Emily Hill penned the words to one of my favorite hymns, 'As Sisters in Zion'
My
second great-grandmother Julia Hill and her sister Emily were baptized
as teens in England, and then their parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Hill,
disowned them. Nevertheless, Julia and Emily earned their own passage to
America and sailed from Liverpool on the ship Thornton. Also on board this ship was Captain James G. Willey, who led the fourth handcart company west.
Once
23-year-old Julia and 20-year-old Emily arrived in Iowa, they joined
the Willey handcart company. Early winter snowstorms caused everyone to
suffer from hunger and exposure. On Rocky Ridge in Wyoming, many starved
or froze to death. Those who survived were comforted in their suffering
by their testimonies of Jesus Christ. But I believe what saved Julia and Emily, in addition to their testimonies, was their love for each other as sisters.
Drawing Strength
During
one particularly difficult time for me, I prayed for understanding and
had a dream about Julia and Emily. Their example of sisterhood lifted
and encouraged me. Whether what I saw in my dream really happened
exactly as I imagined does not matter to me. What does matter is the
lesson I learned. I came to see clearly the parallel between it and my
own struggle.
In
my dream, I could see Julia and Emily stranded in the snow on the windy
summit of Rocky Ridge with the rest of the Willey handcart company.
They had no heavy clothing to keep them warm. Julia was sitting in the
snow, shaking. She could not carry on. Emily, who was freezing as well,
knew that if she did not help Julia stand up, Julia would die. As Emily
wrapped her arms around her sister to help her up, Julia began to
cry—but no tears came, only soft whimpering sounds. Together they walked
slowly to their handcart. Thirteen died that terrible night. Julia and
Emily survived.
We
all have trials, but like Julia and Emily we needn’t perish on the
windswept summit alone. Though we may feel abandoned, we are not. The
Savior is near, and our brothers and sisters in the gospel are near as
well. Perhaps we can even do as Emily did and lift another, even though
we ourselves are suffering. When we do this, our brothers and sisters
become as important as ourselves. We become sanctified—made clean and
holy through our service. We become more like our Savior.
Julia and Emily understood this.
Writing Music
Years
after passing through the intense trials on Rocky Ridge, Emily penned
the words to the hymn “As Sisters in Zion.” I have often drawn strength
from them:
As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.
The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.
How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.
(Hymns, no. 309)
I
love Julia and Emily for their example to me. I love my sisters in the
gospel. I know we must love and serve others with tenderness if we would
live with God. If we do, we will be of one heart and one mind and
therefore will be His.
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