Description
It Will Take More Than A Good Home To Make Me Deny It Now
Eliza Ann Barrett was born April 7, 1837, in Pontypool Wales. Eliza was described as “small of stature, being about four feet ten inches tall, had auburn hair inclined to curl, and snappy brown eyes. Her skin was very fair and of extremely fine texture; she was neat and always dressed in excellent taste.” Her father provided a good living and Eliza was well-cared for. Eliza’s mother died when she was very young and her father married again.
On December 23, 1854, Eliza and her stepmother were baptized members of the Church, “much against the wishes of her father and oldest brother who were bitter toward the Church.”
In 1857, Eliza left England bound for America. Her stepmother supplied the funds to see her through, but the funds were stolen. While on the ship, she met Thomas Foote. Love developed between them and when they arrived in New York they were married. They had not the funds to proceed on to Utah, so they went to stay with Thomas’ aunt in Ohio. She was wealthy and generously offered them a place to stay. “She was kind to Eliza and cared for her until she was rested from her trying journey.”
Family records say:
“One day during a discussion, the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith came up, and the aunt said that no one dared stand on their feet in her house and say that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Eliza jumped to her feet and said, ‘I stand upon my feet in your house and say that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.’
“The aunt became very angry and ordered her to leave the house at once. Thomas upheld Eliza in what she had said, but he had no money and no place to take his wife. Realizing her condition, he tried to make peace between the two women but failed in the attempt. The aunt told them all they need do to remain guests in her house was to take back the statement they had made, but she met with no success. Both were true to their convictions.
“Eliza answered, ‘The God of my husband shall always be my God, and wherever he goes there shall I go also.’ The aunt told them they must leave her house that night, but that they could live in the coal house in the rear. It was the middle of December, but Thomas and Eliza dragged their trunks to the coal house, where they put up a little stove and filled a bed tick with straw which they put on the ground.
“The aunt allowed them bread and one quart of apple butter a week for their living and let them know that when they changed their minds, her house was open to them with all the comforts and privileges they had enjoyed before. Although it was sometimes necessary to shake the snow off their coverlet when they arose in the morning, and their condition was almost unbearable, Eliza stood firm on what she had said, and didn’t even for a moment weaken.
“Every morning the aunt would come to the coal-shed and say, ‘Are you ready to change your minds?’ making great promises of comfort and wealth if they would only see things her way, but Eliza always answered, ‘I left a good home in England for the Gospel and it will take more than a good home to make me deny it now.’”
And there they remained until Thomas was able to find work and an empty house. And—Eliza was expecting their first child. In time, they came to Utah and made a home. They were sealed in the Endowment House and remained true and faithful to the very end. Both are buried in Provo, Utah.
A simple straightforward experience—truly, but oh, so meaningful eternally. What price are we willing to pay defending the Prophet Joseph Smith? Could we give up ease and wealth, home and comfort, friends and family? Blessed are those who do!
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