Francis Webster: 'The Angels of God Were There' — His Handcart Pushed Him When No One Was Behind It

Decades after the 1856 handcart trek, an old man named Francis Webster sat quietly in a Sunday School class in Cedar City, Utah, listening as others criticized Church leaders for permitting the Martin Handcart Company to set out so late in the season. He listened as long as he could stand it. Then he arose.

William Palmer, who was present, recorded what happened:

'His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.'

Francis Webster said:

'I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Was it a mistake to send the handcart company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it... We suffered beyond anything you can imagine, and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism?

'Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church because every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.

'I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand, and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

'Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin handcart company.'

William Palmer recorded: 'When he sat down there was not a dry eye in the room. We were a subdued and chastened lot. Charles Mabey, who later became governor of Utah, arose and voiced the sentiment of all when he said, "I would gladly pay the same price for the same assurance of eternal verities that Brother Webster has."'

President James E. Faust later said of this story: 'In the heroic effort of the handcart pioneers, we learn a great truth. All must pass through a refiner's fire, and the insignificant and unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong... This is part of the purging to become acquainted with God.'

Francis Webster died in 1906 at age 76. His wife Betsy died the following year. Their testimony continues to inspire generations.