THE SECOND RESCUE

During our fireside at the Riverton Stake in Wyoming last week President Anderson told us a story about the Bronze sculpture pictured here. It is a table sized piece made by Phil Nebeker who was preparing to go on a mission in 1993. He had been a part of the Stake's Second Rescue mission-- doing the temple work of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. . Phil decided to sculpt this piece to help finance his mission as his family was already supporting his brother. This is only Phil's second attempt at sculpture. He wanted the piece to honor Bodil Mortensen and James Kirkwood who died at Rock Creek. When the first sculpture was finished Phil and his sister went to pick it up at the foundery where they had it cast in Orem. While they were there a message came that President Hinckley wanted to see them in 45 minutes. It turns out that Phil's sister had called the Secretary to the First Presidency and asked if President Hinckley would be interested in seeing the statue. After a 2 hour visit President Hinckley was pushing to buy the sculpture from Phil. He hesitated because he had already promised the first one to his bishop. But President Hinckley prevailed and wrote a check for the statue. Years later someone, while in President Hinckley's office, noticed a shiny spot on the bronze caused by someone touching a particular spot over and over and removing the patina. Jolene Allphin said she thought the spot was Bodil Mortensen's bonnett. This little ten year old girl in the Willie Company, traveling with another family, was found dead slumped against a wagon wheel clutching a piece of sage brush. Eleven year old James Kirkwood carried his four year old brother on his back the day the Willie Company arrived at Rock Creek. James collapsed and died that evening. These two were among the thirteen buried in a mass grave at Rock Creek.