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.
