Saturday, October 4, 1856, Brigham Young learned that more
than a thousand people in two handcart and two wagon companies were stranded in
the early Wyoming snow. He immediately launched an effort to help bring them to
Salt Lake City. He asked for teams and wagons the following morning in Sunday
services. The next day he repeated the request in General Conference. He also
called for blankets, stockings, shoes, and clothing. In response to the urgency
of the situation, many sisters immediately divested themselves of petticoats,
stockings, and everything else they could spare. My
family tree has at least a dozen Mormon pioneers – people who crossed the plains
to Zion ahead of the railroad. As far as I can tell, none were in those four snow-bound companies. But Moses Martin Sanders, my fourth great grandfather, was
one of hundreds of men who dropped everything to run to the rescue.
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