I Will Remember
Faith - Obedience - Sarifice
Rescue
Martin's Cove - Pioneer Trek 2008
This statue is right after you cross the Platte River, on your way up to the first cove that they took shelter in. It, along with others represents the men/boys that rescued the starving pioneers and carried them across the frozen river. It made me think of a father carrying his small child away after burying the toddlers mom. The faith that they had to come to Zion, even after being told all of the things that could go wrong because they were starting late is amazing to me. They gave up their lives to come to Zion.
Frank Allen was barely 23 when Brigham Young called for a rescue. His first reaction was it was foolish to go out in late October. He prayed and knew the answer to his prayer immediately, he must go and obey.
He and the other rescuers found the Martin Handcart Company around noon. He then felt that he needed to go further to search for any stragglers. He recounts: "As I was riding, I saw a little speck up on the side of the hill that somehow caught my attention. As I rode on, the object appeared a little larger and I felt he urge to ride up and see what it was. Image my feelings when I found there a little boy. He was so cold and hungry that he had slipped away from the others in his company. He had hid himself there on the hill and was praying to die and that the wolves would come and eat his body. I wrapped that young man in a blanket and put him on my horse." Frank's willingness to listen and obey the promptings of the Spirit saved that young mans life.
Many years later Frank was telling that story to his grandchildren and their other grandfather. After the story the other grandfather (George Frederick Housley) excitedly said, "Your horse was bay with one white foot, a white star on his forehead, and your blanket was red and black plaid!"
Frank was suprised and asked how he could have known that.
George replied that he was that yougn man and that he was sure it was because of his prayers and the prayers of his mother that he was found.
George was 20 at the time of the rescue. He had looked like a small child because of his starving condition.
Would you sacrifice everything?
Maria Jackson Normington was my pioneer. She was 5 months pregnant with their 9th child when the family sold most of their belongings to sail from England toAmerica and then onto Zion. Along the trail the family sold the rest of their belongs at Fort Laramie so they could have more than a pound of flour to eat each day.
Her 18 month old son, Daniel died along the trail. Soon after she gave birth to another baby boy, who soon also died. Her husband, Thomas and her 4 year old son, Ephraim died most likely in Martin's Cove.
She would give her small ration of flour to her 3 girls that were still alive and would eat dirt to satisfy her hunger pains. When her feet were so frozen that she couldn't walk, she would crawl on her hands and knees and then on her knees and elbows - just to keep going.
Along the trail Maria went to see how her friend's husband was doing. He had been ill. His family had thought that he was dying, and since the company had to move on, they wrapped his in a blanket and left him to die on the prairie. When she learned that they had left him she would not permit that he was left and took her handcart and went back on the trail until she found him and brought him back to the camp. She remembered the blessing that he had received in England, that he should reach Zion in peace and safety. James Bleak did reach Zion and lived a long and successful life.
Maria was never heard to censure anyone for her trials, nor complain because her lot was hard. She was cheerful and faithful throughout her life and felt tht the gospel of Jesus Christ for which she had endured so much, was the most glorious of all blessings. (Allphin p 260)
The second day we walked 17+ miles. Everyone was so tired that they took their buckets to sit on while waiting for the restroom.
These boys were some of my first cub scouts. They have grown into fine young men.
It amazes me that the pioneers would walk 15-20 miles a day and then dance at night. Even when they got into Martin's Cove - starving and dying - they danced.
Who knew that freezing cold water to wash your hair with could be so refreshing.
We made it!
All of the pioneers had such faith to come to unknown places just to be able to worship. The stories of the pioneers are amazing. They truly had faith, obeyed the prophet and sacrified so much. We reap the rewards of their trials.
I love Pioneer Trek, that's why I convinced Michael to go. It is something that is physically painful while you are there yet when you return the memories and the blessings are so much more. The pioneers were heroes. Their stories of faith, obedience and sacrifice are testiments of the gospel. The kids did have to work harder and walk more than they probably ever had before. They did have fun. The Spirit was so strong that it touched kids that didn't know what the feelings were. It is an amazing experience and if I ever get the chance again, I will talk Michael into it again.
