Come and Take Your Place...

 

Our ward Trek at Rocky Ridge 

Day 1: 4 miles (a little warm up)

Day 2: 15 miles  (true test of endurance!)

Matt and I were Ma and Pa over 10 AMAZING kids in our ward. 

We walked for William and Jane James. They were part of the Willie Handcart company; suffering all the hardships of coming across the planes late in the season, with very little food and provisions AND an early winter. James was buried at Rock Creek Hollow. Jane and their children pushed forward making it to Zion.

Jacqueline was with Ma and Pa Jones. She walked for Sarah James.

Thomas was with Ma and Pa Spencer. He walked for Rueben James.

It was a beautiful time for trekking!
Everyone's spirits were high and excited to begin our journey...

The days were full of adventure. Crossing rivers, bogs and loving the wind which kept the bugs away!

There was a "womens pull" where the men had to stand by and watch as the women did all the work. This was a reality for many pioneer women. The men worked so hard. Many sacrificed the little food they had to give to their families making their bodies more fragile by the day. Everyone had to be strong and keep faithful that help would come.

Rocky Ridge 

Much easier to trek over in the summer and with a decent nights rest and food in our bellies!

It was a great experience to walk where our ancestors walked. To get a small taste of what they had to endure. Our appreciation and admiration has grown a hundred fold!
Many kids learned that they are stronger and tougher then they ever imagined! They faced their fears and kept moving their feet one foot in front of the other; even when their bodies were screaming for them to stop. It is amazing what we can do when we don't give up. We were so proud of every one of them!

 After finishing our 15 mile trek and having a yummy dinner, we "enjoyed" a great Wyoming lightning and thunder storm! In a matter of about 20 minutes we lost 4 of our tents and were drenched!

Just another example of the many hardships that our pioneer ancestors faced day after day...

The sky was truly amazing! 

God has created a beautiful earth!

On the last morning we went to the Rock Creek Hollow cemetery. It is a very sacred and beautiful place. We told the kids it was the same feeling you get when you go to the Temple. We KNEW we were on sacred ground.

The kids received letters from their parents and were allowed some quiet time to ponder the things that had taken place during the last few days.

William James is the first name written on the headstone. How ironic that he was on grave digging duty the night before his own death. He was so exhausted that he couldn't go on. Rueben stayed by his side till a rescue wagon came for him late that night. William died before sunrise.
Our family walked the same trail that William's spent his last moments on this earth. The same path that his beloved family walked; knowing their father was not going to last much longer.
I can't imagine the pain and anguish they suffered.
There are two unknown graves in the cemetery. When I saw them the thought came to me "We must not let all the hard work and sacrifice these men, women, and children, gave for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  go in vain. It is time for us to Come and Take our Place as dedicated and willing members who are willing to do the same thing... maybe not trekking across the country but equally as trying and difficult."

We are grateful for the opportunity to REMEMBER the amazing people who made it possible for us to be here today and to have the gospel in our lives. We are truly a blessed people!