Happy Pioneer Day Everyone!

Ephraim Hanks

Four Years ago my husband and I
had the opportunity to be a Ma and Pa
at our Stakes Pioneer Trek.
We had to choose a family name and
so I read and read pioneer stories.
There are so many examples of great faith
even through the hardships they faced.
Especially the Willie and Martin
Handcart Companies.

I read about a man named Ephraim Hanks.
He was one of the premier frontiersman
of his day and was part of the rescue
parties that assisted the Willie and Martin
Handcart Companies.

He was very obedient to the prophet Brigham Young.
Even when the prophet told Ephraim to shave his
beloved beard, he didn't bat an eye. He just obeyed.
But he left a mustache.He still looked so different like
a "peeled onion" and he was laughed at by the men.
The prophet then came to him and said"Did I ask you
to shave?" Ephraim nodded. "Well, then go back
and do it right." Without a word of remonstrance,
Ephraim did as he was told. President Young discovered
that here was a man who would give him strict obedience,
regardless of the nature of the request. Here was a man
who could be trusted with the most important missions
and who would serve in an exact manner.

Ephraim Hanks also possessed the gift of healing
and always carried a bottle of consecrated oil.

It's not surprising that he would volunteer to help the
suffering handcart companies. When the call came for
volunteers many men said the could be ready in a
couple of days.Ephraim said, "I am ready now!"
The next day he was on his way... alone.

He saw storms that were worse than he had ever seen.
One night as he was settling down for the night
he was saying to himself how nice a a buffalo robe
might be and that some buffalo meat might be tasty.
He said, " I was instinctively led to ask the Lord to
send me a buffalo." He was a firm believer in prayer
and prayed. After, he spied a buffalo and with one shot
killed it and it rolled right into his encampment.
He immediately skinned it and prepared the meat.
He spread the hide on the ground under his bed and
ate a nice super and had a good nights rest.

The next day he was inspired to kill more game,
not understanding why, but obeyed. As he journeyed
he spied what he found was the Martin Handcart Company.

The company was overwhelmed with joy when
they saw the fresh meat he carried and they flocked
around him saying," Oh please give me a
small piece of meat." and , " My poor children are
starving, do give me a little." and, "give me some,
give me some!" Ephraim eventually just gave them
the meat, so they helped themselves and busied
themselves in cooking and eating it.

After Ephraim joined the company he administered
to the sick and healed them. He went from tent to tent,
day after day administering to the sick.
" Truly the Lord was with me and others of his
servants who labored faithfully together with me in that
day of trial and suffering. The result of this, our labor of
love certainly redounded to the honor and glory of a kind
and merciful God. In scores of instances when we administered
to the sick and rebuked the diseases in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the sufferers would rally at once and they
were healed almost instantly. I administered to many each
day and to scores during the journey and many lives were
saved by the power of God."

We named our trek family the "Hanks"!
I have never stopped thinking
about Ephraim Hanks and through obedience
we can be a powerful source of good and miracles
through the hand of God.

"Hip Hip HANKS!
We don't want no spanks!
We dont need no thanks!
We work like tanks!
Hip Hip HANKS!"
Clap, clap, snap!