A Journey Stitched in Secret

Mary's Secret Savings and Her Unwavering Journey to Zion

I’m sure Mary couldn’t believe her eyes when she went to pack her clothes to travel to America and found them all missing.

This was a new low for her mother and step-father.

You see, they didn’t approve of Mary joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had been taught by some missionaries when she was 14, and wanted to join right away, but her parents would not give her permission to get baptized. So, she waited three years, and was baptized at age 17.

I’m sure they were thrilled.

They definitely did not want her moving halfway across the world to join the Saints in Utah.

In her history, it is said it’s because they “didn’t trust the Mormons,” but I wonder if a part of their reluctance to her move was due to the money they would be loosing if she left.

Mary had been helping to support the family since the time she was 11 years old by working at a cotton factory.

She wasn’t going to let her parent’s disapproval keep her from doing what she knew to be right. Mary kept supporting the family, but she secretly worked overtime, sewing the extra money into her coat so that it would remain undiscovered.

When she finally had enough money for the trip, she prepared to leave. But on the day she was to leave, her clothes had disappeared . Her parents had hidden them.

Mary did not falter.

She left for America with just the clothes on her back.

Thankfully, other generous converts lent her the extra clothing she needed to make the journey.

Mary Cockshott left for America in March 1857 and arrived in Utah September 11, 1857.

Mary’s story is so inspiring to me because of her determination. I wonder if I would have what it takes to do what she did…

But then I remember, I have already proven to myself that I could… because I kinda did.

My parents similarly did not approve and there were some pretty intense things that went down due to that. But, I still joined, and I’m still here, because I cannot deny the truth of the gospel. I sense that Mary had a similar conviction.

Do you think you could have done what Mary did? Or have you had to do something similar and do what you felt is right even when others disapproved or did not understand? I’d love to chat about it!

Crismon, Joy Ann. “Mary Cockshot Hansen History.” FamilySearch.Org, 13 June 2016, www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/26544219.

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