. he was strict with his children and very frugal.
He was a high priest in his ward when he died. Hannah died 10 months before he did.
Children of 1st wife:
ELIZA, b. 24 Jan 1842
EMMA HANNAH, b. 6 Jan 1844. Md. 10 May 1863, Daniel Miles Smith.
Children of 2nd wife:
GEORGE ROBERT, b. 18 Aug 1858. Md. 20 Mar 1889, Rebecca Platt. D. 28 Mar 1937.
JANE CHARLOTTE, b. 6 Apr 1860. Md. 20 Oct 1876. John William Richman. D. 20 Oct 1942.
HENRIETTA, b. 2 Mar 1862. Md. 27 Oct 1881, John Lloyd Price. D. 15 Oct 1938.
Submitted by: Dianne Parker
Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers By Florence C. Youngberg
(pages 2346 - 2347)
Samuel Sinfield
(picture)
Born: 8 Mar 1820, Eversholt, Bedford, England
Parents: William and Elizabeth Pepper Sinfield
Died: 18 Feb 1904, Paradise, Cache, Utah
Arrived in Valley: 1853/54, by wagon train
Married 1st: Phoebe Cross
Date: 1 Nov 1841.
Died: 20 Aug 1852, England.
Married 2nd: Hannah Middleton Hawkey (wid)
Date: 1857
Born: 25 Oct 1822, Sunderland, Durham, England
Parents: John and Margaret Alderson Middleton
Died: 28 Apr 1903, Paradise, Utah
Samuel and Phoebe were baptized in 1842 and made plans to leave for Zion as soon as possible. One week before they were to leave, phoebe died. Samuel didn't change his mind. A little later, he and his two daughters sailed for America.
Upon reaching the Valley, he went on to Ogden where he located a farm. In 1857, he married Hannah, a widow with two small daughters.
When Samuel learned that the railroad would be coming to Utah, he traded his property for a log home in Paradise, Utah. They moved in 1869 to escape the "bad influence" he felt the railroad would bring. He was a very devout and serious person. he was strict with his children and very frugal.
He was a high priest in his ward when he died. Hannah died 10 months before he did.
Children of 1st wife:
ELIZA, b. 24 Jan 1842
EMMA HANNAH, b. 6 Jan 1844. Md. 10 May 1863, Daniel Miles Smith.
Children of 2nd wife:
GEORGE ROBERT, b. 18 Aug 1858. Md. 20 Mar 1889, Rebecca Platt. D. 28 Mar 1937.
JANE CHARLOTTE, b. 6 Apr 1860. Md. 20 Oct 1876. John William Richman. D. 20 Oct 1942.
HENRIETTA, b. 2 Mar 1862. Md. 27 Oct 1881, John Lloyd Price. D. 15 Oct 1938.
Submitted by: Dianne Parker
10 August 2007
Vent
As I have worked to confirm ordinances, I'm always surprised to see so much work redone and redone again (in some cases as many as 10 times). Most of my recent ancestors (up to and including almost all of my Great-Great Grandparents) did their own ordinances while they were alive. Some of my Great-Great-Great Grandparents even did their own work. Though there are mistakes in the Temple Ordinance Records, it is usually pretty easy to match names and see that the work has already been done.
I realize that for years, Temple Ordinance Records were only updated irregularly and were difficult to access. Because of that, work that needed to be done was often duplicated. But now, those Ordinance records are updated almost in real time -- and are easily accessed on the internet. There really isn't any reason that these already completed and recorded ordinances should be redone. A recent example is that work on my Grandma Coombs (who just died 11 years ago) is already being redone -- as recently as 2002. Her name was resubmitted with an incorrect birthplace. Careful checks in the Ordinance Records would have showed that she had completed all of her own ordinances while living.
We receive blessings in our lives just for attending the temple. But redoing ordinances takes hours of proxy time that could be used for someone who actually needs the work done.
Stepping off my soap-box. :o)
I realize that for years, Temple Ordinance Records were only updated irregularly and were difficult to access. Because of that, work that needed to be done was often duplicated. But now, those Ordinance records are updated almost in real time -- and are easily accessed on the internet. There really isn't any reason that these already completed and recorded ordinances should be redone. A recent example is that work on my Grandma Coombs (who just died 11 years ago) is already being redone -- as recently as 2002. Her name was resubmitted with an incorrect birthplace. Careful checks in the Ordinance Records would have showed that she had completed all of her own ordinances while living.
We receive blessings in our lives just for attending the temple. But redoing ordinances takes hours of proxy time that could be used for someone who actually needs the work done.
Stepping off my soap-box. :o)
Myrthus & Felton
In prior research, I discovered that Josiah HICKMAN had married his third wife, Helen Josephine HANSON, after the manifesto (in Mexico in 1902). After some calls to Family History Centers and eventually to the temple, I discovered that all sealings like this would have to be redone. Everything else had been redone -- except Myrthus & Felton had not been resealed to their parents. I originally made a disk and took it to the temple to do the work. I was surprised, though, that my disk wouldn't work. Because of this, I felt that it was not my place to do this work, but rather was for their direct ancestors. I was please to see, while working this week, that the work has been redone during the past year.
Confirming Ordinances
I've been working on the Tams line this week. After struggling at the ends of the line and not finding any links, I've decided to change my approach. I am working from my closest ancestors. I am 1) Confirming that all of their ordinances are done and 2) Confirming that all of their children's ordinances are done (including sealed to spouse). So far I have confirmed up to my Great-Great Grandparents on the Tams line (Elijah TAMS etc.). I am waiting, though, for some information on Boston & Leon Richman (Leon is the son of John William RICHMAN & Jane Charlotte SINFIELD -- and the brother of Zoe Sinfield RICHMAN). I can't find information on Leon's descendants -- but did find a website of a "Lynn RICHMAN" which has pictures suggesting they are descendants. Temple Ordinance Records show that Boston & Leon received their endowments on the same day that they were married -- which suggests to me that they were also sealed that day. However, the Ordinance Records do not show a "Sealed to Spouse." I sent an email to that site -- hoping for a positive indication that they were sealed (I'm 99% sure that they were).
07 August 2007
06 August 2007
Missing Photographs
On the TAMS line, I am still missing photographs of the burial markers for:
Thomas TAMS & Margaret HOMER (both died in Stafforshire, England).
John RICHMAN & Sarah Ann STEPHENSON (both died in Fremont, Idaho & buried in Teton-Newdale Cemetery).
Christopher Marinus OLSEN & Caroline Sophia JENSEN (He is buried in Richmond, Utah -- I can't figure out where she died/was buried).
Hans JENSEN (Caroline Sophia JENSEN's father) may be buried in Hyrum, Utah.
Thomas TAMS & Margaret HOMER (both died in Stafforshire, England).
John RICHMAN & Sarah Ann STEPHENSON (both died in Fremont, Idaho & buried in Teton-Newdale Cemetery).
Christopher Marinus OLSEN & Caroline Sophia JENSEN (He is buried in Richmond, Utah -- I can't figure out where she died/was buried).
Hans JENSEN (Caroline Sophia JENSEN's father) may be buried in Hyrum, Utah.
John BRADLEY & Mary Ann WILLIAMS
John & Mary Ann Bradley are buried in the SW corner of the Hyrum Cemetary (about 5 miles from Paradise).
Paradise Cemetary
This is a map of the Paradise Cemetary. Click on the image to make it larger. This map gives rough directions to the burial location of many of my Grandparents. Neil TAMS & Verda OBRAY are not included on this map. They are buried in the vicinity (south, I think) of Elijah TAMS.
HANNAH MIDDLETON HAWKEY SINFIELD
source unknown:
HANNAH MIDDLETON HAWKEY SINFIELD
Hannah Middleton Hawkey Sinfield was born October 25, 1822, at Sunderland, Durham, England, daughter of John Middleton and Margaret Alderson. Hannah's father was a sailor and was aboard the ship that made the first voyage from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada.
When Hannah was twenty-four, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Gilles and confirmed the following evening by John Knox. The following year she married Foster Hawkey whose first wife had died. Foster was left with a young son, James. Foster and Hannah were active members of the Sunderland Branch of the Church. Three children were born to Foster and Hannah.
Foster was a shipwright by trade. While repairing a ship mast during a storm, he was swept into the sea and drowned. Hannah, along with many of the other Saints desired to immigrate to Zion. The Perpetual Emigrating Fund, a fund to help finance the Saints who desired to come west from Iowa and other eastern states had been approved at the October conference, 1849. It was later extended to include Saints abroad.
The year of 1855 saw the establishment of the handcart companies. The Saints were to be provided handcarts on which to put their provisions and clothing. They could walk and draw them across the plains, which would save them the immense expense for teams and outfits for crossing the plains. When the Saints read a notice in the Millennia! Star published by the President of the British Mission that stated they could go to Zion for $45, if they participated in this program, there was a great rush to secure transportation.
Hannah was among the group to participate in the program. Three sailing vessels were chartered to carry the Saints across the ocean. She was assigned to the Martin Company. There were 856 Saints on board the ship "Horizon," which left Liverpool, England, on May 25, 1856. Six weeks later, on the evening of June 28, 1856, the ship cast anchor in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. From Boston they made their way by rail to Iowa City, Iowa, where they were outfitted with handcarts. The handcarts were designed to carry one hundred to five hundred pounds of food and clothing.
It was getting well into the summer, and many Saints felt it wise not to make the long journey that season. The leaders advised them to wait, but the majority of the Saints was anxious to get to Zion and fully believed they could reach Salt Lake City before winter. Five large companies were organized. The first three left in June and went through without serious difficulty.
The last two companies, more than one thousand Saints, arrived at Iowa City in July and fully expected to find handcarts ready for them. Instead they were delayed about six weeks while they built their own handcarts. The axles of the handcarts were poorly constructed of wood instead of iron and the boxes were made of leather.
The Martin Company was the last to leave. The company left July 28, 1856, with 575 persons, 146 handcarts, and 7 wagons that were used to carry food and tents. The handcarts soon began to break down, and repairing them took precious time. Food became scarce and they were put on rations. As they climbed to higher altitudes, they were advised to lighten their loads.
The company reached Fort Laramie, Wyoming, on October 8th. Hannah's son, James, became ill, which was due to exposure to the cold, wet conditions, and over exertion. He died October 18, 1856, near the Platte River in Wyoming and was buried with other faithful pioneers who had died. The food supply was running out, and the Saints were rationed one-half pound of flour per person. The company reached the last crossing of the North Platte River on October 19th. A bitter wind came up, and snow began to fall.
On October 20th, the Saints walked ten miles in the snow and were forced to camp near the Platte River where it leaves the Sweetwater River in Wyoming. For three days snow fell, and they remained in camp. They then struggled on. On October 25th, they stopped again. The next morning, fourteen pioneers who died from the harsh conditions were put in a pile and covered with snow, because the ground was too hard to dig graves.
When Brigham Young learned of the plight of the Martin and Willie Companies, he called upon those who were able to take wagons, food, and clothing to assist the stranded Saints. Rescue outfits reached the Willie Company on October 19th and the Martin Company on October 28th. Hundreds from these two companies had perished. After the rescue teams arrived nearly one hundred more immigrants died.
With the help from the relief parties and the supplies they brought, the Martin Handcart Company reached Salt Lake City on November 30th. Hannah's feet were severely frozen, which caused her toes to burst open. The doctor later told her if she had not been wearing woolen stockings, which helped prevent infection, her feet would have had to been amputated. She was not able to walk until the following spring. During this time kind friends cared for Hannah and her children.
Hannah became acquainted with Samuel Sinfield, and they were married during the summer of 1857. They made their home in Ogden, and in 1869 they moved to Paradise. Their home was located one and one-half blocks north of the church on the northwest comer. Their farm was about one and one-half miles south of town.
They experienced the trial of fighting the grasshoppers, which destroyed their crops. Hannah would take her large apron and spread it over some of the garden vegetables to protect the foliage from the devouring insects, but it was to no avail. The grasshoppers chewed holes in the apron. Hannah and Samuel were concerned about the salvation of their ancestors, and soon after the dedication of the Logan Temple they performed the saving ordinances for many of their loved ones. Samuel was sealed to his first wife, Phebe Cross, and Hannah was sealed to her first husband, Foster Hawkey.
Hannah was a vigorous woman and enjoyed good health most of her life, despite the hardships she suffered while crossing the plains. She suffered a stroke and died April 28, 1903, at her home in Paradise and was buried in the Paradise cemetery.
HANNAH MIDDLETON HAWKEY SINFIELD
Hannah Middleton Hawkey Sinfield was born October 25, 1822, at Sunderland, Durham, England, daughter of John Middleton and Margaret Alderson. Hannah's father was a sailor and was aboard the ship that made the first voyage from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada.
When Hannah was twenty-four, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Gilles and confirmed the following evening by John Knox. The following year she married Foster Hawkey whose first wife had died. Foster was left with a young son, James. Foster and Hannah were active members of the Sunderland Branch of the Church. Three children were born to Foster and Hannah.
Foster was a shipwright by trade. While repairing a ship mast during a storm, he was swept into the sea and drowned. Hannah, along with many of the other Saints desired to immigrate to Zion. The Perpetual Emigrating Fund, a fund to help finance the Saints who desired to come west from Iowa and other eastern states had been approved at the October conference, 1849. It was later extended to include Saints abroad.
The year of 1855 saw the establishment of the handcart companies. The Saints were to be provided handcarts on which to put their provisions and clothing. They could walk and draw them across the plains, which would save them the immense expense for teams and outfits for crossing the plains. When the Saints read a notice in the Millennia! Star published by the President of the British Mission that stated they could go to Zion for $45, if they participated in this program, there was a great rush to secure transportation.
Hannah was among the group to participate in the program. Three sailing vessels were chartered to carry the Saints across the ocean. She was assigned to the Martin Company. There were 856 Saints on board the ship "Horizon," which left Liverpool, England, on May 25, 1856. Six weeks later, on the evening of June 28, 1856, the ship cast anchor in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. From Boston they made their way by rail to Iowa City, Iowa, where they were outfitted with handcarts. The handcarts were designed to carry one hundred to five hundred pounds of food and clothing.
It was getting well into the summer, and many Saints felt it wise not to make the long journey that season. The leaders advised them to wait, but the majority of the Saints was anxious to get to Zion and fully believed they could reach Salt Lake City before winter. Five large companies were organized. The first three left in June and went through without serious difficulty.
The last two companies, more than one thousand Saints, arrived at Iowa City in July and fully expected to find handcarts ready for them. Instead they were delayed about six weeks while they built their own handcarts. The axles of the handcarts were poorly constructed of wood instead of iron and the boxes were made of leather.
The Martin Company was the last to leave. The company left July 28, 1856, with 575 persons, 146 handcarts, and 7 wagons that were used to carry food and tents. The handcarts soon began to break down, and repairing them took precious time. Food became scarce and they were put on rations. As they climbed to higher altitudes, they were advised to lighten their loads.
The company reached Fort Laramie, Wyoming, on October 8th. Hannah's son, James, became ill, which was due to exposure to the cold, wet conditions, and over exertion. He died October 18, 1856, near the Platte River in Wyoming and was buried with other faithful pioneers who had died. The food supply was running out, and the Saints were rationed one-half pound of flour per person. The company reached the last crossing of the North Platte River on October 19th. A bitter wind came up, and snow began to fall.
On October 20th, the Saints walked ten miles in the snow and were forced to camp near the Platte River where it leaves the Sweetwater River in Wyoming. For three days snow fell, and they remained in camp. They then struggled on. On October 25th, they stopped again. The next morning, fourteen pioneers who died from the harsh conditions were put in a pile and covered with snow, because the ground was too hard to dig graves.
When Brigham Young learned of the plight of the Martin and Willie Companies, he called upon those who were able to take wagons, food, and clothing to assist the stranded Saints. Rescue outfits reached the Willie Company on October 19th and the Martin Company on October 28th. Hundreds from these two companies had perished. After the rescue teams arrived nearly one hundred more immigrants died.
With the help from the relief parties and the supplies they brought, the Martin Handcart Company reached Salt Lake City on November 30th. Hannah's feet were severely frozen, which caused her toes to burst open. The doctor later told her if she had not been wearing woolen stockings, which helped prevent infection, her feet would have had to been amputated. She was not able to walk until the following spring. During this time kind friends cared for Hannah and her children.
Hannah became acquainted with Samuel Sinfield, and they were married during the summer of 1857. They made their home in Ogden, and in 1869 they moved to Paradise. Their home was located one and one-half blocks north of the church on the northwest comer. Their farm was about one and one-half miles south of town.
They experienced the trial of fighting the grasshoppers, which destroyed their crops. Hannah would take her large apron and spread it over some of the garden vegetables to protect the foliage from the devouring insects, but it was to no avail. The grasshoppers chewed holes in the apron. Hannah and Samuel were concerned about the salvation of their ancestors, and soon after the dedication of the Logan Temple they performed the saving ordinances for many of their loved ones. Samuel was sealed to his first wife, Phebe Cross, and Hannah was sealed to her first husband, Foster Hawkey.
Hannah was a vigorous woman and enjoyed good health most of her life, despite the hardships she suffered while crossing the plains. She suffered a stroke and died April 28, 1903, at her home in Paradise and was buried in the Paradise cemetery.
23 July 2007
Faith As The Pioneers
Faith as the Pioneers
(Written for a Sacrament Mtg. Talk - July 2007)
Paradise Cemetery
Each year, while growing up, our family would visit the Paradise Cemetery on Memorial Day. I remember my Grandma Tams directing me to the soft, time-worn stone monuments honoring those whom she knew and loved. She would tell me about my ancestors, generations of whom were buried there on that hill which overlooked the farm-checked valley below. I never really listened to her. In fact, I often tried to find a way to make an escape.
More than a decade has passed since my Grandma Tams died and was buried there in that green-grass cemetery. Since her death, my heart has been turned towards my fathers. And too late, I realized that Grandma was no longer there to tell me those stories. More than 20 of my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried there in Paradise. Did anyone know where all of these special people were buried? Just several years ago, I revisited the Paradise Cemetery – this time with my own children in tow. I begged my Aunt (who seemed to be the only one who still knew something about the headstones) to help me find these monuments and I photographed & mapped them in hopes of preserving a record for my children.
Finding Hannah
As we explored the cemetery, my Aunt pointed out a columnar butter-cream colored headstone with the name of Hannah Middleton Sinfield. Adhered to the side, was a recently-added black and white plaque showing a handcart. That plaque read “Faith In Every Footstep.” All of a sudden, finding about my Great-Great-Great Grandma Hannah became extremely important. I was sad to find out that my own grandmother had been a pioneer and I had never heard (or probably had never listened) to her story. Slowly I’ve been able to construct some of the details of her life. However, much has become lost because of generations like me who didn’t listen when they had a chance.
Hannah had so much faith in the footsteps of her life. Because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she joined the church in England at the age of 24. She married a widower and adopted his son shortly after joining the church. At the age of 30, her husband was lost at sea. She was on her own now, with her adopted son and two little girls at this point. Hannah had faith to follow the prophet when he called the saints to gather to Salt Lake. She could have argued that her circumstances as a single-mother made her an exception to that call. But she didn’t – and she demonstrated her faith by boarding the ship Thornton headed to the United States in 1856. Hannah showed faith even in her trials as she pulled her two young daughters in a handcart across the plains with the Martin Handcart company that same year. Her adopted son, James, died outside of Fort Laramie, Wyoming (likely from a flu outbreak there). Still, she continued walking in faith with her two young daughters (who were only ages 3 and 4). Though I cannot confirm this, I am almost sure that Hannah and her two daughters were carried across the Sweetwater River by several young men. They came to rescue the saints from the terrible early snow storm that had stopped the company’s progress and the bitter cold that ultimately killed many of the faithful saints. Hannah and her daughters finally arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in November of 1856. Hannah’s toes had become so frozen that they had burst opened and were bleeding. The saints in the valley opened their homes to Hannah and her two young daughters. They cared for them until in the spring when Hannah’s feet were healed. When talking about her experiences, Hannah said, “(the) Lord took away the sting of losing family and friends” (and the) “pains we suffered.” Speaking of those who died, she said, “We envied them that they were taken from this extreme trial and suffering.” And when asked if she regretted leaving England, she replied, “No, never.”
Hannah’s Legacy of Faith
Hannah was a strong, faithful pioneer in the traditional sense of word. She had faith in Jesus Christ through trials that you and I may never experience. But she was also a pioneer in other ways. She was the first in that family line to join the church. Her faith to be baptized has blessed me and many other generations. Her legacy of faith has made me part of the fifth generation of her children and grandchildren that have made and kept their covenants.
Elder Ballard said of Hannah and the other pioneers, “We must be sure that the legacy of faith received from the pioneers who came before us is never lost. Let their heroic lives touch our hearts, . . . so the fire of true testimony and unwavering love for the Lord and His Church will blaze brightly within each one of us as it did in our faithful pioneers. Their accomplishments were possible because they knew. . . that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, restored the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that this Church will continue to roll forth until it fills the whole earth.”
I love Hannah and honor her for her love, commitment, sacrifice and faith.
Modern Pioneers
Today, though you may not think so, you and I are also pioneers.
President Hinckley said, “This great pioneering movement of more than a century ago goes forward with latter-day pioneers. Today pioneer blood flows in our veins just as it did with those who walked west. It’s the essence of our courage to face modern-day mountains and our commitment to carry on. The faith of those early pioneers burns still, and nations are being blessed by latter-day pioneers who possess a clear vision of this work of the Lord.”
Today, instead of blisters, rocks, snow, cold, icy-rivers and death, our trail is riddled with immodesty, irreverence, lack of commitment, laziness, indifference, false traditions and temptations of the sort that Hannah may not have been able to imagine. Just like Hannah, our journey requires faith with every footstep. Eternal life and happiness, rather than the Salt Lake Valley, lie at the end of our trail. Faith comes when we look to our Savior Jesus Christ. Will we fail? Or will we have faith in Him and stay true to our covenants? Will we make excuses or will we follow our prophet with faith? Will we have faith and trudge on as trials come or will we give in to the world and the temptations of the world?
The Bible Dictionary tells us that the kind of faith that Hannah had – “strong faith is developed by obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . Faith comes by righteousness.” Cintia, a young woman from New York, is a pioneer. She shows faith in every footstep by dressing modestly, using clean language and by being kind to those around her. Russ & Jenny are pioneer right here in Happy Valley. They face the same pressures of raising and providing for their family like we all do. Still, they recognize the importance of having a strong cart. So, they strengthen their family through Family Home Evening, family scripture study and family prayer.
Are you a valiant pioneer with faith in every footstep? Or are there some changes that you can make today? Some times our trail may seem too steep, too cold or too hard. But we know from Paul’s writings to the Corinthians, that “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will . . . make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) And we know, from so many stories, that when we need our Father’s help the most, he will push the cart for us.
Hannah made it to her journey’s end! And so can I and so can you! Someday you can be the hero or heroin of the story your ancestors tell.
Sister Bonnie Parkin said, “Years from now your grandchildren will tell with amazement stories of your choices which changed their lives. You will be called their pioneers. . . Our prayer . . . is that every one of us will gain strength from the pioneering spirit. Look in the mirror tonight. You’ll see someone unique, strong, and courageous. A pioneer. Hold on to that thought. Like . . . thousands of others, you are going before, bravely showing loved ones the way to follow."
When we strengthen our faith through obedience and righteous living, Heavenly Father will bless us and will bless those who come after us. May we walk with faith in every footstep and live lives that are a legacy of faith for all those who follow in our footsteps.
(Written for a Sacrament Mtg. Talk - July 2007)
Paradise Cemetery
Each year, while growing up, our family would visit the Paradise Cemetery on Memorial Day. I remember my Grandma Tams directing me to the soft, time-worn stone monuments honoring those whom she knew and loved. She would tell me about my ancestors, generations of whom were buried there on that hill which overlooked the farm-checked valley below. I never really listened to her. In fact, I often tried to find a way to make an escape.
More than a decade has passed since my Grandma Tams died and was buried there in that green-grass cemetery. Since her death, my heart has been turned towards my fathers. And too late, I realized that Grandma was no longer there to tell me those stories. More than 20 of my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried there in Paradise. Did anyone know where all of these special people were buried? Just several years ago, I revisited the Paradise Cemetery – this time with my own children in tow. I begged my Aunt (who seemed to be the only one who still knew something about the headstones) to help me find these monuments and I photographed & mapped them in hopes of preserving a record for my children.
Finding Hannah
As we explored the cemetery, my Aunt pointed out a columnar butter-cream colored headstone with the name of Hannah Middleton Sinfield. Adhered to the side, was a recently-added black and white plaque showing a handcart. That plaque read “Faith In Every Footstep.” All of a sudden, finding about my Great-Great-Great Grandma Hannah became extremely important. I was sad to find out that my own grandmother had been a pioneer and I had never heard (or probably had never listened) to her story. Slowly I’ve been able to construct some of the details of her life. However, much has become lost because of generations like me who didn’t listen when they had a chance.
Hannah had so much faith in the footsteps of her life. Because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she joined the church in England at the age of 24. She married a widower and adopted his son shortly after joining the church. At the age of 30, her husband was lost at sea. She was on her own now, with her adopted son and two little girls at this point. Hannah had faith to follow the prophet when he called the saints to gather to Salt Lake. She could have argued that her circumstances as a single-mother made her an exception to that call. But she didn’t – and she demonstrated her faith by boarding the ship Thornton headed to the United States in 1856. Hannah showed faith even in her trials as she pulled her two young daughters in a handcart across the plains with the Martin Handcart company that same year. Her adopted son, James, died outside of Fort Laramie, Wyoming (likely from a flu outbreak there). Still, she continued walking in faith with her two young daughters (who were only ages 3 and 4). Though I cannot confirm this, I am almost sure that Hannah and her two daughters were carried across the Sweetwater River by several young men. They came to rescue the saints from the terrible early snow storm that had stopped the company’s progress and the bitter cold that ultimately killed many of the faithful saints. Hannah and her daughters finally arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in November of 1856. Hannah’s toes had become so frozen that they had burst opened and were bleeding. The saints in the valley opened their homes to Hannah and her two young daughters. They cared for them until in the spring when Hannah’s feet were healed. When talking about her experiences, Hannah said, “(the) Lord took away the sting of losing family and friends” (and the) “pains we suffered.” Speaking of those who died, she said, “We envied them that they were taken from this extreme trial and suffering.” And when asked if she regretted leaving England, she replied, “No, never.”
Hannah’s Legacy of Faith
Hannah was a strong, faithful pioneer in the traditional sense of word. She had faith in Jesus Christ through trials that you and I may never experience. But she was also a pioneer in other ways. She was the first in that family line to join the church. Her faith to be baptized has blessed me and many other generations. Her legacy of faith has made me part of the fifth generation of her children and grandchildren that have made and kept their covenants.
Elder Ballard said of Hannah and the other pioneers, “We must be sure that the legacy of faith received from the pioneers who came before us is never lost. Let their heroic lives touch our hearts, . . . so the fire of true testimony and unwavering love for the Lord and His Church will blaze brightly within each one of us as it did in our faithful pioneers. Their accomplishments were possible because they knew. . . that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, restored the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that this Church will continue to roll forth until it fills the whole earth.”
I love Hannah and honor her for her love, commitment, sacrifice and faith.
Modern Pioneers
Today, though you may not think so, you and I are also pioneers.
President Hinckley said, “This great pioneering movement of more than a century ago goes forward with latter-day pioneers. Today pioneer blood flows in our veins just as it did with those who walked west. It’s the essence of our courage to face modern-day mountains and our commitment to carry on. The faith of those early pioneers burns still, and nations are being blessed by latter-day pioneers who possess a clear vision of this work of the Lord.”
Today, instead of blisters, rocks, snow, cold, icy-rivers and death, our trail is riddled with immodesty, irreverence, lack of commitment, laziness, indifference, false traditions and temptations of the sort that Hannah may not have been able to imagine. Just like Hannah, our journey requires faith with every footstep. Eternal life and happiness, rather than the Salt Lake Valley, lie at the end of our trail. Faith comes when we look to our Savior Jesus Christ. Will we fail? Or will we have faith in Him and stay true to our covenants? Will we make excuses or will we follow our prophet with faith? Will we have faith and trudge on as trials come or will we give in to the world and the temptations of the world?
The Bible Dictionary tells us that the kind of faith that Hannah had – “strong faith is developed by obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . Faith comes by righteousness.” Cintia, a young woman from New York, is a pioneer. She shows faith in every footstep by dressing modestly, using clean language and by being kind to those around her. Russ & Jenny are pioneer right here in Happy Valley. They face the same pressures of raising and providing for their family like we all do. Still, they recognize the importance of having a strong cart. So, they strengthen their family through Family Home Evening, family scripture study and family prayer.
Are you a valiant pioneer with faith in every footstep? Or are there some changes that you can make today? Some times our trail may seem too steep, too cold or too hard. But we know from Paul’s writings to the Corinthians, that “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will . . . make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) And we know, from so many stories, that when we need our Father’s help the most, he will push the cart for us.
Hannah made it to her journey’s end! And so can I and so can you! Someday you can be the hero or heroin of the story your ancestors tell.
Sister Bonnie Parkin said, “Years from now your grandchildren will tell with amazement stories of your choices which changed their lives. You will be called their pioneers. . . Our prayer . . . is that every one of us will gain strength from the pioneering spirit. Look in the mirror tonight. You’ll see someone unique, strong, and courageous. A pioneer. Hold on to that thought. Like . . . thousands of others, you are going before, bravely showing loved ones the way to follow."
When we strengthen our faith through obedience and righteous living, Heavenly Father will bless us and will bless those who come after us. May we walk with faith in every footstep and live lives that are a legacy of faith for all those who follow in our footsteps.
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