Albert Merrill and Margaret Richison, my husband’s fourth great grandparents, married in 1836 in New York City.  Settling in Connecticut, where his family had lived for generations, they met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were baptized and several years later with their family of four young children they headed west. 

Arriving in Nauvoo, Illinois on May 18, 1844 they bought a lot for their new home. Margaret joined the Nauvoo choir and gave birth to a son, Austin, who they buried eight months later.  One month after their arrival, the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were martyred at Carthage.  Albert joined the Nauvoo Legion to protect the city and in the summer of 1846, Albert and Margaret left Nauvoo, traveling west across Iowa.  

During a terrible rainstorm on the plains, Margaret gave birth to their son, Alfred.  Attempting to move on after his birth, Margaret could not endure the jolts of the wagon and they remained alone on the trail to give her time to heal.  Albert and then Margaret became sick with chills and fever.  Men sent to rescue them, took them to a few log cabins called “Lost Camp” where Margaret continued to grow worse.  The children became ill and their seven year old son, Alonzo, died.  He was followed a month later by their baby, Alfred, and their nine year old daughter, Amanda.  In his grief, Albert buried them, building a miniature log cabin over their graves to keep the wolves from their bodies.  Their food had run out and Margaret remained so ill she could not turn over in bed for seven months.  Their situation was beyond bleak and it would be hard to hope, but this was not the end.  Margaret recovered and would live to see her numerous posterity of grandchildren and even great grandchildren grow in the Salt Lake Valley and she and Albert bore witness of the miracles that accompanied them in their struggles.

This week we give thanks for a night darker than any night faced by Albert and Margaret when the Savior of the world bore our sins and sorrows, making it possible for Him to know every corner of our dark nights, giving Him the capacity to succor, sustain, redeem, heal and sanctify us.  His sacrifice makes it possible for us to call upon His power and testify, “…And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!…And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions, yea God has delivered me…and He will still deliver me….and I will praise Him forever.” (Alma 36). In every dark night, because of Jesus Christ, there can be hope and light.