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.