17 Miracles

One of the worst films I've ever seen, partly because the script was so poorly done and direction allows little from actors.

17 Miracles is a summary of 17 of the documented events (miracles) of the two "Belated" handcart companies who were traveling to Utah in 1856. These were mostly poor immigrants from the British Isles and Scandinavia who arrived late in the season and had no recourse but to continue on to Utah even though there was the potential for bad weather. The movie in my opinion tries not to be over-dramatic and in some ways under-plays the suffering of the pioneers when you consider the temperature, with wind-chill factor would have approached minus 50 degrees. The acting was good, especially the roll of Levi Savage portrayed by Jason Wade. Although the movie attempts to depict the entire handcart trek it is actually 17 mostly jointed vignettes portraying events that were recorded in the journals of many of the handcart pioneers. My Great Great Grandmother was in the Willey Handcart Company; I have her journal and the movie was true to her telling.

Job well done. This is a timeless story of a truly faithful and dedicated people who believed fully in their trek to the Mormon "Zion". It doesn't matter what faith you belong to, (or don't for that matter)to appreciate the sacrifice and suffering of these people. These progenitors laid a foundation of faith for offspring that are still basking in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ due to what they endured. I am one of these, and my heart swells with love for these people. I only hope that if I was asked today, what they were asked then, that I would answer the call with a heart full of that same faith that they possessed. Their documented stories prove that the Lord watches over all his children, and will, and DOES intervene in our lives. For this I am truly grateful, and forever faithful.

This movie was very well put together. I am very well acquainted with the story of how my ancestors went through difficulties to arrive in Salt Lake City. I don't agree with them taking off too late in the summer. Levi Savage seemed to be the only sensible one in the group that knew what they would be facing. Why couldn't they have killed some of the wolves stalking them & used them for food. Surely they could have camped for 2 or 3 days long enough to cook & eat thereby replenishing their strength so they could go on without starving to death. I'm not criticizing the movie, just my ancestors for making such horrible mistakes which cost many of them their lives. I feel Brigham Young was also to blame for this travesty because it was his idea to bring people to the Utah territory with hand carts.

Excellent film of a true story. Never boring. Good to read what happened afterwards in the credits.