Description

Mary Ann Weston Maughn

Mary Ann Weston Maughn was born and raised in England. She and her husband, John Davis joined the Church. Soon thereafter her husband was killed by a hateful mob. Mary Ann left England and emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, where she met and married a widower named Peter Maughn, taking the care of his five children. In 1850 they joined with others and set out for the West. Along the way Mary Ann wrote her observations. Notably one of the things that seemed to impact her sensitive soul was suffering of the saints and the number of graves she passed along the way.

Then, July 12, 1850, Somewhere in Nebraska. Mary Ann’s little boy Peter, just three years old, was riding in the front of the family’s wagon between his brother and sister. They were looking at a cow that had lost a horn. Little Peter lost his balance and fell before the wheels. The wheel of the huge wagon passed over him. He tried to get out of the way but he could not. The wagon came to a stop with the wheel on his back. Some men in the wagon behind ran up and lifted the wheel and took him from under it. Mary Ann recorded the following:

“He was bruised internally so that it was impossible for him to live long. We [did] all that was possible for him, but no earthly power could save him….The people left their wagons and gathered around mine, and all wept for the dear little boy that we knew must soon leave us….He opened his eyes and looked so lovingly at us, then gently closed them and passed peacefully away, and left us weeping around his dear little bruised body. Then loving hands tenderly dressed him in a suit of his own white linen clothes. He looked so lovely. I emptied a dry goods box and Brother Wood made him a nice coffin… We buried him on a little hill on the north side of the road. The grave was consecrated and we laid him to rest ….We turned away in sorrow and grief.”

And this is but one example…. It is my witness that these pioneers endured incredible suffering and sacrifices for their faith. If we claim the faith that they lived and died for, can we do any less?