Charles Henry John West - feels blessed by the Lord

If I donated any amount made of me, the Lord always opened up the way so that I never felt the loss but gained a blessing. On the 1st day of May 1856 we had another daughter born to us  her name being called, Ann Lydia West. I continued working at William Cooper and Co. I recieved two shillings more per week making in all twenty two shillings per week. It seemed that the Lord put it in the hear of my employer to raise my wages about the time we needed it, done without the asking.

We took the council of the brethren to live within our means, we did so. We found that with a fixed determination to get out to Zion, that the Lord was good to his word "He would help them that helped themselves."

We found by studying economy and using wisdom in what means we had coming in every week, that we not only cleared the debt but was enabled to get means enough to take ourselves and four of our children the following year as far Florence, Nebraska. (two of their daughters had previously emigrated)

Before leaving England my employer Mr. Thomas Cooper was sorry to have me leave his firm, I gave him notice of my going away, he gave me every inducement to stay, said that I could have my place in his establishment as long as I live. He seeing I was determined to leave, he made me a present of 30 shilling for good conduct which I was thankful for. When my wife went to the Latter Day Saint office to pay the balance of our emigration money, Brother Stains who was the emigration agent for the church, he told another brother that was present that she was the Sister who had sent two of her young daughters away to Zion a year before. Brother Stains blessed her and all of our family and said that we would get there safe and not one of us should die on the way (which promise was fulfilled, although one daughter died shortly after arriving in Utah).

We went to the Endowment House, 23rd day of March, 1804, and was married and sealed together for time and eternity. We felt fully paid for our journey and few trials we had passed through.