At Brigham Young’s request to join the 1846 Migration West to look for a safe place for the “Saints” to dwell, she and her husband turned their backs on the relative comforts of their Missouri abode. Facing the unknown had become a way of life for her and her husband, Thomas. After bearing 22 children, that included at least five sets of twins and one set of triplets, she dutifully, patiently, and lovingly made preparations for a new adventure. She gathered up 14 of her own children to head West, just a portion of the 50 Rhoads Family members with adventure in their veins.

Staying well ahead of Former Governor Lilburn Boggs and the Donner and Reeds who had joined that same westward movement, the Thomas and Elizabeth Rhoads braved their way to the Sacramento Valley in October 1946. While her two boys, John and Daniel, went back up into the mountains to join in the Donner Party rescue efforts, she devotedly tended to her large family. While doing laundry in Dry Creek during the record breaking cold winter of 1847, she and her daughter, Polly, gathered shiny metallic flecks from the creek. The flecks were shown to her husband when he returned and, indeed, Elizabeth and Polly had discovered gold while doing laundry. Elizabeth could not overcome the demands of the 2000-mile journey and the devastating winter, and died in September 1847. However, her family’s contributions to California and LDS Church history are testaments to the way the Lord increases our abilities through steadfast obedience and unwavering faith.

Remember this should be basically historical, and while the religious side is often needed to show why things were done, we need to be very careful not to be accused of proselytizing.

John Horner

This video was done to show those interested in doing first person presentations in schools or other settings, how you might look and the material you could present. Please make sure your information is accurate. If there is question in your mind about the accuracy of your material, just send it to the foundation. Several of the Advisory Board make up State Historic Committee, who are dedicated to approving the accuracy of material being presented to the public.

Remember this should be basically historical, and while the religious side is often needed to show why things were done, we need to be very careful not to be accused of proselytizing.

When Melissa was 10 years old her family along with other members of the church left Canada and headed towards Missouri. They heard about more persecutions and they traveled through a very cold winter and went across Michigan, Indiana and finally Illinois. The Burtons lived in Walnut Grove until 1842 and they then moved to Camp Creek where they lived for 2 years. When trials began again they went to Nauvoo for protection. During the spring of 1845 William Coray began courting Melissa. When troubles began again in 1845-1846 the Burtons crossed the river the last week in April. They arrived in Mt. Pisgah Iowa June of 1848. William and Melissa renewed their friendship and were married June 22nd, 1846. Married only 4 days when men in army uniforms rode into camp and said they needed 500 healthy men to enlist in the War with Mexico. Melissa hated the thought of being separated from her beloved William and after he enlisted she signed up as a laundress. Melissa and William endured many trials and hardships together as did many others. Their journey is one of great love, courage and faith.

Remember this should be basically historical, and while the religious side is often needed to show why things were done, we need to be very careful not to be accused of proselytizing.

Note on Sam Brannan:

All of the schools in the state teach about Sam Brannan. It portrays him in a bad light and makes it clear that he was a Mormon. This leaves the student with the negative opinion of Brannan and the Mormon Church in general.

We would strongly encourage you to finish any presentation about Brannan with the fact that when he lived by his principles he was a leader of people in the Church and was able to accomplish many things in his life. He became one of California’s first millionaires. When he lost sight of the righteous principles in his life with the quest for money, he began drinking heavily, being dishonest in his dealings, womanizing, and led the San Francisco Vigilante Committee. He was ex-communicated from the LDS Church and died penniless. His body remained unclaimed in the Los Angeles morgue for two years until a nephew claimed the body and give him a proper burial. Make sure the student gets the message about how important it is to live by righteous principles in their lives.

Stephen Thomas Williams

This video was done to show those interested in doing first person presentations in schools or other settings, how you might look and the material you could present. Please make sure your information is accurate. If there is question in your mind about the accuracy of your material, just send it to the foundation. Several of the Advisory Board make up State Historic Committee, who are dedicated to approving the accuracy of material being presented to the public.

Remember this should be basically historical, and while the religious side is often needed to show why things were done, we need to be very careful not to be accused of proselytizing.