On the 5th Day of Christmas Past,
Question: How did young Joseph F. Smith show courage during Christmas in Winter Quarters?
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“Courage is a theme of the Christmas story. Think of Mary’s courage to be the handmaiden of the Lord, Joseph’s courage to be the guardian of God’s son, the shepherd’s courage to worship a newborn baby, and the wise men’s courage to follow a new star. What stories of courage have been passed down in your family? Sharing such stories make priceless Christmas gifts. Here is a story from Joseph F. Smith’s family…
Joseph F. Smith was six years old when angry mobs killed his father, Hyrum Smith, along with his uncle, the Prophet Joseph Smith. At eight years of age, he and his mother Mary Fielding Smith drove a yoke of oxen pulling their wagon from Iowa to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. We can’t help but wonder what Christmas would have been like for them at Winter Quarters.
One incident during the winter they spent there reveals the remarkable courage of young Joseph F. Smith. One morning he and another boy his age were on horses watching over the cattle when they suddenly saw a big band of riders charging toward them on horseback. The other boy immediately started for home, crying, “Indians are trying to scatter the cattle!” Joseph’s first impulse was to save the cattle because he knew that if they lost their cattle they couldn’t leave Winter Quarters that year. He dashed off to round up the animals. Two riders raced past him after the other boy, who for some reason jumped off his horse and ran for home. One of the riders took the boy’s horse. Joseph reached the head of the herd and succeeded in turning the cattle toward home just as the riders approached. His efforts, combined with the rush and yells of the riders, stampeded the cattle. A number of riders were finally able to outrun him, even though he had dodged them for some time.
In his own words, Joseph F. Smith recounts: ‘One Indian rode upon the left side and one on the right side of me, and each took me by an arm and leg and lifted me from my horse; they then slackened their speed until my horse ran from under me, then they chucked me down with great violence to the ground. Several horses from behind jumped over me, but did not hurt me. My horse was secured by the Indians and without slackening speed they rode on in the direction from whence they had come.’
Men from the settlement came to help Joseph whose efforts stalled the band of riders just the right amount of time that only Joseph and the other boy’s horses were stolen. All the cattle were saved because of Joseph’s great courage.”
He had the courage to go after the cattle instead of running away from the Indians!
Joseph showed great courage when a band of Indians came near the camp where Joseph and another boy were watching cattle. The other boy jumped off his horse and ran for home. Joseph raced to gather the cattle. Even though his own horse was stolen, he saved the cattle.
He knew he had to do whatever it took to save the cattle so they could stay in Winter Quarters. After loosing his father & uncle to a mob he also knew that he needed to look after the family the best he could & show the courage his father would have shown.
Turning a herd of frightened cattle is very difficult and dangerous. Much like today staying together in the adversity of the world can some times be difficult. Joseph showed incredible strength of conviction in assuring the safety of the herd and in saints livelihood.
Joseph showed great courage in not running from the Indians, but trying to save the cattle. It was an especially brave thing to do, since he saw his peer running instead of taking a stand.
His instinct of courage and to do what was right overrode any fear he may have had. He was thinking more of the welfare and outcome of the entire group rather then his own safety. He had the quality of a leader at a young age.
When 8-year old Joseph F.Smith saw a band of Indians riding toward the cattle he was guarding, his first thought was of his duty. He immediately raced to head the cattle toward the camp instead of running from the Indians.
When faced with a dangerous situation, he decided to put himself at more risk to save his family and their cattle instead of running away.
Joseph showed great courage by trying his best to save the cattle even though he was probably afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear, it being able to act in spite of that fear and put your trust in God.
He knew that if the cattle were scattered, they would not be able to leave Winter Quarters that year. By putting himself in a position where he could have been seriously injured or killed, young Joseph F. Smith moved the castle, saving time and energy for his community.
He and his mother moved to Winter Quarters, Nebraska from Iowa. One day he and another boy were taking care of the settlement’s cattle. They saw a band of Indians coming to steal their cows. The other boy started for home yelling for help. He showed courage and no regard for himself as he stayed behind to protect the cattle. By doing this he had stalled the Indians long enough until help arrived.
One day in winter quarters Indians came to steal their cattle. The other boy that was with Joseph ran, but instead of running like the other boy, Joseph F. Smith tried rounding up the cattle so they wouldn’t be stolen. As a result he got pulled off of his horse, but thanks to him only his and the other boy’s horses were stolen by the Indians.
Young Joseph did not want to stay at Winter Quarters for another year so with great courage he headed toward the cattle to save them from the Indians rather than run for home like the boy who was with him. He lost his horse, as did the other boy, but his actions and courage saved all of the cattle.
Without hesitation he went to save the cattle so the saints could leave Winter Quarters. That’s great courage for a 8 yr old!
They all had such courage to continue to be faithful. How hard it would be to be trying your best like they were and still have to deal with the hatred around them and then have the Indians come to attack as well.
He and a friend were guarding the cattle that night, and intruders, they thought were there to steal their cattle was seen in the distant, and they had trouble with mobs stealing their cattle. So, his friend took off for home and he rode his horse as fast as he could to get to head of pack. He knew the importance of saving the families cattle and they needed them at Winder Quarters, and to when they left W/Q.