June 28 - 6th Crossing Church Site, WY

As we began our 6 mile trek, the wind was blowing hard, blowing dirt in our faces and making it chilly which we had not anticipated and therefore did not really plan for.  So within just 5 minutes of starting on the trail, Kylan was complaining he was cold and asking to go back.  Ty was complaining that his hat kept flying off his head.  Chris wondered if we should turn back because Wesley was cold and both he and Gabe were getting hit in the face with the strong wind gusts.

But wasn't this why we got up at 5 AM and drove almost 3 hours to do?  Even though the conditions were not optimum (constant strong wind gusts with dirt flying in our face), it was a beautiful cool day.  We may not have planned for cool wind, but we had on nice clothes, good comfortable shoes, nice backpacks to comfortably carry our kids and our food and plenty of water.

Those who walked those same trails over a hundred years before us, did not have the same advantages.  They were cold (they did not have nice clothes), their feet hurt (they walked miles each day in shoes that were not constructed specifically for walking with cushioning and protection and some may not have even had shoes), they were hungry and thirsty (they were running out of food with hardly anything to eat or maybe even went without in order for their kids to have food).  So why did they make that long trek from the mid-west or even as far as the east?  Why did they keep going with such difficult conditions - so difficult that many died along the way?  Why did they keep going? Because they had faith.  Because they wanted to be part of building up the kingdom of God.

It was amazing that once Ty and Kylan began helping pull or push one of the hand carts, they were smiling, having fun and no longer complaining.  Isn't that true for us as well - when we are idle and have no purpose - it is so easy for us to complain or to want to stop when it seems hard.  But if we have a purpose, find a way to help someone else, contribute to a group effort, then we forget about our complaints and problems and even enjoy ourselves and enjoy being part of the group and moving the work forward.

Once we got to our half way point - even though Wesley and Gabe's faces were wind-burned and their noses were caked with dry snot and they were cold;  they were smiling and laughing and in good spirits.  And the second half of the journey was not so harsh on them.

I am grateful that we woke up early, made the drive and were able to experience even just a small glimpse of what our ancestors and thousands of faithful members of the church endured in order to start over once again in the Salt Lake valley.  My own faith was strengthened to hear about so many who endured trials and hardships, some whose journey ended along the way and others who made it because of the sacrifices of those who died along the way.  We do not face most of those same trials and hardships, but we have many different trials we face today.  I know that as we have faith, humbly ask our Heavenly Father for help and guidance and move forward with a purpose that we can withstand the trials and challenges that are placed before us.