Westons Go West 2 - En Route

 May 21, 1873, out in the Atlantic

 

On the open sea, Mary and her family are gathered, with others, on the deck for a prayer service. They include her husband Simon, who is 37, her son Israel, 12 who is a shoemaking apprentice under his father's tutelage; Simon, called by his second name, Ebon, to avoid confusion with his father, 10; Joseph, 8; and Alice, 4. Also in the prayer circle are President James Blake, aged 44, the missionary who recuited them, and 10 or so other assorted pilgrims.

James is leading the service. “Thank Thee God, for Thy care for us, thy 200 faithful followers who journey forth to Zion. We ask Thee for good weather, and good health. Now let us all sing the song written by William Fowler, an 1849 convert, “We Thank Thee, Oh God, for a Prophet,” which he had published for the first time, in Liverpool, two weeks before he and I and nearly 900 Saints left on our first voyage to Zion.

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.

 

After the raggeed but enthusiastic singing, Blake continues, “Thank Thee Lord for giving us strength to cope with the seasickness that many experienced over the past few days, and we know that Thee will continue to bless our journey from Babylon to Zion. May it all be according to Thy will. Amen.”

Everyone echos this, “Amen.”

President Blake says, “Now, before Thee goest back to Thy quarters, I would like a word with the Weston family. (Simon, Mary and the children turn back.) I want to remind thee of thy duties. Thee Brother Simon Weston, I have appointed as a Presiding Officer, and it will be up to thee to take charge of Ward B, with 50 pilgrims. Thy duties are to make sure those under thy charge rise at 6 a.m., clean their quarters, assemble for prayer, which thee will lead, and then eat breakfast. We will have a full assembly of all for prayer each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, thee will be expected to lead thy group in prayer and discussion after the evening meal has been cleared. Do thee understand that?”

“Yes, President Blake,” he replied.

“And thee, Sister Mary Weston will be responsible for organising the other women and taking it in turns to care for the ill, under the orders of the ship’s doctor. If you find six other women, it will mean that thee each only need to be on sick duty, as it were, one day a week, unless there is an outbreak of some sort. Does thee have any questions?”

“No, President Blake.”

“And thee children, Israel Weston, Ebon, Joseph, it must be thy task to care for thy sister, Alice, and others of the smaller children while the rest of thy family are busy in God’s work. Thee will read with them from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and help them in any way thee can to progress in their learning. Do thee all agree to do these things?”

The children all say together, “Yes President Blake.”

“I have been very impressed with what I have seen of thee and thy family, Simon Weston. I shall depend on thee to be one of my right-hand men for this journey, and the subsequent train journey to Zion. Thee have the making of an Apostle about thee. I will make note in my diary of it, and inform the elders in Zion when we arrive. I hope that will suit thee.”

“I will be honoured to do whatever I can do forward God’s purpose in Zion," said Simon.

“What is thy trade? I know it was written on thy form, but I have forgotten.”

“I am a shoemaker,  as is my eldest son, Israel, an apprentice in the trade.”

“Come here Israel.” He steps forward nervously. “Are thee looking forward to arriving in Zion, Israel?”

“Yes, President Blake.”

“And do thee know how blessed you are with the name you have been given?”

“Yes President Blake.”

“To those whom much is given, much will be expected. Does thee know who said that?”

“I think it was Jesus, President Blake.”

“Yes, boy, thee are right, although those were, perhaps, not his exact words. But Our Lord has blessed thee and all thy brothers and sister with the opportunity to spread our word throughout the world. Did thee know that thee will be expected to preach our word as a missionary - just as I am doing?”

“No, President Blake.”

“Well, thee are a bit young yet for the work, but mind thee, it will come, and thee will no doubt be asked to go back to England or perhaps to Norway or Sweden, and tell the people there of our work, and when they are converted, thee, too, will be leading a troop of pilgrims to Zion. It is a very big task, boy, but if I can do it, thy Pa can do it, and so will thee be able to when thy time comes. God will not let thee down.”

“No President Blake.”

“Well I must go and visit the sick now. Thee have heard, I expect, that there might be small pox on board. Several suspected people have been quarantined by the doctor until we see whether their symptoms abate or progress. Thee and thy medical helpers might have quite a busy time of it, Mrs. Weston.”

“How many are ill?” asked Mary.

“Only two so far, but if it turns out to be smallpox, it is a disease that spreads rapidly. How good it is that we required all our members to be vaccinated before we got on the ship. But somehow someone not from our group, has managed to avoid vaccination, and the rest must take the consequences. I would like thee to get thy nursing team together today, Mrs. Weston, and when that is done, report to the doctor to see how thee can be of use to him straight away.”

“Yes, certainly President Blake. Thank God that it is not one of my little ones who is suffering. I have already lost two children and I couldn’t bear to lose any more. I have already buried two of mine in the last two years.”

“They are with God, thy children. Thee must never doubt that they have gone on to a happier place, and that when thy time comes, thee will see them again. God never takes anything from us without giving us something in return. I expect thee will have many more children, when thee are settled in Zion.”

“If it is the wish of God, I will do so.”

“Thee must be open to the will of God. Thee must do everything thee can to try to increase thy family, and if it is God’s will, it will happen.”

“Yes.”

“I see thee have a basket with thee. Are thee intending to have thy noon meal here in God’s glorious sunshine?”

“We would love to have thee join us for our meal, President Blake, if thy wouldst. It is only bread and cheese, but we have sufficient to share with thee,” said Simon.

“I do thank thee, Simon, but I must be off to visit the sick now. May God bless thee and keep thee all in his tender care.”

He goes out of sight to another part of the ship, and everyone relaxes.

“Now everyone sit down here in a circle, not taking up too much room if anyone needs to get by us, and we will have our meal.”

They all sit and Mary hands them each a hunk of bread and a piece of cheese. They wait to start eating until everyone is served.

“For what our good Lord has given us, may we be truly grateful,” says Simon.

“Amen,” they reply.

“Thee may start.”

“I don’t like this bread. I want soft bread,” whined Alice.

“I am sorry darling, but I think if thee take small pieces, thee will find they get quite soft from the special water thee has in thy mouth,” says Mary gently.

“I don’t have any water.”

“She means saliva,” offers her brother Eber. “That’s what it's called. We all have it in our mouths. It is what we use when we spit.”

“Simon Eber, watch what thee say. Thee knows it is rude to spit,” says Simon.

“Don’t we ever get any meat or fish? If I see another piece of cheese, I think I might be sick,” says Israel.

“Thee must be grateful that thee has cheese. It is a very good food, and will give thee energy and strength. We will no doubt have some meat or fish in the soup with our evening meal. And don’t forget that thee hardly ate anything over the past few days when thy stomachs were so upset by the rolling of the ship. Thee needs to make up for that, so eat all that thee has. Don’t waste anything,” encourages their mother.

Alice stated to cry. “I want Rachel.” (Her mother puts her arm around her.)

“I, too, miss Rachel, Alice, and I am sure she misses all of us. Thee could draw her a picture of our ship and we can put it in an envelope and post it back to her as soon as we land in New York. Would thee like to do that?”

“I don’t know what to draw.” She is still struggling with tears.

“Draw a picture of thee being sick,” offers Jacob. All the children giggle at this.

“Jacob, do not tease thy sister. She could not help being sick any more than thee could. Alice, I think thee could draw a picture of the sea, with our ship on it. And thee could draw all of us on the deck having our lunch,” said her father, sternly.

“Wilt thou help me?” asks Alice.

“We will all help thee, although I must first do what President Blake has asked of me and organise some of the women to help with the poor sick people. We can each write a note for Rachel which we can put in with thy picture. Joseph will help thee.”

“What if I don’t want to be a missionary?” asked Israel, suddenly changing the subject.

“I expect thee will not have to make that decision for some years yet. God will give thee the grace to do it if He wishes thee to,” answered his father.

“Can they force me to?”

“Force is not part of our religion, so no, they couldn’t force thee to. But if thee truely believes in our religion then thee know how important it is for us to tell everyone in the world about it, that they can share in God’s glory and become Saints too, as thee will do.”

“I will be a missionary,” put in little Ebon.

“I’m sure thee will, young Sammy, and so will Joseph, when the time is right. But now the time is right for thee all to go below and tidy up thy beds, and help Alice with her drawing.”

So they all get up, shake the remains of crumbs in the basket overboard to the fish, and go down below deck.