Description

Mary Goble

The William and Mary Goble family emigrated from England in 1856. Upon their arrival in Iowa city, they were assigned to the Hunt Wagon Company. Remember the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies came out around the same time from Iowa city as the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and the Hunt Company was caught in Wyoming snows, October of 1856. Their sufferings were indescribable.

Nevertheless, the Goble family trudged on burying family members as they came across the plains. Daughter Mary said,

“We arrived in Salt Lake City nine o’clock at night, the 11th of December 1856. Three out of four family members that were living were frozen. My mother was dead in the wagon. Bishop Hardy had taken us to a home in his ward and the brethren and sisters brought us plenty of food. We had to be careful and not eat too much as it might kill us. We were so hungry.”

“Early next morning, Brother Brigham Young and a doctor came. The doctor’s name was Williams. When Brother Young came in he shook hands with us all. When he saw our condition, our feet frozen, and our mother dead, tears rolled down his cheek.”

“The doctor amputated my toes using a saw and a butcher knife. Brigham Young promised me I would not have any more of my feet cut off. The sisters were dressing mother for the last time. Oh how did we stand it. That afternoon she was buried.”

Can you imagine the physical and emotional pain and suffering that Mary endured? Not just because of her family but because of her feet? She went on to describe the story of her feet saying:

“… my feet kept getting worse until the following July I went to Dr. Weissman – to live with him, to pay for him, to doctor my feet but it was no use. He said he could do no more for me unless I could consent to have them cut off at the ankle. I told him what Brigham Young had promised me. He said, “…all right, sit there and rot and I will do nothing more until you come to your senses.”

“One day, I sat there crying. My feet were hurting me so when a little, old woman knocked at the door, she said she had felt someone needed her there for a number of days. When she saw me crying, she came and asked what was the matter. I showed her my feet and told her the promise Brother Young had given me. She said, “Yes, and with the help of the Lord, we will save them yet.”

“She made a poultice and put it on my feet and every day after the doctor had gone, she would come and change the poultice. At the end of three months, my feet were well.”

One day, Dr. Weissman said,

“Well, Mary, I must say you have grit. I suppose your feet have rotted to the knees by this time. I said, oh no, my feet are well. He said, “I know better, it could never be.”

Mary said,

“… I took off my stockings and showed him my feet. He said that it was a miracle and wanted me to tell him what I had been doing. I told him to never mind that they were now healed. I have never had to have any more taken from them. The promise of Brigham Young has been fulfilled.”

I believe in the promises of living prophets. Call me a child, call me a fool, I don’t care. If we focus on the promises of the prophets, obey the conditions required and set forth, we may call upon the Almighty for them to be fulfilled. That is my faith, as the conference comes upon us.

For example, consider this, delivered by President Russell M. Nelson at the close of the October 2020 conference, it’s the last thing he said to us. He said:

“I bless you to be filled with the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I bless you with an increased desire and ability to obey the laws of God. I promise that as you do, you’ll be showered with blessings including greater courage, increased personal revelation, sweeter harmony in your homes, and joy even amid uncertainty.”

Sources:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWN3-VWQ

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ8-R5Q

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ8-R57