Western Historical Mormon Fiction from Charles Hackley

Levi's Stone
By Charles Moore Hackley III

Levi Jefferson Penrod is a strong, intelligent young man.  He dreams of adulthood and is constantly seeking to do something significant and outstanding for his family and the Church.  He fantasizes about manhood and proving himself and his worth to the world.  He is traveling with his family and contingent of others, all of whom have been called by President Brigham Young to move from the Salt Lake Valley to San Bernardino, to colonize a Mormon community.  Levi, the middle child of Preston and Wilma Penrod believes himself to be living an ordinary and dull life until that eventful week on the wagon trail.


We meet Levi on May 29, 1852, as the wagon train has come to camp near Resting Springs, a lush camp with plenty of grass and the best water for hundreds of miles.  The Resting Springs camp sight has been know for many years by members of the Mormon Battalion, early trailblazers, and others traveling the Old Spanish Trail.  Levi is the ‘designated’ milk-er of the family cow and feels that may be his only legacy if he doesn’t find something else to set him apart soon. 
It is during the stay at Resting Springs that Levi’s hopes and dreams come true in a most extraordinary way.  He finds, and retrieves a source of ‘mysterious light’ which during the story the reader is led to believe may be a Jaradite stone.  The Stone and its light source become a focal point for the wagon train members, saving them from serious harm.  During the short week from May 29, through June 5, 1852 Levi is confronted with many challenges and opportunities.  His desire to be of service soon out weights his wishes and dreams of grandiose importance and he learns that true happiness is found in not only hard work but strict adherence to the gospel plan.

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