Thinking about the pioneers

June 8: On our way to Utah, we stopped by Florence, Nebraska to visit Winter Quarters--a place none of us had ever been, so we took time to see all we could. The small temple is just across the street from the Visitors' Center and adjoins the pioneer cemetery. It is a beautiful and peaceful place.

The kids loved dressing up and learning about the pioneers' land and sea journeys to Zion. The most amazing thing about all of this was the lack of complaining or dissension among them--they never felt the need to complain, even with constant suffering, heartbreak, disease and death around them. They felt it an honor, a privilege, a blessing to be numbered with the Saints and to have the fulness of the gospel--this was worth any price. Jonathan and I were inspired by their attitude particularly because we saw the parallel in our own lives--leaving the East, not really knowing what the future will hold, going where we felt the Lord wanted us to be, wanting to serve and sacrifice. But there the parallel ends because we traveled in extreme comfort compared to them and our lives here are also pretty comfy.

But if I even start to wonder why we came or how we'll get through this, I can remember to go forward in faith, because I have an inner witness that this is the right thing to do, and the blessings are worth any sacrifice.

Tonight we had dinner with Jenn and her family. Tomorrow Abi and Catie are going with the youth in their stake on a pioneer trek. They both were assigned a pioneer name--an actual person who traveled with the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. They both shared stories about these women--one of whom was the only surviving member of her family to reach the Salt Lake Valley, though she went on to live a long and fulfilling life.

I'm glad Ab and Catie get to do this. On a side note: Dad laughed quite a few times today at little jokes and stories people told--he really seemed to be listening and attentive and in a good mood.