On the Easel: The faith and courage of Drusilla Dorris Hendricks

Detail from In Every Time of Trouble by Elspeth Young (In Progress)

Since April of 2012, Elspeth has studied the life of Drusilla Dorris Hendricks (1810-1881), western pioneer and wife of James Hendricks.  In August of last year, Elspeth began a painting of Drusilla Hendricks, portraying one of the most anguished moments in Drusilla's courageous life.



In the autumn of 1838, religious persecution in Missouri erupted into mob violence.  In the midst of the devastation of burned and trampled crops and murderous attacks by mobsters, Drusilla recounted that neighbor children brought word that her husband had been shot.  "I went to the field to give vent to my feelings . . . My husband was shot in the neck where it cut off all feeling of the body.  It is of no use for me to try and tell how I felt for that is impossible . . ." 1



Drusilla nursed her husband as mob violence escalated.  They were driven from their home and suffered starvation.  Despite the crushing physical and emotional burdens that strained her every nerve, Drusilla did not give up, but trusted in the assurance that whispered to her mind and heart: "Hold on, for the Lord will provide." 2



It is that ability to hearken to the whisperings and peace of the Spirit with which this painting is concerned.  The most succinct statement of the painting's theme is found in the reassurance of the Lord's own words, given not only to those who endured the dreadful persecutions and hardships of the 1830s, but to the faithful of all time, that He will extend His arm and support his people against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and be with them in every time of trouble (Doctrine and Covenants 3:8).



Drusilla's ability to wait upon the Lord did, indeed, renew her strength and the strength of her family (see Isaiah 40:31).  Through the power of the Priesthood, her husband was eventually healed of his paralysis, and Drusilla and her family arrived safely in the Salt Lake Valley on October 4, 1847, where they dwelt in peace for the remainder of their days.



When writing her memoirs in 1877, Drusilla concluded:  "The Gospel is true.  I have rejoiced in it through[out] all my trials, for the Spirit of the Lord has buoyed me up, or I should Have failed." 3



The model for the painting is Drusilla's 4th great-granddaughter, whose countenance bears a remarkable likeness to that of her pioneer progenitor.  The entire painting measures 30 x 40 inches and will be the 7th painting in Al Young Studios' Pioneers of the American West Collection .






1 From Hendricks, Drusilla Dorris. 
The Historical Sketch of James
Hendricks and Drusilla Hendricks.  MS
SC 2409, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham
Young University,
Provo, Utah.



2 Ibid.



3 Ibid.