Pioneer Trek

Kelly and Heather had the AMAZING experience of participating in a LDS Pioneer Trek this week. August 7 - 9. On the trek, the youth reenacted a pioneer experience wearing period clothing, pulling handcarts and traveling over rugged terrain.  It was not exactly what our pioneer ancestors would have done, but it was similar enough that our youth got an excellent taste of the type of sacrifices that had to be made.

Each wagon consisted of a "family" with a Ma and Pa, and an aunt and uncle.  The family had to work together to load and unload the wagon and to get their wagon to the various destinations, often over difficult terrain.  There were periods of relaxation where the youth learned games the pioneers would have played, and they had a square dance night.  In addition, the youth read scriptures, heard accounts of real pioneer stories, listened to actors portraying Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other key figures of the time, said goodbye to loved ones who left to join the Mormon Battalion, and they buried babies who died on the journey.  It was one of the hardest experiences and one of the most memorable that Heather and Kelly have had with the youth program.

Before Kelly and Heather left, I researched Kelly's line to see if there were any ancestors who may have traveled over in these original wagon trains.  There were TWO! Both Captains and very important in their service to both prophets at the time.  This knowledge made the experience that much richer as Kelly and Heather both thought about their ancestors while on the trail.

A beautiful video was made of the trek, and the accompanying music is perfect.  Heather's voice is heard at the beginning urging on her family members as they struggle up a hill.  She is seen later pulling at the front of the wagon in a purple bandana. This was during the time the young men were at the war front and the women had to move on without them.  The young men came back to the trail to watch what the young women were experiencing while they were away.  Near the end of the video, the men run to return to their families, and Heather's purple bandana can be sighted as she is locked in an embrace with Kelly.  The last hill, Testimony Hill, was the hardest, and the youth worked together to help each other up, even if their family had already arrived.  I am so grateful that Kelly and Heather had this experience.  They will never forget it.

Video HERE