I tried to warn her to stay away from the Bishop - but she got caught. He asked her to report on the Trek in Sacrament Meeting. This is her talk - or a close facsimile to what she said:
Report on Trek
I really enjoyed going on Trek – and one of the reasons was because of the kids. You parents can be very proud of them all. They were eager and happy and cooperative. When it was time to get up, they got up. When it was time to go to bed, they went to bed. When they got to help with meals – they didn’t grumble. And most of them were even excited about square dancing. It made it very pleasant for me as a leader.
Because of the abundance of rain that we have had this year, the area was beautiful. It was green and verdant – as verdant as it can be in central Wyoming. It wasn’t too hot. The sky was large and blue. And the wind was just a gentle breeze.
One of the things we did was hear stories and trials of the Martin Handcart Company.
But for some pioneer youngsters, the Mormon trails experience was one of pain and sorrow. Louisa Gittens Glegg, who was fourteen, described the journey as a long miserable time. For many it was a first and agonizing encounter with the reality of death. Children stood in stunned silence as graves were dug for their parents, siblings, or a beloved playmate. Laura Swenson Fowers , age eight watched her father die after a wagon accident. Her mother died seven days later during childbirth leaving Laura with four younger sisters to go to Salt Lake valley as orphans. Clarence Marrow, age five, watched as his baby brother, Alonso, died shortly after birth. Another brother, Alfred, and sister, Amanda, died shortly thereafter from fever and chills and the three were buried under an oak tree.
One of my favorite Latter Day Saint hymns is Come, Come Ye Saints. It calls to mind the life of a pioneer. It was written by William Clayton after the expulsion from Nauvoo. He received the good news that his wife had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, and was moved to write the song – because all was well.
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;
I really enjoyed going on Trek – and one of the reasons was because of the kids. You parents can be very proud of them all. They were eager and happy and cooperative. When it was time to get up, they got up. When it was time to go to bed, they went to bed. When they got to help with meals – they didn’t grumble. And most of them were even excited about square dancing. It made it very pleasant for me as a leader.
Because of the abundance of rain that we have had this year, the area was beautiful. It was green and verdant – as verdant as it can be in central Wyoming. It wasn’t too hot. The sky was large and blue. And the wind was just a gentle breeze.
One of the things we did was hear stories and trials of the Martin Handcart Company.
But for some pioneer youngsters, the Mormon trails experience was one of pain and sorrow. Louisa Gittens Glegg, who was fourteen, described the journey as a long miserable time. For many it was a first and agonizing encounter with the reality of death. Children stood in stunned silence as graves were dug for their parents, siblings, or a beloved playmate. Laura Swenson Fowers , age eight watched her father die after a wagon accident. Her mother died seven days later during childbirth leaving Laura with four younger sisters to go to Salt Lake valley as orphans. Clarence Marrow, age five, watched as his baby brother, Alonso, died shortly after birth. Another brother, Alfred, and sister, Amanda, died shortly thereafter from fever and chills and the three were buried under an oak tree.
One of my favorite Latter Day Saint hymns is Come, Come Ye Saints. It calls to mind the life of a pioneer. It was written by William Clayton after the expulsion from Nauvoo. He received the good news that his wife had just given birth to a healthy baby boy, and was moved to write the song – because all was well.
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
Brother Bruce Hafen reflected on some of the meaning of these words:
Perhaps this means, come, ye Saints, all ye that are heavy laden, come to the Savior of Mankind; keep your covenants with him, and he will carry not only the burden of your sins—he will also ease the burdens of your hardest toil and labor “that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.” And though the journey of mortality can sometimes be very hard, grace shall be as your day—meaning, in Nephi’s words, “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”
And should we die before our journey’s through
Happy day, All is well.
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
Perhaps this means, come, ye Saints, all ye that are heavy laden, come to the Savior of Mankind; keep your covenants with him, and he will carry not only the burden of your sins—he will also ease the burdens of your hardest toil and labor “that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.” And though the journey of mortality can sometimes be very hard, grace shall be as your day—meaning, in Nephi’s words, “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”
And should we die before our journey’s through
Happy day, All is well.
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
The pioneers knew, and had faith that if they didn’t finish their trek, if they died on the way, they would be blessed to be exalted to live with their Heavenly Father. This was a comfort in their trials and sorrows
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—
All is well! All is well!
The pioneers endured so much physical hardship to make it to Zion. We all have heard stories of that hardship and know of their sorrow. But they were faithful and endured. James Hurran of the Willie handcart company said, “With all our trials, our weary traveling, burying our dear ones, piling our clothing and bedding by the wayside and setting fire to them, we have never once felt to murmur or complain or regret the steps we have taken.
Yes, we have all heard some of these stories.
But why do we now do – The Trek. Why do we spend months preparing, and making clothes and organizing food and transportation and programs and then drive forever to the center of Wyoming with 150 teenagers? Why is that so important?
One reason is to give the youth an opportunity just to experience something different – and maybe a little bit hard. On Friday they did walk 10 miles – pulling handcarts for much of it – handcarts loaded with much of their own personal gear. They got to sleep on the ground – with no pads – and no pillows. They got to give up their modern dress and don the costumes of the pioneers. They were in a different world – and some of them might have learned something about themselves. I heard one young woman say, “I now know I can do hard things.” What a wonderful realization because life is not always easy.
President Hinkley gave us another answer to the question – why do we do this?
“It is good to look to the past to gain an appreciation for the present and a perspective for the future.”
In other words, the youth need to experience something of what their forefathers have experienced. It gives them an understanding of the blessing they have today. I’ll bet many of them really enjoyed a warm shower when they got home – and were more thankful for that little blessing.
It also gives them an opportunity to think about the faith of those who went before. Perhaps this can inspire them to greater faith themselves.
But why do we now do – The Trek. Why do we spend months preparing, and making clothes and organizing food and transportation and programs and then drive forever to the center of Wyoming with 150 teenagers? Why is that so important?
One reason is to give the youth an opportunity just to experience something different – and maybe a little bit hard. On Friday they did walk 10 miles – pulling handcarts for much of it – handcarts loaded with much of their own personal gear. They got to sleep on the ground – with no pads – and no pillows. They got to give up their modern dress and don the costumes of the pioneers. They were in a different world – and some of them might have learned something about themselves. I heard one young woman say, “I now know I can do hard things.” What a wonderful realization because life is not always easy.
President Hinkley gave us another answer to the question – why do we do this?
“It is good to look to the past to gain an appreciation for the present and a perspective for the future.”
In other words, the youth need to experience something of what their forefathers have experienced. It gives them an understanding of the blessing they have today. I’ll bet many of them really enjoyed a warm shower when they got home – and were more thankful for that little blessing.
It also gives them an opportunity to think about the faith of those who went before. Perhaps this can inspire them to greater faith themselves.
Martin’s Cove is really a beautiful place. But then, in 1856, it was a place of refuge. The members of the Martin handcart company were reduced to dreadfully low rations. Adults got 4 ounces of flour per day. They had no meat. More than two weeks before, they had crossed the Platte River and their clothes had frozen to their bodies. The temperature was in single digits and some of them never recovered. There was very little wood to burn for warmth, and an early October storm had dropped 18 inches of snow. The pioneers could hear the wolves devour their recently buried dear ones. In this desperate, weakened condition, the rescue parties from Salt Lake Valley found them and helped them move to the cover of the cove above the Sweetwater River where there was some shelter from the relentless Wyoming wind and there was wood for fires.
President Hinkley said about the cove, “Terrible was the suffering of those who came here to Martin’s Cove to find some protection from the heavy storms of that early winter. With their people hungry, cold and dying from sheer exhaustion, they came up into this cove for shelter, and then they died. Some 56 people. We stand here with bared heads and grateful hearts for their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of all who were with them along this tragic trail.
President Kamigaki wrote to the youth this year, “We urge you to be mindful that President Gordon B. Hinkley has designated this area “hallowed ground made sacred by the sacrifices of those who have gone before us”. . . As you ponder the history and the past of this sacred area, take time to consider your present standing with your Lord and how you will go forward into your future.
One of the primary reasons for doing the Trek is to give the youth a chance to ponder – to maybe feel the spirit – to feel gratitude – and to build their faith and testimony.
D & C 122: 7 says
“Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good.”
Again from President Hinkley, “It is up to us that those who perished will not have died in vain. Our Father in Heaven allowed the handcart pioneers to suffer, that we today might more clearly see our responsibility to our grand children and our great-grand children when they are sitting here 150 years from now, what will they say when OUR STORIES are read. A life that will inspire future generations is our responsibility.”
The pioneers had tests they had to pass as they pressed on towards Zion. Their faith and perseverance helped them pass their tests. They succeeded against great odds. Today we have our own tests to pass. They are different.
The mountains we cross each day may not be visible, but they will require all of our strength and all of our faith to make it over them. Step by step, we write our own stories of faith and courage. It will take the very best that is in us. It will take all of our heart, all of our mind, and all of our strength. But we will come to know that the journey towards Zion is the most important journey we will ever make.
1 comment:
Wow- that was wonderful Mom.
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