July 9th - 15th

July 9th - 15th

Well this week went by pretty fast. We had a lot of visitors to both of our sites. A couple of exciting events this week.

Sister White and I celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary by working at the Trail Center.

As we reflect on our life we love each other more today. We have six wonderful children

and 21 grandchildren. We are serving the Lord, what more do we need.

Also Paulynn,Tom and children arrived Sunday. It was good to see them and look

forward to this week ahead.

Our new Elders and Sisters arrived this week and when they come to the Trail Center

it is quite an event. While they were visiting the Pioneer Cemetery and Temple the

Assistants were walking out and an Elderly lady was sitting on the bench. She called

to them and ask for a blessing. They brought her in the Center and Elder White

helped with a blessing. She was a former Catholic nun who was in Omaha and she

came to the cemetery because of the peace she felt there. She joined the Church

in Ecuador and was here on vacation.

There is a special feeling in the sacred buildings we are privileged to serve in.

 A mom and her two little girls, non members came into the Trail Center. As they were

going around the sisters heard one of the little girls(8 years old) whisper to the mom

“I'm glad you chose this place.  When they got to the end of the tour the sisters asked

if they wanted a Book of Mormon the mom said no and the girl said, “ I really want one”

. How glad they were to give her one! We find again, “A little child shall lead them”.

Pioneer Story

7th Handcart Company

We were at once shown to our camping ground, which was two or three miles out of

Iowa City, by John Taylor and Abrah[a]m Cannon. We pitched our tents in a circle, 18

persons to be accomodated in each tent.
We stayed about one month to get our handcarts and provision in order to make

everything ready. The handcarts were in poor condition and they soon became worse

as we went over ditches and rough hills and hollows. This was the beginning of our

trip across the plains, our goal being Salt Lake City, Utah. It was something to tackle,

as the two previous handcart companies the year before had almost perished, so we

were warned to start as soon as possible on account of the winter weather. Our first

captain of the handcart company was Elder James R. Park, whom the Scandinavians

did not understand, and he did not understand them. So a new captain was named.

A number did not have enough means to go on and stayed in the valley. Many went

by ox team, which was somewhat better, although our company, which was the 7th,

made almost as good time.

There were 300 souls, 68 handcarts, 3 wagons, 10 mules. Christian Christianson,

the man the saints love so much and who baptized three of my father’s family, became

our captain from Florence to Salt Lake City. We were so thankful for this wonderful

man to take charge, and then went much better. He divided the company into four

divisions under four other captains. I was made captain of one division of 16 handcarts.

The other captains also had 16 handcarts to oversee. This helped to make our traveling

more unique.

We traveled on one side of the Platt[e] River, while the Johnston Army was traveling

also toward Salt Lake City. Little wee knew who were and what their aims were, but

the army stayed at Fort Bridger that winter and did not come toward Salt Lake until

the next summer. There was joy and sorrow in that trek. When we camped we held

meetings. We also danced barefoot and sang when we camped, and all tried to be

happy. One tenth of the company died for want of care and nourishment. We had to

send to Salt Lake for provisions, which were most too late for help. We also saw

that thrilling never-to-be-forgotten experience of a buffalo stampede.

Our shoes were entirely worn out, and the women had to use burlap around their feet,

which my wife, Ellen, often spoke of. When we crossed the small streams the thin ice

would tear our bleeding feet, and oh! how swollen they would be. But we five couples

walked almost all the way. Being young, we soon forgot the hardships we had endured.

We pulled and pushed the handcarts, side by side with our wives as true partners of

this hectic journey, but no one ever complained. We tried to be pioneers true blue.

Even the Johnson Army came to our rescue, as almost a miracle, just when we were

almost without food. One of the captains approached our company and said very kindly

that one of his oxen had its foot crushed, and if we could use it and care for it, we could

have it. This came as a blessing and kept the trek from starving, as they had been without

meat for weeks. This certainly was a real treat. By using the meat sparingly, it lasted

until help came from Salt Lake, consisting of food and something special for the

sick and those most in need.

We landed in Salt Lake City the 13th of September, 1857.

More next week, Paul and Kay Lynn