Deseret painted by Michael Bedard ©

       Deseret was painted near the west Jordan Temple. You can see the the temple not far from this location.  When I saw these hives in white boxes I could not but help think of temple family records. Then I also thought of the bees who gather the pollen as representative of those who gather the names and do the work. and of course the honey produced as a result is the sweet eternal blessings of our families becoming eternal families.  

Willie and Martin Handcart Sweetwater Rescuers 1856

Advance Express riders  Echo Canyon Utah

Artist  Michael Bedard Art copyrighted ©

   

     As part of his outpouring of compassion, Brigham Young immediately sent out an advance group of four riders to find the beleaguered saints on the frozen prairie and give them encouraging news that help was fast on its way.  Joseph A. Young, Abel Garr, Cyrus Wheelock, and Stephen Taylor, riding hard up echo canyon.

Ephraim Hanks Angel of Mercy 

Artist  Michael Bedard Art copyrighted ©

  

In the fall of 1856, I spent considerable of my time fishing in Utah Lake; I had occasion to stop once overnight with Gurnsey Brown, Being somewhat fatigued after the day’s journey, I retired to rest quite early, and while I still lay wide awake in my bed I heard a voice calling me by name, and then saying: “The handcart people are in trouble and you are wanted; will you go and help them?” I turned instinctively in the direction from whence the voice came and beheld an ordinary-sized man in the room. Without hesitation I answered, “Yes, I will go if I am called.” I then turned around to go to sleep, but had laid only a few minutes when the voice called a second time, repeating almost the same words as on the first occasion. My answer was the same as before. This was repeated a third time. When I got up the next morning I says to Brother Brown, “The hand-cart people are in trouble, and I have promised to go out and help them,”

     Being deeply concerned about the possible fate of the immigrants, and feeling anxious to learn of their condition, I determined to start out on horseback to meet them; and for this purpose I secured a pack-saddle and two animals (one to ride and one to pack),.. I reached the ill-fated train just as the immigrants were camping for the night. The sight that met my gaze as I entered their camp can never be erased from my memory. The starved forms and haggard countenances of the poor sufferers, as they moved about slowly, shivering with cold, to prepare their scanty evening meal was enough to touch the stoutest heart. When they saw me coming, they hailed me with joy inexpressible, and when they further beheld the supply of fresh meat I brought into camp, their gratitude knew no bounds. Flocking around me, one would say, “Oh, please, give me a small peace of meat;” another would exclaim, “My poor children are starving, do give me a little;” and children with tears in their eyes would call out, “Give me some, give me some. ” At first I tried to wait on them and handed out the meat as they called for it; but finally I told them to help themselves. Five minutes later both my horses had been released of their extra burden—the meat was all gone, and the next few hours found the people in camp busily engaged in cooking and eating it, with thankful hearts.

Brother's Keeper

      This is the Universal Story that crosses all boundaries of faith, ethnicity and age.  Are we our brother's Keeper? James Kirkwood answered that question giving his own life to preserve another. Their is no greater love nor joy. Christ taught  through His example this great truth. Christ is the brother's keeper for all mankind.

Brother's Keeper Artist  Michael Bedard Art copyrighted ©

THIS IS A  STORY FROM THE WILLIE AND MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY 1856

      James Kirkwood, an eleven-year-old convert from Scotland, struggled across the frozen prairie with his widowed mother and brothers. While his mother attended her crippled son and the handcart,

James was responsible for his six-year-old brother, Joseph. 

      A snowstorm with icy winds strung out the caravan of beleaguered saints. James carried Joseph through rivers of ice, mud, and snow.Ascending the last miles up Rocky ridge with little Joseph on his back, James arrived late at Rock Creek camp. Here, James Kirkwood succumbed to the extreme 

exposure of the day and breathed his last for the love of his little brother.

He was buried in a common grave with thirteen others who perished that night. Little Joseph 

eventually made it into the Salt Lake Valley and went on to become a beloved Mormon Bishop of a large and grateful Salt Lake ward.    

A Miraculous Request Saint George Temple August 21-23 1877 Artist: Michael Bedard ©

This painting took five thousand hours to complete. 

It was an amazing journey to do this painting, Wilford Woodruff is one of my great heros

I have recently updated the key map which you see below of the 110 men and 68 woman who's temple work was completed by President Wilford Woodruff and others.

Michael@bedardfineart.com

Malachi’s  Prophecy: 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers ... Malachi 4:5-6

Joseph Smith translated the word Turn to Bind or Seal (History of the Church, 6:183-84)

 There is one place on earth where the sealing of families together for time and all eternity is accomplished. 

That place is a temple (House of the Lord) specifically built and dedicated for that purpose. President Wilford Woodruff 

“I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, ‘You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.’ These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. 

I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them.”(Journal of Discourses, 19:228–29).

James G.Bleak Temple Recorder

 “I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the 

appearance of the spirits of the Signers...The spirits of the Presidents...And also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley...Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men...laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the peoples hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal Journal of James Godson Bleak)

                          

                                                                                                                       The Eminent Women in the Painting

Between Aug. 21- 23 the temple work was completed not only for the Founding Fathers and Eminent Men but for Eminent Women, as well. While working on the painting depicting this sacred event, the artist felt impressed to include these noble women of faith, who had given and sacrificed so much.  

       As of this printing we have not yet found  the record of the actual 

appearance of these women. However, the Saint George Temple records do show that the work was done in their behalf at the same time period. It is generally felt that if husbands and fellow peers were there, they also likely were present, even if not seen.   

   Michael Bedard