Reflecting On Their Trials
Many of us are descendants of hardy pioneers and we feel grateful and inspired by their faith promoting examples of sacrifice. Many of the good and righteous people of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies paid the ultimate price on the snow covered wind swept plains of Wyoming. They were heeding the call to come to Zion by Brigham Young. They wanted to be around the prophet and people that believed the same as they did. They put their faith in the Lord and left their homes in Europe and began to make the journey to Zion.
Our commitment to the kingdom should match that of our faithful ancestors even though our sacrifices are different. They left comfortable homes and compelled to journey thousands of miles by boat, rail wagons, and finally handcarts to reestablish their families, homes and church in safety. Our sacrifices may be more subtle but no less demanding. Instead of physical deprivation and hardship, we face the challenge of remaining true and faithful to the gospel principles a midst such evil and destruction forces as dishonesty, corruption, drug and alcohol misuse and disease. Also, we find ourselves in combat daily with immorality in all of its many forms. Pornography and violence, often portrayed in insidious television shows, movies, and videos are running rampant. Hate and envy, greed and selfishness are all about us and families are disintegrating at an ever increasing pace. With all of this we must never forget the source of our abundant blessings and the trial and hardships that were gone through for each of us as our ancestors were coming to Zion and establishing this home for the church and all of us.
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