A LEGACY OF FAITH: PIONEER DAY.

^^^ Sierra after coming home from trek in North Carolina, circa, 2008 ^^^

"The Lord isn't asking us to load up a handcart. He's asking us to fortify our faith. He isn't asking us to walk across a continent. He's asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn't asking us to give all of our world possessions to build a temple. He's asking us to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn't asking to die a martyr's death. He's asking us to live a disciple's life."

 ~M. Russell Ballard

This quote has been on my mind since I saw it on pinterest last week. With today being pioneer day I figured this would be the perfect time to write about my feelings in regards to how I view this quote, and why this day means so much to me. 

When my oldest daughter sierra was 14 she had the opportunity to experience trek before moving to New Jersey. We were so grateful that the leaders and youth of our ward in North Carolina made the effort, and time to plan this wonderful event.  

When my daughter came home from trek tears of joy began to stream down her face as she she was expressing her stories, and describing her experiences that she endured during those three days of trek. The way she explained her journey was somewhat similar to what the pioneers experienced. There was singing, lessons given by leaders, and lots of praying. Of course it was not as excruciating, or severe as what our pioneers went through such as real deaths, or starvation, or even exposure, but I'll tell you this...the reenactment in those instances really made her appreciate what they went through, and in the end got a bit of a taste of what they experienced. Especially when one of her "sisters" in her "family" became dizzy from the sun that she had to lay inside the hand cart and continue to trek on their journey in the outskirts of North Carolina. It was amazing when Sierra mentioned how at first it was hard to push the handcart with her in it, but then all of a sudden after saying a prayer the hand cart felt light! That was one of my favorite stories that she told us, and luckily Cassie was fine in the end! It truly strengthened her testimony at the time, and I know it has been an experience she'll never forget. 

Just as a young girl shaving her legs for the first time is a rite of passage in their youth, commemorating trek  has become somewhat a coming-of-age rite within the youth of the church, and i hope that one day our children will be able to experience that. 

As i drive around parts of souther jersey as well as areas in Pennsylvania, and how there are areas where we could have it, and how many youth in our stake can benefit from it literally brings me to tears. Regardless of how time consuming it may be, how many phone calls we'd have to make, how many handcarts one must attain, and how much planning it will take I know that in the end it would be beneficial for everyone to experience it, and well worth it! 

My husband was telling us about his experiences as a youth when he did trek with his family. It is something that he will always remember. After listening to his story of his ancestors I realized that there truly there is a legacy of faith that comes through those experiences. His ancestors were part of the willie, and martin handcart companies, and they endured more than we can imagine! But because they endured, and did what they could to survive in their faith, their families have been blessed for it. And for our youth to be able to get out there and reenact that, and to feel the power of that faith, will help them grow spiritually, find their "mormon identity", double their commitment to their faith, become unified, and appreciate all that our ancestors went through. 

I've never experienced trek as a youth due to joining the church at the age of 20, but I guarantee if we ever have one I would LOVE to experience being a part of it! I don't have lineage that goes way back to the pioneers, but I am working on my family history. I'm grateful that Jon has pioneer heritage in both the willie, and martin handcart companies, and because of that I want my children to be able to experience trek while in their teens so that they can grow, and be strenghtened. 

Every youth should experience this spiritual event so that they can truly understand the commitment of what the pioneers when through, so that in return their faith will grow. 

If we have faith in God, and if the pioneers had faith crossing those plains form the midwest to reach their destination to the Salt Lake valley, why not have faith that our youth in every church in the nation can do this. 

We can only hope, and have faith! 

Happy Pioneer Day! 

Remembering A Pioneer Day In Texas.

^^^ Sisters swinging on a Pioneer Day in Texas, circa, 2002 ^^^

One of the things I miss the most about living in Utah is Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day falls on the 24th of July, and is a major state holiday in Utah. It is based on our heritage in remembering the early pioneers for all their sacrifices they made in escaping persecution in order to settle in the Salt Lake Valley. I found out a few years ago that ancestors from my husbands side of the family all come from royalty, hence my girls being able to ride on of them floats of the Days of '47. It would be a neat experience to see my daughters in a parade riding on a float feeling like Miss America or something, but for now we'll do our own pioneer day kind of celebrating. The only one living in Utah right now is Sierra, and I think it would be last minute for her to have participated in a parade.

Once we moved away from Utah, and moved to San Antonio due to a job transfer I was very impressed with the members in our ward, and how much they appreciated in celebrating our heritage. I absolutely loved everyone! When my church announced that there was going to be a family activity for Pioneer Day I was pretty excited. I was like, "this stake actually does something to honor our heritage for pioneer day, yay!!" At the time the girls were seven, and three and at that age they got pretty excited about almost everything. You can imagine the look on my face when we arrived to the location where it was being held. It was held on acres and acres of land, and my jaw dropped! 

This wasn't just an activity...it was a huge celebration!!

And everyone including neighbors, the community whether you were a member or not was invited!! It honesty believe this was the beginning of my fearlessness in having major gospel sharing experiences! 

The girls came dressed as pioneers wearing bonnets, and cute Laura Ashely dresses that looked like something the pioneers wore back in the day. They've always liked playing dress up, and they were happy to have been wearing the bonnets...until that Texas heat started boiling up! 

Sure there were games, animal balloon making, and good food, but the memory of why we were celebrating never stopped. There were tents with various activities including a few members, and LDS missionaries handing out Books of Mormon, and sharing our faith. 

I will always remember this day, and how wonderful the turnout was for Pioneer Day in Texas. The fact that it was near one of our favorite country stores was a blessing. I literally would go out of my way to go shopping at this quaint little village. The best part about coming to this village were the swings that were available for customers. I also love the fact that it's out in the boonies.

There are days when I look back and long for this period again. When the girls are growing, and learning about life, and God. I am so happy to reflect back on these days especially on the moments that have meaning. Don't get me wrong, every moment with my kids have meaning, but there are those days when they were perfect not just in pictures, but in real life. 

Celebrating, and remembering our ancestors and the sacrifices the pioneers made is is very important to our family, and no matter how far we are away from the place where our heritage settled doesn't mean we don't need to remember. Sierra experiencing Trek for the first time in North Carolina was a huge blessing for her, and a great testimony builder. She was riveted by the experience, and at times we'll reminisce about that time. We have been very fortunate to have lived in other states where we did something to remember our pioneers. Haven't experienced that in Jersey yet, but time will tell. As long as we remember our heritage, sing praises in honor of them during sacrament meeting and appreciate all that they sacrificed in helping us to better appreciate what we have today is good enough for me.

***

Love this inspiring message by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It gives me an even greater appreciation of the mormon pioneers, and helps me to strive to be a better example of faith, strength and courage in these modern days.

remembering the pioneers.

One of the main reasons why we go to Palmyra every year is to remember. To remember where the mormon church all started, and the sacrifices that our pioneers went through knowing that they would be faced with all kinds of adversity. 

I know I wrote a little bit about the pageant and why going to the Peter Whitmer farm in Fayette, New York this year seemed "different" this time around.