Gold had been discovered in Australia, and nineteen-year-old Frederick William Hurst had caught the “gold fever” and wanted to go to the diggings to try his luck in the land of gold. Frederick’s family had emigrated as a child to New Zealand from England and many friends were making their way to Australia. To save money for the journey and to get started, Frederick stopped smoking, drinking alcohol, wine, coffee, and tea.
At last, Frederick had his money and he told his parents he was going. They did their best to discourage him from going, relating tales of men going blind, pests of flies, outlaws, and hot weather, but Frederick was obstinate and insisted on going. He bid his family farewell.
His father told him, “Well goodbye, son, the Lord bless you, I shall never see your face again in the flesh.”
Frederick rolled his eyes and determined to go, and boarded a vessel for Melbourne. After arriving in Melbourne, Frederick made his way toward Forest Creek, a seventy-mile trek carrying 45-pound packs of provisions, shovel, pick, clothing, blankets, and personal items. The roads were muddy and lined with teams of all kinds, people of all nations, all ethnic groups, and all walks of life; some were respectable, but most were escaped convicts, cutthroats, murderers, thieves, gamblers, and blacklegs. And every evening until at least midnight guns and pistols were being fired. After reaching Forest Creek, Frederick continued on a few more miles with his company. As they looked for a suitable place to dig, members of the party disagreed on the right spot. Finally, they settled on a spot and Frederick spent a long two weeks of hard labor, digging unsuccessfully for gold.
“I tell you this is highway robbery. A buck seventy-five for a loaf of bread and half rotten potatoes for 75 cents?” Many in Frederick’s company were unhappy and discontented with the tough conditions and the lack of gold. Frederick realized that they were not united in their efforts and as a result, had not done well.
“I’m done. I’ve burned through my money and owe the store more. I’m leaving in the morning,” one man complained.
Many in Frederick’s party felt the same, but Frederick said, “I know if we had stayed united and worked properly, we could have done well. You all can go into town if you want, but I’m staying until I have something to go back with.” The party broke up with many giving up and selling their tools. Frederick determined to get a job until he had earned enough to continue digging for gold.
After working for a few months at the Manchester Store, Frederick and Thomas were ready to start again. Eventually, Frederick and Thomas were able to set some sinkings twelve to twenty feet. When they finally reached the bottom and started pulling buckets up, gold was found. The first four buckets paid $25 and the next four paid $45. Working hard, they made money hand over fist.
A few months later, word reached Frederick that his father had passed away and his mother begged him to come home. Frederick remembered the words of his father before he left. His words had come true – his father would never see his face in the flesh. Frederick returned home with $350 in his pocket and gifts for his mother, sisters and brothers.
Frederick stayed for a short visit but felt the urge to return to the gold mines since his mother had sold the farm. Upon arriving in Australia, he ran into a friend he had known in New Zealand, Mr. Francis Evans.
“I’m headed to Geelory right now. If you’re headed up to dig, I wonder if you would mind staying in my cabin until I get back in a week or two?”
“I can do that. Thank you.”
Frederick settled into the cabin, grateful to live in something other than a tent for a bit. On Sunday, a gentleman came to the house, accompanied by several others. “We are going to hold a meeting here,” they said.
Frederick let them into the house, assuming the gentleman to be a Methodist preacher since Mr. Evans had been a Methodist. Frederick and his companions gathered their stuff to begin prospecting for gold, but the preacher grabbed his arm. “Please don’t leave, we will do you no harm.”
Frederick thought it would be disrespectful if they left now, so he made his way inside the cabin for the meeting. The preacher handed Frederick a pamphlet of hymns. He looked it over and read, “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” “These Methodists are getting strange,” Frederick thought to himself.
The preacher offered a prayer and Frederick listened half-heartedly until he heard words that astonished him. “We ask thee, O Lord to bless our Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Brigham Young, his counselors and the twelve apostles,” the man prayed.
Frederick thought, “What is this? Who can Brigham Young be? Who can the twelve apostles be?”
“And I read from the Book of Mormon now, ‘For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do … For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’”
“The Book of Mormon?” thought Frederick. “What is this book?” Frederick very much wanted to read it, as he had never even heard of it before. Feelings stirred inside his chest, as the preacher taught about faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost, Joseph Smith and a brief history of the Church.
After the sermon, Frederick sat there pondering the man’s words. The preacher came toward him and said, “Young man, if you will obey the requirements of the Gospel, it will not only be the means of saving you, but also your family and friends in the Kingdom of God.”
“I believe the words you spoke as it is in accordance to the teachings in the Bible, and I have been taught that it is the word of God. Can you loan me a copy of this book?”
Frederick took the loaned copy and read from it every day. He learned that Mr. Evans, who owned the cabin had joined the church and held the Aaronic Priesthood.
Frederick knew in his heart that what he read and heard was true and felt the desire to be baptized. His friends were not interested and since they weren’t having any luck finding gold, they soon returned to New Zealand. Frederick was soon baptized in The Sheep Wash after a church meeting. Joy filled his soul and he felt lighter than he ever had before. It was as though he had been blind his whole life, and suddenly he could see. He had come to Australia for gold, but he had found something much more precious.
