This week's Sunday School lesson centers on the Willie and Martin handcart companies who crossed the plains in October 1855 to be gathered to Zion. Gathering to Zion in Utah was at its peak and the Perpetual Emigration Fund provided for many to travel to Utah, particularly from Britain. In 1850 Utah had 11,380 members, while the British Isles had over 30,000. On somebody's ill advice some British saints left England without understanding the dangers of starting late to cross the plains. They became the Willie and Martin handcart companies. By the end of October they were stranded on the plains and in need of rescue. A lot has been written about the suffering, courage and blessings that arose out of those terrible days. Before it was through, more than two hundred men, women and children from these companies lost their lives before they arrived in Salt Lake City on November 2 and November 30. (Phillip Allred, Lesson 35: A Mission of Saving, Meridian Magazine)
The question is who gave these saints such ill advice and why were they allowed to start from Iowa City so late in the year and as ill prepared as they were for the journey? Nobody knows who is to blame. The lesson that lies in this historical event for us is that the saints in Utah responded overwhelmingly with help and did not care how these companies got themselves in such a fix. Maybe there were some who thought that they brought upon themselves their suffering and that now they should suffer the consequences. This is the 'natural man' reaction that many of us have towards those less fortunate who stand in need of our help. This kind of thinking enables us to judge people without knowing their circumstances or their capabilities. King Benjamin talked extensively to his people about helping the beggar in the street and that those who pass such judgment have no interest in the kingdom of God (Mosiah 4:16-18)
The lesson also highlights the example of the Saviour who rescues us over and over regardless of how and why we got ourselves into our unfortunate situations, His ultimate rescue being the Atonement through which he has placed himself in the path of justice to rescue us (Ted Gibbons, D&C Lesson 35, LDS Living Magazine).
Elder M Russell Ballard related a very touching story that teaches a sobering lesson about what the Saviour did for us:
"I remember reading about a fire fighter in the eastern United States who ran into a burning house to rescue several children from an arson-induced fire. While his colleagues battled the blaze to keep it from spreading to other structures in the neighbourhood, this man dashed into the building again and again, each time emerging with a child in his arms. After rescuing the fifth child, he started back into the inferno once more. Neighbours shouted that there were no more children in the family. But he insisted that he had seen a baby in a cradle, and he dove into the intensifying heat.
Moments after he disappeared into the fire and smoke, a horrifying explosion shook the building and the entire structure collapsed. It was several hours before fire fighters were able to locate their colleague's body. They found him in the nursery near the crib, huddled protectively over a life sized and practically unscratched doll.
As I think about such heroism, however, I'm reminded that the most heroic act of all time ever was performed in behalf of all mankind by the Son of God. In a very real sense, all of humanity - past, present and future - was trapped behind a wall of flame that was fuelled and fanned by our own faithlessness. Sin separated mortals from God (see Romans 6:23) and would do so forever unless a way was found to put out the fires of sin and rescue us from ourselves. (Cited in Our Search for Happiness: M. Russell Ballard, p. 11)".
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