George was a veteran British soldier and convert to the Church when he sailed on the Horizon out of Liverpool in 1856. Edward Martin, called to preside over the Saints aboard the ship, chose Brother Waugh as his second counselor. Perhaps it was the life of a soldier that taught him leadership and gave him the ability to inspire people to do more than they thought they could, but being a soldier had not hardened George’s heart.
During the voyage, George went throughout the ship, seeking out those who were sick, comforting, and giving priesthood blessings to them. John Jaques recalled, “On shipboard [Father Waugh was] lively as a cricket.” The Saints affectionately called George, “Father Waugh” (Salt Lake Daily Herald, 19 Jan. 1879, 1).
When the handcart journey was well under way, George Waugh continued to look after others. Calling upon his experience as a soldier, tempered by compassion and love, he took charge of the “aged advance guard.” John Southwell recalled Father Waugh’s daily routine with the company’s oldest, most infirm members:
“There were the invalids to be looked after and cared for. An old gentleman . . . was elected to this office. He would muster them together, make an early start, and travel them so far as they were able to walk. Those who tired out would fall back to be taken up by some young man and carried to camp on his handcart. . . .
“In his company was one of the worst cripples I ever saw to be a traveler. His lower limbs were paralyzed and his body badly deformed, but he was strong in the faith. He was able to propel himself with surprising speed with the use of crutches” (John Southwell, Autobiographical Sketch. LDS Church Archives).
Josiah Rogerson also wrote of the noble heroics of George Waugh as he led his fellow elderly Saints across Nebraska:
“Father George P. Waugh, then between 65 and 70 years of age, would be seen and heard calling between tents for his company to muster between 7 and 7:30 a.m. These consisted of all the aged who [were] not required to pull at the carts. . . .
“Away they would start ahead of [us], singing and talking and cheering each other with the hallowed reminiscences of the early days of the gospel in the British Isles. . . . The oldest and most feeble of this advance guard would be picked up by the wagons as often as possible. . . .
“[After] an hour or two for our noon rest,. . . we were going again. The same aged advance guard [was] ahead of us, with Father Waugh . . . , one of the most devoted Scottish worthies that ever came to Utah” (Josiah Rogerson, Papers. LDS Church Archives).
Author Andrew Olsen wrote of George Waugh’s final journey, “After caring for so many people for more than six months and 5,000 miles, George Waugh would eventually wear down” (Andrew D. Olsen, The Price We Paid, 298).
John Jaques recalled, “In the latter part of the journey he failed gradually and [then] rapidly until he died on Canyon Creek” (Salt Lake Daily Herald, 12 Jan. 1879, 1).
He remained faithful when the Saints were stranded on the Wyoming plains by fierce October blizzards, and even after the handcart company had distributed the very last of the rations, he reaffirmed his willingness to lay down his life for the Lord. Rescue arrived, and the company was saved, but George Waugh had given all his energies to helping his fellow Saints reach Zion: he had made good on his willingness to give his life to the Lord, as he died within sight of the Salt Lake Valley on November 29, 1856.
Josiah Rogerson related arriving at the end of the trek when a lady approached the rescue wagons, asking for Father Waugh. He said his mother directed her to the wagon “where she could find the veteran. She was there instantly, and found her father, wrapped in a sheet, and dead. . . . The aged Scotch worthy had braved and weathered the storms of the Rocky mountains from the Platte bridge, and when within eighteen to twenty miles from the valley, and the Zion he worshiped, . . . succumbed to the hardships of the journey, between the Big and Little mountains, and was brought into the city for interment” (Salt Lake Herald, 8 Dec. 1907).
I loved reading this story today. George was a remarkable example of sacrifice service, reaching to rescue the other members of his company day in and day out as they trekked to Zion. He truly was willing to give everything (including his life) to The Lord. At sixty eight years old it is amazing that he lived as long as he did, and even more remarkable that he was able to help and serve so many others, putting their needs before his own. He truly exemplified, "When Ye are in the service of your fellow men, Ye are only in the service of your God".
Elder Won Yong Ko in General Conference, Oct 2005 said this about sacrifice and service, "In this last dispensation of the gospel, many pioneers lost their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice to keep their faith. Today we are not likely to be asked to make such a big sacrifice as giving up our lives, but we can see many examples of Saints who make painful sacrifices to keep their faith and testimonies alive. Maybe it is more difficult to make the small sacrifices in our daily lives. For instance, it could be regarded as a small sacrifice to keep the Sabbath day holy, to read the scriptures daily, or to pay our tithing. But these sacrifices cannot be easily made unless we have the mind and the determination to make the sacrifices that are needed to be able to keep those commandments. As we make these small sacrifices, we are compensated by more blessings from the Lord. King Benjamin said, “And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever” (Mosiah 2:24). And, as he did with his own people, King Benjamin encourages us so that we will receive more blessings as we continue to obey the Lord’s word. I think that the very first blessing coming from sacrifice is the joy that we can feel when we pay the price. Perhaps the very thought that the sacrifice itself could be a blessing becomes a blessing. When we have that kind of thought and feel the joy, we might have received a blessing already....
Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid of sacrifice. Please enjoy the happiness and blessings from the sacrifice itself.
Occasionally there is a time gap between the sacrifice and the blessing. The sacrifice may come according to our time schedule, but the blessing may not come by our, but by the Lord’s, calendar. Because of this, the Lord comforts us by saying, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work” (D&C 64:33).
The blessings surely come to us. Please remember that the sacrifice itself might be a form of blessing. Let us make the sacrifice of small things.
When we read the Book of Mormon while rubbing our sleepy eyes, let us remember that we are following the counsel of our prophet and receive the joy that comes from that knowledge. We have many bills to pay, but when we pay tithing, let us feel joy for having the opportunity to donate something to the Lord. And then greater blessings will be poured out on us. It will be just like our surprise and joy when we receive an unexpected gift.
As President Spencer W. Kimball said, “As we give, we find that ‘sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!’ [“Praise to the Man,” Hymns, no. 27.] And in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all” (“Becoming the Pure in Heart,” Ensign, Mar. 1985, 5). I pray that we will all become Saints willing to sacrifice and become eligible for the Lord’s special blessings. The Lord will watch over us so that it will not be too difficult to endure any sacrifice."
Have a great week!
Sister McHood
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