"As James contemplated eating the corn, he remembered
his wife and child who were so poorly nourished...."
his wife and child who were so poorly nourished...."
The James Laird Story
James Laird was a man
whose life story contains many miracles from God, both before he traveled with
the Willie Handcart Company with his wife and children as well as after. Early in his life he was spared from harm and
determined that “The hand of God manifested in his behalf” and that he had work
to do if God was protecting him. Soon
after he joined the Church of Jesus Christ (Scotland), he was disowned by his
family. He and his wife’s family
prepared to go to Zion. While traveling
with the Willie Handcart Company, James was often found in service of
others. Although he was weak and tired,
he always found the strength to help others.
One of his assignments was to help with burials, and although he never
refused, one particularly tough morning he informed the captain of the company
that he did not feel he could use the shovel because he was so weak. In reply the Captain said, “Eat this (a
handful of corn) and do come and help.”
As James contemplated eating the corn, he remembered his wife and child
who were so poorly nourished that while nursing, the baby would often have it’s
mouth streaked with blood, and rather than eat those precious kernels, he gave
her the corn. He then picked up his
shovel, and went to his duty. He later
testified that he was given strength from that day forward to accomplish every
task the Lord lay in his path. James and
his wife Mary left a legacy of faith and conviction despite the often-difficult
circumstances they lived in. A
granddaughter later wrote, “Thanks…for giving us courage and faith…thank you
for saving the family and giving us an opportunity to be raised in the Church.”
THOUGHT FROM THE STAKE: Throughout the Book of Mormon we are taught that many people dwindled in unbelief because of the foolish traditions of their fathers. James Laird and his descendants (and many of the pioneers) teach us that the opposite is equally as true. Many of those handcart pioneers made a choice at conversion to turn toward faithfulness and obedience to God and their decision effected countless generations to follow them. Thus we see, that faith and sacrifice not only bless our immediate lives, but also the generations to follow. May we make our faith in God and our obedience to follow His commandments in our day an unbendable tradition in our families that our descendants might dwindle dwell in belief.
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