Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us Together Sanford Porter, Jr. When fourteen years of age, Sanford Porter Sanford Porter Jr. His father, witnessing the accident, ran to him and put the skull back into place, carried the body to the house, and sewed up the wound with a needle and thread. He says the spirit left the body and as he stood looking at this earthly tabernacle, a person or guide spoke to him saying, "Come." As he turned, he discovered they were in darkness. They had not gone far when a light began to appear; it kept growing lighter and lighter until the brightness, thereof, was beyond human or mortal understanding. He said he beheld one of the most beautiful cities that eye ever beheld. They stopped before a beautiful building; the guide, who was still with him said, "This is yours," pointing at the time. "This will be your future home." Then turning around says "We must go back." Notwithstanding all the pleadings he could make to stay where he was at that time, the personage with him said, "Not now, your work is not done." On their return they traveled the same road back into that same darkness from which they had come; he again stood looking at the body. The next he remembers, he opened eyes and saw his father and mother standing by him and asked what was the matter. To his mother he said, "Why are you crying, Mother?" He says they had his body washed and laid out ready for burial on his return to consciousness. In March 1846, he enlisted as a soldier in the United States Army. He with others, after bidding his family and friends farewell, took up the long march across dreary, trackless waste. After passing through Texas, into what is now known as Arizona, they had before them a dry, burning desert; for miles and miles there was neither wood nor water with which to cook their food or quench their thirst; about the only vegetation was the evergreen shrub, known as chaparral. It was during this march that their provisions ran out and their rations were cut to less than half. One can only imagine their feelings when they took up their knapsacks and went trudging on, chewing on a half cooked piece of rawhide. At one time with feet bleeding and faint with hunger and fatigue, he stuck the bayonet of his gun in the ground and hung his knapsack on the top thinking perhaps some one might find his remains; he then placed himself in the hands of his God in fervent prayer. He bid adieu to this world and fell asleep. He did not know how long he slept but when he awoke he found himself sound and well. He shouldered his knapsack and gun and went into camp where he joined his companions, gave his rations to a sick comrade and stood double guard that night. From that day on to the end of their march, which ended in California, where he got his release, he never suffered any pain or hunger. He lived to be over ninety years old and died at Logan, Utah. ©9-