Follow the Prophet
March 11th-17th
Exciting week in Nebraska and Iowa. First of all the Missionaries are safe, a few apartments with water from recent and rapid snow melt, but everybody is ok. All are working hard whether teaching or stacking water bottles at the Salvation Army, they are busy serving the Lord and giving service to those in need.
What happened to cause so much water, well let me try to explain. Snow was on
the ground much of February and the first part of last week. Maybe 12” in some places.
There was ice all around. Elder White even slipped 3 times in the Pioneer Cemetery the first
of last week , that's another story for another day. On Tuesday it started to rain, and rain
continued into Wednesday, by Wednesday night most of the snow had melted, and water
ran in the streets and into the rivers.
the ground much of February and the first part of last week. Maybe 12” in some places.
There was ice all around. Elder White even slipped 3 times in the Pioneer Cemetery the first
of last week , that's another story for another day. On Tuesday it started to rain, and rain
continued into Wednesday, by Wednesday night most of the snow had melted, and water
ran in the streets and into the rivers.
The Platte River had 15“ of ice on top, with the rain and melting, the river road and ice broke up,
then came the ice jams causing small dams. When they break it causes water to
flood into towns. The same happened on the Elkhorn River outside of Omaha. The two
rivers flow into the Missouri River south of Omaha and that along with the heavy flows
up the Missouri, water had to be let out of the dams on the Missouri river to keep them
safe, that caused major flooding in the river. Freeways closed, bridges damaged, farmland
flooded, and roads ruined.
then came the ice jams causing small dams. When they break it causes water to
flood into towns. The same happened on the Elkhorn River outside of Omaha. The two
rivers flow into the Missouri River south of Omaha and that along with the heavy flows
up the Missouri, water had to be let out of the dams on the Missouri river to keep them
safe, that caused major flooding in the river. Freeways closed, bridges damaged, farmland
flooded, and roads ruined.
The news makes it sound like we are all under water. Weathermen say if this happened in April there would have been less flooding, major problem was frozen ground.
Exciting all around!
As pioneers and early settlers crossed harsh terrain to settle the West, they usually came
with nothing more than a team of oxen or horses and a covered wagon that held all of their
worldly possessions. The covered wagon was also their refuge in inclement weather.
Unfortunately, the road West was one littered with rivers and creeks, meaning that the pioneers
would need to get their animals, possessions and wagon across the river. They would work hard
in preparing wagons for river crossings to keep everything and everyone safe.
Bolting Down
When the early settlers viewed a river ahead, they sent out scouts to look for the best place
to cross. They would not want to cross somewhere where the water was too deep or especially
fast-moving. At times, rivers had areas of undertow called "chutes" that could drown animals,
so it was important to look for slow moving water. If you were a pioneer, while the scouts
looked for the best place, you'd begin securing your belongings with ropes and rubbing
wax all over the open portions of the wagon to help waterproof it against the rushing river.
All of the people, even children, were removed from the wagons to get ready to cross on foot
or by raft.
Shallow Water
If the water in the river was fairly shallow, the pioneers could drive straight across it with their
teams of oxen. In this case, what was too heavy would be removed from the wagons to
make it easier for the oxen to pull the heavy wagons across the often rocky riverbeds. As a
pioneer, you'd have to go to work in helping your neighbors carry items across the river on
foot, and children were usually carried across as well. If the water was shallow, but the wagons
too heavy and the water fast, you would ask a neighbor to double-up teams of oxen for each
wagon and slowly get everyone's wagons across one at a time.
Deep Water
If the pioneers came across water that was moving too fast or was too deep, and a more
shallow place to cross was not found, then they would quickly create rafts that were known
as "scows." These lightweight rafts had beams to tie the wagons onto and float them across
to the other side. If you were a pioneer, you'd need to remove almost all that you could from
your wagon to make it light enough to float with a makeshift raft. One would need to lash fallen
trees and rods together with rope to create a scow, and drive posts in it for keeping the wagons
in place. Often, when American Indians were present, they would secure leather boats in which
to get their belongings across the river.
with nothing more than a team of oxen or horses and a covered wagon that held all of their
worldly possessions. The covered wagon was also their refuge in inclement weather.
Unfortunately, the road West was one littered with rivers and creeks, meaning that the pioneers
would need to get their animals, possessions and wagon across the river. They would work hard
in preparing wagons for river crossings to keep everything and everyone safe.
Bolting Down
When the early settlers viewed a river ahead, they sent out scouts to look for the best place
to cross. They would not want to cross somewhere where the water was too deep or especially
so it was important to look for slow moving water. If you were a pioneer, while the scouts
looked for the best place, you'd begin securing your belongings with ropes and rubbing
wax all over the open portions of the wagon to help waterproof it against the rushing river.
All of the people, even children, were removed from the wagons to get ready to cross on foot
or by raft.
Shallow Water
If the water in the river was fairly shallow, the pioneers could drive straight across it with their
teams of oxen. In this case, what was too heavy would be removed from the wagons to
make it easier for the oxen to pull the heavy wagons across the often rocky riverbeds. As a
pioneer, you'd have to go to work in helping your neighbors carry items across the river on
foot, and children were usually carried across as well. If the water was shallow, but the wagons
too heavy and the water fast, you would ask a neighbor to double-up teams of oxen for each
wagon and slowly get everyone's wagons across one at a time.
Deep Water
If the pioneers came across water that was moving too fast or was too deep, and a more
shallow place to cross was not found, then they would quickly create rafts that were known
as "scows." These lightweight rafts had beams to tie the wagons onto and float them across
to the other side. If you were a pioneer, you'd need to remove almost all that you could from
your wagon to make it light enough to float with a makeshift raft. One would need to lash fallen
trees and rods together with rope to create a scow, and drive posts in it for keeping the wagons
in place. Often, when American Indians were present, they would secure leather boats in which
to get their belongings across the river.
Just like the Pioneers as we journey through life, there are obstacles in our path,
whether it is trials of faith or trials in our temporal needs. When those hard times come
do we in our lives send out scouts to find the best way through? I say we do. We do by
following the living Prophet, who guides the way. We will never lose our way, we will find the
point of crossing if we follow him.
do we in our lives send out scouts to find the best way through? I say we do. We do by
following the living Prophet, who guides the way. We will never lose our way, we will find the
point of crossing if we follow him.
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