On the 5th Day of Christmas Past learned Lydia Knight, that paying tithing from her first instead of last brought blessings and felt right. Story still available on yesterday’s 5th Day Question and Story post. Congrats to 5th Day drawing winner, Betty Bringhurst, who won some carved olive wood christmas scene ornaments from...
Read MoreQUESTION and STORY 5th Day Christmas Past
Question 5th Day of Christmas Past: What did pioneer Lydia Knight learn about paying tithing? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) When first moving into their little home in Utah, Lydia [Knight] had put all the cows but one upon the range. The following very remarkable instance is an example of what God will do for those who gladly keep his laws: The one cow left at home stood out in the open air, staked a little way from the house. One morning in December Lydia awoke to find herself surrounded by a mountain of snow. “Oh, the cow!” said Lydia, as she sprang from her bed. “Boys, something must be done.” Hurriedly dressing, she went to the door, and there stood the faithful beast, cold and shivering, and there was not a spear of feed to give her. “Boys, take this blanket,” said Lydia, taking a heavy, warm, homemade blanket from her bed, “and go down to Brother Drake, who lives in the Second Ward. I knew him in the Ponca camp, and something whispers to me that he will have some feed for the cow. Tell him I would like to get enough of some kind of feed to last until this storm is over, and we can turn the poor thing out. This blanket is a good, almost new one, and should be worth part of a load.” The boys hastened down to Brother Drake’s, and in a little while Lydia was pleased and surprised to see them returning in a wagon, which was well loaded with feed. You may be sure Lydia thanked and blessed her kind friend; the boys went to work and made a pen of poles that they had hauled for wood, and they soon had “Bossie” in a warm place. In the course of a day or two, Lydia was able to churn, getting just about a pound of butter. When it was all worked over, she said to the children who had watched the operation with much interest, “Now, children, what shall we do? Here is just about a pound of butter; we may not be able to get the tenth from the cow, and shall we pay this, the first pound for tithing, or will we eat this and trust to luck to get the tenth?” “Pay this for tithing,” answered all the children with one breath. “We can do without, mother, till you churn again.” So the butter was taken to the tithing office. That cow was a “stripper” (had no calf for two years), and furthermore, the cow never got a spear of feed but what Brother Drake had brought, it having lasted until the grass grew in the spring. As Lydia has since told me, she has made it...
Read MoreANSWER 4th Day Christmas Past
On the 4th Day of Christmas Past, Brigham Young with his council met. To make sure preparations for the spring Trek were all set. Story still available on yesterday’s 4th Day Question and Story post. Congrats to 4th Day drawing winner, Loraine LeFevre, who won a set of Israel olive wood carved...
Read MoreQUESTION and STORY 4th Day Christmas Past
The 4th Day of Christmas past question: Brigham Young was always hard at work. On Christmas in 1847 what work was he undertaking regarding the Saints in Mount Pisgah? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) ON the morning of January 1st, 1847, a cannon was fired over the settlement at Winter Quarters betokening the arrival of a new year. It was a clear cold day. The thermometer registered two degrees below zero. But the Saints were holding their own against the elements and the health of the community generally, was better than it had been for some time. Brigham took occasion to write a letter to Elder Charles C. Rich who was in charge of the Saints at Mount Pisgah. Part of this letter I have copied as follows: “Our Council met at Christmas and decided to send on a Pioneer company as early as possible, with plows, seeds, grain, etc., and make preparations for eatables at the foot of the mountains on this side and when the grass starts we will follow as many as can go. . . . Your name is among the number and we want you to go with us. . . . Gird up your loins, Brother Rich, put on your armor, cheer up your heart, and being filled with Almighty faith, prepare for the battle as fast as possible. If you are sick, be made well. If you are weak, be made strong. Shake yourself like a mighty man; make the forest echo to the sound of your voice and the prairies move at your presence. Teach the Saints wisdom and knowledge, that they may come to understanding, and exercise themselves in faith, patience, meekness, brotherly love, kindness, hope, charity and endurance unto the end and they shall be saved, and whether they remove from hence, this season or next, it mattereth not, for if they abide counsel it shall be well with them.” In this wonderful letter the true Brigham Young is made manifest. “Shake yourself like a mighty man.” What a thrilling command, and how it would inspire its recipient. Also let the reader note the splendid injunctions which Brigham gave for teaching the Saints. How well he knew the necessary precepts which he should put forth as leader of the Church. Taken from- Preston Nibley, Brigham Young: The Man and His Work, 4th ed.[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1960],...
Read MoreANSWER 3rd Day Christmas Past
On the 3rd Day of Christmas past we learned Mothers can make any Christmas the best! With courage, determination, and happily making due when hard pressed. Story still available on yesterday’s 3rd Day Question and Story post. Congrats to 3rd Day drawing winner, Janet Egbert, who won a beautiful set of carved olive wood ornaments from...
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