Pioneer Trek

Wow! With so much preparation, planning and activities for Trek it has come and gone now. I'm always so sad when it's over. Aaron and I went 4 years ago as a ma and pa and were lucky enough to be asked to go again this time too. If you have ever heard me talk about Trek you know I could go on and on about what a great experience it is.

We were able to go to Martins Cove in Wyoming again this time. Growing up in British Columbia I got to go as a youth, but the Stake just mapped out a trail somewhere in the mountains. It was fun and a good experience but it wasn't the same as Martin's Cove.

The Pioneers began their Trek West to escape religious persecution, to find refuge here in the Salt Lake Valley. They didn't come for Riches or for Gold but came to be in a place where they could worship God. A place where they felt safe and united with one another. Many came across the Ocean from Europe, and then made their trek west.




We go on trek so we can gain a testimony of the pioneers, and the sacrifices they made for you and me. We learn of their faith and how to apply it in our own lives now. Our Faith in our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father is strengthened. It's pretty amazing!!

While on Trek we learned about the Martin and Willie hand cart companies who got a late start in the season. They had a lack of supplies to start with and leaving late in the season meant getting caught in violent snow storms. Many froze to death. Their food was rationed to as low as 4oz. of flour per adult per day. Many died of starvation.

We started in Martins cove and walked some of the same paths the actual pioneers walked along. We could feel their spirit there, and we gained a testimony of there faith and the sacrifices they made. Among my favorite places we visited was The Sweet water crossing, Martins Cove and Rock Creek Hollow.

When they reached The Sweet water crossing almost all of them wanted to give up. It was deep with great ice chunks floating in it. Many had already lost loved ones and felt they couldn't possibly cross this river. Four Young Men made a great sacrifice to spend all day carrying Men, woman and children across that river. Later all died because of effects from that heroic act.

Martins Cove is where the Martin Handcart company took cover in the mountains from the snow storm awaiting the rescue team from Salt Lake. Many died that night. Their loved were often buried in shallow snow graves because the ground was too frozen to dig proper ones.

Rock Creek Hollow is where the Willie handcart company found shelter as they waited for rescue teams from Salt Lake. They say that Wyoming doesn't have a temple but Rock Creek Hollow is their Temple. It is a very sacred place and I became overwhelmed by the spirit I felt there. It Truly was amazing! One of the boys in our trek family was related to Bodil Mortinsen, a 9 year old girl who died in Rock Creek Hollow. Her story is spoken of quite often. Pretty neat! One of my Favorite parts of Trek was when we did the women's pull. During the pioneers trek West there was many instances when the woman didn't have there husbands or brothers. Some had died along the way or were called to be part of the Mormon battalion. During our time on trek we had a time when all the guys left us and we had to pull the handcart all on our own. I became really emotional as Aaron gave me a kiss goodbye. I thought about how hard that would have been for a woman to lose her husband or children to death or even if they had been called away to war. Imagining losing Aaron and thinking about having to go through something like that without him was one of the hardest things ever. He is my Rock and I love him so much. Those pioneer women were STRONG, no doubt about it. For The Woman's pull we had to pull it up this sandy hill that seemed like it went on forever. As we were reaching the top, we came around the corner and saw all the men and boys standing along the trail with their hats over their hearts in Silence as we pulled that handcart up the hill. I couldn't hold back the tears. It was an Amazing experience. I couldn't have been prouder of my girls. With blisters covering their feet, hardly able to walk, and yet they never gave up.

There are so many great stories we heard of while on trek, of pioneers that showed great Strength and unyielding Faith. I am so Eternally grateful for the sacrifices that they made which allows me to be where I am today. I know what we experienced on trek is nothing compared to what they went through, but it does give me a little taste, and for that I am so grateful for. I hope I will never forget the sacrifices they made for you and for me, and that I can have that unwavering Faith they exhibited. I am so grateful and proud to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I know it to be true with all my heart. Just like the pioneers awaited rescue teams from Salt Lake, Jesus Christ is my rescuer. He has paid the price for you and me. He is there to lift me up when I can't go any further, and I know he will always be there when I'm in need of being rescued.

With July 24th (Pioneer Day in Utah) coming up I thought I would record a quote given by President Gordon B. Hinckley

“We must never allow recognition of their trials, of their sacrifices, of their tenacity, of their faith and their prayers in establishing this great community to lapse or be forgotten. …
"In all of our celebrations of the 24th of July, let us never forget it. Let us remember with gratitude and reverent respect those who have gone before us, who paid so dear a price in laying the foundation for that which we enjoy this day."