Sarah Ann Jones was introduced to the Gospel by a son from her first marriage and then shared it with the sons from her second marriage. At the age of 55 her second marriage had ended, and she and two teenage sons, Samuel and Albert, decided to gather to Zion and came in the Martin Handcart Company. While they were camped in Martin’s Cove there was very little to eat, but even in their extremity, people reached out to succor each other in pure acts of charity. William Spicer and his wife Elizabeth were traveling in the Hunt Wagon Company, which was close to the Martin Company most of the time. When the bitter winter snows hit the Martin Handcart Company as they attempted to cross the Platte River on October 19, he and others helped many of the Saints across. In his account he states [he had] “carried many on my back, and assisted others with their carts, making about sixty trips across the water.”
When the Hunt Wagon Company finally reached Fort Seminoe, he visited the handcart camp in Martin’s Ravine. He stopped at one of the tents where Sarah Ann Jones’ family was just starting to eat their “scanty meal.” Sarah Ann procured another cup for Spicer and asked her children to take a little from each of their cups to share with their guest.
“Not many mothers could or would do that,” Spicer remembered gratefully. “I was hungry and am ever thankful.”