Mary Fielding Smith's Answered Prayer for Lost Oxen

“In the morning two of the best oxen were missing, and after a fruitless search, Joseph and his uncle returned to camp, the former arriving first. As he drew near he saw his mother kneeling in prayer and beseeching the Lord not to leave them in a helpless condition, but to enable them to find the oxen, which, she suspected, on account of the prolonged absence of her son and her brother, were lost. She had not proceeded far when a man from the company of cattle-men rode up and told her that the oxen had been seen that morning going in the opposite direction to the one she was taking. She paid no attention whatever to him, and continuing her course down the creek soon found the lost animals securely tied up in a thick copse of willows, which was growing in a deep gulch that had been washed out of the sandy soil by the waters of the creek, near its confluence with the Missouri River. The oxen were there perfectly concealed from view. Speaking of this occurrence President Smith says: 'This circumstance was one of the first practical and positive demonstrations of the efficacy of prayer that I had ever witnessed. It made an indelible impression upon my mind, and has been a source of comfort, assurance and guidance to me throughout my life.' — Joseph F. Smith, as quoted in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 75, No. 49”