A Letter from our Stake Presidency
We are very pleased to have the privilege of participating in a pioneer trek in the
Martin’s Cove area of Wyoming this summer. We will be walking and pulling handcarts
in the actual areas traversed by the pioneers in the 1850s.
We will camp at “Sixth Crossing” of the Sweetwater River, where the Willie
handcart pioneers confronted the great blizzard with very little food and protection from
the winter storm. It was here where the rescue party sent by Brigham Young finally
reached the freezing Saints and provided for their needs.
We will trek on sacred ground into Martin’s Cove together. This is where the
Martin handcart company sought shelter from the winter storm after crossing the ice
cold Sweetwater River. It was here that many died of exposure.
We will end our journey together in Rock Creek Hollow. This is where the Willie
handcart company settled after making a 16 mile ascent over Rocky Ridge during a
blizzard. Here 15 members of the company were buried, 13 in a common grave. This
sacred place is where we will hold our Youth Conference testimony meeting together.
All of these areas are sacred to us as Latter-day Saints. What makes them
sacred is the faith, obedience, sacrifice, and charity of those early pioneers who gave
their all to follow the Lord’s prophet to gather to Zion.
We invite all members of the Stake to participate in this trek. This experience will
strengthen our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ as we experience his love and mercy.
We will discover His strength as we carry our burdens on the trek and in our lives. We
will experience joy and unity as we follow him together, and we will remember and
develop a great appreciation and love for the sacrifices of our pioneer ancestors.
May the Lord bless each of you.
Sincerely,
James Wilkinson
David Zylstra
Richard Walker
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