Today is a great day! For all those who do not know, today is PIONEER'S DAY! It is a holiday that is not very well known outside our church, but it is a day that we remember our pioneer ancestors, and the legacy of faith that they left behind. In the early days of the church, the members were facing great opposition due to mobs, and different problems. So they acted on faith, and decided to make the long trek from Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley. They were forced from their homes, but they trusted in God, and they were eventually provided with a wonderful refuge from their tribulations. One of the Handcart companies that made this long trek was the Willie and Martin Handcart company. This Handcart company got a late start on the journey, and as they were travelling through Wyoming, they were caught by a blizzard. During this time, many of the pioneers suffered many hardships, including frostbite, starvation, and death. My great great great great grandma was one of these pioneers. Her name was Ann Jewell Rowley, and she suffered much during this time. Her husband had recently passed away, and she was left to provide for her family by herself. But through her remarkable faith, God provided for her needs.
In her own words she said " I was left a widow with 7 children under 12 years of age and the step-children of William's first marriage. I was very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the comfort it gave me. I knew that our parting was only temporary and that viewed from the eternities, this was but a fleeting moment. I also knew that no matter how fleeting a moment it was, I had to make the best of it. I had a very real job to do. The children had to be fed and clothed, but the big task and the one I must accomplish is to get us all to Zion. I must be among the people of my faith and I must get the Temple work done for us. There came a time, when there seemed to be no food at all. Some of the men left to hunt buffalo. Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God's help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering 2 hard sea biscuits that were still in my trunk. They had been left over from the sea voyage, they were not large, and were so hard they couldn't be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people; but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5000 people either but through a miracle Jesus had done it. So with God's help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a Dutch Oven and covered them with water and asked for God's blessing. Then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked god for his goodness. That night my family had sufficient."
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| Ann Jewell Rowley |
Whenever I read this story, I am amazed by the faith of my Grandmother. I marvel that through her faith, she was blessed with the food necessary to feed her family. It is so remarkable to me to know that the Lord does bless us with miracles in our lives if we simply have the faith to ask. I know that God loves each and every one of us. We may not have miracles like this in our lives, but God does bless us with miracles every day. He helps us through our trials, and he provides for our needs. Miracles can literally happen in our lives and in the lives of those around us, when we act in faith. When I read this story of my Grandma, it inspires me to act more in faith. I know that through the grace of God, we can overcome any opposition or problems we may face. When we act in faith, God will bless us. He loves each and every one of us. I hope y'all have a great Pioneers day!
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