We Need Each Other!

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My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Martin’s Cove, Wyoming.  This was no ordinary trip.  Martin’s Cove is a sacred place to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is the place where many Mormon handcart pioneers, who left too late in the summer, faced extreme physical hardships.  Some even gave their lives.

 We took our trip to Martin’s Cove because we were invited to participate in a pioneer trek as a ma and pa over a group of youth.  Trek is an opportunity for youth and leaders to get a small glimpse of what the Mormon pioneers experienced as they crossed the plains.  As part of trek, we reenacted a few of the events that actually occurred along the handcart trail.  This was both a challenging and rewarding experience.

              

 Before leaving for Martin’s Cove, we were asked to do some research and learn about someone who really did cross the plains.  My heart was full as I read stories of pioneers—trying to decide who I would be “walking for.”  Once I found Nancy Bailey Steele, my great-great-great grandmother, I knew she was the one I wanted to “walk for.”  Nancy crossed the plains as a single mom of two young children.  At the time I found her name, I didn’t realize what a great impact she would have on me. 

               

While on trek, I found myself wondering how Nancy could have done it on her own.  I can’t imagine crossing the plains with my husband by my side, let alone by myself, as Nancy did.  But, time and time again, I had the thought and realization that Nancy didn’t do it on her own.  There were others all around her, both physical and heavenly beings, who helped her along the way.  This is a lesson that the Spirit would teach me several times while on trek—We need each other.  Our lives are not so different from those of the pioneers.  We don’t face the same trials and hardships that they faced, but we do face them.  Life is hard, and we can’t do it on our own.  

My husband and I did lots of preparation before leaving for trek.  We had many discussions about our desire to be prepared in such a way that we would be able to help the kids in our family instead of having to worry about our own problems.  Our plan worked well on the first day, but for me, the second and third day was an entirely different story.  By the middle of the second day, my feet were completely covered in blisters.  Every step I took was painful.  It was hard for me to be there for my husband and the youth in our family when I was in such poor shape myself.  This was not the way we had planned for it to be.  We were prepared!  Once again, Heavenly Father was teaching me a lesson.  I needed the youth in our family just as much as they needed me.  They rose to the occasion, stepped up and did the things that I myself couldn’t do.  Oh how grateful I am for them!  We need each other!

One morning on trek we gathered together as a whole group (almost 350 people) to have a short devotional.  We began the devotional with the women and young women singing one of my favorite Latter-day Saint hymns, “As Sisters in Zion.”  The first line says, “As sisters in Zion we’ll all work together.”  In this moment, I felt an outpouring of gratitude to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and of the Relief Society.  I feel the strength of sisters joined together for the same cause.  I know that my sisters in the Gospel are there to help me face life’s challenges so that I don’t have to do it alone, and I have a great desire to do all that I can so that I can be there for them too.  Once again, the Spirit reminded me just how much we need each other.   

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who places people in our lives because we need them.  I am grateful for angels beyond the veil and angels here on earth who are there for me.  Most of all, I am grateful for a Savior who will never leave me alone.  He knows me.  He loves me.  He knows all that I go through and will always be there if I seek Him, and I will because I truly need Him!