Question 7th Day Christmas Past: How were Scandinavian Saints being watched over while emigrating during Christmas time 1852? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) The first large company of emigrants from the Scandinavian mission had an earnest desire to emigrate to Zion. They were Saints from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The Elders had been busily engaged for some time in making preparations to send off a large company. About the beginning of December, 1852, the company began to gather in Copenhagen, Denmark, and on Monday, December 20th, 1852, two hundred and ninety-three Saints, including children, went on board the steamship Obotrit, and sailed from “Toldboden”, under the leadership of Elder John E. Forsgren, one of the Elders who, in connection with Apostle Erastus Snow, first introduced the Gospel into Scandinavia two years before. A great multitude of people had gathered on the wharf to witness the departure of the “Mormons,” and many of the rabble gave utterance to the most wicked and blasphemous language, while they cursed and swore, because so many their countrymen were disgracing themselves by following “that Swedish Mormon Priest” (an appellation they gave Elder Forsgren) to America. No violence, however, was resorted to, and the ship got safely away. After a rather stormy and unpleasant passage, the Obotrit, arrived safely at Kiel, Holstein, on the evening of the twenty-second. The following day the journey was continued by rail to Hamburg, where a large hall had been hired, and supper prepared for the emigrants. In the afternoon of the twenty-fourth the Saints went on board the steamship Lion, which glided slowly with the tide down the river Elbe to Cuxhaven. The emigrants now celebrated Christmas Eve on board, with songs and amusements of different kinds. In the morning of the twenty-fifth anchor was weighed, and the Lion sailed to the mouth of the river, where it was met by heavy headwinds, that made it impossible to reach the open sea. Finally, the passage from the river to the sea was made in the moonlight, soon after which a heavy gale blew up from the southwest, which increased in violence until the next day, when it assumed the character of a regular hurricane, the like of which old sailors declared they had never before experienced on the German ocean. The ship’s bridge and part of the gunwale were destroyed, and some goods standing on the back were broken to pieces and washed overboard; otherwise, neither the ship not the emigrants were injured. On the twenty-eighth, in the evening, after the storm had spent its fury, the Lion steamed into the harbor of Hull, England. About one hundred and fifty vessels were lost on the German Ocean in the storm, and the people in Hull were greatly surprised when the Lion...
Read MoreAnswer & Winner 6th Day Christmas Past
Answer 6th Day Christmas Past: Joseph F. Smith gave the greatest gift, his time and love. It didn’t cost a cent but to his children it was priceless. Story still available on yesterday’s 5th Day Question website blog post. Congrats to 6th Day drawing winner, Betty Bringhurst, who won a Nauvoo Sunstone ornament as well as an olive wood box from...
Read MoreQuestion & Story 6th Day Christmas Past
Question 6th Day Christmas Past: What was Joseph F. Smith still able to give to his children for Christmas even though he hadn’t a single penny to spend? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith remembered one Christmas holiday when there was not even a dollar to buy anything for Christmas. By now he was the father with young children. He was working at the Church tithing office from 6 am until 11 pm each day, for which he received three dollars per day in tithing pay. This meant he could go to the tithing store and exchange his pay for flour or meat or molasses. At least the family had food. He described how he felt that holiday as he longed to provide his family with a wonderful Christmas: “I left the old home with feelings I cannot describe. I wanted to do something for my chicks [children]. I wanted something to please them, and to mark the Christmas day from all other days – but not a cent to do it with! I walked up and down Main Street, looking into the shop windows – into Amussen’s jewelry store, into every store – everywhere – and then slunk out of sight of humanity and sat down and wept like a child, until my poured-out grief relieved my aching heart; and after a while returned home, as empty as when I left, and played with my children, grateful and happy only for them.” After these trials Elder Smith says that his way became easier. Through hard work he prospered and was finally able to keep Christmas the way he wanted to. But he never forgot his Christmases of want, when he gave his children the greatest gifts any father could give – his love and his time. Joseph F. Smith, “Christmas and New Year,” 266-67. Laura Willes, “Christmas with the Prophets,” p....
Read MoreAnswer and Winner 5th Day Christmas Past
Answer 5th Day Christmas Past: George Washington spent Christmas with his troops at Valley Forge. He is one of our nation’s many great leaders that turned to God for help and reminds us that “A man stands tallest when upon his knees.” Story still available on yesterday’s 5th Day Question website blog post. Congrats to 5th Day drawing winner, Jennifer Marshall, who won a hand carved Woman at the Well olive wood statue from...
Read MoreQuestion & Story 5th Day Christmas Past
Question 5th Day Christmas Past: Which founding father spent a bleak Christmas at Valley Forge? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) On December 19 in 1777, commander of the Continental Army George Washington, the future first president of the United States, leads his beleaguered troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Things could hardly have looked bleaker for Washington and the Continental Army as 1777 came to a close. The British had successfully occupied Philadelphia, leading some members of Congress to question Washington’s leadership abilities. No one knew better than Washington that the army was on the brink of collapse–in fact, he had defied Congress’ demand that he launch a mid-winter attack against the British at Philadelphia and instead fell back to Valley Forge to rest and refit his troops. Though he had hoped to provide his weary men with more nutritious food and badly needed winter clothing, Congress had been unable to provide money for fresh supplies. That Christmas Eve, the troops dined on a meal of rice and vinegar, and were forced to bind their bleeding frost-bitten feet with rags. “We have experienced little less than a famine in camp,” Washington wrote to Patrick Henry the following February. Desperate to keep the army intact, Washington tried to stem desertion by resorting to lashings as punishment and then threatening to shoot deserters on sight. For those soldiers who remained with him, Washington expressed deep gratitude and awe. He described men marching without clothes, blankets or shoes–leaving bloody trails in the snow–who displayed “patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralel’d.” Meanwhile Washington faced the displeasure of Congress and rumors of plots to replace him with his typical stoicism and composure. On December 31, he wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette that he would continue “to observe one steady and uniform conduct, which I shall invariably pursue, while I have the honour to command, regardless of the Tongue of slander or the powers of detraction.” Furthermore, he told the press that if Congress could find someone better suited to lead the army that he would be more than happy to resign and return to private life at his Mount Vernon estate. Now today, in a quiet grove at Valley Forge, there is a heroicsized monument to Washington. He is depicted not astride a charging horse nor overlooking a battlefield of glory, but kneeling in humble prayer, calling upon the God of Heaven for divine help. To gaze upon the statue prompts the mind to remember the oft-heard expression, “A man stands tallest when upon his knees.” Taken from: Thomas S. Monson, Be Your Best Self [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 24...
Read MoreAnswer and Winner 4th Day Christmas Past
Answer 4th Day Christmas Past:It was William W. Phelps intention to adapt the hymn “Joy to the World” as a Millennial hymn celebrating the Messiah’s return. Story still available on yesterday’s 4th Day Question website blog post. Congrats to 4th Day drawing winner, Jeffrey Abraham, who won an olive wood Holy Family nativity figurine hand carved in...
Read More
Recent Comments