un[OFFICIAL]: Unofficial Pioneers

*This title is not in reference to myself. Just FYI.*

A week ago today, my mother and my father and my sister and my brother went on Trek, leaving Emily, James, and me to fend for ourselves. And I thought since tomorrow is Pioneer Day, it would be an appropriate blog topic for tonight.

Here is a picture of the bunch, plus two.

Are they not lovable? The other two are Andrew and Abby Bell, who are practically family anyway.

So they went on Trek, and I am ridiculously proud of them. Dad and Mom got to go because Dad's the Bishop of the ward. Lucky lucky them. No, really, it is cool. I just don't think I would go again unless I had to. Not that it wasn't a great experience. It totally was. It just wasn't the type you want to repeat.

However, I did have a really cool experience while on Trek four years ago, and I want to share it now. Even though it was really special, I think it would be okay to share. Besides, pretty much two people read this blog anyways. It's all good.

When we went on Trek, we were each assigned a pioneer from the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies to walk for. I was lucky enough (or maybe blessed is a better word, because I know that it was inspired) to get Bodil Mortenson. A lot of people know her story, but I'll give a short synopsis here.

Bodil Mortenson was just 9 years old when she left her home and family in Denmark to cross the plains. She came with another family from Denmark, the Nielsons. She was to meet her older sister in Salt Lake City, who had made the trek already. As she walked, she cared for the Nielson's 6 year old son, Jens. When they crossed Rocky Ridge it was freezing. The conditions were terrible. The trail was difficult, especially for such small children. Bodil helped Jens along the trail, and they were both exhausted when they got to camp. Bodil was sent for some firewood but never returned to the others. The next morning they found her, still clutching sage brush in her small frozen hands. Jens Nielson, the little boy Bodil helped, also died during the night.

When we reached Rocky Ridge on our trek, some of us "died", which meant we weren't allowed to help push or pull the carts with the few remaining members of our families. When I died, I was elated. Finally, a break from that blasted cart. After only a few minutes of this, I realized it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Physically, sure, I had an easier time of it. But to see the others pushing and pulling the cart and not being able to help at all, that was really awful. I didn't realize how difficult that would be. However, this did give me time to myself. They asked us not to speak during Rocky Ridge, because it's such a special part of the trail, and to try to focus on the pioneers that walked and died there. I thought a lot about Bodil. At the time of the trek, Abby was 11 and James was 7 - ages very similar to Bodil and Jens. I tried to imagine the two of them on that trail, walking through the snow, starving and freezing to death. It literally broke my heart. I couldn't imagine anything so awful. It really made their story come alive, to think of my Abby and my James there. As I thought more about it, I wondered why anyone would do that. Why anyone would push a handcart through ice and snow, without food and warmth and shelter. Why anyone would bring their children on such an exhausting journey, only to watch them die. And then, it all became so clear. It's because it's true. This Gospel is true. These pioneers knew it. They were willing to sacrifice everything for it. Everything. It's true. I know it, just like they did. And even though I haven't been asked to make the same sacrifices they did, I was able to get just a tiny peek into what this trek meant to them, and how difficult it was.

I think we often allow ourselves to become so engrossed with the hardships and tragedy of the pioneers. We focus so much on the difficulties they faced that we forget why they faced them. It's because they had enduring faith and testimony. They loved the Lord. They were prepared to make any sacrifice to obey His command. Isn't that beautiful? The trust they had in the Lord and His plan is just amazing. I wish I had the faith and trust that they did.

I am really proud of my un[OFFICIAL] pioneers, and eternally grateful for my pioneer ancestors. Their stories have given me strength and courage as I face my own trials, and I will never find better examples of faith and obedience.

And now, since things are getting a little too serious - some pictures. These were all taken just after the little munchkins (plus Mom and Dad) got home from Trek.