"Orilla knew that the Lord would provide. Her faith, courage, and devotion were of the highest, both to her family and to her religion.... She knew without a doubt that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true."[1]
Orilla and Myrtillo Shaw
Orilla's Life Story
Harriet went by her middle name, Orilla. Her birthplace was Cowlesville, New York. She grew up in a large family of twelve children. She was the oldest. She married Myrtillo Shaw on September 17, 1839, in Vermontville, New York. They had thirteen children. Two of their children died as infants.[1]
Accepting the Restored Gospel and Living in Nauvoo
Orilla and her husband became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in June of 1842. Though her parents were dissatisfied with her baptism, she maintained a good relationship with them.
The Shaws moved to Nauvoo and "experienced the opposition of the mobs to the Mormons." Orilla's life was miraculously spared while living in Nauvoo. One time, she "was standing in the doorway" of her home. A member of a mob shot his gun at her. The "bullet lodged in the door casing, narrowly missing her."[1]
Council Bluffs and the Trek West
The Shaws moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1846. They took "one cow, one ox, an old wagon and what they could carry in a bag." Here they prepared for the upcoming trek to Utah. During "the Spring of 1848, they joined the Lorenzo Snow Wagon Company for the crossing of the Plains." While crossing the plains, another miracle occurred. This time, Myrtillo's life was spared. "On the trip, Myrtillo became ill and could not go on with the rest. The next morning Orilla saw a man standing on the wagon tongue. He knew she had a very ill husband. He gave her a bottle of medicine and promised her that her husband would get better." Orilla put the medicine in their wagon. The man who provided the medicine "had disappeared." Myrtillo took the medicine and got better the following day. Orilla "always...felt the man was an angel from heaven."[1]
Settling in the Valley and Moving to Ogden
In the fall, the Shaw Family made it to the Salt Lake Valley. They lived in Salt Lake for a time. While living there, "Orilla got blood poisoning in her arm and hand. She lay very ill for two weeks" and "got very little sleep." "[H]er arm and hand [were] so swollen and painful [that] she could not move them." One day Orilla "heard a voice telling her to fry some onions and put them on her arm. When her husband came home, she told him about hearing the voice. He followed the instructions, put the onions in a cloth sack, and tied it around Orilla's arm. In one hour she was...asleep. The swelling came down and she was completely well."
The Shaws moved to Ogden in 1850. "They followed the Saints to Provo when Johnston's Army came. When they returned to Ogden, their home was flooded by the Ogden River. Orilla and the children got out on the backs of the oxen.
Orilla carded and spun all their wool and made her children's clothing; from their underwear to their outer clothing. They raised sugar cane. Sometimes they only had Sego Lily roots to eat."[1]
Orilla's final "moments on earth were peaceful." The last thing she told her family was, "'Be faithful, be faithful.' She passed away on May 21, 1891 in the last old home she had helped to build. Her funeral was held in the Mound Fort Ward. It was filled to capacity, for she was highly respected and much loved."[1]
Accepting the Restored Gospel and Living in Nauvoo
Orilla and her husband became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in June of 1842. Though her parents were dissatisfied with her baptism, she maintained a good relationship with them.
The Shaws moved to Nauvoo and "experienced the opposition of the mobs to the Mormons." Orilla's life was miraculously spared while living in Nauvoo. One time, she "was standing in the doorway" of her home. A member of a mob shot his gun at her. The "bullet lodged in the door casing, narrowly missing her."[1]
Council Bluffs and the Trek West
The Shaws moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1846. They took "one cow, one ox, an old wagon and what they could carry in a bag." Here they prepared for the upcoming trek to Utah. During "the Spring of 1848, they joined the Lorenzo Snow Wagon Company for the crossing of the Plains." While crossing the plains, another miracle occurred. This time, Myrtillo's life was spared. "On the trip, Myrtillo became ill and could not go on with the rest. The next morning Orilla saw a man standing on the wagon tongue. He knew she had a very ill husband. He gave her a bottle of medicine and promised her that her husband would get better." Orilla put the medicine in their wagon. The man who provided the medicine "had disappeared." Myrtillo took the medicine and got better the following day. Orilla "always...felt the man was an angel from heaven."[1]
Settling in the Valley and Moving to Ogden
In the fall, the Shaw Family made it to the Salt Lake Valley. They lived in Salt Lake for a time. While living there, "Orilla got blood poisoning in her arm and hand. She lay very ill for two weeks" and "got very little sleep." "[H]er arm and hand [were] so swollen and painful [that] she could not move them." One day Orilla "heard a voice telling her to fry some onions and put them on her arm. When her husband came home, she told him about hearing the voice. He followed the instructions, put the onions in a cloth sack, and tied it around Orilla's arm. In one hour she was...asleep. The swelling came down and she was completely well."
The Shaws moved to Ogden in 1850. "They followed the Saints to Provo when Johnston's Army came. When they returned to Ogden, their home was flooded by the Ogden River. Orilla and the children got out on the backs of the oxen.
Orilla carded and spun all their wool and made her children's clothing; from their underwear to their outer clothing. They raised sugar cane. Sometimes they only had Sego Lily roots to eat."[1]
Life Summation
Despite her challenges, "Orilla knew that the Lord would provide. Her faith, courage and devotion were of the highest, both to her family and to her religion. She sacrificed and endured everything for the Gospel, but she was always happy with her lot. She knew without a doubt that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true. She always said that she wanted her name to be in the 'good book' if she only gave a dime."Orilla's final "moments on earth were peaceful." The last thing she told her family was, "'Be faithful, be faithful.' She passed away on May 21, 1891 in the last old home she had helped to build. Her funeral was held in the Mound Fort Ward. It was filled to capacity, for she was highly respected and much loved."[1]
Orilla's Obituary
Reference
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