| Elizabeth Uren: from St Keverne to Salt Lake City |
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Page 2 of 5 Soon after their arrival, Emanuel began work at a lighthouse near Newland just outside Cape Town. The couple’s first child, Mary Jane was born on 24th February 1851 and the family settled into their new life many thousands of miles from Cornwall. The job of keeping the light burning in the lighthouse was a very important one and Emanuel often had to stay at his work for days on end if the weather was stormy as his light could mean the difference between life and death for sailors and their passengers out at sea. During these times, Elizabeth would visit him, taking meals to him while he worked. Then one day in 1853, Elizabeth left Mary Jane in the care of a hired servant woman and attended a meeting conducted by Mormon Elders. This was to prove a turning point in her life. The Mormon Faith was new to South Africa at this time. Mormon President, Brigham Young had called a special conference in the Salk Lake Valley in August 1852 and as a result over one hundred men left their wives and families and go on missions to Countries around the World. Three of these, Jesse Haven, William Walker and Leonard Smith were sent to South Africa, arriving there in April 1853. Exactly what attracted Elizabeth to the Mormon Church is not clear, perhaps it was because of the long hours she spent alone whilst Emanuel was working, perhaps it was the novelty of something new to be discovered, but perhaps the tragic events of her early childhood when her father and three siblings had died still haunted her and she hoped the church could offer some support and even some answers. Whatever the reason she, like the other followers and the Elders of the Faith, overcame abuse, threats and persecution to pursue their beliefs. Whenever the opportunity permitted, Elizabeth attended meetings and felt compelled to learn all she could about this new religion. Her attendance at these meetings was at first a secret from Emanuel but soon she was sharing with him the teachings of the Elders. He however wanted nothing to do with her new beliefs and this spelt the beginning of a rift in their relationship. Their second child, a son, Thomas was born on 28th December 1854 and he was blessed on 3rd June 1855 by Elder Thomas Weatherhead, assisted by Elder Nicholas Paul, who had been one of the first converts to the Mormon Faith in South Africa in 1853. Elizabeth had been preparing for baptism into her new Faith under Elders Nicholas Paul and Jesse Haven and on 27th May 1855 she entered the water of baptism. |
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