Article by Reed Markham, Assistant Director, Communication Council Leesburg Florida Stake
On Thursday, June 8th, a large group of teens from Lake County, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began a three-day Pioneer Handcart Trek through Desert Ranch.
The youth were dressed in 19th-century style clothing and pulled wooden handcarts loaded with clothing and supplies. The participants hiked along a series of dusty trails in the hot sun, winds, and occasional rainstorms. They pulled handcarts loaded with food and supplies over 8 miles over dirt roads around the 450 square mile working cattle ranch owned by the Church.
Major, a 17-year-old participant observed: “I developed many friendships on the trek and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ.” During the three-day trek experience, all participants slept under the stars, fixed meals using Dutch ovens, and pull heavy handcarts filled with their belongings in difficult terrain.
“This pioneer trek helped our youth develop a deep appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices others made to practice the same religion that today’s converts and youth have embraced. In today’s world, we are not called to travel across the plains and build cities from the ground up. But we have problems to solve, hearts to mend, the naked to clothe, the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, and the homeless to house. The gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to forego selfishness and to lift our neighbor.” said Leesburg Stake President, Michael Saunders.
Lillian, another trek participant commented, “The early pioneers were extraordinary. They had strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and made great sacrifices.” Treks are intended to be small-scale reenactments of the journeys undertaken by the thousands of pioneers who crossed the plains to reach the Salt Lake Valley, starting in 1847 and ending in the early 1860s.
The trek support staff included those involved with food preparation, medical services, transportation, supplies, other logistics and activity planning. The “ma’s and pa’s” help the youth in their assigned “families” set up and break camp each day, helping pull the handcarts along the trails while providing encouragement and support. Besides the regular bathroom, food, and water breaks, participants also made stops along the trail to hear inspirational stories and personal experiences. Evening activities included devotionals, singing, and pioneer-era activities.
In a devotional at the conclusion of the trek, Julie, a trek participant said, “We have learned about Jesus Christ. Now it’s time to take action.”
