Charles R. Mabey — Response to Francis Webster's Testimony

After hearing the faith-promoting account of Francis Webster, a survivor of the Martin Handcart Company, Charles R. Mabey was deeply moved by the spiritual assurance and testimony shared by Webster. Mabey, who later served as the Governor of Utah, stood up and expressed that he would gladly pay the same price of suffering that Webster had endured to gain the same level of assurance regarding the 'eternal verities' of the gospel.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in Andrew Olsen, The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies (as quoted in 'I knew that the angels of God were there! - Talking Scripture')):

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 and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there too. 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. 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. The speaker was Francis Webster, and 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.'