Elder M. B. Wheelwright’s baptismal ordinance despite frozen water
Published October 5, 2026 at 5:22 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While performing baptisms at New Tupton, Elder M. B. Wheelwright found the ice on the originally selected water source to be so thick that a sledge hammer handle was broken attempting to break through the ice. He subsequently located a running stream where the ordinances were successfully completed.
Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 41, No. 1, 6 January 1879, page 13):
Elder M. B. Wheelwright writes from New Tupton, Dec. 23rd, 1878:—'I have been laboring in this district for the last three months, and have baptized six persons. The ice was so thick on the water where we intended to baptize, that we broke a sledge hammer handle in trying to make a hole, but we found a running stream where we attended to the ordinance.'
In Their Own Words
“On Saturday, Deo. 28th, he baptised several persons at New Tupton. Some difficulty was experienced in finding a suitable place to attend to the sacred ordinance. At the first place selected the ice was very thick and strong, the handle of a sledge hammer having been broken in an attempt to make an opening. Subsequently, however, a running stream was found, and the parties were baptized. — Millennial Star 41:1”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 6 January 1879 (Vol. 41, No. 1). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1879-01-06_41_1 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Complete account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 41, No. 1, 6 January 1879, page 13 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1879-01-06_41_1
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