From the Bookshelf of Students of the Restored Gospel…

In the Company of Angels

David Farland

Start date: June 1, 2010

Finish date: July 31, 2010

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: This book received the most votes in our poll....it was chosen as Novel of the Year at the Whitney Awards…more
[close] This book received the most votes in our poll....it was chosen as Novel of the Year at the Whitney Awards this Spring.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 45 topics — 347 comments total

Book Discussions

LDS Biographies
By Paul · 21 posts · 50 views

last updated Apr 11, 2019 07:45AM

LDS books that you are reading (or read recently)
By Paul · 70 posts · 99 views

last updated Jul 15, 2018 02:23PM

What Members Thought

Jul 09, 2010 Josi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lds-fiction, favorites, josi-recommends-it, whitney-award-winners

This is one of my all time favorite novels I have ever read. So well written, so honest and so faith affirming in ways I'd have never expected. Absolutely loved this book and recommend it to anyone with any interest in the early members of the LDS church. Not preachy, not always kind, but very worth the read; the kind of book where you feel like a better person with a better view of the world when you finish. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2009 Teri rated it it was amazing

As I have two ancestors from the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies, I was excited to read David's manuscript of this horrifying, yet courageous and heartbreaking story. With the early Saints selling their homes to come to Zion in 1856, there were some that had to come by handcart. Due to unforeseen delays, mostly caused b y the Crimean War that caused delays in ships to sail from England, that when they arrived in Iowa, they found no handcarts made. This delayed the Saints even more. One of t
As I have two ancestors from the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies, I was excited to read David's manuscript of this horrifying, yet courageous and heartbreaking story. With the early Saints selling their homes to come to Zion in 1856, there were some that had to come by handcart. Due to unforeseen delays, mostly caused b y the Crimean War that caused delays in ships to sail from England, that when they arrived in Iowa, they found no handcarts made. This delayed the Saints even more. One of the sub-captains of The Willie Company attempted to get the Saints to wait for a season to embark on such a long and hard journey, especially with the late start. The main body trusted Captain James Willie, mostly because he'd traveled the trail fifty times.

I liked how David had the three main Saints telling their story in each chapter, bringing it more up close and personal. Eliza Gadd, a proud English 41 year old, was the only non Mormon in The Company, though her husband, Samuel, and their older children were. Due to her father being seduced by fakirs and spiritualists, she didn't believe in God. She felt during the trek that all the Saints were fools. Since she was apparantly the only nurse in the Company, she attended to everyone's needs.

Captain Willie tried to keep the Saints together and healthy. He was a very compassionate man, praying to God for guidance all along the way. He totally had his people at heart, only thinking of them and their welfare. He did start having his doubts that God was listening to his prayers, but he never gave up, even assisting several children and women across a freezing creek when his own legs were frozen.

Baline Mortenson, a young ten year old Danish girl, did all she could to keep up the spirits of everyone in The Company. She assisted approx 20 children several miles up Rocky Ridge, even so much as pulling a handcart herself. Her parents had sent her alone to make the trek, but then, some parents did just that, to save money, until the rest of the family could come later.

This is a huge faith-promoting story, filled with faith, love and hope and a strong Testimony of The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Willie Handcart Company had to weather storms we couldn't even fathom or dream of, such as sub-zero temperatures, Indians, floods, buffalo stampedes, utter starvation, blizzards, etc, I can't recommend this historical novel enough. It is a wonderful, heartbreaking, faith-promoting, Testimony building true masterpiece!!!! You'll need a ton of Kleenex, so be prepared. And, this is my kind of book to read, especially since this happened and it happened to two of my ancestors. This book is due out on 1 Sep, so you'll need to go to www.inthecompanyofangels.net and order your copy. I plan to, as I want my own special hardbound copy.

Forever Friends Rating A VERY HUGE 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.

Published Sep by David Farland
0615300537 (isbn13: 9780615300535)
448pp
Hardbound

--
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 21, 2010 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: religion

This is a wonderful novel based on the Willie Handcart company's trek from Iowa City to SLC in 1856. I read the Gerald Lund "Fire of the Covenant" (which follows the Willie and Martin company treks)in May,and I just returned from a 4 day pioneer trek in Wyoming with my stake, so I'm pioneered out! I'm exhausted :) I need to read a wizard or a vampire book next.

Many of the characters from Fire of the Covenant are also featured in In the Company of Angels (because they are based on real people), ...more

Like · see review

Oct 12, 2010 Ted Gambles rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

In the Company of Angels> follows three people from the Willie Handcart Company on their trek to get to Salt Lake City during the fall of 1856. Capt. James Willie is the leader of the company. Baline Mortenson is a 10 year old Danish girl traveling with another family to meet up with her sister in Salt Lake City. Eliza Gadd is not a member of the LDS church but is going with her husband and children, all converts to the LDS church. The story follows the trials and tribulations of the Pioneers as ...more

Like · see review

Dec 21, 2009 Vicki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lds-fiction

When I first saw that David Farland had written a book on handcart pioneers, I was afraid I would be comparing it to Gerald Lund's Fire of the Covenant, which I loved very much. Well, I was surprised, and mainly because I was not aware that the two handcart groups were not traveling the road together. I should have known that, after reading Bro. Lund's book, but I didn't. So, no comparison's needed! Normally, what I really love about Historical fiction is the ability of the author to put charact ...more

Like · see review

Feb 16, 2010 Shanda rated it liked it

Shelves: whitney-award-finalists-2009

Having only read non-fiction accounts of the history of the Willie Handcart Company, this fictionalized account offered a more personal perspective of the horrors and miracles experienced by these pioneers.

Like · see review