TREK PICTURES

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"The increased food rations from the rescuers lasted for only a few days. In Martin's Cove, rations were again reduced to four ounces of flour because the rescuers' supplies were insufficient to feed 900 people. The second day in the cove, James Bleak, one of the London branch presidents, wrote in his journal:
"No travelling. Weather very severe. Sister Mary Harper died aged 64. Our ration of flour was reduced to 4 oz. and 2 oz. for the children, making 1 lb. a day for the 6 of us."
James concludes this journal entry with one of the most extraordinary sentences in all the handcart writings. His feet were frozen, his wife and four children were suffering, the weather showed no signs of moderating, and now rations were being reduced again. Yet he wrote, "Through the blessing of our Father, we felt as contented as when we had 1 lb. per head."

Attention All Stake Trekkers!

How would you feel

 if you had only a daily ration of 

4 ounces of flour to eat every day?

Experience it.

 Next week choose 

a day to eat only 1 slice of bread or 1 roll all day long.

This is some of the story of Ephraim Knowlton Hanks, in his own words, regarding the rescue of the saints:

                In the fall of 1856, I spent considerable of my time fishing in Utah Lake; and in traveling backward and

forward between that lake and Salt Lake City, I had occasion to stop once over night with Gurney Brown, in Draper,

about nineteen miles south of Salt Lake City. Being somewhat fatigued after the day’s journey, I retired to rest quite

early, and while I still lay wide awake in my bed I heard a voice calling me by name, and then saying: “The handcart

people are in trouble and you are wanted; will you go and help them?” I turned instinctively in the direction

from whence the voice came and beheld an ordinary sized man in the room. Without any hesitation I answered

“Yes, I will go if I am called.” I then turned around to go to sleep, but had laid only a few minutes when the voice

called a second time, repeating almost the same words as on the first occasion. My answer was the same as before.

This was repeated a third time.

                When I got up the next morning I said to Brother Brown, “The hand-cart people are in trouble, and I have

promised to go out and help them;” but I did not tell him of my experiences during the night.

                 now hastened to Salt Lake City, and arrived there on the Saturday, preceding the Sunday on which the call

was made for volunteers to go out and help the last hand-cart companies in. When some of the brethren responded

by explaining that they could get ready to start in a few days; I spoke out at once saying, “I am ready now!” The

next day I was wending my way eastward over the mountains with a light wagon all alone. [Probably Oct. 26-27]

                The terrific storm which caused the immigrants so much suffering and loss overtook me near the South

Pass, where I stopped about three days with Reddick N. Allred, who had come out with provisions for the

immigrants. The storm during these three days was simply awful. In all my travels in the Rocky Mountains both

before and afterwards, I have seen no worse. When at length the snow ceased falling, it lay on the ground so deep

that for many days it was impossible to move wagons through it.

                Being deeply concerned about the possible fate of the immigrants, and feeling anxious to learn of their

condition, I determined to start out on horseback to meet them; and for this purpose I secured a pack-saddle and two

animals (one to ride and one to pack), from Brother Allred, and began to make my way slowly through the snow

alone. After traveling for some time I met Joseph A. Young and one of the Garr boys, [Abel], two of the relief

company which had been sent from Salt Lake City to help the companies. [This was the first group of rescuers who

left immediately after the first call from Brigham Young on October 5. Brigham continued to make public and

private calls for rescuers to meet the late companies for the next two months.] They had met the immigrants and

were now returning with important dispatches from the camps to the headquarters of the Church, reporting the awful

condition of the companies. [Ephraim had passed the Willie Company and the rescuers already with them near Ft.

Bridger on Nov. 2. Young and Garr had found the Martin, Hodgett and Hunt Companies at the last crossing of the

N. Platte River and helped them back to Devil’s Gate before taking this “important dispatch” or report to Brigham

Young.]

                In the meantime I continued my lonely journey, and the night after meeting Elders Young and Garr, I

camped in the snow in the mountains. As I was preparing to make a bed in the snow with the few articles that my

pack animal carried for me, I thought how comfortable a buffalo robe would be on such an occasion, and also how I

could relish a little buffalo meat for supper, and before lying down for the night I was instinctively led to ask the

Lord to send me a buffalo. Now, I am a firm believer in the efficacy of prayer, for I have on many different

occasions asked the Lord for blessings, which He in His mercy has bestowed on me. But when I, after praying as I

did on that lonely night in the South Pass, looked around me and spied a buffalo bull within fifty yards of my camp,

my surprise was complete; I had certainly not expected so immediate an answer to my prayer. However, I soon

collected myself and was not at a loss to know what to do. Taking deliberate aim at the animal, my first shot

brought him down; he made a few jumps only, and then rolled down into the very hollow where I was encamped. I

was soon busily engaged skinning my game, finishing which, I spread the hide on the snow and placed my bed upon

it. I next prepared supper, eating tongue and other choice parts of the animal I had killed, to my heart’s content.

After this I enjoyed a refreshing night’s sleep, while my horses were browsing on the sage brush.

                Early the next morning I was on my way again, and soon reached what is known as the Ice Springs Bench.

There I happened upon a herd of buffalo, and killed a nice cow. I was impressed to do this, although I did not know

why until a few hours later, but the thought occurred to my mind that the hand of the Lord was in it, as it was a rare

thing to find buffalo herds around that place at this late part of the season. I skinned and dressed the cow; then cut

up part of its meat in long strips and loaded my horses with it. Thereupon I resumed my journey, and traveled on till

towards evening. I think the sun was about an hour high in the west when I spied something in the distance that

looked like a black streak in the snow. As I got near to it, I perceived it moved; then I was satisfied that this was the

long looked for hand-cart company, led by Captain Edward Martin. I reached the ill-fated train just as the

immigrants were camping for the night. The sight that met my gaze as I entered their camp can never be erased

from my memory. The starved forms and haggard countenances of the poor sufferers, as they moved about slowly,

shivering with cold, to prepare their scanty evening meal was enough to touch the stoutest heart. When they saw me

coming, they hailed me with joy inexpressible, and when they further beheld the supply of fresh meat I brought into

camp, their gratitude knew no bounds. Flocking around me, one would say, “Oh, please, give me a small piece of

meat;” another would exclaim, “My poor children are starving, do give me a little;” and children with tears in their

eyes would call out, “Give me some, give me some.” At first I tried to wait on them and handed out the meat as they

called for it; but finally I told them to help themselves. Five minutes later both my horses had been released of their

extra burden–the meat was all gone, and the next few hours found the people in camp busily engaged in cooking and

eating it, with thankful hearts.

                A prophecy had been made by one of the brethren that the company should feast on buffalo meat when their

provisions might run short; my arrival in their camp, loaded with meat, was the beginning of the fulfillment of that

prediction; but only the beginning, as I afterwards shot and killed a number of buffalo for them as we journeyed

along.

                When I saw the terrible condition of the immigrants on first entering their camp, my heart almost melted

within me. I rose up in my saddle and tried to speak cheering and comforting words to them. I told them also that

they should all have the privilege to ride into Salt Lake City, as more teams were coming. . . .

                After this the greater portion of my time was devoted to waiting on the sick. “Come to me,” “help me,”

“please administer to my sick wife,” or “my dying child,” were some of the requests that were made of me almost

hourly for some time after I had joined the immigrants, and I spent days going from tent to tent administering to the

sick. Truly the Lord was with me and others of His servants who labored faithfully together with me in that day of

trial and suffering. The result of this our labor of love certainly redounded to the honor and glory of a kind and

merciful God. In scores of instances, when we administered to the sick, and rebuked the diseases in the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ, the sufferers would rally at once; they were healed almost instantly. I believe I administered to

several hundreds in a single day; and I could give names of many whose lives were saved by the power of God.

                But I will only give the details in one more instance. One evening after having gone as far as Fort Bridger I

was requested by a sister to come and administer to her son, whose name was Thomas. [See biography for Thomas

Dobson, Martin Company.] He was very sick, indeed, and his friends expected he would die that night. When I

came to the place where he lay he was moaning pitifully, and was almost too weak to turn around in his bed. I felt

the power of God resting upon me, and addressing the young man, said: “Will you believe the words I tell you?”

His response was “Yes.” I then administered to him, and he was immediately healed. He got up, dressed himself,

and danced a hornpipe on the end-board of a wagon, which I procured for that purpose. But notwithstanding these

manifestations of the Lord’s goodness, many of the immigrants whose extremities were frozen, lost their limbs,

either whole or in part. Many such I washed with water and castile soap, until the frozen parts would fall off, after

which I would sever the shreds of flesh from the remaining portions of the limbs with my scissors. Some of the

emigrants lost toes, others fingers, and again others whole hands and feet; one woman [see biography for Maren

Johansen, also known as Mary Johnson, (Parsons), Hunt Company] who now resides in Koosharem, Piute Co.,

Utah, lost both her legs below the knees, and quite a number who survived became cripples for life, but so far as I

remember there were no fresh cases of frozen limbs after my arrival in camp.

***It takes great FAITH to listen to the promptings of the Lord and even more Faith to act upon those promptings.  This story of Bro. Hanks reminded me of a scripture.  1 Nephi 4:6:  "And I was lead by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."  Are we prepared to receive promptings?  Are we willing to act upon them? Do we take the time to reflect upon the things we have been taught and are we ready to act as the Lord's hands when He needs us?  We need to be spiritually prepared to act, at any moment.  Take a few moments and ponder about your own life.  Are you where you need to be?  What do you expect to get from trek?  What can you do to help others strengthen their testimonies?  Write down some of your thoughts in your journal.

Activity #11

The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and the Hunt and Hodge Companies experiences crossing the plains and coming to Zion were filled with miracles. These miraculous events took place in answer to prayers that had been offered up.

This week as you prepare for Trek, we ask you to take some time and watch the movie "Seventeen Miracles."It portrays some of the miracles that took place. Remember that as you watch this movie and then go to Trek that we will be standing on sacred ground. And never forget that Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles.

Elizabeth Crook Panting

Elizabeth Crook Panting sailed alone to America on the ship “Thornton” with 2 young children as her husband did not make the journey. He was against the Mormons and had threatened to kill his wife if she didn't stay away from the Mormons. He finally got so mean; she took her two children and left him. The small family joined up with the Willie Handcart Company where there may have been a couple of Elizabeth’s relatives traveling with them.  While they were traveling to Zion, Elizabeth pulled her two young children, her one year old daughter was very ill,  Elizabeth would ask her older son Christopher to check and see if Jane was dead yet.

On October 14, Elizabeth went out to gather some buffalo chips, she had almost filled her apron, when a man came up-seemly out of nowhere-she told the man that her group was starving, the man told her to follow him, and she dropped the chips out of her apron. The man led her to a cave where a lot of dried buffalo meat was hanging, there were shelves of books on one side of the cave that looked like the Book of Mormon gold plates. She said they looked as if they were sealed. The man loaded up her apron with as much meat as she could carry. She left the cave, and as she looked back the man and the cave were gone. She went back to camp and shared the meat to the ones that were in the most need, no doubt saving lives.

Elizabeth and her two young children arrived safely in the Salt Lake Valley.

Story:

Ann Rowley Feeds Her Family with Two Sea Biscuits

Ann Rowley, a widow who had eight children to feed, felt a mother's pain in their hunger. "It hurt me to see my children go hungry," she wrote. "I watched as they cut the loose rawhide from the cart wheels, roasted off the hair, and chewed the hide."43 One evening she felt the providence of God in helping feed her children:

"Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God's help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that . . . had been left over from the sea voyage. They were not large, and were so hard they couldn't be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5,000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God's help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God's blessing. Then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness. That night my family had sufficient food."

Olsen, Andrew (2010-07-22). The Price We Paid

Activity #10

When we  go on trek we will have a cooking committee to make sure that we have sufficient and great food.  This one major difference

Trek Kick-Off Activity

Saturday, May 11

10:00am - 12:00 noon

Stake Center

Pioneer Dress

Come with the name you want to walk for. We will be stamping this name on a bracelet to wear for Trek.

There will be a lot of fun activities and refreshments.

Activity #9

Read the words to Hymn #30

Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:1-4

What do the words "All is Well" mean? 

Write down your thoughts or share them with someone.

Come, Come, Ye Saints

            "A reporter from the Council Bluffs Bugle, located across the Missouri River from Florence, wrote with admiration about the Willie company as they started…toward Fort Laramie."  He writes:

            "Having seen several handcart trains pass through this city, and cross the ferries at Elk Horn and Loup Fork, we could not help but remark on the enthusiasm which animated all classes and ages…

            It may seem, to some, that these people endure great hardships in traveling hundreds of miles on foot, drawing arts behind them.  This is a mistake, for many informed me that after the first three days' travel, it requires little effort for two or three men or women to drag the light handcart….It is also a fact that they can travel farther in a day, and with less fatigue, than the ox trains…

            This is enthusiasm- this is heroism indeed.  Though we cannot coincide with them in their belief, it is impossible to restrain our admiration of their self-sacrificing devotion to the principles of their faith."

"John Chislett also recalled the good spirits as the Willie company left Florence. "We moved gaily forward full of hope and faith. At our camp each evening could be heard songs of joy and merry peals of laughter(concerning) our conditions and prospects." The Price We Paid, pgs. 86-87

"We did all we could do to aid and encourage each other. In the  blizzards and falling snow, we sat under our handcarts and sang, Come, Come Ye Saints...The Lord gave us strength and courage."

-Stone-Willie Company

Activity #8

"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven"

From the very beginning of the church the members have sacrificed and done all they could do to help those in need. This practice continues today. Christlike service is shown in much of what we do as members of the church. The Humanitarian efforts are a large scale example of this. But it is also exhibited in the smaller day to day effort of the members. From taking a meal to someone in need by the sisters, to the young men taking the sacrament to those who are sick, raking leaves or snow, or babysitting without pay so that a couple may attend the temple. These are the simple acts of Service that show "the priesthood and the people of Mormonism...at their compassionate service best."

This week as you prepare for Trek, take some extra time to give Christlike service to someone in need.

Story #8

In issuing the call to rescue, Brigham Young must have wondered how much more he could ask the Saints to sacrifice. They had just endured two years of drought and famine. Although the harvest of 1856 was better, resources were still scarce. To help ensure survival for another year, every hand was needed to prepare for winter and plant wheat for the next season. LeRoy and Ann Hafen described this circumstance—and the Saints' response in spite of it:

 "Only nine years removed from the stark desert it had settled upon with empty wagons and bare hands, the Mormon community was not yet one of surpluses. But the religious and human tie that bound the Saints in the Valley to those who soon might be freezing and starving on the Plains transcended the instinct for personal safety. Families of moderate means and the poorest individuals contributed from their meager stores. One lent a horse, one a wagon, one a tent; another, two bales of hay and a sack of barley. Some gave iron camp kettles, dutch ovens, brass buckets, tin cups and plates. Women darned socks and shawls; patched underwear, trousers, and dresses; faced quilts, sewed together pieces of blankets; and took clothes from their own backs. Families brought out from their scant cellars sacks of flour, sides of home cured bacon, bags of beans, dried corn, packages of sugar and rice."

From Wallace Stegner's perspective, the rescue effort would show "the priesthood and the people of Mormonism . . . at their compassionate and efficient best."

Activity #7

When we sit down to dinner every night this week and look out over the feast that has been prepared for us, let us keep in our hearts the struggles of not only the handcart pioneers but also that of the rescuers and the willingness they had to obey the council of a prophet of God without thought of their own safety, and like Dan, be able to become better by praying for the things in our lives we need and more importantly be grateful for all we have each been blessed with....Amen.

Dan Jones

Daniel Webster Jones enlisted with the Missouri volunteers in the war with Mexico in 1847. In 1850, he joined a group of men driving sheep through the Salt Lake Valley to California. After a near fatal accident, he was left by his group with a Mormon settlement near Utah Lake. He decided he liked the people and the things they believed and he was baptized on January 27, 1851.
Dan was present at General Conference in 1856 and volunteered to go out on the rescue of the handcart companies. They encountered the Willie handcart company first and found them in a condition that would stir the hardest hearts. They were starving and that morning they buried 9 bodies that passed away during the night. After finding the other companies and finding it difficult to travel with their belongings, Dan was chosen to stay behind with two other men and guard and watch over the emigrants items until they could return in the spring and get them. They were left with little rations at Devil's Gate. At one time in their hardships, they had nothing to eat but cattle hides. Dan prayed to know how to prepare the raw hides to make them edible. Finally, he was impressed how to fix the hides and he and his company prayed and gave thanks for the meal. They lived on the raw hide for about 6 weeks.
Dan was a man of faith that loved his God and was willing to go out on the Lord's errand and aid in the rescue.  When called upon to stay behind, he did not murmur and fulfilled his duty. He stayed faithful the entire time and his testimony grew with many chances to pray for answers to their prayers.

Activity #6

Review the talks of General Conference, or the impressions that you felt while listening. As you do so resolve to be a part of the rescue. It may be for yourself, a loved one, or those who have gone before. It may be to those you now serve in your quorums or classes, or that will serve someday in the near future as missionaries. Whoever it may be, remember D & C 18:10 & 16. Verse 10 - Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. Verse 16 - And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

The Call To Rescue

In the October 1856 conference, President Brigham Young, called the people to rescue those that were still on the plains.
Brigham Young said, "It is this. On the 5th day of October, 1856, many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with handcarts,...and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The test will be to get them here. I want the brethren who may speak to understand that their text is to the people on the plains, and the subject matter for this community is to send for them and bring them in before winter sets in. "That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess. It is to save the people....This is the salvation I am now seeking for, to save our brethren that would be apt to perish, or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance." I shall call upon the Bishops this day. I shall not wait until tomorrow, nor until the next day, for 60 good mule teams and 12 or 15 wagons. I don not want to send oxen. I want good horses and mules. They are in this territory and we must have them. Also 12 tons of flour and 40 good teamsters, besides those that drive the teams. ..."I will tell you that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God unless you carry out such principles as i am now teaching you. Go and bring those people now on the plains and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain, the preaching you have heard will be in vain."
After listening to General Conference over the last couple of days, I have been reminded that the call to rescue is still there. The rescue that is being called for now is different yet still of great importance. Some of those include, our own personal spiritual rescue, the spiritual or physical rescue of our loved ones and family members, or the rescue of those who have died without the knowledge of the gospel. One of the greatest rescues that is going on, is that of the missionary efforts of the Church right now. Think of the new missions created, and the increase of missionaries. The leaders of the Church have great faith in then youth of the Church and see their potential.
When the members of the church heard President Young's call to rescue, they acted immediately. Sisters took of extra clothing and piled it up. Brethren loaded up and headed out right away. They heeded the call and by doing so saved many of the stranded saints. We too can heed the call to rescue.

Activity #5

One of the greatest principles of the restored gospel is that we are linked like a chain together with our ancestors and our posterity, through the sealing powers of the priesthood. Here are some of the activities you can do this week to help prepare you for trek.

* Think about your part in your family chain. How can you take the faith of your ancestors and carry it on to your ancestors?
*Take some time this week to find out about your grandparents and parents. How did they gain their testimonies?
* Work on your family history and see if there are family members who still need their work done. If so, be the one to start that work by getting these names ready for baptism for the dead.
* Are you or the parents the "pioneers" in your family? If so what can you do to link the family chain together?

Think about what legacy you want to leave for your future generations. The reason we have these great histories to learn and grow from is because people kept journals. Record your thoughts and feelings in your journal.

A reverence for sacred things gives context to all of life's experiences. That context is especially important when we learn about distant places and people who lived long ago. With the assistance of the spirit, events that took place along the Mormon Trail can touch our hearts and inspire us to greater commitment. As President Boyd K. Packer has encouraged, our objective should be to "see the hand of the Lord in every hour and every moment of the Church from its beginning to now." The journals kept by the pioneers seem to cry out for us to see the hand of the Lord in the events described there. Without the spirit one may see the Mormon Trail as merely sagebrush and dusty paths. But a sensitive heart will discern the eloquent witnesses of what transpired there. When we begin to feel the spiritual kinship with those who walked these trails, our lives are strengthened and enriched."

"Journal of the Trail" Glazir and Clark

Many of the Saints who suffered much on the trek west, when asked alter in life said that they would be willing to do it again for the Gospel sake, for their testimonies, and for the faith of their children and future generations.

Francis Webster

"We suffered beyond anything you can imagine, and many died of exposure and starvation...But we came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities " I have pulled my handcart when i was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other  I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or hill slope and have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand, and when i reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back may times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there. "Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."

Emily Marshall

Emily Marshall crossed the plains with her widowed mother. Emily celebrated her 10th birthday the after arriving in the valley. In her later life, when Marion's daughter asked her if she would endure her 1856 journey again, she bravely replied, "If I knew that was the only way I could get to Zion and obtain the blessings of the gospel, I certainly would."
Mary Soar Taylor
Mary came as a widow with two sons. William Henry (12) and Jesse Soar (9). "Many had their limbs badly frozen, myself and William among the number. I could not stand on my feet for three months after I arrived. I know it is the work of God and I hope and trust that any of my posterity that may come in possession of this may be strengthened in their faith by it and be worthy of such parentage for truly we suffered much for truth's sake but the reward of the faithful is sure."

James and Sarah Leah

There is a poem written by the grand-daughter of James and Sarah Leah. They both died while crossing the plains as apart of the Martin Handcart Company  Their great faith was passed on to their posterity and is exhibited in this poem.

When you come to the Red sea place in your life

And hardly know what to do

When there's no way back and no way ahead

And only one way and that's through

Then trust in the Lord with a faith supreme

Till the night and the storm is gone

He will still the winds and part the waves

When he says to your soul "Go On"

Marintha Hart

Activity #4

When we die, we take nothing but our knowledge with us. What things would pain us to leave behind? What things are our hearts set upon?
Most pioneers had only 2 outfits; one for every day and one for special occasions. As you go through your closet and your drawers, ponder which 2 outfits would you choose if you could only keep 2? Would they be warm enough in cold weather? Would they hold up for 111 days it takes to cross the plains if you had to wear them every day? Would your sense of fashion still have had any influence in which outfits you would choose?

John Jacques

John was a most interesting and colorful pioneer. He was born January 7, 1827 in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, England. He said his father was a little gruff but a very honorable man and his mother never had any faults at all (that he was aware of). When he was 13, he was sent to be a cabinet maker and upholsterer as an indentured apprentice. He wrote, "most of the men where I worked when apprenticed and after were corrupt. As a religious boy, I was consequently unmercifully plagued and made the butt of ridicule. These were not good moral schools for boys. I always had the highest regard for truth and virtue...no matter who is the tempter nor what is the temptation, your virtue is worth more than them all, it is the pearl of great price. It is beyond all price...no offer involved is worth a moment's consideration. The unfailing motto should "Never Surrender"."
He joined the church as a teenager and both his master and his father tried to get him to give up the new religion. He was called to serve as a traveling missionary when he was 20. He became the assistant editor of the Millenial Star and wrote religious study for children. He married Zilpah Loader and had a baby girl named Flora before he immigrated to Zion. When President Young requested John come to the valley, he began to prepare. he got a gun and practiced shooting.
He gives a very detailed account in his journal about his trip and it is well worth reading about. But the story to think about this week is this:
John has written about preparing to leave Iowa City with the Martin Handcart Company. He says, "As only a very limited amount of baggage could be taken with the handcarts, during the stay in the Iowa camping grounds, there was a general lightening of such things as could best be done without. Many things were sold cheaply to residents of that vicinity, and many more things were left on the camping ground for anybody to take or leave at their pleasure. It was grievous to see the heaps of books and other articles thus left in the sun and rain and dust, representing a respectable amount of money spent therefore in England, but thenceforth a waste and a dead loss to owners."
Tell My Story Too, page 230

Activity #3

This week for our activity everyone needs to find a story of an ancestor or someone that heeded the call to come to Zion. Read and study about their desires and the struggles they went through to bring their families out west so they could live free of religious persecution. Think of the trials we all face today and how we can strengthen ourselves against them by honoring our ancestors desire and commitment to us.

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.

Activity #2

Think about your family. What would you be willing to do or sacrifice for them. Talk with your parents and other family members about pioneers in your family. On Trek you will be given the opportunity to have a new "Trek" family. Decide now what kind of attitude you will bring into your Trek family and what you will be willing to do for them.

James Kirkwood

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

James Kirkwood was 11 years old when his family came to the Salt Lake Valley with the Willie Handcart Company. His widowed mother, Margaret and older brother, Robert pulled one of his other brothers, Thomas in the family handcart for over 1000 miles. Because of this, James was given the task of caring for his 4 year old brother Joseph. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company 20 hours to travel 15 miles. Joseph and James became separated from the main group. When little Joseph became too weary to walk, James had no choice but to carry him. Slowly James and Joseph made their way to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James, having so faithfully carried out his task of carrying his brother, collapsed and died from exposure and over-exertion.
"Savior, may I love my brother, As I know thou lovest me." Truly, James loved his brother and gave his life for him like the Savior did.
Learn more about James and Joseph Kirkwood and their family on page 57 of Tell My Story Too.
("Lord I Will Follow Thee" page 220 of the Hymn Book)

Activity #1

Find the pair of shoes you want to wear on trek this year. Put them on and walk a mile in the snow. While walking, think of your testimony of Jesus Christ. Think of the story of the First Vision. Does your testimony burn in your heart? The early saints were willing to endure many sacrifices for the sake of their religious convictions. What are your religious convictions? What are you willing to stand for?

Sarah Rebecca Ekins Walker

Sarah was 24 years old when she came across the plains with the Martin Handcart Company. She was a lovely, tall, black-haired and black-eyed girl. She apparently lived on the same street as her sweetheart, William J. Walker, in London, England. They were converted and baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were married in March 1855 and a year later decided to emigrate to America. They sailed on the ship Horizon and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. Sarah was ill most of the time they were sailing. She was too sick to walk when they arrived in America.

After traveling by rail to Iowa City, Iowa, they joined the Martin Handcart Company. Sarah had to leave most of her precious belongings behind. She had brought only high heeled shoes to wear. She became unable to walk. She must have come from a well-to-do situation as family histories indicate that Sarah had never known hard work until she came to America.

William pulled her in the cart until she regained her health enough to walk. Later, she pushed him in the cart when his feet became frozen. They encountered many delays, as well as severe winter storms.

Through her sheer determination, and almost beyond human endurance. she survived this terrible ordeal and arrived in Salt Lake City on November 30, 1856. When she took off her shoes, the flesh came off with them. Her feet had frozen during the journey, and her recuperation took a long time. 

Sarah was a hard worker and always retained her faith in the gospel. She died November 15, 1892 at the age of 60. Tell My Story Too, page 318

Trek Kick Off Devotional 

February 24, 6:00 p.m.
Stake Center

Trek dates June 17-19, 2013

Trek plans are in progress. 

First payment of $50 is due by February 24th.