This morning’s reading included A Little Rock Music by Marvin Payne on Meridian, the online magazine that is a must-read for interesting stories and inspiring articles. http://www.ldsmag.com/backstagegraffiti/080822rock.html

He told the story of “John Rowe Moyle, a master of stone work, who was an early resident of Alpine. He came west with the very first of the handcart companies in 1846. (This would be the company that was captained by an Elder Ellsworth, a returning missionary who led his flock with gusto. He'd rise up early in the morning and make sure he was striding ahead of the carts. Principles of Example and Leadership were his guiding stars.)”

Hmm, Elder Ellsworth, I’ve heard that name before. …Maybe he is Captain Ellsworth in the diary of Ann Ham, our handcart pioneer ancestor…A Google search turned up information including Ellsworth’s journal on lds.org’s Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel site. I’ve always loved the story of Ann Ham, so I can search the people she talks about in the list of members of the company to be better able to picture them. This was a very pleasant morning while Gerhard is at the temple with the men who are doing the maintenance.