Against All Odds
Author: Shirley Bahlmann
Publisher: Bonneville Books
Date: 2002
Against All Odds is a refreshing break from the traditional tales of life on the trail or of life in early Salt Lake City. While there are stories of both of these and of other locations, this intriguing book focuses on pioneers who settled in the Manti area. Each story is told first in fictional form for reading aloud or for pleasure. At the end of each story is a summary of which elements of the story are true. Many of these stories are ideal for acting out on family night, for homeschooling lessons, and for teaching creative writing based on historical events.
The stories aren’t about the famous, and they aren’t about the traditional heroes. You have probably never heard of most of these pioneers, but their stories are as exciting as those we learn about year after year. How did a brave woman come to be known as Iron Lady among admiring Native Americans? What pioneer saw a vision of the Manti temple and was so influenced by it that he overcame a great disability? What sacrificing parent gave his two-year-old to save a community? These stories will capture your hearts and imaginations, allowing you to see a side of pioneer life seldom explored.
The story of Lewis Anderson was my favorite. He was trapped under a load of lumber and severely injured. Depression kept him from recovering. Then one day, as he lay in his bed feeling like an unwanted burden, he glanced out the window. “Where I had just been gazing at the puny struggle that spring was making to come to the valley, I now saw a beautiful white building, with arched windows and two towers, the whole edifice shining steadily before my eyes as though cupped reverently in some invisible, eternal hands. My whole body felt warm and light, the darkness of my mind lifting at the beautiful sight. My heart began to pound with joy and zest for living that had been sorely lacking for a long time. I gazed at the radiant building until my heart was full of it, until it was impressed on my mind and had filled my soul with hope and wonder. Then it gradually faded away.”
This vision enabled him to overcome his challenges until he could once again work. He later worked at a sawmill that cut the wood for the temple. He was called on several consecutive missions, and when he returned, there upon the hill was the Manti temple, exactly as he had seen it so many years ago in his vision.
The storytelling in this book is delightful, and has the feel of a well-written personal history. Shirley Bahlmann is a freelance writer with a special love of pioneer lore, born of her pioneer heritage. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a unique collection of pioneer stories for their library.