Levi Savage was born in Ohio in 1820 and grew up in Ohio and
southern Michigan. His father and some other family members were
baptized in 1843 by missionaries who went to Michigan from Nauvoo. Levi
affiliated with the Church but was not baptized until 1846, just before
enlisting in the Mormon Battalion.
After completing his battalion service in 1847, Levi Savage
started for the Salt Lake Valley to find his family. Arriving in
October, he found his father and some other family members there, but
his mother had died near Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Levi Savage married Jane Mathers in 1848, and they had a son,
Levi Mathers Savage, in January 1851. Eleven months later, Jane died.
Ten months after that—when his son was not yet two years old—Levi was called on
a mission to Siam (Thailand). He left his son with his sister,
departed from Salt Lake City in October 1852, and sailed from San Francisco
to Calcutta and then to Burma (Myanmar). Twice obstructed in his efforts to get
to Siam, he served in Burma for nearly two years. He tried to teach the
gospel to the native people but struggled to learn Burmese, had no
Church materials in the language, and found the people uninterested. In
May 1855 he wrote to President Richards: "I have been . . . labouring under the
most adverse and trying circumstances, with no other view but the
advance of our Redeemer's cause, but with very little success." Surely
his thoughts and heart were turned to his 4-year-old son in Utah, who had been
without a parent for two and a half years.
Levi Savage was returning from his mission at the time he was
made a subcaptain in the Willie company. He had sailed from Burma to
Boston and then traveled to Iowa City, arriving just four days before
the Willie company would depart. That day he wrote in his journal: "I reported myself to Brother Daniel
Spencer, the agent for forwarding the saints. He requires my assistance, and I
commenced." The next day he was appointed captain over the second hundred
of the Willie company. He was one of the few who kept a daily journal of
the trek. His story would become one of the most compelling of any in
the company.
On August 12 members of the Willie company arrived in
Florence Nebraska. On the evening of August 13, a meeting was held. Far from an
ordinary camp meeting, this one had high drama with life-or-death
stakes. James Willie and two of his subcaptains, Millen Atwood and Levi Savage,
bore their testimonies and gave their opinions on the upcoming journey. James
Willie continued to urge everyone forward, but Levi Savage spoke strongly
against proceeding so late in the season. Although he was a man of faith, Levi
Savage also felt that reason and experience should factor into the decision.
Knowing the risks of starting so late in the season, he advised the group to
stay in Florence through the winter and resume the journey in the spring. His
own account of the meeting, written contemporaneously, not in hindsight, reads: "August 13, 1856, Wednesday, Florence, Nebraska Territory. Today we
continued preparations for starting. Evening we held [a] meeting in
camp. Brother Willie exhorted the Saints to go forward regardless of
suffering even to death. After he had spoken, he gave me the opportunity
of speaking. I said to him that if I spoke, I must speak my mind, let it
cut where it would. He said certainly to do so. I then related to the Saints
the hardships that we should have to endure. I said that we were liable
to have to wade in snow up to our knees and shovel at night, lay
ourselves in a thin blanket and lie on the frozen ground without a bed.
[I said it] was not like having a wagon that we could go into and wrap ourselves
in as much as we liked and lie down. No, said I, we are without wagons,
destitute of clothing, and could not carry it if we had it. We must go as
we are. The handcart
system I do not condemn. I think it preferable to unbroken oxen and inexperienced
teamsters. The lateness of the season was my only objection to leaving
this point for the mountains at this time. I spoke warmly upon the subject,
but spoke truth."
John Chislett recalled that in speaking these words, "Levi Savage used his common sense and his knowledge of the country. He declared positively that to his certain knowledge we could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, women, and little children so late in the season without much suffering, sickness, and death. He therefore advised going into winter quarters without delay."
Recalling Levi Savage's words and demeanor, George Cunningham wrote: "He counseled the old, weak, and sickly to stop until another spring. The tears commenced to flow down his cheeks, and he prophesied that if such undertook the journey at that late season of the year,…their bones would strew the way."
Through his tears, Levi Savage looked into the faces of the people and saw fear and confusion. They had put their destinies in the hands of their leaders, and these men were giving conflicting counsel on matters of life and death. Sensing that Levi Savage's words might have planted doubts, James Willie retook the offensive. Levi Savage recalled: "Elder Willie then spoke again in reply to what I had said, evidently dissatisfied, and said that the God he served was a God that was able to save to the uttermost, …and he wanted no Job's comforters with him."
With these words, James Willie questioned not only Levi Savage's loyalty but also his faith. Nevertheless, when Levi Savage spoke again, he did not retreat: "I then said that what I had said was truth, and if Elder Willie does not want me to act in the place where I am, he is at full liberty to place another man in my stead, and I would not think hard of him for it, but I did not care what he said about Job's comforters. I had spoken nothing but the truth, and he and others knew it."
The words of Levi Savage caused some to worry and even some to stay in Florence, but the majority of the company decided to proceed. The reasons were numerous. One was that most members of the company were anxious to get to Zion and be settled there, in many cases with family and friends who were awaiting them. Another reason was that resources were lacking to sustain a large company at Winter Quarters or the other Nebraska sites. Securing adequate employment, shelter, food, and fuel for the winter would have been difficult or perhaps impossible.
Another factor in the desire to continue was that most of the emigrants did not know how harsh the climate and territory ahead of them could be. Despite the warnings of Levi Savage, in the heat of a Midwestern summer it would have been hard for them to anticipate the extremities they could face on the high plains of Wyoming.
Some people wanted to proceed simply because they didn't feel they had much choice. Emma James recalled that this was true for her parents: "I can remember that when [Brother Savage] finished, there was a long time of silence. I was frightened. Father looked pale and sick. I turned to Mother to see what she was thinking, and all I saw was her old determined look. She was ready to go on tomorrow. There were many others like her. We really didn't have much choice. There was no work here for us to keep ourselves through the winter, and our family had to live. 'We must put our trust in the Lord, as we have always done,' said mother, and that was that."
How did Levi Savage react to the decision to continue? How did he react to being "rebuked by the other elders for want of faith"? He must have felt that his position as subcaptain was compromised. In his mind he must have questioned why other leaders dismissed life-threatening realities they knew to be true. The natural reactions to such a situation include rebellion, withdrawal, bitterness, backbiting, perhaps even forming a personal following. Instead, Levi Savage issued this peerless statement of loyalty and love: "Brethren and sisters, what I have said I know to be true; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with
you. May God in his mercy bless and preserve us."
Levi Savage proved to be one of the great heroes of the trek. Back in Florence, he had been remarkably accurate about the difficulties he foresaw for the Willie company. Although he disagreed with the decision to move forward, he not only supported it but pledged his life to minimizing negative consequences that might come from it. He worked tirelessly to keep that promise. Throughout the trek, he accepted the assignments given him, many of them undesirable. He also continued to be one of the most loyal and effective subcaptains, making personal sacrifices to help those most in need. John Chislett recalled that "no man worked harder than he to alleviate the suffering which he had foreseen." Another subcaptain, William Woodward, later wrote, "Levi Savage, who was censured for his truthful statement at Florence, was I think the best help we had—resolute and determined. His whole soul was for the salvation of our company." Some survivors owed their lives to him.
Levi Savage was a hero not only for what he did but for what he did not do. Having leaders disregard his counsel that was later vindicated must have been difficult. But having them reprimand him and question his faith for giving this counsel must have been deeply humiliating. Despite all this, he never seems to have murmured or become bitter. He never seems to have volleyed I-told-you-so's back at his leaders. He never seems to have stopped supporting them even though their decision put him in a position of great personal risk and discomfort.
John Chislett recalled that in speaking these words, "Levi Savage used his common sense and his knowledge of the country. He declared positively that to his certain knowledge we could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, women, and little children so late in the season without much suffering, sickness, and death. He therefore advised going into winter quarters without delay."
Recalling Levi Savage's words and demeanor, George Cunningham wrote: "He counseled the old, weak, and sickly to stop until another spring. The tears commenced to flow down his cheeks, and he prophesied that if such undertook the journey at that late season of the year,…their bones would strew the way."
Through his tears, Levi Savage looked into the faces of the people and saw fear and confusion. They had put their destinies in the hands of their leaders, and these men were giving conflicting counsel on matters of life and death. Sensing that Levi Savage's words might have planted doubts, James Willie retook the offensive. Levi Savage recalled: "Elder Willie then spoke again in reply to what I had said, evidently dissatisfied, and said that the God he served was a God that was able to save to the uttermost, …and he wanted no Job's comforters with him."
With these words, James Willie questioned not only Levi Savage's loyalty but also his faith. Nevertheless, when Levi Savage spoke again, he did not retreat: "I then said that what I had said was truth, and if Elder Willie does not want me to act in the place where I am, he is at full liberty to place another man in my stead, and I would not think hard of him for it, but I did not care what he said about Job's comforters. I had spoken nothing but the truth, and he and others knew it."
The words of Levi Savage caused some to worry and even some to stay in Florence, but the majority of the company decided to proceed. The reasons were numerous. One was that most members of the company were anxious to get to Zion and be settled there, in many cases with family and friends who were awaiting them. Another reason was that resources were lacking to sustain a large company at Winter Quarters or the other Nebraska sites. Securing adequate employment, shelter, food, and fuel for the winter would have been difficult or perhaps impossible.
Another factor in the desire to continue was that most of the emigrants did not know how harsh the climate and territory ahead of them could be. Despite the warnings of Levi Savage, in the heat of a Midwestern summer it would have been hard for them to anticipate the extremities they could face on the high plains of Wyoming.
Some people wanted to proceed simply because they didn't feel they had much choice. Emma James recalled that this was true for her parents: "I can remember that when [Brother Savage] finished, there was a long time of silence. I was frightened. Father looked pale and sick. I turned to Mother to see what she was thinking, and all I saw was her old determined look. She was ready to go on tomorrow. There were many others like her. We really didn't have much choice. There was no work here for us to keep ourselves through the winter, and our family had to live. 'We must put our trust in the Lord, as we have always done,' said mother, and that was that."
How did Levi Savage react to the decision to continue? How did he react to being "rebuked by the other elders for want of faith"? He must have felt that his position as subcaptain was compromised. In his mind he must have questioned why other leaders dismissed life-threatening realities they knew to be true. The natural reactions to such a situation include rebellion, withdrawal, bitterness, backbiting, perhaps even forming a personal following. Instead, Levi Savage issued this peerless statement of loyalty and love: "Brethren and sisters, what I have said I know to be true; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with
you. May God in his mercy bless and preserve us."
Levi Savage proved to be one of the great heroes of the trek. Back in Florence, he had been remarkably accurate about the difficulties he foresaw for the Willie company. Although he disagreed with the decision to move forward, he not only supported it but pledged his life to minimizing negative consequences that might come from it. He worked tirelessly to keep that promise. Throughout the trek, he accepted the assignments given him, many of them undesirable. He also continued to be one of the most loyal and effective subcaptains, making personal sacrifices to help those most in need. John Chislett recalled that "no man worked harder than he to alleviate the suffering which he had foreseen." Another subcaptain, William Woodward, later wrote, "Levi Savage, who was censured for his truthful statement at Florence, was I think the best help we had—resolute and determined. His whole soul was for the salvation of our company." Some survivors owed their lives to him.
Levi Savage was a hero not only for what he did but for what he did not do. Having leaders disregard his counsel that was later vindicated must have been difficult. But having them reprimand him and question his faith for giving this counsel must have been deeply humiliating. Despite all this, he never seems to have murmured or become bitter. He never seems to have volleyed I-told-you-so's back at his leaders. He never seems to have stopped supporting them even though their decision put him in a position of great personal risk and discomfort.
I love the story of Levi Savage for many reasons. He is an amazing example of obedience, faith
and humility.
Have a great week!
Sister McHood
No comments:
Post a Comment