Power of Prayer

Mary Ann Crystal Simpkins — Answered Prayer for Sustenance in Dixie

Published August 31, 2026 at 5:10 AM

Share:XFacebookEmail

During the early years of the Cotton Mission in Southern Utah, the Simpkins family, like many others, faced periods of extreme scarcity. Mary Ann Crystal Simpkins (Mary's mother) recorded a specific instance where the family's food supplies were entirely exhausted, leaving them with no flour for bread. After gathering her children and offering a fervent prayer for help, an unexpected neighbor arrived shortly thereafter with a small portion of food to share, which was enough to sustain the family until further provisions could be secured. The family history highlights this as a distinct providence and a miracle of sustained support during the hardships of colonizing the desert. This account is manuscript-sourced from the DUP collection.

Sources & References

Mary Crystal Simpkins Halladay, 'Family History,' DUP History Collection, submitted to the DUP Lesson Department by Crystal Halladay, 19-21; Halladay, 'Family History,' 65-78 (research confidence: medium)

Miracle of the Week

One remarkable, documented account in your inbox every Monday, drawn from the full archive.