1916-11-30—Millennial Star—A Journey to Zion

A Journey to Zion

by Hilda M. Young.

Millennial Star, November 30, 1916, pp. 758-759.

A Journey to Zion

On May 81st, this year, in the company of fifteen elders and five saints, I left the shores of dear old England. After making ourselves acquainted with our cabins, we ate our first meal on board, and retired for the night.

A trip on a large boat is very interesting. The three classes of travel made me think of the three degrees of glory the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial. While wealth can secure firstclass service on shipboard, it is not so in the kingdom of God. The poorest individual in this world's goods, "whose soul is sanctified from all unrighteousness, and who abides by the laws of the kingdom, Will obtain the celestial glory.

I spent most of my time reading One Hundred Years of Mormonism. My thoughts would continually revert to the safe and easy journey we were pursuing, when I was contemplating the hardships of our early Church members on their way to Zion. What great faith they had to cross that vast ocean in sailing vessels!

We Latter-day Saints kept pretty well together, and on the Sunday morning and evening we sang the songs of Zion. Many passengers joined in the hymns. My thoughts would go back to my dear mother, home, and the saints; but were we not going "to the home that God for us prepared, far away, in the West"?

When we were out in mid-ocean, I thought how small we mortals are, compared with God and His beautiful world, and how much we need to learn of Him, walk in His ways, and Worship Him.

The passengers began to learn there were "Mormons" on board, and for some time I, for one, was a curiosity. However, several elders had good gospel conversations, and the idea respecting the "Mormons" was completely changed in the minds of many of those people.

On the 9th of June we prepared to leave the boat, as it was expected that we should land that day, about noon. On coming up from the dining saloon, I heard the strains of "America" being sung, as land had been sighted. It thrilled me through. How grateful I felt to God for giving us such a pleasant and safe journey during these perilous times! We then sighted the "Goddess of Liberty," and a row of the famous American skyscrapers.

We had to go down into the saloon to be examined, and to show our passports. Being the only single girl alone in our company. the officials said they would keep me until someone residing in America would claim me. They would not take any notice of any of the company, though they were American citizens. I told them that no one would claim me there. Then they said, We will give you in charge of a Lady Travelers' guide, and she will put you on a train for Idaho," my intended destination. Imagine my thoughts! I felt as though I was in prison. After about two hours, I saw a gentleman who looked different to most men, and he came and asked me questions regarding our company. To my delight I found he was an elder from the Eastern States mission. I told him my tale of woe, and, after a great deal of explanation, they let me go. I simply ran up those stairs and off that boat. Such is the experience of single girls entering the United States. We next confronted the United States customs officials, but got through splendidly. After staying in New York one day and one night, we left for Chicago. What wonderful cities they are, and what a wonderful park Central Park, in New York, is!

Soon after we left Chicago, we came to those dreary plains the handcart companies crossed, and again. "How different!" went through my mind. I left the saints at midnight on the fourteenth of June, and caught a train for Idaho, arriving here at six a.m. on the fifteenth. My uncle met me, and we drove ten miles in an automobile. The morning was glorious, and the sun shone bright ; the birds were singing, and, look! there were the beautiful, snowcapped mountains we sang so much about in England. The Bear Lake Stake, in which I am living at present, looked so cosy, so well guarded, completely surrounded by these majestic ramparts. For days I could not take my eyes off them, and the words of Micah 4:1, keep coming to my mind: But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it."

Paris, Idaho