For
the past 3 days my wife and I have been ma and pa with a group of 10 youth from
our L.D.S. stake. We had 21 groups just like ours and we went to a place in the
deserts of Wyoming called Martins cove. There we loaded hand carts with 5
gallon buckets filled with our belongings and treked 3 miles across the valley.
We camped like the pioneers that had crossed the plains to settle in the
Salt lake valley. Nearly 500,000 people crossed through that area to settle the
west in order to find religious freedom. All made it relatively safe accept the
groups of the Martin and Willie hand cart companies of 1856. The groups were
late getting started due to the lack of supplies, and didn't get started till
early August. All was fine till October 19th when the parties were hit with an
early winter snow storm putting down 10 to 18 inches. Just 2 days earlier the
companies had burned all their extra clothing and blankets to lighten the loads
so as to move faster over the last 250 miles in order to get to the Salt lake valley
before winter really set in. The companies were none the less crippled as they
tried to move on. Food was short and being rationed to 10 oz. of flour per
person a day. As the day's went on the food was rationed more and more. 150
pioneers of the 1000 lost their lives due to starvation and the bitter cold
temperatures. The Martin company held in a cove just past devils gate. This
protected them from the elements until the rescue party could come from Salt
Lake City.
We as
a group started our trek cool and very cloudy. That 1st night it rained so hard
and the wind blew tents over and we even had snow. It rained the 2nd day as we
treked another 3 miles through the cove and back to camp. That evening the sun
came out as we watched the kids play tug of war and other traditional games of
the time. Then we talked over what we had learned and felt through this
experience. I was so amazed at how everyone had felt. Each felt that this trip
had made a lifelong impression on their lives. Each one there, like me realized
we would have been one of those who had died on the trail. This would be such a
great experience for anyone, members of the church or not. If you want to
see some great movies that depicts these events watch "17 miracles"
and "Ephraim’s Rescue". I am so thankful I had this opportunity to
walk the paths of the pioneers. To be able to feel and see the things the early
settlers had gone through was so amazing to me. This increased my faith and my
desire to always live my life closer to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks for
letting me share this with you today.
