My husband’s Welsh blood runs deep in his veins.  In 1848, his great-great grandparents, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Richardson and James Thomas, both were born in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales, an area rich in culture and heritage.  

James and Lizzy married at age 18, and within a few short years sailed to America along with their two young children, Emily and Lorenzo.  They settled first in Utah, then Idaho and eventually in California.

Seated in between her sisters in this photo is Reva Jacobs, Chuck’s maternal grandmother.  Reva is the youngest daughter of Emily Thomas Jacobs, that same Emily Thomas who emigrated to America in 1873 when she was only five years old. 

But back to Wales — in the year 1717, William Williams was born in Carmarthenshire.  He intended to become a doctor, but not far into his studies he abandoned his pursuit of medicine to devote himself to religion.  For half a century he travelled throughout Wales preaching the gospel.  He was known to many as the “Sweet Singer of Wales”.   He composed over 800 hymns, chiefly in his native tongue, no doubt gathering inspiration from the beautiful countryside around him.   

His most famous hymn is Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah.  In it Williams weaves imagery from the Old Testament book of Exodus, illustrating man’s reliance on God throughout difficulty and strife.  It’s possible that traces of his own hardships experienced as a traveling minister are found in the hymn as well.

The music was written by Welsh composer, John Hughes, and was translated into English by Peter Williams.