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Show Wilhelmina, welcoming her to live with their family. They all sorrowed over the loss of their father, Lars. Wilhelmina went with the Madsens to Kaysville for the winter where their home consisted of a dugout and wagon boxes. In the early spring of 1857, they all moved to Brigham City and lived there until April 1858. The Big Move South caused the entire family to go to Ephraim, Sanpete County. The following March (1859) they were counted among the original settlers of Mt. Pleasant, about eighteen miles north of Ephraim. By that time, Wilhelmina's parents were totally lost to her, and she to them. Being unaware of her mother's death, she continued to hope for and patiently awaited word from her parents-even daring to feel that a letter from them would somehow find her along the way to a more permanent settlement. She was almost twelve years old by the time she found herself in Mt. Pleasant. Having survived all of the tremendous physical hardships of the time since she had seen her loved ones she was able also to survive the heartaches she endured during those years. The utter loneliness of her life while she was living among strangers for so long cannot be described. She worked for them and appreciated their kindness in letting her live with them, however. And she was sustained and strengthened by memories of her mother's faith and great desire, and in her turn she developed a similar faith. 21 |