In their own words....

What was your take away from the
Pioneer Trek(s) you participated on?

 “I thought it was tough, cold, and wet enough to make everyone miserable enough to be thankful for Christ's sacrifice for us. The misery also allowed us to ponder the faith the pioneers must have had in the Lord. It gave us a fraction of trials they endured traveling those thousands of miles. It was spiritual enough that your heart swelled not just with love for one another but love for God and his grace. All in all, the trek was just pulling a cart. The adversity was life changing.”

-Pa, Trek 2013

“The trek isn't a camping trip with pioneer clothes, it's a chance to take a step out of the world, and have a small taste of what it was really like. I enjoyed having testimony meetings--we build and learn from other testimonies. I loved that.  The Pioneer Trek to me was a chance to reflect on the lives of the early saints. The more I was focused on that, the better the spirit was felt.”

-Son, Trek 2013

“It gives you a greater appreciation for what the early saints went through...we walked through freezing rain for 3 days straight, but we knew it would only last for 3 days, not months!   It was hard to stay optimistic but I knew in the long run it would be easier to have a positive outlook than be upset. Focus on the fact that the early saints went through more trials.  The food was rough though…hard tack for "lunch" the first day.....honestly though, I never felt hungry?” 

-Daughter, Trek 2013

“I woke up in a puddle one morning....waking up with wet clothes also made perspective!  By the end...my feet were swimming in the water in my shoes.  It was hard, but I would not have traded those 36-hours of non-stop rain for anything!”

-Daughter, Trek 2013

“One thing my Pa said that helped build my testimony….it's a pretty famous quote I guess, but the first time I heard it was from him: If life gets too hard to stand, kneel."

-Daughter, Trek 2013

“I feel that it was a great testimony building experience for me. I grew closer to my heavenly father and even though it was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, I wouldn't trade it for the world”

-Daughter, Trek 2013

“I remember this the first morning...I don't know who it was but it was someone close to my tent. Anyway,  I woke up early and I was having a bad morning cause it was still raining, I made sure that Caleb McCombie was on the inside of the tarp so I put myself on the very outside and by the time I woke up I was soaked because half my sleeping bag was outside (the tarp).  Anyway, I'm lying there shivering and I knew I should go build a fire for breakfast but I wasn't moving because I had a bad attitude. Anyway there was a light patter of rain and you know that sound where it's gathered water like from a tent or a tarp? Well I could hear that close by and then all of a sudden it all came crashing down like WHOOOSH and then I heard a girl SCREAM!  She probably just woke up from that water pouring on her face so I was like well....I'm not that bad so I got up and started building a fire.”

-Son, Trek 2013

“Trek was one of the best experiences of my life. It was during that week that I really connected with my Father in Heaven and truly understood His love for me. Up until that point, I had never felt the spirit so strongly and so powerfully. Because I went on that trek, I can more easily recognize the hand of the Lord in my daily life, as well as the presence of the Holy Ghost. I wouldn't give up the relationship I made with Him for the world.”

-Daughter, Trek 2013

“I think the trek really helped the kids to understand that they can do hard things that may seem impossible. And that by humbling yourselves the Lord will help you through those trials.  I had the impression during the women's pull that the young men were learning respect and honor in those young women.  I think as a whole, the youth learned about humility, adversity, and gratitude for those pioneers who actually made the real trek. I think it helped them to maybe not take the gospel for granted and realize how precious it really is.”

-Ma, Trek 2013