Number 202: Martin's Cove

We went as a family on a two-day pioneer trek at Martin's Cove in Wyoming. Of course, there was no snow and we got plenty to eat and had had plenty to eat for days and weeks and always before hand, so it really wasn't even close to being a real participant in the Martin Handcart Company. Still, we often contest that we have things in our lives that are just as hard as being a pioneer, just different. I can't speak for everyone, of course, but for me, I can't think of anything in my life that is as difficult as what those pioneers did. This leads me to several conclusions. First, perhaps I should be doing more. Perhaps there are sacrifices I am not making which I should. Perhaps there is work that I should be doing that would be distasteful to me and difficult, but that I should be doing anyway. No matter what God asks of me, I think I can safely say that if I remember Martin's Cove, I can strengthen my resolve by reminding myself that I would rather do a modern-day sacrifice than face what was faced by the Martin Handcart company. Even in our only partial, weak reenactment I found myself thinking, "I would sacrifice a lot of things rather than have to face this wind, hunger, unhappy children who I can't help circumstances every day!" Second, is there anything I do want badly enough to face the suffering of Martin's Cove and the dangers of a Wyoming winter with all my children and only the supplies in a handcart? Only one thing -- the salvation of my family. For that, I would face the danger, the suffering, and the chaos, and I would put my faith in God that my goal was just and He would make my way. This I must remember, too. Just because the things asked of me to ensure the salvation of my children is easier than Martin's Cove, is no excuse to neglect it. I must do the work and feel the desire even without the physical danger in front of me. Lastly, sometimes we need to get from where we are to where we need to be, but the path to get there may be undesirable in some way. Those converts were safe and comfortable in England and later in life they were safe and comfortable in nice homes in Utah, but there was only one way to get from England to Utah. Step after step. Walking a thousand miles day after day after day after day after day after day. There was no chance to get out of the wind. There was no extra food. There was nothing to do for your children when they suffered -- and they would suffer. Sometimes, we too need to go through the hard part, in order to get to the new place we want to be.