So long, farewell

Early tomorrow morning the kids and I will be leaving for Utah. We will be there in time for the July 24th celebration, the day all of Utah celebrates the arrival of the Mormon pioneers to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. We will be traveling along much of the same route that the pioneers traveled through Wyoming. We will pass by Independence Rock, Devil's Gate and Martin's Cove. Names which cannot be spoken without a feeling of reverence towards the pioneers and those who sacrificed so much, even their very lives or those of their loved ones.

Our journey from Rapid City, South Dakota to Salt Lake City is a short one in comparison to the months long journey of the pioneers. It will probably take us about 12 hours to get there. We will be riding in the comfort of our Suburban, rather than walking along side a covered wagon. We will enjoy the modern conveniences of today among which are air conditiong and DVD players. When we are hungry we can eat the snacks we brought with us or we can stop along our way for a bite to eat. Our journey will be far easier than that of the pioneers. (I will remind myself of this when halfway through our drive I will probably question my wisdom in taking 4 children by myself on a 12 hour car ride.)

Four years ago Scott and I had the privilege of accompanying some of our youth from our stake on a pioneer trek at Martin's Cove. It is an experience which I will never forget. I am not good at putting into words my thoughts and feelings, but I was left with a greater love and appreciation for those handcart pioneers who suffered so much. We were there in June when it was hot and dry. Some of our group suffered from fatigue and heat, but they were quickly cared for. The Martin and Willie hand cart companies journeyed through that same area in cold, bitter winds with deep snow and frozen rivers. We walked in many of the same places where they walked. We slept on ground near where they may have slept. We crossed a river that was refreshing and cooling after a long hot walk. Our clothing dried quickly. They crossed an icy, partialy frozen river and kept walking in their wet, freezing clothing.

It was a very humbling experience to walk through Martin's Cove itself, to know that many of those people had died and had been buried in that same cove in which we stood in awe and reverence. There are many stories to be told and shared about the experience of these people. One of my favorite comes from a man who was there. Years later in a meeting in which some were critizing church leaders and others for the ill-fated hand cart companies comes this story quoted by President Hinckley:

“One old man in the corner sat silent and listened as long as he could stand it. Then he arose and said things that no person who heard will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.

“He said in substance, ‘I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. A mistake to send the handcart company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it... We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church because every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.’ ”

Would I be willing to sacrifice so much to gain an absolute knowledge that God lives? Could I walk away from my home, my possessions, or even my family all in the name of God? I would hope that given that choice I would resoundingly say 'yes'. I also hope that I don't ever have to be faced with those types of choices. The question begs, what sort of sacrifices do we make today that bring us to an absolute knowledge that God lives?

Our commitment to the kingdom should match that of our faithful ancestors even though our sacrifices are different. … Today we are not called to pull handcarts through the snow-swept plains of Wyoming. However, we are called to live, foster, and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to invest our means and our time to bless others
M. Russell Ballard, “Special Witness: Pioneer Sacrifices,” Friend, July 2002, 7


Happy Pioneer Day!!!