Matilda Delila Willis Thompson — Divine Provision at Winter Quarters

During the winter of 1846–1847, while James Lewis Thompson was away serving with the Mormon Battalion, Matilda was left in a destitute condition at the pioneer encampments (likely Winter Quarters or Mount Pisgah) with several young children. The manuscript by Joy Thompson records a specific instance where the family had completely exhausted their food supply. Matilda knelt in fervent prayer, pleading for the lives of her children. Shortly thereafter, an unexpected visitor—a man she did not know—arrived at her wagon and provided a significant supply of flour and meat, enough to sustain the family until further help arrived. Matilda maintained throughout her life that this was a direct, miraculous answer to her prayer.