Ephraim's Rescue Page #2

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a young man halfway around the

world was baptized also...

His name was Thomas Dobson.

You have gifts, Thomas.

Let the spirit guide

you to foster them.

You can help others with them.

You Mormons!

Run, Thomas!

Though I continually fell short,

I was trying to do better,

which helped me through the

death of Brother Joseph,

the Mormon Battalion

and many other trials.

At length, I made it to

the Salt Lake Valley

and thought to continue my

pursuits there in Zion.

Sidney! You know what the worst

thing about multiple wives is?

Multiple mother-in-laws!

He thinks he's funny, but he's not.

Brother Brigham... Arza.

Eph, there is something that I

would like you to do for me.

Before you spend another

minute in this place,

I want you to go home and

shave off that beard.

Yes, Brother.

Not a word.

I'm really not like my brother.

Well, what got into you?

I think the cat licked you clean.

I look like a peeled onion.

Brother Hanks, did I

ask you to shave?

Yes, Brother Brigham, you did.

Well, then, go on

home and do it right!

Now there is a man that

will give strict obedience,

regardless the nature

of my request.

There is a man that I can trust with

the most important of missions.

Oh, marvelous, me boy, marvelous!

You truly have a gift, Thomas.

Someday you will be a great strength

to many that carry heavy burdens.

Through those next years,

I contracted to carry the mail

from Salt Lake to

St. Louis and back.

I made the trip 'most 50 times...

so many times, it became humdrum.

I crossed the plains during

any season of the year.

I got to where it did not matter

to me what the conditions were.

I was again being prepared.

On one such trip, I was

warned that an angry tribe

was camped a short

distance off the trail.

But rather than avoiding them,

I felt impressed to call on them.

I was taken to the chief's tent.

They were clearly very happy

I had made the effort to stop by.

I believe we are each

given certain gifts.

I was coming to

realize one of mine.

Oye, oye!

The Dobsons are

departing for "Zion"!

Come one, come all, and

buy of their goods!

Mother! How can you allow the

crier to pitch our name about?

He is announcing to all

our private plans.

Truth be told, you have no care

at all about our private plans.

- You are embarrassed.

- And perhaps I am!

I have no desire to travel

to some uncivilized desert,

full of wild beasts, where they

have no respect for the dance.

You have no desire to

leave your sweetheart!

But, Thomas, you know she

will never accept the church.

The Prophet has said,

"Go", and go we must,

for I know this to be

the true church of God.

Me boy, you've got to lose

your life to find it.

Two months later, the Dobsons

were aboard the ship Horizon...

and two months after that...

Me boy, I can scarcely put one

foot in front of the other.

Let it be spoken again, Mother,

I wanted no part of this.

The Lord looks after His own, son.

For your efforts,

you'll be blessed.

What be the trouble?

Trouble? Oh, there be no trouble...

just the matter of Jonathan

Stone, found eaten by the wolves.

No!

Brother Stone!

It can't be!

It can and it be.

Brother Dobson.

I'm told you dance the jig.

The Saints could use a bit

of cheerin' up at this time.

It would mean much to us all.

They must have meant

someone else...

not I.

In October 1856, I had

contracted for a load of fish,

which I pulled out of Utah Lake.

I stayed that night at the

cabin of Gerney Brown.

We're building this brick wall,

and he says, "Hey, Ephraim!

How thick is that brick wall?"

In many ways, I believe my

entire life had been a plan

so I might be prepared for what

became my greatest adventure.

Ephraim.

Ephraim.

Yes, Brother Brown.

The handcart people are in

trouble, and you are wanted.

Will you help them?

Yes, I will go if I am called.

Ephraim! The handcart people are

in trouble, and you are wanted.

Will you help them?

Yes.

Well, what if they should

bite us in the night?

Oh, keep your hair on, there'll be

no wolf worries while I'm about.

There I was lying on the ground,

looking right into the eyes

of the biggest, meanest,

beastly wolf I'd ever seen.

I didn't know what to do.

Then a voice said to me,

"Poke him in the eye!"

So I poked him in the eye!

And you know what he did?

He whimpered like a

little pup and ran away,

never to bother me again, and

he won't bother you either.

They're frightened of me, you know.

Bless you, son.

The nights grow colder.

Are you keeping on, Thomas?

Not really, Mother. I'd have

to say, no, not really.

I've waited 19 years to

make this journey, Thomas,

and if we hang on a bit, for the

sure of it, we'll be blessed.

Well, let me tell you how I

would like to be blessed...

If I have to hear that

pipsqueak say one more time

how he poked that wolf in eye,

I'm going to poke him in the eye!

I am sorry, I was only trying

to soothe their fears.

Thomas!

I am so sorry.

It's been a hard

time for him and...

Brother Dobson.

Brother Tyler.

Thomas, I have a calling for you.

I would like you to accept

position in the burial squad.

Are there so many now

that we require a squad?

Yes.

Thank you, brother.

Pardon me...

Pardon me, brother...

I do not know your name.

Are you dodging me?

Pardon...

It is just difficult for me

to speak to a young girl...

a young, pretty girl...

when I have not

bathed in four weeks.

You haven't bathed in four weeks?

How remarkable.

You smell as if it's

only been three!

Thank you.

Next morning I headed

toward Salt Lake

to learn what Brother

Brigham would have me do.

Are you Ephraim Hanks?

Who's asking?

Messenger from Brother Brigham!

Turns out, right when I was

goin' looking for the prophet,

the prophet was looking for me.

As I pronounced in Conference,

all the piety in the world

will not keep those

souls from harm's way.

We must show our faith

through our actions!

That is my religion and that is the

dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess.

Go and bring in those Saints

who are still on the plains.

I will get ready and can

start in a few days.

I can be ready on Thursday.

Brother Brigham...

I am ready now!

The Lord prepares each

of us for the purposes

that He has placed us on

this Earth to accomplish.

Moments are set before each one of us

that, if we give all that is within us,

will bring us to an ability and

power we have not before known.

Though the days were still

warm, Brother Brigham knew

things would soon change.

Those of you with strength at all

cross back and help the others!

Those of you with strength at all

cross back and help the others!

Did you hear Captain

Martin, Thomas?

They'll be fine.

Keep to your right! There

are perils on the left!

Keep to your right!

Brother Albert, would you do us

the honor of riding in our cart?

Superb!

Bless you for your goodness.

I am feeling a bit under

the weather today.

Normally, I would

secure myself across,

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